There is no reason to take pistol dies off for cleaning. The exception is if the casses start to get deformed when loading due to build-up of excess lube or dirt.

 

As long as your brass is clean, the dies should stay clean, too. I wouldn't worry about cleaning the dies unless you start to see slight evidence of damage/scraping to the cases after resizing.

 

You might need to clean them out periodically if you are using case lube, but otherwise I don't think the dies need to be cleaned under normal conditions.

 

If you're loading lead cast bullets you might consider removing the seater/crimper die and cleaning it. They tend to collect lube sometimes.

 

It's never a bad idea to clean the dies. case lube, tumbling media dust, bullet lube, even rust in humid climates. A solvent soaked patch, then dri patch works fine. I used to clean my dies once a year, now just whenever I get boared.

 

Run a patch through them occasionally. Don't worry about wearing them out, you won't.

 

i dont worry about it

 

Hey all thanks for the quick replies, it is much appreciated

 

I occassionally clean them out with gun serubber, then after drying run a couple of passes with a bore snake.

 

Since you have the L-N-L, you can remove your dies without changing their settings. You can get some build-up of brass shavings in your sizing die and expander die. Any good aerosol degreaser can be used to clean the inside of the dies.
In general, the only dies that would need "frequent" cleaning would be the seating and crimp dies it you are loading case bullets with too much lube on them.

 

No cast bullets for me, all FMJ so no lube issues. Also I have carbide dies so no case lube either. I was more concerned with case shavings, or general dust/debris or possibly powder that somehow found its way into the dies. I realize I probably have not reloaded enough to be concerned yet but I was just thinking about the future.

 

Why in the world you you use case lube when using carbide dies for pistol rounds?
It's a waste of lube and time.

 

Why in the world you you use case lube when using carbide dies for pistol rounds?
It's a waste of lube and time.

Well its a good thing im NOT using case lube then.

 

Well its a good thing im NOT using case lube then.

I was referring to the others that kept talking about case lube.

 

I have a 550 and I personally clean my dies everytime I change calibers, basically after my run of a particular of a few thousand before I pull the pins to drop the tool head I clean the dies then the next time I am ready to go