Scratches on 300 WBY Cases

[jnd1959]

I recently tumbled and then resized my once-shot wby 300 mag cases with a new RCBS die. Upon inspection I notices some scratches on some of the cases. I guess I didn't get all of the polishing material out of the die before I started to resize. The scratches are easily seen but you cannot feel them with your fingernail as you would with a gouge. Do you think these are safe to use?

Second, I inspected the vent hole in the die and cleaned the inside of the die with a shop/paper towel. Afterwords, I seemed to remember reading that I wasn't supposed to do that. Is that correct? How do you maintain your dies?

Thanks.

[Mark]

You're going to have to do a little more homework here.

See if you have cases that will become scratched now. If the die is scratched, ALL the cases run through will have this witness on them. You mention that only some of your cases are scratched, so I'm wondering if the die scratched midway through your process, or if there is dirt that you have just cleaned out. Does this make sense?

I usually wipe my cases off, (very well) lube them, then resize them. After this, I run them through my tumbler. This way, all the case lube gets cleaned off, and the primer pockets get cleaned somewhat also. I still clean the primer pockets after tumbling, just to be sure the hard carbon is gone.

As far as cleaning dies, why do you think you shouldn't wipe them out with a paper towel? This is how I do it, and it seems like a reasonably good method. I still use RCBS case lube, it's gooey and really sows up the dies. A little rubbing alcohol acts as a solvent, and away I go. If you use a water based lube, alcohol may not work.
I use ordinary gun oil to prevent rust. I would recommend against using a penetrating oil like Kroil to preserve the dies, penetrating oil works well, but is so active, I experienced a couple of missfires years ago. I believe the cause was this lubricant that worked its way onto the ram, then contaminated primers. Just regular gun oil, no teflon or anything else.

Scratched cases the way you describe, should represent no problem.
Mark

[jimbires]

I used WD40 as a rust preventer , short term . DON'T use it . I had a few misfires with it . I figure it was primer contamination . gun oil is best . Jim

[doc44]

Man are you right the words WD40 and firearms should not used in the same breath! Lite scratchs are common on cases, cracks are the bad ones, HA! Really I should keep my mouth shut about WD40, it keeps plenty of smiths busy. I always used a very lite coat of RCBS lub and it work for the case and keeps the dies in good shape. To much of course causes dents in the case, a kind of spots. I digress the Weatherby cases are strong and hold up if you don't shoot max loads all the time. Of course if you gotta have speed, well. The first Weatherby case I ever saw I still have, I picked it up off of Roy.Ws work bench . I was 12 and he was still working in a garage at his house. He was a real smith and I wanted to be one from then on. He made up the coolist Mauser actions for his magnums. I know this will raise all kinds of **** but I watched him removed the thumb cut. Right through the action, took another piece of action and welded it in place to lengthen the action. Then hand file it in to shape, polish the rails, and harden the action. I spent my vacation at my cousins down the street, I must have driven him nuts. I must have done somthing he thought was ok because 6 month later I got a package in the mail, 1 Weatherby in 270 win on a mauser action standerd length with the thunb cut gone. the trigger broke at 5lbs and 3 shots you could cover with a dime, of course the next ones walked up hill, hey it was a thing of magic. Anyway enough about MR. Roy good luck with reloading. "Windage & Elivation", Doc.

[jnd1959]

Thanks to all for your replies. I will confirm the scratch issue on the next batch I resize. I will probably fire form these and just neck size.