While de-priming a .223 the primer stayed in the base but the base separated from the rest of the case. The normal way of pulling a stuck case requires the base to still be available. Is there any way to remove the brass or do I need a new die?

I have pulled them a couple of ways I used a proper sized tap screwed that into the case wall then pulled or drove the case out.

I have chucked them in my lathe and cut the case until I could take it out.

One can cut the case length wise and the pull it out.

not hard at all. take a scratch awl and drive it in between the case and the die, being careful not to scratch the die. (the awl will be softer) then a bit bigger thing (like a soft chinese philips screwdriver) this will collapse the side of the case / back out the decapping /expanding unit until it gets stuck in the case and it past the threads,then just a couple taps will pop i out

Tom Burgess said if you had a stuck case with the rim torn off, if you have an acetylene torch heat the case up on a spot for a second and it will turn red then expand and make a small bulge, then it cools off and shrinks and the case falls out.

I never tried it but he said it only takes a second or two of heat.

quote:

I have pulled them a couple of ways I used a proper sized tap screwed that into the case wall then pulled or drove the case out.

The tap just barely has to catch in the case neck.


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Easy, push a 25 to 38 caliber wire brush in the case and pull it out, the bristles bend back and really grab when you pull back on them..if its really stuck put a little oil in the die overnight I'm told, but have never had to do this...also works on a rifle chamber when a case parts...

Also there is a brake expanding tool that you can insert in a case the expand it and pull cases out but I can't think of the name of that dodad, its a handy deal and works great..

Tom Burgess is correct, I use that as a last resort, I stick the wire cleaning brush in case add a little weight to it then heat up the die and the case will drop out as it cools. It never seems to hurt the die, but I wouldn't get it too hot, I never had the case get red, just hot.

I had a case stuck in a chamber once and filled it with cerrosafe, the stuff they cast chambers with. Then just pushed it out with a dowel rod. It should work with a loading die as well.

Buy this stuf:

Freeze away

spray it into/onto the case... the case shrinks more than the steel die... the case falls out.

I had a case head separate and couldn't get the rest of the case out. I stuck the Die in the freezer for a few hours and then was able to push the brass out with little effort. The two metals react differently to the cold.

Thank you to all of the people who posted suggestions. I tried drilling it out but only succeeded in driving it in even worse, then tried tapping it but just ruined a tap. Both heat and cold were also tried and did not solve the problem. A metal smith friend managed in getting a pick behind the case and pull part of it away from the die wall. It then fell out but looked like the end of a .223. It was really pushed in. Anyway thanks everyone.

Glad you got it out. It's happened to me several times. The last time-it was a 7x57 in my old, circa 1974, RCBS sizing die-I said "screw it", threw the die in the trash, and bought a new die set. I figured after 35 years, it was time to treat myself to something new.

It sounds like you need to break down and buy some new brass!

Stepchild

My die set is also old as it was purchased around 1982. Recently I purchased a new .38/.357 die set to be adjusted for .357 as the older set is used mainly for .38. Coming from the 40's I am old school and work to fix things rather than give up.

Last fall I bough 1,000 rounds of new brass and in this case the old supply of brass is worn out and has been sent for recycling.