cleaning lee dies? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Frogman77 · 07-12-2008, 08:36 AM

hey all,

I"m new to reloading... I've been loading lead, and occasionally there's some slivers of lead coming off when I seat the bullet. It's not difficult to seat the bullet, it goes right in, but just i still get small slivers of lubricant and slivers of lead shaving off. Does this mean I need to flare the case more?

inside my seating die and crimp dies there are some remnants of those sliver accumulating. how do I clean them out? I don't want to ruin the dies.

thanks! any help would be great!!

mulletmaster · 07-14-2008, 06:28 PM

I too have lee dies and reload cast lead and when I had to adjust the dies this happened until i increased the case flaring, and has since went away.

philbo · 07-15-2008, 08:28 AM

Usually need to flare a little more on the lead. As you have discovered, lube, etc. will build up in the seating dies. Unscrew the top, clean it out w/some carb cleaner or WD40 and a plastic brush, a thin coat of oil (I spray a shot of rem oil and let it dry) and reassemble. It's designed to come apart for cleaning.

Frogman77 · 07-15-2008, 08:53 AM

Thanks guys! I'll try a little more flaring. How do you know when you have enough? I want to try and preserve case life.

philbo · 07-15-2008, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frogman77

T... I'll try a little more flaring. How do you know when you have enough? I want to try and preserve case life.

The bullet should start to seat without resistance, and those small shavings of lead should disappear. 1/4 turns until you find what works.

07-12-2008, 08:36 AM	#1
Frogman77 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 144	cleaning lee dies? hey all, I"m new to reloading... I've been loading lead, and occasionally there's some slivers of lead coming off when I seat the bullet. It's not difficult to seat the bullet, it goes right in, but just i still get small slivers of lubricant and slivers of lead shaving off. Does this mean I need to flare the case more? inside my seating die and crimp dies there are some remnants of those sliver accumulating. how do I clean them out? I don't want to ruin the dies. thanks! any help would be great!!

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07-14-2008, 06:28 PM	#2
mulletmaster XDTalk Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NC Posts: 82	I too have lee dies and reload cast lead and when I had to adjust the dies this happened until i increased the case flaring, and has since went away.

07-15-2008, 08:28 AM	#3
philbo XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 284	Usually need to flare a little more on the lead. As you have discovered, lube, etc. will build up in the seating dies. Unscrew the top, clean it out w/some carb cleaner or WD40 and a plastic brush, a thin coat of oil (I spray a shot of rem oil and let it dry) and reassemble. It's designed to come apart for cleaning.

07-15-2008, 08:53 AM	#4
Frogman77 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 144	Thanks guys! I'll try a little more flaring. How do you know when you have enough? I want to try and preserve case life.