9mm die damaged?

[ronas]

I noticed my 9mm brass is scored on the sides. The die an RCBS is scratched inside so I want to replace it with another die. Are carbide resizing dies better and if so what brand would be recommended.

[WileyWilly]

Yes, Carbide straight wall pistol dies do not require lubrication. Practically any brand carbide will do the job.
WW

[bohoki]

lee is great you can get the 3 die with scoop and shellholder for the price of any other companies sole carbide sizer

[ronas]

Is carbide better for 223 also?

[buffybuster]

Is carbide better for 223 also?

No. There is no advantage to using a carbide sizing die for bottlenecked cartridges. You still need to lube the cases. The advantage of a carbide die is for commerical/high volume resizing. The carbide will last much longer.

With that said, the standard steel dies will last +100K's rounds.

Carbide pistols dies will last +2M's rounds, if properly cared for.

[ronas]

I've been known to be kind of abusive to dies. I think I must have somehow got some sand into the 9mm sizing die it's scratched pretty bad inside.

I can see the same thing happening to the 223 sizing die and since carbide would be more scratch resistant I may consider getting the carbide.

[buffybuster]

You should tumble cleaning your brass before you are resizing them.

Eventually even the carbide sizing ring will wear from abrasive contact with grit and will crack. As a rule, you should occassionally clean your dies to remove any brass, grit, lube, primer gunk, etc.

[Harbinger]

Are you sure the cases weren't shot out of a fluted chamber? That can leave some interesting marks on the case walls.

Mike

[ronas]

You should tumble cleaning your brass before you are resizing them.

Eventually even the carbide sizing ring will wear from abrasive contact with grit and will crack. As a rule, you should occassionally clean your dies to remove any brass, grit, lube, primer gunk, etc.

I have always tumbled or more recently used one of those vibrator tumblers.

I have been guilty of failure to clean the dies.

[ronas]

Are you sure the cases weren't shot out of a fluted chamber? That can leave some interesting marks on the case walls.

No not fluted. By fluted I'm thinking you mean like the striations left on 223 brass having been fired from an HK 93. I had one of those and it could really tear up brass.