Poseidon215 Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Ok, I have a Hornady LnL with Lee Carbide die set in 9mm. I am having a hard time sizing brass while loading. There are times is requires a ridiculous amount of force to size the brass and even more to get it to release on the downstroke. I have been forced to use two hands at times and I know this should not be the case. I contacted Lee and their initial response this morning was to lube the cases. A friend of mine has a 650 with dillon dies and I got the chance to load on his press last night using all of my components and brass. His press ran like butter compared to mine. I sent back to Lee telling them that I isolated it down to their sizing die and that a dillon carbide die did not have any of the same issues. Also when I removed the Lee die I looked inside and there are wavy lines that almost look like machining marks that were not polished out before shipping. Does anyone have any ideas what I can/should do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 You could get in contact with Brian and buy a Dillon sizing die and use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcs Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Ok, I have a Hornady LnL with Lee Carbide die set in 9mm. I am having a hard time sizing brass while loading. There are times is requires a ridiculous amount of force to size the brass and even more to get it to release on the downstroke. I have been forced to use two hands at times and I know this should not be the case. I contacted Lee and their initial response this morning was to lube the cases. A friend of mine has a 650 with dillon dies and I got the chance to load on his press last night using all of my components and brass. His press ran like butter compared to mine. I sent back to Lee telling them that I isolated it down to their sizing die and that a dillon carbide die did not have any of the same issues. Also when I removed the Lee die I looked inside and there are wavy lines that almost look like machining marks that were not polished out before shipping. Does anyone have any ideas what I can/should do? Are you using case lube? Your dies are fine. In fact, Lee is better than Dillion dies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poseidon215 Posted March 19, 2014 Author Share Posted March 19, 2014 No I bought carbide dies so I wouldn't have to use case lube. I did try some one shot on a few cases and it was noticeably better but I shouldn't have to. Like I said the dillon sizer went through them like it was nothing that's why I wondered if maybe I had an out of spec die or something. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Pretty much all of us use case lube. No matter what the die companies may say there is no denying how much easier it is to load with lube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeeZer Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 I'm using same press with Hornady 'carbide' dies and had somewhat similar experience. If you don't use NuFinish during tumbling to 'slick' cases out, you will have what you describe. Also, even if you do, and clean dies before reloading, you may still experience same thing after 50-100 rounds loaded as dies get dirty. I now use Hornady Case Lube (spray) to spray and 'swish' cases around in a bucket before they go into press. It works very well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParaLarry Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 (edited) Having to use two hands on carbide die without lube is absurd. I think you got a bad die and should get it exchanged. Edited March 19, 2014 by ParaOrdnanceLarry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtp Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Ok, I have a Hornady LnL with Lee Carbide die set in 9mm. I am having a hard time sizing brass while loading. There are times is requires a ridiculous amount of force to size the brass and even more to get it to release on the downstroke. I have been forced to use two hands at times and I know this should not be the case. I contacted Lee and their initial response this morning was to lube the cases. A friend of mine has a 650 with dillon dies and I got the chance to load on his press last night using all of my components and brass. His press ran like butter compared to mine. I sent back to Lee telling them that I isolated it down to their sizing die and that a dillon carbide die did not have any of the same issues. Also when I removed the Lee die I looked inside and there are wavy lines that almost look like machining marks that were not polished out before shipping. Does anyone have any ideas what I can/should do? I'm assuming you didn't use your dies on your friends' Dillon? That would rule out any timing issue, although it sure doesn't sound like on. I use the same press and same dies w/out issues. RE: case lube - many people use it, including w/carbide pistol dies. One Shot is great for this, a light mist into my ready to load bucket, close lid, shake, repeat, then load up primer tubes while the OS dries. Load up, makes everything nice and smooth, and no need (IMO) to tumble off. I don't use OS for rifle lube, though. Sure sounds like a die issue. Any chance of some macro pics? I'd keep hounding Lee, or alternately, borrow your friends' die set for a day just to ensure nothing funny is up with the press (doubt there is, but you can use this in discussion w/Lee CS). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngeyes Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 FWIW I have found Lee sizing dies to be the tightest of the dies. I'd use a diff sizing die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcs Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 No I bought carbide dies so I wouldn't have to use case lube. I did try some one shot on a few cases and it was noticeably better but I shouldn't have to. Like I said the dillon sizer went through them like it was nothing that's why I wondered if maybe I had an out of spec die or something. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk If everyone is ridiculously hard - then I would look at a hardware issue, but you say it ain't so. I would remove all but the sizing die and test. I would look inside the die . Some brass is a little harder, but I use an undersized die(Lee) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poseidon215 Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 I will try and take a pic or two now and attach them Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Therealkoop Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I have the same dies, no lube, and never had an issue. Takes slightly more force than a lubed .223 die but not much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poseidon215 Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 I have already gone through to make sure it's not something else. The sizing die is definitely the culprit. I tried to get a macro but I cannot find the lens for the dslr and my phone wouldn't take a decent pic that you could see anything so I'll try again in the morning Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackJones Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Give lube a try. You'll be amazed at the difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cecil Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I have Dillon sizing die... always use case lube... don't want to get a case stuck in my sizing die.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reshoot Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I have never found carbide sizing dies a substitute for case lube. Now, I never use case lube with the Hornady titanium nitride sizing dies. I love those those suckers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racer377 Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Take a magnet to the cases you're using. S&B makes these evil, evil, brass washed steel cases. They require a ridiculous amount of force to size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danman00 Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I have experienced some stubborness when resizing on my Lyman Tmag press and yes - using lube did solve my problem but that slows the reloading proccess way down, plus makes things a little more messy and sticky. Granted not alot more but enough annoy me. The trick I have found to bypass using lube is in the tumbling. Use one of these two products in your tumbling media. Either Nu Finish car polish or Mineral Spirits. Both of these work very well but I myself prefer mineral spirits. Number one its cheaper and number two it does a better job removing powder residue. The Nu Finish will definity make your Brass shinyer though. But both products will leave your brass nice and slick and smooth. This made a huge difference when resizing my brass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OPENB Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I must be the only one that doesn't use case lube here. OP, are you sure you have a carbide die? Only thing I can think of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98sr20ve Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Things that cause hard sizing are.... Really clean cases, Brass that is expanded more, Die that is not centered, One die is tighter then the other (EX: Lee vs Dillon) Defective die. LACK OF CASE LUBE. I make my lube using Lee's sizing lube and a bottle of alcohol. Works great, does not need to be removed. In fact it disappears like magic when you size the case. One tube of lube to 16oz of alcohol. It's hard to mix but that is the only downside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98sr20ve Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Also, the Dillon Press has more leverage then the Hornady. Especially noticeable when priming. Those are Hornady's words to me, Not making it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbrtt1 Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Here's a thread regarding lubing cases no matter what dies you use. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=188166&hl= General consensus is use lube and it seems the most popular is Hornady One Shot. Spray a little and forget about it. I have experienced some stubborness when resizing on my Lyman Tmag press and yes - using lube did solve my problem but that slows the reloading proccess way down, plus makes things a little more messy and sticky. Granted not alot more but enough annoy me. The trick I have found to bypass using lube is in the tumbling. Use one of these two products in your tumbling media. Either Nu Finish car polish or Mineral Spirits. Both of these work very well but I myself prefer mineral spirits. Number one its cheaper and number two it does a better job removing powder residue. The Nu Finish will definity make your Brass shinyer though. But both products will leave your brass nice and slick and smooth. This made a huge difference when resizing my brass. Danman, I don't quite follow you on slowing down the process. One Shot drys completely so no tumbling or cleaning off after. Takes 30 seconds to spray on. OP you may indeed have a bad die, but I think you will find that lubing no matter the die will make life easier. I use a redding Titanium Carbide sizing die and still lube. 9mm can be ornery when sizing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RammerJammer Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Die is screwed. Send back the die then try the new one. Lee carbide dies are fine without lube but I still use it most of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 When looking at a carbide die, the carbide ring is the only thing that touches the case. If you see any "glitches" in the ring, then - as said above - the die is screwed. If you can detect any abnormalities in the ring in your die, I'd contact Lee CS and make arrangements to return it. (yes, the decapping pin does touch the case ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotoRecon Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I've yet to use any sort of lube with any of my Dillon carbide dies in 9mm, 38/357, 44 Mag and 45 ACP in my RL1050 without any problem since the mid 1990's. I do have a Lee U-die or undersized die for resizing bulged cases in 9mm and it does offer a good bit of resistance even with lube. The first one I had the carbide ring split in two and was replaced. My guess is the die in question has an issue or its the brass or both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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