New die scratching brass

[75]

New Hornady 308win full length die, cleaned out of the packet and set up as per instructions. New Lapua brass and running it through the die for consistency. Plenty of Imperial Sizing wax on the first few just to make sure I didn't get a stuck case and die is scratching the cases and taking off all the annealing colour. Never had this before with other dies (or this die in other calibres). Assuming it'll bed in but anything obvious I'm doing wrong or just crack on??

New case on left, sized case on right

 

[75]

Quick polish with tissue wrapped around a mop with some polishing compound (on a battery drill) has helped massively but not great QC.

 

[Wmjas]

I had this same problem and have moved away from Hornady dies because of it where possible.

 

[Tim.243]

I had this same problem and have moved away from Hornady dies because of it where possible.

Polish the die not the brass as it is the die (in any form) this is why moulds/dies have a good surface finish so the part has the same.
You only get out what you put in.

 

[75]

I had this same problem and have moved away from Hornady dies because of it where possible.

Thanks for confirmation (that I wasn't going mad!). I ordered a Redding one but not in stock so went for Hornady instead. Wish I hadn't! I'll give it another good polish when I get a minute and I'm sure it'll be fine but far from ideal.

 

[Greenmist]

Before polishing, did you clean and degrease to die before use

 

[Wmjas]

Polish the die not the brass as it is the die (in any form) this is why moulds/dies have a good surface finish so the part has the same.
You only get out what you put in.

Yeah I got ****ed off having to polish 4 sets of dies that’s I’d paid good money for!

 

[LeftHandGuy]

It's got to be said - I've never had this with Lee.....

 

[Tim.243]

Yeah I got ****ed off having to polish 4 sets of dies that’s I’d paid good money for!

Quite but you found the reason which is mirror mirror on the wall who has the most polished dies of all.

 

[75]

Before polishing, did you clean and degrease to die before use

New Hornady 308win full length die, cleaned out of the packet and set up as per instructions.

To clarify, yes, thorough clean and degrease straight out of the packet.