WTH....I was resizing some more brass and I got one stuck inside the resizing die. Pulled the press down and it ripped the edge off the casing. What the hell happened and how do I get the shell out of my die?????

My guess would be that the piece of brass was dry, or that piece was damaged. I have used a good strong straight pic and a brass hammer and slowly peeled the case off the inside of the die. When you get close to the neck/shoulder area I used some Deep Creep penetrating oil (its made by sea foam I get it at carquest, Good stuff). Spray it good and slowly heat the die with a heat gun. I fiddled with it for a while and then I grabbed it with a needle nose pliers and wiggled and it popped out. It was on a lee die in 243. Die was ok still in use. Good Luck

Case was improperly lubed probably. Get a RCBS Stuck Case Remover. Not hard to use, well worth the price.
DO NOT try to back the nut off on the decapper rod and use a hammer to drive it out. Trust me on this one!
Cleo

If you convert to Redding body sizing dies there is no decapping rod at all in the die.
it is in the neck sizing die.
Then you just invert the die and belt it out with a punch.

If it's an RCBS die, just drop it in the mail to them with a note. They'll either get the case out or send you a new die (for free).

I'd say that it would be naer impossible to get one stuck in a colet die, being the way they work...

quote:

Originally posted by dubs22-250:
WTH....I was resizing some more brass and I got one stuck inside the resizing die. Pulled the press down and it ripped the edge off the casing. What the hell happened and how do I get the shell out of my die?????

Get a RCBS Stuck Case Remover.
you will need it again someday!

quote:

Originally posted by Beefa:
I'd say that it would be naer impossible to get one stuck in a colet die, being the way they work...

that's great....but it's a full length die and it is stuck!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a 6.5 JDJ case break off at the neck in my RCBS sizing die. In 33yrs of reloading, first time I ever saw this!
I called RCBS and they told me to return the die with $5.00 for shipping and handeling.
The pulled out the brass, polished the inside and replaced the expander ball and stem.
Great company and great customer service.

JD338

If you don't want to wait on sending the die to RCBS or getting a case remover, you can drill a hole thru the case head, tap it, and use a bolt and several different sized washers to pull the case out of the die.

Usually the cause in not enough lube on the case.

John

Get an RCBS Stuck Case Remover...talk the die out of the press and spray a little WD40 or Kroil around the stuck base...leave it alone until the case remover arrives...follow the instructions, they are simple and the case remover is easy to use...remove the stuck case...remember all the trouble a stuck case can cause...remember to use Imperial case sizing wax the next time you resize ANYTHING...AND IF IT STARTS GETTING TIGHT AND HARD TO PUSH THE HANDLE....STOP...pull the case and put a little more wax on it,then start again.

Sometimes in the winter when everything is cold the cases need a little more Imperial and the wax, die and cases need to be warmed up a bit...sometimes a case just wants to stick no matter what you do, and you don't ever know which case is looking to stick you.

I've used my case remover many, many times over the many years...I still haven't completely divined the whys of stuck cases and it has become just one more of the slight hiccups that happen in the learning and doing process of reloading.

'Njoy

usually when i get stuck, i put on a set of chains, and pour the kerosene to her.

loosen collet, tap on expander, brass comes out.

on Lee dies, that is.

X4 the RCBS Stuck Case Remover.

Then.......listen to to what FOOBAR had to say.....

Just so you guys know.....I went down to the sporting goods store and got my RCBS stuck case kit for $14.00 and that thing is the fo-shizzle. I would never use anything else for that problem. Hope this helps some other guys.

quote:

Originally posted by dubs22-250:
Just so you guys know.....I went down to the sporting goods store and got my RCBS stuck case kit for $14.00 and that thing is the fo-shizzle. I would never use anything else for that problem. Hope this helps some other guys.

& too much case lube will Wrinkle the Shoulder!!

quote:

If you don't want to wait on sending the die to RCBS or getting a case remover, you can drill a hole thru the case head, tap it, and use a bolt and several different sized washers to pull the case out of the die.

This is exactly how that I have removed stuck cases in the past. I've only had it happen maybe three times in 37 years but this method works well.
I actually think that I got the procedure out of one of my old reloading manuals. I keep the tap and a stack of washers in one of my desk drawers just in case I need them.

The procedure works as follows. Unscrew the decapper from the die. Don't try to remove it, just get it out of the way by moving it to the front of the case. Drill the base of the case so that you can tap it with a 5/16" NC tap. I use three or four washers that the case will just fit through but will still rest on the mouth of the die. Take a 5/16" Bolt with a 5/16" flat washer and screw it into the case with your three larger washers in between. You now have a case puller so to speak. Tighten the 5/16" bolt till it pulls the case out of the die. You can let the decapper/expander come out with the case and remove it after the case is out.

Give the die a good cleaning after doing this.

I've stuck a few and helped others who have also stuck a few. The stuck case remover works.

What seems to cause the problem is not so much insufficent lube but improper application. Most folks put a heavy coat on the case upper body and neck but that isn't needed and leads to lube dents in the shoulder.

Not putting enough slick-em on the lower body and web area is what makes brass stick, coat that and you will have no problem IF you are using a good lube.

Another great lube product is put out by Ponsness Warren, it called STOS.

prepare your cases and when you are reday to re-size stick your finger in the STOS and rub it on you palm and rub your hands together like you are washing them. Pick up the cases a few at a time and roll them back and forth in palms and place them on a clean surface. Pick up the next batch and continue untill you are done.Don't forget to re-apply the STOS.

By rolling the cases you won't get any lube on the shoulders. I have used this same method with Imperial also.

Back in the day STOS was also called Slicker Than Owl S#!T.

Please wash your hands before eating your Baloney Sandwich.

Best wishes, Bill

quote:

Originally posted by Down south:

quote:

If you don't want to wait on sending the die to RCBS or getting a case remover, you can drill a hole thru the case head, tap it, and use a bolt and several different sized washers to pull the case out of the die.

This is exactly how that I have removed stuck cases in the past. I've only had it happen maybe three times in 37 years but this method works well.
I actually think that I got the procedure out of one of my old reloading manuals. I keep the tap and a stack of washers in one of my desk drawers just in case I need them.

The procedure works as follows. Unscrew the decapper from the die. Don't try to remove it, just get it out of the way by moving it to the front of the case. Drill the base of the case so that you can tap it with a 5/16" NC tap. I use three or four washers that the case will just fit through but will still rest on the mouth of the die. Take a 5/16" Bolt with a 5/16" flat washer and screw it into the case with your three larger washers in between. You now have a case puller so to speak. Tighten the 5/16" bolt till it pulls the case out of the die. You can let the decapper/expander come out with the case and remove it after the case is out.

Give the die a good cleaning after doing this.

I had to go to a "grade 8" bolt, as I once turned the head off the bolt on a really stuck case.

Get the stuck case remover! It is a handy piece of kit when these mishaps occur. Sadly, it might happen again in the future...

- mike

I've used RCBS Stuck case remover and also heat and cold to remove such cases.

The case remover works, but this always happens when you have to get the reloading job done and the gun store doesn't have the kit or isn't open. If you have a kit, you are golden.

If you got a tap set and a drill, you can get it out in the manner described. It is the only way that I have ever used. By the way, rather than washers, I use a socket that will fit over the case and seat on the die base, then put a washer on top to protect the socket. I keep the set up in the top of my tool chest. Kudude

I have stuck too many, but this method makes short work of the problem.

quote:

If you got a tap set and a drill, you can get it out in the manner described. It is the only way that I have ever used. By the way, rather than washers, I use a socket that will fit over the case and seat on the die base, then put a washer on top to protect the socket. I keep the set up in the top of my tool chest. Kudude

Hey you have seen my set up. Like many others first time I stuck one it was late and I didn't want to run to the store. Qucik drill tape and out it came.

Speaking from experience with a RCBS if you try and use the expander to drive out the case you will bend or break it off. RCBS will replace it free but you are a week behind.

quote:

Originally posted by delloro:
loosen collet, tap on expander, brass comes out.

on Lee dies, that is.

That is one of the best ideas Lee ever came up with!

There are two kinds of people those who have stuck a case and those who will stick a case. Get a RCBS Stuck Case Remover you need it now and you will need it in the future.
I had a friend who saw mine on the shelf over my bench and asked what it was fore. I told him and he bragged he had been reloading for 20 years and had never stuck a case, a few days latter he called and asked if he could borrow my Stuck Case Remover. I had some fun with him over that one.
Bill

Too much lube on the neck and shoulder causes lube dents in the case BUT dry necks and shoulders don't cause stuck cases. Sticking comes from a lack of lube on the base/web area, that's where the hard sizing occurs. Lube that area well and you're safe.

It is NOT the recommended method but I've always managed to get stuck cases out- and I've managed to stick a few in various calibers in my 40+ years of reloading- by loosing the decapping rod, screwing the bushing out a turn or two, tightening the decaping rod until it bottoms out on the case- and then tighteneing the bushing into the die to force the case out. Repeat until the case is out of the die.
I think I bent a decapping rod one time but usually the case comes out fine and nothing is damaged.
I think the trick is to use the bushing as the jam screw rather than the decapping rod. With a little oil or grease on the bushing thread and protecting the knurling with some leather I can usually get a case out and be back to reloading in a few minutes. I use the portion of the rim that didn't shear off to the pull the expander ball out of the case after I screw the die back into the press.
This method works with RCBS dies- obviously won't work with Lee, don't recall about other brands.
The RIGHT was is to buy a stuck case remover but I don't own one - yet

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
If it's an RCBS die, just drop it in the mail to them with a note. They'll either get the case out or send you a new die (for free).

im glad im not the only one who thinks like this.

If neck sizing only isn't the neck all that gets the lube? Just confirming as I too am a little new to reloading. Thanks.

Yep, just the neck. The outside doesn't really need any as it's smooth. Something on the inside helps the button to slide out easier.

I use some graphite in a shallow container and dip the neck into it. For PFLS'ing I run a brush into the neck with some graphite on it.
A lee collet neck die won't need anything anywhere.

Buy some Imperial Die Wax, throw everything
else away. Lube the inside neck/shoulder junction with a Q-tip dipped lightly in Imperial.
Live happily ever after.
Good luck!