shell stuck in die

[jayg]

i did not lube a 270 case and got it stuck in a rcbs resizing die. looking for ideas on how to get the shell out. after an hour of searching on the forum i decided to go the easier route. also thought this mite bring a smile to some of you who have experience with this. jayg

 

[MichiganScott]

Send it back to RCBS or buy a stuck case remover. I bought one 30 years ago just in case and never used it, but have loaned it out a couple of times.

 

[Collo Rosso]

I made a shell puller from a 1/4-20 screw, nut, washer and 1/4 drive socket. Works great.

 

[rwsmith]

The stuck case remover...

Definitely first try would be the RCBS stuck case remover because you can get one at an LGS, they aren't very expensive and you will be back in business quicker.

 

[VAPA]

Get a RCBS stuck case removal kit.

 

[David R]

I have done it too many times. I have got them out with heat and cooling.

I have had success with a 1/4" tap and bolt.

The last 2 times, I just bought a new sizing die.

David

 

[Mike_in_VA]

I made a shell puller from a 1/4-20 screw, nut, washer and 1/4 drive socket. Works great.

/\ /\ /\

This

 

[fredj338]

Spend $20, get a stuck case remover from whoever. That & a bullet puller are mandatory items on any bench. Even exp reloaders make the occasional error that needs correction.

 

[max]

If you send it back to RCBS, they will fix or replace it for no charge.

 

[Hairtrigger]

Before sending the die away, put it in the freezer
The stuck case may be removable when frozen

 

[Engineer1911]

Back out decapping pin, drill & tap a 1/4"-28 tpi hole. Use a 1-1/2" long socket head cap screw, 3/8" drive deep socket or 1/2" drive standard socket), and (2) 1/4" thick fender washers.

Insert cap screw through both fender washers, through socket and start, threads into D&T hole. Crank the cap screw with a long handled allen wrench. This is a learning lesson.

Hopefully, one lesson is enough. In 35 years of reloading, I usually have an annual lesson involving the proper application of sizing lube.

 

[jayg]

thank you so much for all the ideas. i'll throw it in the freezer tonite and start fresh in the morning. the knowledge here amazes me. jayg

 

[Hillbilly77]

I did that to me with my very first .30-06 case that I tried to resize. I wasn't generous enough with the case lube.

The obvious problem with the 1/4" tap idea is that if you lack the tools, you are out of luck. I was lucky and had what I needed.
If you do happen to have the proper tools, drill a 3/16" pilot hole for a 1/4" tap.

In the future, the aforementioned kit will save a lot of headache.



As a side note, I've found it important to maintain a sense of humor - you WILL screw up more. I've ruined a few pieces of brass - over-crimped, pinched the edge with a sizing die, trimmed too short, etc.
I saved my mistakes above my loading bench to remind me that it's a learning process, and keeping a sense of humor about the "oops moments" is vital to prevent getting discouraged.

My first '06 case:

My "wall of shame":

 

[Rule3]

Due to the superior design and quality of LEE dies it is a simple matter of loosening the decapping pin, and tapping out the stuck case. No case removal tool needed.

Stuck Case Removal - Lee Precision

 

[Doubless]

I would recommend NOT removing the de-capping assembly. Loosen it and move it up to the top of the case, but don't remove it. My experience is that removing it entirely in most cases unscrews the sizer ball on the end of the stem, and getting it out of the case is a major pain in the hinder parts!

 

[fredj338]

I would recommend NOT removing the de-capping assembly. Loosen it and move it up to the top of the case, but don't remove it. My experience is that removing it entirely in most cases unscrews the sizer ball on the end of the stem, and getting it out of the case is a major pain in the hinder parts!

Nah, just use a small pipe cutter.

 

[venomballistics]

Nah, just use a small pipe cutter.

Yeah, it's not like the piece of brass is particularly useful after one of these adventures.

 

[David R]

After a few of my attempts and trashing a few dies, I give it a shot then buy a new die. I have had success also by driving on the expander after unscrewing it.

Expect little, be happy if you win.

David

 

[Hairtrigger]

Let me know if you are successful with the freezer, more times than not it works for me.
I have had friends bring me dies with stuck cases, more often than not they would be better off not trying to remove the case before freezing, the harder they try the stucker it gets!!

 

[jayg]

the freezing did not work since i had already torn off part of the bottom of the shell with the shell holder and could not get a good grip on the shell. i'll go get my tap in a little while after i finish some chores. my lgs is a 110 mile drive so buying an extractor is on the back burner.

 

[MichiganScott]

my lgs is a 110 mile drive so buying an extractor is on the back burner.

That's a whole new definition of "local".

 

[David R]

I have heated the die and spray canned air in the brass to cool it and shrink it so it comes out of the warm die.

Dav

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

As said, it happens to the best(and worst) of us.

I recall a friend once(name withheld to protect the guilty, as he is also a member here) who brought me his Lee 9mm sizing die with a case stuck in it. He had been loading 38 specials and changed dies, but forgot to change the shell holder-an easy enough mistake to make, and I've done similar things.

Unfortunately, before he brought it to me he had tried numerous methods to extract the case-most notably pulling on the case head with a pair of vice grips while his dad held the die body with another pair. Somewhere in the process, he'd manage to bend the decapping pin(those of you who have used Lee dies know how difficult this is to do).

Fortunately, using the "hammer and punch" Lee method, the case popped right out, and I think if he gets another stuck case he'll do it that way.

Unfortunately, his previous attempts had messed up the die threads, as well as the threads on the collet that holds the decapping pin. Even with the case out, the die was essentially unuseable, and he ended up buying a new sizing die.

I've stuck my fair share of cases even in my relatively short year and a half of reloading. Every one has been a learning experience, and once you get this case out, I'd encourage you to use it as such as well!

 

[Hairtrigger]

While at youe "local" gunshop buy a can of Imperial sizing wax and worry about stuck cases no more

 

[Rule3]

What? No liquid Nitrogen in the garage?? Never know when that comes in handy!. A cutting torch also works well.

 

[dswancutt]

While at youe "local" gunshop buy a can of Imperial sizing wax and worry about stuck cases no more

This is the BEST case lube available. I sized over 4000 30-06 cases and never stuck a case. If fact, once the die is seasoned, you only need a very small amount of lube.
I've begun to size a bunch of GI 308 brass that most likely was fired out of a machine gun and it takes no more effort that a standard 308 case.
Beyond that, get a stuck case remover. It pays for itself with the first stuck case.

 

[Houser52]

 

[rwsmith]

RGS?

the freezing did not work since i had already torn off part of the bottom of the shell with the shell holder and could not get a good grip on the shell. i'll go get my tap in a little while after i finish some chores. my lgs is a 110 mile drive so buying an extractor is on the back burner.

Regional Gun Shop???

 

[rwsmith]

NEAT,

I haven't had much problems with stuck cases, but next time I stick one I'm going to make one of these.

 

[Houser52]

I've had 1 stuck case in 35+ years of reloading and that was it. I ran out of RCBS LUBE and the only thing I could find locally was Hornady One Shot lube. Stuck the case shortly after I started using it. That was the last time I took the cap off of the can.
Imperial and Dillon lube is all I use now.