Quick Fixes... AREN'T! How to properly remove stuck cases

[DrewTenney]

So, even smart people "and today I must use that term loosely" can make stupid mistakes. I have been reloading for about 8 years, the last 1.5 on the other hand I have been way to busy buying and fixing up a new house, and tending a brand new baby boy (Caliber his name is :D) to spend any time on what I would like to do, ie. reloading. I decided it was time to get back to it, so I set up all my my favorite presses, organized my collection of dies, power measures, calipers etc.. My first load was going to be for my .308, using 168gr HPBT hornady rounds, charged with some dilectable IMR 4350. After removing my brass from the tumbler and coating with resizing lube (lanolin and alcohol mix) the very first round... sticks in the die.

Step 1. Pull back on handle to lower brass...

Step 2. pull a little harder (its going to come out)

Step 3. SNAP!

Step 4. Put palm to forehead and slowly shake head from side to side.

Step 5. Using 3/4" and 1/2" wrenches, loosen decapper retention ring, and remove ring.

Step 6. Tap top of decapper pin with hammer until round and pin drop out of bottom of die.

Step 7. Try and wrench said decapper pin with channel locks and heavy duty workbench mounted vice, scarring and slightly bending the decapper pin so it will never work again.

Step 8. Locate parts list for dies, and write down part numbers for decapper pin.. find place to order said part.
This is where my mistakes stop.

Corrective action (this is where the advice actually starts) After the SNAP! this is what I should have done.

Step 1. Using a 3/4" and 1/2" wrench, loosen the decapper retention ring on top of die. This releases the Decapper pin and the round will drop out of the die (hopefully)
Step 2. Use dremel tool (or the like) to cut around the base of the casing in order to remove the decapper pin through the nice big hole you have just created. Reinstall decapper pin in clamp and carry on.

The moral of this diatribe: if you haven't used your dies in a while, take them apart and clean them of all rust, residue and build up before trying to use them. Even if they were stored in their original containers in a cool, dry place with ample CLP. 2 minutes of cleaning is much easier!

Happy Reloading!!!

[Sweetpea]

Wish I never had to use a hack saw to remove a case head...

Don't feel bad.

Most of us have done it, even if we won't admit it!

Brandon

[Dale in Louisiana]

I found it was easy enough to back the decapping pin as far out of the die as possible, drill out the primer pocket and tap it for a 1/4x20 bolt, then use a socket, a bolt and a washer as a puller to pull the case out. The socket had to be big enough to fit over the cartridge head, then the bolt was threaded through the opening of the socket into the threaded hole in the case. The washer was under the head of the bolt for support and to make it easy to turn.

dale in Louisiana

[km101]

We've all done it. That's why RCBS sells so many Stuck Case Remover Kits! I've had mine since my first stuck .38 case back in 72. :)

[DrewTenney]

I already ordered the med size 30cal decapper pins from lee... along with a few extra decapper retaining clamps, and various other decapper pins... I have a feeling my 7.62x39 and 30-30 might have reloading issues.... they are like 3 bucks a pop... nice to have on hand "just in case"

[jmorris]

That's when you don't feel that you paid too much for Dillon dies. Run the wrench down and back up and your done.

[Dennis Eugene]

dale in Louisiana Bingo we have a winner :grin: Dennis

[skeet028]

I do gun shows. Take a stuck case remover with me to most. In my spare time I remove stuck cases for 5 bucks each. Have done as many as 10 in a 2 day show..a cheap fix is worthwhile. BUY and USE a Stuck case remover. I also sell every one I get. Cutting the head off of a stuck case??

[DrewTenney]

Skeet, if the decapper pin will not come back out of the neck of a bottleneck case, cutting the bottom off of the case will allow the decapper pin to easily come out. I'll look into a stuck case remover, I didn't know they existed until your reply. Thanks!

[skeet028]

Oh I know why people cut the heads off. Just never thought it was necessary. Course I have had a stuck case remover for years..many of them. so much easier..and no messing up the dies

[Alan in Vermont]

Skeet, if the decapper pin will not come back out of the neck of a bottleneck case, cutting the bottom off of the case will allow the decapper pin to easily come out.

But what do you do with the case that is still stuck in the die and now has no way to conveniently latch onto it to pull it out of the die? I'm not trying to be abrasive but that approach appears, to me, to turn a minor issue into a huge problem.

Once the head of the case is gone there is nothing to pull on, or pound against. The case would now have to be machined out of the die.

Please explain what you hope to accomplish by cutting the case head away.

I can't imagine the case being stuck on the expander button. The few (luckily) that I have dealt with all had the case exterior stuck to the inside of the sizing die. Has anyone here ever had a case stuck on the expander button?

[skeet028]

About the only way to get the de-headed case out is to fold part of it in on itself..eventually breaking it free. Sometimes the neck sizer will become stuck when people try to pull it out of the die through the top...Just won't work. Most of the dies become ruined when they try to pry the case out after cutting the head off. I have actually seen a tap inserted in the cut off case and sometimes it do come out..usually not.

[billyb]

In this instance the case has been pulled from the die with the decapper stem stuck in the case and the head cut off to get the decaping stem out.

[Idz]

Best way I found to get a stuck case out of a die is to put the whole thing in the deep freeze for a few hours. The brass shrinks more than the steel and the case pops right out with a few taps.
I found some cases are just a pain but can be sized if they are run part way up, then removed and re-lubed, then run up fully.

good luck, stuck cases are no fun.

[300winmag]

All I can say is if you haven't stuck a case, you will at some point in your re-loading career.

[DrewTenney]

Alan, I was only referring to a case stuck with the decapper pin inside, and not seized to sides of die. If you can get the decapper out through the top of the die, and the case is still stuck, I would recommend using a punch, as thick as you can fit in the neck so as to have the most surface area hitting the bottom of the case so you don't punch it through when you whack the top with a hammer. I do like the deep freeze idea for this scenario as well.

[Nickle]

I stick a case from time to time.

Sometimes I screw up, sometimes it's been less than satisfactory case lube.

Seems the worst offender is 30-06, and it isn't just a bad die, as I've got 3 or 4 sets, couple of them FL, an SB or two and neck size. Haven't used the neck sizer much, but the other 4 have all given me trouble.

[skeet028]

Never stick a case.on the single stage presses. I use the Imperial sizing die wax and it is a great product. On the 223 I use spray lube cause the Super 1050 goes pretty easy with that stuff. In fact I use the spray lube even on the pistol cases on my 1050s. They just work easier. Not necessary with pistol cases and carbide dies except maybe the 460 and 500 Smith. Lotta pressure and brass working on those. I had a fellow bring me a stuck case in a Lee Carbide 500 Smith. Got it out.but the carbide ring was broken. Lee wouldn't replace it either. Stuck on the 11th round he tried loading.Not real keen about Lee dies. I have bought 5 sets of like new dies at porn..er... pawn shops in the last year or so with stuck cases. Most I ever paid was 5 bucks for a set..All RCBS too...yep even pawn shops get hooked every now and again too.

[David2011]

Every case I've gotten stuck was due to impatience. All were while using spray lube and not waiting long enough for the alcohol to evaporate. The lanolin works much better once the alcohol is gone. Never go one stuck using messy old lube pads and lube or Imperial Sizing Wax. Imperial is my favorite but I still use the spray stuff if sizing bulk lots of cases. The RCBS stuck case remover is a bargain when you need it.

David