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I use several brands of reloading dies; for rifle calibres I prefer Hornady so I can use their micrometer seating gauge. The problem with Hornady dies is that they are tool steel and prone to rusting even though they're in an airconditioned environment. I emailed Hornady and they suggested oiling the dies to prevent rust. The problem with that is petroleum based lubricants can deactivate primers, so one generally doesn't use oil on dies.

Anyone else use Hornady dies and have this problem?

i don't know much about rusting, but what if you put them in some of those ziplock bags that you can remove all the air from.

what about soaking them in alcohol?

ghostrider wrote:The problem with that is petroleum based lubricants can deactivate primers, so one generally doesn't use oil on dies.

Do you avoid oiling your guns to protect the primers?

For that matter, other than the decapper (which only contacts spent primers) when do any of your dies come into contact with the primer?

I would try some paste wax

Package them in a plastic container or bag with Tipton Rust Inhibitor Chips

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?p ... ber=154282" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Or you can use a thin coating or any oil that you would use on your gun.

After use, I wipe mine down with the same rag I used to clean the case lube off the re-sized brass.

Seems to work fine.

Never had a failed primer and no rust.

ghostrider wrote:I use several brands of reloading dies; for rifle calibres I prefer Hornady so I can use their micrometer seating gauge. The problem with Hornady dies is that they are tool steel and prone to rusting even though they're in an airconditioned environment. I emailed Hornady and they suggested oiling the dies to prevent rust. The problem with that is petroleum based lubricants can deactivate primers, so one generally doesn't use oil on dies.

Anyone else use Hornady dies and have this problem?

Here are two options that won't interfere with primers or reloading safety:

Rust Blox This is what I use - I keep my Hornady dies in the original box with one of these inside.

No Rust Storage Bags

Be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations on when they should be replaced.

WildBill wrote:Package them in a plastic container or bag with Tipton Rust Inhibitor Chips

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?p ... ber=154282" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Now that I'm in a home without a basement, my loading bench is relegated to the garage.

So I started to see signs of rust on some of my dies & such, particularly the RCBS Precision Mics.

After a good cleaning, I went over all of them with Corrosion-X and put a couple of Midway's chips in each die box. So far, so good . . .

When I go ahead and load, I'll just wipe off the lubricant and have at it.

I oil the snot out of my dies. Take a can of silicon spray and hose them down inside and out till it drips off. Mine are soaking wet when I put them away. Before using, a few quick sprays w/ degreaser (e.g. brake cleaner), let them dry a bit, and they are ready to go. Never had a rust problem or a primer problem. Just how I do it, YMMV.

gmckinl wrote:I oil the snot out of my dies. YMMV.

A thin coating of oil is sufficient for the purpose of inhibiting rust. Drowning dies in oil just makes a mess. If you didn't "oil the snot" out of your dies then you wouldn't need to degrease them with brake cleaner. YMMV

WildBill wrote:

gmckinl wrote:I oil the snot out of my dies. YMMV.

A thin coating of oil is sufficient for the purpose of inhibiting rust. Drowning dies in oil just makes a mess. If you didn't "oil the snot" out of your dies then you wouldn't need to degrease them with brake cleaner. YMMV

Personally, I would prefer to wipe off the oil after the snot was oiled out of them.

george wrote:The product "Thompson's Water Seal" is paraffin in a solvent carrier (or, at least the original product was).

The deck sealant? http://www.thompsonswaterseal.com/produ ... prod_id=31" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I like it. It works for me. I let them drip all over a rag and put them up. Yes there is some pooled oil in my die boxes, no biggie. I wipe it up from time to time. Most of my dies are 20-30 years old. Like I said, never any rust and it works for me. Again, just my way of doing things put out there for your consideration. Cleaning them w/ an oil removing solvent before using just isn't a big thing. Swishing them in a coffee can w/ some mineral spirits also works well to remove any/all traces of oil.

As to oil and primers... I wash my hands well before priming cases. I insure that my right hand ONLY handles the primers and the press handle, never touching cases (they could still have a bit of lube even though I did wipe them well). I do all case handling exclusively w/ my left hand.

And... YMMV. To each their own.

thanks for all the suggestions.