Quick Tip: Why Some Reloading Dies Have Vent Holes

Hi everyone, Steve and Caleb here with Brownells! We've got a quick tech tip for you today. Have you ever looked at your sizing die and noticed a little hole on the side? You might be wondering what it's for. Let's dive into it and find out.

The Discovery

Caleb: We were just sitting here, and I picked up a sizing die. I noticed there's a hole in the side and asked Steve about it since I had never noticed it before. Steve looked up and said, "Turn on the cameras," so here we are.

Steve: I've been reloading since the 1980s because I couldn't afford to buy ammo off the shelf back then. It was cheaper to reload. I used an old roller pad with RCBS lube, which would often get covered in cat hair, lint, and even small pieces of gravel.

The Problem with Too Much Lube

Steve: When you get too much lube on your case, it can dent the case when it hits the compression area on the shoulder. This usually dents the shoulder but can sometimes dent the wall inside. The little hole in the die gives the extra lube a place to escape, so your cases come out looking as they should.

Caleb: That's pretty nifty. When I first started reloading, I had issues with overlubed cases. Those dies probably didn't have that hole.

Steve: Probably. Nowadays, many lubes get around this problem. If you're using something like Hornady One Shot or Lee White Wax, as long as you let it dry, you won't have this issue. But with the old sticky type or homemade lubes, it helps to have that little release point.

Modern Lube Solutions

Steve: Modern lubes like Hornady One Shot or Lee White Wax are designed to prevent over-lubing issues. As long as you let them dry properly, they work well. However, if you're using older sticky lubes or something homemade, the hole in the die can be very helpful.

Learning Something New

Caleb: I learned something new today. This just goes to show that no matter how much you think you know, there's always something new to learn.

Steve: That's right. Always a student.

Conclusion

Caleb: If you have any questions or comments, or if you want to add anything to this discussion, feel free to leave them below. And if you want to make fun of me for not knowing this, go ahead and throw those comments in too. If you need help with anything else, feel free to give us a call on the tech line. We'll be happy to help you out. Thanks for joining us, and we'll see you next time!