Cracked sizing die?
 

Anyone ever have a sizing die literally crack?? I have a redding die that is cracked a good 1 in. up from the opening. :eek::( Contacting Redding to see what they will do..

I've never had one crack.
Redding will probably ask you to send it to them,and send you a new one.They make quality stuff,and usually stand behind their products.

was it ever dropped on a hard surface??

ive seen steel tool dies shatter like glass falling off a table onto a concrete floor.

It has never been dropped, or abused in any way.. It will be interesting to find out what happened though... if it was just metal fatigue or ????

Wow never heard of that happening. Can you snap a few pics before you send I back.

Yes, I will take some pics tomorrow.. I am still waiting on Redding to respond so probably some time next week..

must just be manufacture defect.

It sounds like the die itself could have been either over hardened, or else not tempered, or tempered improperly. You didn't mention the caliber? In full length resizing dies in many of the Magnum rifle chamberings, fired brass can and does exert a great deal of expansive force against the sides of the die. Especially at or near the base. While this should not force the die to crack, it could if the die was overly hardened causing crystallizing of the metallic grain of the steel itself, thereby making the steel very brittle. Hardness prevents wear. But as the old saying goes, you don't get something for nothing. The downside is the material becomes more brittle the harder it gets.

I apologize about not mentioning caliber.... .243 wssm.

and billt, agree completely

Ok, finally got pictures taken, and the die is on its way back to Redding along with 5 fired brass at their request.

Here is the picture of the die as promised.