dimples in case neck?? - The Firearms Forum

kar298 · 05-04-2004, 04:28 PM

well i finally just got started doing my first ever batch of reloading. the first couple of brass that i resized/deprimed has small dimples on the bottom of the case neck is it ok to shoot these brass or should i throw them away?

Ronald J. Snow · 05-04-2004, 04:37 PM

Unless the "dimples" are "craters" I wouldn't worry too much. This is caused by too much case lube on the shoulder of the cartridge when you were resizing it. Go a little easier on the lube and the problem should go away; common problem for someone new to the art.

kar298 · 05-04-2004, 05:51 PM

yeah i know but i wasnt putting much lube on at all, when i switch to the lee lube it worked fine but the rcbs lube kept making the dimples

Jefflesh · 05-04-2004, 07:03 PM

I would like to know if you are using carbide or steel dies? I don't think you need case lube with carbide dies. Unlesss you are doing a neck sizing die.

kar298 · 05-04-2004, 07:28 PM

i am using lee dies for my 30-30 which are steel

inplanotx · 05-04-2004, 08:16 PM

Any bottle neck case, even with carbide dies, needs case lube, period! If you have dimples, clean the sizer die and then only lube the neck and body with your fingers, not a pad. Do not lube the shoulder. I have always used Hornady one shot for lubing cases. You cannot go wrong with it!

kar298 · 05-04-2004, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by inplanotx
Any bottle neck case, even with carbide dies, needs case lube, period! If you have dimples, clean the sizer die and then only lube the neck and body with your fingers, not a pad. Do not lube the shoulder. I have always used Hornady one shot for lubing cases. You cannot go wrong with it!

well i know that the sizer die was not dirty since it was the first time that i have used the die.

inplanotx · 05-04-2004, 08:24 PM

Then you had too much lube on the case. Put a small amount on your fingers and then lube neck and body only. Do not put lube on the shoulder!

kar298 · 05-04-2004, 08:27 PM

yeah i didnt have much lube on the cases at all and when i used the lee lube it was fine but with the rcbs lube it would cause the dimples why would that be?

inplanotx · 05-04-2004, 08:34 PM

The RCBS lube is archaic and too thick, hence the dimples. The lube is being squeezed off the case neck and onto the shoulder, hense the dimples!! Go buy yourself a can of Hornady spray lube called "one shot" and be done with it! Then clean your sizer die of any RCBS lube before trying the next step. Make sure you read the directions. I used RCBS case lube for years before these new lubes appeared. They all stress the fact that case lube should be used "Sparingly"!

Jefflesh · 05-05-2004, 11:15 AM

One of my reloading books writen be Richard Lee, I believe the second edition states that you might not have to lube every case. When you apply lube to the case some will get on the sizing die thus you might be able to apply lube on every 3rd case. I am sure this would help cut down on the lube which might help cure your proble.

Jeff

kar298 · 05-05-2004, 11:18 AM

yeah now that you mention that i do remeber reading that a couple weeks ago when i read the book

Ronald J. Snow · 05-05-2004, 12:57 PM

Lube can certainly be eliminated from the reloading process and it might sometimes work; however, prior to going that route be sure to purchase RCBS item number 09340. I sell a few each year, they are called Stuck Case Removers. All rifle cartridges need to be lubed (by whatever means you desire) prior to resizing. One other thing that is suggested is to lube the inside of the case neck to avoid excessive stretching.

Iconoclast · 05-14-2004, 07:40 AM

I have to respectfully disagree with Ron's assertion that "Lube can certainly be eliminated from the reloading process . . . ." Unless you are loading straight wall pistol cartridges with a carbide sizing die, lubrication *MUST* be present. Period. People who doubt this axiom account for a large share of the sales of "stuck case removers!"

I've used the RCBS lube for years - a little goes a long way. Once my present supply is gone, I'll try the newer types. I use a lube pad and don't have the lube dents now, but I did when I first started. This is one of many aspects of hand loading where there is an issue of "feel" between the written instructions and the actual task.

Ronald J. Snow · 05-14-2004, 01:28 PM

Iconoclast: Please read my entire post. I in no way endorse not using case lube!!!
By the way, glad to see you over here.

rugerman · 07-06-2004, 03:10 PM

Hey kar298 your die most likley had some sort of protective lube or oil in it from the maker. But the dimples are a sure sign of too much lube, clean the die and go light (I've been reloading for 30 years and I still do it sometime). I like to use my fingers instead of a pad, I seem to get a better feel that way and do a better job. As for the Hornaday spray lube I tried it several years ago and it worked great on pistol brass but I got a lot of stuck cases when I used it on rifle brass so I went back to the lube on the fingers trick and the problems went away. Hang in there, we all learn something new every day. rugerman

05-04-2004, 04:28 PM	#1
kar298 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: johnstown, pa Posts: 180	dimples in case neck?? well i finally just got started doing my first ever batch of reloading. the first couple of brass that i resized/deprimed has small dimples on the bottom of the case neck is it ok to shoot these brass or should i throw them away? -->

05-04-2004, 08:16 PM	#6
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	Any bottle neck case, even with carbide dies, needs case lube, period! If you have dimples, clean the sizer die and then only lube the neck and body with your fingers, not a pad. Do not lube the shoulder. I have always used Hornady one shot for lubing cases. You cannot go wrong with it! __________________

05-04-2004, 08:24 PM	#8
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	Then you had too much lube on the case. Put a small amount on your fingers and then lube neck and body only. Do not put lube on the shoulder! __________________

05-04-2004, 08:34 PM	#10
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	The RCBS lube is archaic and too thick, hence the dimples. The lube is being squeezed off the case neck and onto the shoulder, hense the dimples!! Go buy yourself a can of Hornady spray lube called "one shot" and be done with it! Then clean your sizer die of any RCBS lube before trying the next step. Make sure you read the directions. I used RCBS case lube for years before these new lubes appeared. They all stress the fact that case lube should be used "Sparingly"! __________________ Last edited by inplanotx; 05-05-2004 at 09:56 AM..

05-14-2004, 07:40 AM	#14
Iconoclast V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: NH, USA Posts: 66	I have to respectfully disagree with Ron's assertion that "Lube can certainly be eliminated from the reloading process . . . ." Unless you are loading straight wall pistol cartridges with a carbide sizing die, lubrication MUST be present. Period. People who doubt this axiom account for a large share of the sales of "stuck case removers!" I've used the RCBS lube for years - a little goes a long way. Once my present supply is gone, I'll try the newer types. I use a lube pad and don't have the lube dents now, but I did when I first started. This is one of many aspects of hand loading where there is an issue of "feel" between the written instructions and the actual task. __________________ "There is nothing lower than the human race - except the French." (Mark Twain) ". . . And liberals / DemoWipes" (me)

05-04-2004, 04:37 PM	#2
Ronald J. Snow Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Denmark, Maine Posts: 45	Unless the "dimples" are "craters" I wouldn't worry too much. This is caused by too much case lube on the shoulder of the cartridge when you were resizing it. Go a little easier on the lube and the problem should go away; common problem for someone new to the art.

05-04-2004, 05:51 PM	#3
kar298 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: johnstown, pa Posts: 180	yeah i know but i wasnt putting much lube on at all, when i switch to the lee lube it worked fine but the rcbs lube kept making the dimples

05-04-2004, 07:03 PM	#4
Jefflesh Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Brownstown, Posts: 5	I would like to know if you are using carbide or steel dies? I don't think you need case lube with carbide dies. Unlesss you are doing a neck sizing die.

05-04-2004, 07:28 PM	#5
kar298 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: johnstown, pa Posts: 180	i am using lee dies for my 30-30 which are steel

05-04-2004, 08:27 PM	#9
kar298 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: johnstown, pa Posts: 180	yeah i didnt have much lube on the cases at all and when i used the lee lube it was fine but with the rcbs lube it would cause the dimples why would that be?

05-05-2004, 11:15 AM	#11
Jefflesh Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Brownstown, Posts: 5	One of my reloading books writen be Richard Lee, I believe the second edition states that you might not have to lube every case. When you apply lube to the case some will get on the sizing die thus you might be able to apply lube on every 3rd case. I am sure this would help cut down on the lube which might help cure your proble. Jeff

05-05-2004, 11:18 AM	#12
kar298 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: johnstown, pa Posts: 180	yeah now that you mention that i do remeber reading that a couple weeks ago when i read the book

05-05-2004, 12:57 PM	#13
Ronald J. Snow Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Denmark, Maine Posts: 45	Lube can certainly be eliminated from the reloading process and it might sometimes work; however, prior to going that route be sure to purchase RCBS item number 09340. I sell a few each year, they are called Stuck Case Removers. All rifle cartridges need to be lubed (by whatever means you desire) prior to resizing. One other thing that is suggested is to lube the inside of the case neck to avoid excessive stretching.

05-14-2004, 01:28 PM	#15
Ronald J. Snow Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Denmark, Maine Posts: 45	Iconoclast: Please read my entire post. I in no way endorse not using case lube!!! By the way, glad to see you over here.

07-06-2004, 03:10 PM	#16
rugerman Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 30	Re: dimples in case neck?? Hey kar298 your die most likley had some sort of protective lube or oil in it from the maker. But the dimples are a sure sign of too much lube, clean the die and go light (I've been reloading for 30 years and I still do it sometime). I like to use my fingers instead of a pad, I seem to get a better feel that way and do a better job. As for the Hornaday spray lube I tried it several years ago and it worked great on pistol brass but I got a lot of stuck cases when I used it on rifle brass so I went back to the lube on the fingers trick and the problems went away. Hang in there, we all learn something new every day. rugerman