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Posted: 1/2/2014 9:29:49 AM EDT
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I'm new to X Dies (just loading my first batch with the mandrel down tight). I had hopes this would really streamline my process, but I have two concerns after loading a few - interested to see how others are doing this.
My thought process was that with X Die segregated .223 brass, I would be able to: - Tumble - Spray lube (using RCBS Case Slick) - Then on my progressive press, do everything else in one pass (station 1 = resize / deprime (X Die), station 2 = open, station 3 = powder, station 4 = seat/crimp (I've always had satisfactory results doing both in one step). Tumble the lube off the loaded rounds. My concerns are: * Powder sticking to the mouth because of the spray lube inside the neck. Seating is going OK, but my primary concern here is with potential powder contamination. Maybe my Google-fu is weak, but I'm not seeing much mention of whether or not that's a concern with RCBS Case Slick. And, I can't get the label to pull back to read the directions / warnings :(. * Neck tension... is the lube in the neck going to cause a problem? I found that when pressing the bullet really, REALLY hard into my desk, it would set back on a lubed case. I doubt that I'll get setback chambering, but I don't know that for sure yet. With delubed loaded brass I can't set the bullet back, so I know it's because of the lube. Clearly, one solution is to do what I've done before - resize in one pass, tumble the lube off and then load. I'm curious, though - what are other X Die users here doing? I have intentions of moving to home made case lube (anhydrous lanolin / alcohol spray) in a few thousand rounds. Will my issues be better / worse going this route? ETA: Caliber |
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Using the X-die, I have always stuck to getting the case prep done in batches. Leaving a box full of clean and ready brass to load.
The X-die is supposed to make the brass stop growing so that multiple case trimings are no longer needed. 1-Tumble clean the used brass. 2-Lube and size. 3-Trim if needed. 4-Tumble to rmove any lube and shavings from the trim operation. 5-Pile of ready to use casings put into storage for next loading operation. |
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Quoted:
Using the X-die, I have always stuck to getting the case prep done in batches. Leaving a box full of clean and ready brass to load. The X-die is supposed to make the brass stop growing so that multiple case trimings are no longer needed. 1-Tumble clean the used brass. 2-Lube and size. 3-Trim if needed. 4-Tumble to rmove any lube and shavings from the trim operation. 5-Pile of ready to use casings put into storage for next loading operation. Yep - I'm overjoyed at not having to trim any more (after the first round on a batch of brass). That led me to this workflow... if the contamination / neck tension concerns are red herrings. If not, I'll go back to resizing in batches. |
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Just working some 7.62 right now... 1. deprimed (universal decapper station 1) then initial sizing with x-die (station 2 mandrel removed) 2. trimmed all to length 3. tumbled in SS media 4. annealed the necks (once fired MG brass) I'm finishing annealing my last batch in the next day or so then I'm on to step 5.. 5. ready to load with mandrel all the way down. |
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I have not had a problem. I do the shake and bake zip lock bag motion with brass and the Dillon lube. I give it two pumps. Close up the bag . Invert it, shake it, knead it, open it up again, give it two more pumps, repeat.
I try to get the case mouth crimped into the cannelure, but with the Montana Gold 55 grainers and trimming them down to 1.74 ( my first batch I had trimmed to 1.73... Whoops!  ) it can be kinda hit and miss. Never had a problem with set back.
I tumble my loaded rounds for like 15 minutes just to get the lube off. Yeah, yeah, I know, some people are dead set against that. EDIT: i have a Lee crimp die in station #5 of my 650. |
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I do take a WD-40 soaked Q-tip and swirl it up in side the dies, especially the resizing/decapping die.
I do this at the start of each reloading session and after every 100 rounds before I fill it back up with primers. So I do err on the side of caution and go real conservative with how much I pump into the bag. |
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I called RCBS yesterday and asked them about this. At first, he gave me the speech about lube on the OUTSIDE of the necks (dents, etc, etc). Yeah, not that... After explaining again, he said 1) no problem with their lube contaminating powder, and 2) yes, lube in the neck is needed to reduce the drag on the expander but no, it won't cause a neck tension issue. He said my workflow was their intent... Ok.
But, I'd still love to hear from others here that use X Dies on a progressive press. Again, this is about starting on the press with tumbled .223 brass that's been spray lubed, resizing (not having to worry about trimming - using X Dies), priming, powdering and seating all in one pass on a progressive press. The question boils down to whether X Die users resize and then tumble off the lube, or if they do as I'm proposing. |
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Quoted:
Just working some 7.62 right now... 1. deprimed (universal decapper station 1) then initial sizing with x-die (station 2 mandrel removed) 2. trimmed all to length 3. tumbled in SS media 4. annealed the necks (once fired MG brass) I'm finishing annealing my last batch in the next day or so then I'm on to step 5.. 5. ready to load with mandrel all the way down. So... this sounds timely for you too for your next run (with the mandrel down). Had you thought yet about whether you're going to tumble off the lube or just go all the way around in one pass? |
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Quoted:
You DONT want lube inside the neck still before you seat a bullet. That is asking (begging) for setback issues in an AR type rifle... Yeah... setback is my concern. I'm hearing from RCBS that it's ok, but still not convinced without hearing more confirmation (I'm not hearing on here - yet anyway - that others have been doing it this way). |
| Interesting development with this after testing last weekend. One at a time, I took rounds loaded with this workflow, measured them, chambered each round 3 times in my AR, and then measured them again. None of them were pushed into the case; 12 of 15 GREW in length by .003" (apparently from the inertia of the sudden stop, like a bullet puller). Then, I shot a number of them in a bolt gun and had no apparent issues with powder contamination. |
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