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Cleaning Dies - How Often?

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  • anonymouscuban
    Senior Member
    • Feb 2017
    • 1440

    Cleaning Dies - How Often?

    How often do you guys take apart your dies and clean them? About how many rounds?



    Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk
  • #2
    JackEllis
    Veteran Member
    • Nov 2015
    • 2731

    I size in batches so I will typically clean the die before a new batch. I generally do this with Q-tips and mineral spirits. Since I wash all my brass before I size it, the sizing dies typically stay pretty clean.

    I don't clean the seating dies although I probably should do so every thousand rounds or so.

    The universal decapping die doesn't get cleaned at all.

    HTH

    Comment

    • #3
      hermosabeach
      I need a LIFE!!
      • Feb 2009
      • 19365

      As needed.

      I don’t think I cleaned my 38/357 dies after 3,000-5,000 rounds

      Scratches on brass- clean
      Too much case lube everywhere- clean.

      Clean brass and carbide dies are not an issue
      Rule 1- ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

      Rule 2 -NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY (including your hands and legs)

      Rule 3 -KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

      Rule 4 -BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS BEYOND IT
      (thanks to Jeff Cooper)

      Comment

      • #4
        Chief-7700
        Veteran Member
        • May 2008
        • 3382

        If your loading lead bullets that have a lube ring, clean your seating and crimp die. You would be amazed how much lube those dies collect.
        Chief

        XL-650 to feed the: .45ACP's Les Baer Concept V, Ruger SR 1911, Ruger Nightwatchman,custom built Colt M1911, Springfield .45ACP Loaded.. 9MM SA Range Officer,Ruger P-85, Springfield Stainless 9MM loaded, SA 9MM 5.25" XDM, Springfield 9mm Stainless Range Officer, STI double stack .45ACP.
        IDPA A41750 Safety Officer
        NRA Certified RSO
        "Stay out of the deep end of the pool; correct the problem with your credit card, not your dremel!"

        Comment

        • #5
          baih777
          CGN/CGSSA Contributor
          CGN Contributor
          • Jul 2011
          • 5680

          I usually stop shooting Nov , Dec, Jan.
          I breakdown my press and look for worn parts and reassemble and relive.
          Then I start taking apart.dies.

          I think it's a 20 guage mop that fits in dies real nice. I use a drill and my Nufinish.
          Been gone too long. It's been 15 to 20 years since i had to shelf my guns. Those early years sucked.
          I really miss the good old Pomona Gun Shows.
          I'm Back.

          Comment

          • #6
            slamfire1
            Banned
            • Aug 2015
            • 794

            I live in a humid climate, the deep South. My reloading press is outside of the house, and so are the dies. The dies I left on the press are 223 Rem, 308 Win and 30-06. These are the calibers I shoot the most.

            And I left these dies on the press and did not clean the sizing dies regularly, or at all. I really don't remember any regular maintenance I just assumed the lube would keep the dies from rusting. Well, after years of being on the press, I found the bottom half inch of these dies to have pits. Material was gone and I believe it was due to rusting. I had to replace my Lyman small base dies in 223, 308 and 30-06. I probably got my money out of them, literally loaded thousands to tens of thousands of rounds. Still, I think they would still be around had I kept the dies clean and lubricated with mineral oils.

            Now, when I am done sizing, I take the die off, wipe out the interior, wipe off the decapping spindle, and oil everything. We will see how long that lasts.


            Comment

            • #7
              bruce381
              Senior Member
              • Feb 2009
              • 2451

              Cuban I load CAST in 45 cap and is are on about 10K with no cleaning and I Know the seater is getting gunked with wax lube so? maybe 20K with plated?

              Comment

              • #8
                OpenSightsOnly
                Senior Member
                • Sep 2009
                • 1557

                I load for rifle and use Imperial sizing wax and neck lube.

                Dies are cleaned after each use, nothing fancy, just an oiled patch and twist that patch in the FL die with a chopstick.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Magilla26
                  Member
                  • Jun 2015
                  • 110

                  I usually load in batches of 40 cartridges. On bottle neck cartridges I clean the dies before loading. When I am using the resizing die, if I start getting dents on the shoulder from lube build-up I will take it apart and clean it.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    'ol shooter
                    Veteran Member
                    • Mar 2011
                    • 4646

                    I spritz some gun cleaning spray on a couple Q-tips and swab out the insides, that's it.
                    sigpic
                    Bob B.
                    (\__/)
                    (='.'=)
                    (")_(")

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      anonymouscuban
                      Senior Member
                      • Feb 2017
                      • 1440

                      Thanks guys. Really just a sanity check for me. Wanted to make sure I am maintaining my equipment correctly.

                      Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        bruce381
                        Senior Member
                        • Feb 2009
                        • 2451

                        when you get gunk on the nose or OAL gets shorter you have to clean them

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          rcslotcar
                          Senior Member
                          • Jul 2014
                          • 1100

                          Keep Q tips and bamboo skewers handy.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            mjmagee67
                            Veteran Member
                            • Jun 2011
                            • 2771

                            I reload pistol rounds on Dillon Precision presses...What is this clean die thing you speak of? I know I am well over 25,000 9mm without any die cleaning YMMV.
                            If you want change you have to put in your 2 cents, you can't just sit on the sidelines and whine.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              kcstott
                              I need a LIFE!!
                              • Nov 2011
                              • 11796

                              As needed. and that means on carbide 45acp/9mm = never or at least not yet and the dies are 30 years old. or on 44mag that load lead cast = about every 1000 rounds or so. due to bullet lube. My 308 match dies = about every 1000 rounds due to case lube and other thing causing sticky issues.

                              So again AS NEEDED. I think I clean the press more then I clean the dies

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