Broken Shell Holder

[Gee_Wizz01]

While resizing some 45-75 win brass I broke my RCBS #31 shell holder! In 50years of reloading I thought I had seen everything, but this is the first time I ever broke a shell holder. When it happened I thought I had ripped the rim off of the case however when I got the case out of the die, the rim was OK.. The worst part is now I am down til I get a new one.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210429/fd0f432980461ef6e6b8de5cf20f99eb.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210429/a68d26f6ac63595c2a2660332601720f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210429/2f020e307072ff90e4511416e687072c.jpg

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[ReloaderFred]

Call them and they'll send you a new one for free.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Gee_Wizz01]

Call them and they'll send you a new one for free.

Hope this helps.

Fred

I am waiting on a call back from them. They only take calls until 1pm now, I had to leave a message. I tried to email them but they have a notice stating they now have a 3 week wait on emails. Their site also indicates they have none in stock. I just ordered one from Midway. Oh well I guess I won't be loading any 45-75 until next week.

Gary

[bedbugbilly]

I've never seen one break before - always figured they were pretty much "indestructible" - learn something new every day. Hope they have one and can get it out to you quickly.

[ReloaderFred]

They're swamped like everyone else. My mail lady told me she's working 7 days a week because they can't find anyone who wants to work. She hasn't had a day off in over 2 months.

If RCBS, and the rest of the industry is having the same issues, then I can understand them limiting their time on the phone and answering emails....

[Shawlerbrook]

That’s a first for me in 50 years of reloading.

[panhed65]

That’s a first for me in 50 years of reloading.
I agree, I have been reloading since about 1973, and have never seen or heard of a shell holder breaking.
Barry

[243winxb]

What case lube was being used?

[Mk42gunner]

The only ones I have ever broken were Lee's for the .43 Spanish. I was getting them locally, maybe Lee had a bad batch? I solved my problem by finding an RCBS shell holder #22 IIRC.

I usually buy two, one for the press and one for the priming tool. This only helps until you break the second one though.

Robert

[The Dar]

I agree with others, contact RCBS first. They will take care of you. Then if you can find one of these put it on a shelf. You won't be out of commission waiting for a shell holder.

https://www.natchezss.com/lee-universal-shell-holder-set.html

I bought the set years ago. I have two uses for it. I reload both in my house and in my shop. I have two shell holders for each caliber I load for....except 45Colt. I keep forgetting the shell holder in the house and needing it in my shop. Needed it last Sunday to deprime some brass I had shot that morning. Was about to go to the house to retrieve the shell holder and remembered I had the set, saved a trip to the house.

I also pick up live rounds at the range. Pull the bullets to melt, dump the powder, deprime and save/scrap the case. I use shell holders from the set for odd ball calibers which I don't have shell holders for.

[Gee_Wizz01]

What case lube was being used?

I was using home brew lanolin and alcohol. Case was not even stuck, I was able to tap it out with a brass rod. The case rim is not damaged other than a burr on the rim

[OldBearHair]

It seems that that shell holder missed the tempering step which left it brittle. I am another 1973 beginner to reloading. LOL

[Gee_Wizz01]

Unfortunately I have at least 2 shell holders ror every caliber I reload for except 45-75.

[Gee_Wizz01]

It seems that that shell holder missed the tempering step which left it brittle. I am another 1973 beginner to reloading. LOL

I suspect either bad heat treatment or bad machining or both. The machining has lot of rough cutter marks in the recesses.

[TNsailorman]

I broke RCBS 2 shell holders in one evening resizing CCC .43 Spanish brass. I had one shell holder fail several years ago; another brand and not RCBS. The walls on those cases were very thick and the first time thru a full length die takes a bit of muscle. The second time I need to resize them I can do so with a neck sizing die and everything is good to go. The funny part was that both shell holders broke when I was withdrawing the case from the die. I pulled both cases out of the die with my fingers. I called RCBS and they replaced one but would not send two. I am not sure they believed what I told them. But I figure that was fair as I was putting the shell holders thru a task that they were not designed to do. I bought a second shell holder and I finished resizing the cases I had without further problems. james

[Walks]

I broke an RCBS shell holder about 20yrs ago sizing down Starline brass for a .40-82WCF, and yes I was using Imperial Sizing Die Wax applied with very greasy fingers.
The starline cases were a Great Deal harder then the Connecticut Cartridge Cases or Bell Cases I had.
That shellholder had probably loaded 5,000 .45-70's and RCBS sent me a new one, free.

[243winxb]

RCBS has said they have removed many stuck brass from FL dies, when reloaders were using Imperial Sizing Die Wax .

If your breaking shell holders, your not using RCBS Case Lube- 2 .

[Mr_Sheesh]

When you change case holders, do remember to check your die settings - as the new case holder might possibly not be exactly identical in dimensions, to the old one.

It SHOULD be same dimensions, of course, if it's the same brand, a tad of paranoia is wise when working with 50+k PSI or so pressures, though, isn't it?

Be safe :)

[Green Frog]

My thought, along with previous posters, is that you got a SH with a flaw in the steel. If you had gotten a steel case stuck in the sizing die, I would understand the break, but I’ve never heard of a steel case 45-70! I’ve never seen a RCBS shell holder break, but if you stay at this game long enough, you’ll see it all. [smilie=l:

Froggie

[Gee_Wizz01]

Froggie I think you are right. This shell holder has only seen about 300 cases being loaded. I believe it was some type metallurgical problem. You are correct about seeing everything in this game.

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[Gee_Wizz01]

RCBS has said they have removed many stuck brass from FL dies, when reloaders were using Imperial Sizing Die Wax .

If your breaking shell holders, your not using RCBS Case Lube- 2 .243 I have the same opinion of Imperial . I have only stuck one case (5.56 LC 98) using Imperial, but the force required to size or case form is much higher than with RCBS or my homemade lube. I was disappointed with Imperial after all the hype. My worst experience has been with One Shot, stuck 4 cases in one evening.

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[oley55]

243 I have the same opinion of Imperial . I have only stuck one case (5.56 LC 98) using Imperial, but the force required to size or case form is much higher than with RCBS or my homemade lube. I was disappointed with Imperial after all the hype. My worst experience has been with One Shot, stuck 4 cases in one evening.

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I had a jar of Imperial that was left in the garage for a few years and when I went to use it I almost stuck a case. On closer examination a darker colored brown something had separated out into the center bottom of the jar. I warmed it up and thoroughly remixed and helped but was still not right.

Back to the subject broken shell holder, I'm having a hard time getting my brain wrapped around the idea of a brass case rim being stronger than a steel shell holder, regardless of heat treating. I wonder if over a long period of time excessive cam-over with some narrow mouthed die of some sort or another initiated the failure.

[ReloaderFred]

Metal fatigue happens over time from repeated uses. This may explain why the thin lips of shell holders sometimes break off. Other factors could be a flaw in the steel, a heat treating issue, or some other problem. Nothing lasts forever and mass produced items are bound to have a failure once in a while.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[243winxb]

I have two RCBS #3 shell holders. The old 1973 shows wear from many loadings of 243, 308, 3006, 45acp. . Can't be overly hard? Can it?

[Walks]

RCBS Case Lube-2 is really Great Stuff. I'm still using a bottle from 20yrs ago. And the same Case Lube pad. Sizing is always easy as long as you remember to ROLL the cases across the pad.

I probably use more Imperial Sizing wax then most, as I said before GREASY Fingers. And yet have only had one case ever "crease" . And that was when sizing .45-70 down to .40-65WCF.

[Hossfly]

I’ve stuck a case 30-06 with the home brew alc and lanolin solution by getting in a hurry and not giving the alc time to flash off. Will stick every time.

[lightman]

I don't remember ever seeing a broken shellholder. But I bet RCBS will make it right for you.

[44magLeo]

With just 300 or so uses it probably was a bad shell holder.
If your press is a rock Chucker, it is an over center press. as the ram cams over it exerts extreme pressure. If you adjust the die so it just kisses the shell holder with out the case, then when you size a case anywhere there is any give in the press such as slack in the linkages or frame stretch then the force to push the cae into the die removes all this slack. When this happens you will see the shell hlder no longer touches the die.
Now if you adjust the de in a bit so it just kisses the shell holder when sizing a case, then with out a case the ram can apply excessize pressure on the shell hlder. This stresses the shell holder. Then after enoug times the shell holder gives at the place that can least hangle this pressure. Just like in the pic.
I had a Rock Chucker once years ago. The cam over wa there and I never really liked it. It felt not right. I can't really describe it any better.
Being as it was what I had I lived with it. I now have a press that comes to a dead stop, no cam over. It Feels right. The solid feel of it stopping is a delight. I no longer have to guess if I reached the end of the stroke.
With this It would be hard to over stress the shell holder in such a way.
Now As I first said I don't think this applies to a fairly new shell holder. I think it would take 1000's of cycles to break that way.
I think that adding a stop to the linkages to stop the ram just before a press cams over is a good idea.
Leo

[tred1956]

Just FYI you can fill,out an email (Contact RCBS) on their website. State your problem. Be sure to include your mailing address and it will be shipped within a day or two. Usually quicker than waiting on a returned call these days.
Safe shooting
Doug