Lets see what you have broke!

[BT Sniper]

In a little over a years time I have spent in this hobby I have had my fair share of difficulties. I have posted a lot of my success and talked a little about my challenges. To satisfy the curiousity of those of you interested in what swaging can do to your equipment I took some pics. Most of these occured either because I used a press not up to the challenge or knowingly applied to much force to them and the tools I use.

This could be a interesting thread as I'm sure there are others out there that have bent, broke, melted, tore, stuck or........etc. Just thinking about it how many have stuck a case in a die and sheared the rim trying to remove it when resizing brass. Then tried to drill it out with a drill bit that was harder then the die. Would love to here some stories as I know they are not ammusing to the one it happend to but may be to the one that has experienced the same thing.

[Wally]

I broke the ends off of three different RCBS Posi-prime single primer seating tools... the lips of the tool where a normal shell holder was inserted would break off---the tool was made of cast zinc. RCBS replaced them all, but of what use where they as they would keep breaking... Also, after the first one broke, I used them very carefully...

[BT Sniper]

And so it begins......... pics are great, storys too. Thanks. I'll have a lot of pics and stories soon. All sorts of ruined brass have I (been watching Star Wars and Yoda a bit to much :))

[kbstenberg]

I can see the importance of a thread like this. Gives all some knowledge for future problems that may happen. I think everyone should also tell how they accomplished the fix.

[Pressman]

I have never broke anything that I can remember in 45 years of relaoding. Am I doing something wrong?
Ken

[BT Sniper]

Ok how about challenges then too. Surly you must of almost got a case stuck or a primmer seated upside down? How did you remove that primer? Did it pop? Where you taught by a master? I welcome all posts and stories. What is your seceret Ken. I did not think of the potential benifits here as in what not to do.

Keep them coming. I have an entire garage full of mistakes. Just have to post some pics now.

Just last month I was forming 338-300RUM brass and got one stuck in the die. So I remove the nuts holding the decaping pin and remove that rod from the die. Ofcourse the .338 expanding mandrel was left in the case and as I looked at it I figured I could mount the die with a stuck case in my swaging press and use the 1/4" ejecting bolt that pushes out my bullet from the die to push the case out of the die from the open top. It worked but the bolt pushed against the expanding madrel and flatened it. So there I was unable to resize any more brass till I made a new one. Oh yeh it was the night before I left for elk season and still need to reload some bullets. Could have just drilled and taped the base of the brass but that would have took to long[smilie=b:

[shooterg]

I've broke ME ! Spent out/tapped/empty wallet......

[imashooter2]

SDB press frame:

http://home.comcast.net/~imashooter2/pictures/SDB-bit.jpg

And the fix, a distributor hold down clamp from a '67 Chevy 230 inch straight 6:

http://home.comcast.net/~imashooter2/pictures/SDB-clamp.jpg

Yes, Dillon said to send it in and they'd fix it, but the hold down works great and I decided to save the shipping.

[sav300]

Imashooter.that good thinking.Along with BT sniper ideas about broken bits.good fixes like this helps us all.

[BT Sniper]

A few I posted on the press design thread. I'll have to find some more of my broke stuff. Matter of fact just thought of the 10-22 reciever I busted will have to get a pic of that too.

The stuck case and drilling out with a hard drill bit is a good way to ruin your die. I was being sarcastic I guess and would advise anyone not to try it. Instead use the stuck case removal tool like you are supposed to.

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020407.jpg

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020403.jpg

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020415.jpg

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020414.jpg

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020408.jpg

[sagacious]

A few I posted on the press design thread. I'll have to find some more of my broke stuff...
Ay caramba compadre!! You either need a heavier press or lighter hands. :drinks:

I've bent a handful of those base-rods on the RCBS primer-pocket swager, but haven't broken any of my bullet swaging tools. Mostly because I think that when I'm really cranking on the press-handle, it's because I've probably got something mis-adjusted... so I back off and re-assess in those instances.

[SWANEEDB]

Try this, I have and it worked--several times--. Stuck a 223, removed the die, run it in upside from the bottom of the threads, drilled and taped for a 1/4-20, used a thick large washer and a small one for the 1/4--20 to go through, laid the washers on the top side of the threads, turned down the die about half way, screwed the 1/4-20 in and popped er loose, also need to turn the decapping pin back all the way, at least I did. Hey Ken (pressman), gonna be at the DM show, i'll be there. Dave

[BT Sniper]

here is some more of my distructive testing. I'll let you guys make some predictions with the pics and I'll post some stories later.

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020456.jpg

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020459.jpg

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020470.jpg

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020463.jpg

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020473.jpg

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020464.jpg

[BT Sniper]

As you can see alot of my "breaks" are terminal. Not to much avialable to fix what occured. Maybe I can shed some light.

The bullet with a drill bit sticking out of it's rear end got stuck in the point forming die. Reason... I did not reduce the 5.7x28 brass down enough before the point forming step. Deminition was allready about .308. Probably the real resaon it got stuck was Minerial Spirts. I use it to clean off the lanolin after the bullet is complete, works very well by the way. I had used some to clean the core seated jacket before the final forming and even after allowing to dry, whiping it off, and another application of lanolin it got stuck. took quit a while to dig it out and I think that was the second time it happended.

Next pic is the punch from a .356 Lee boolit sizing die after attempting to swage .357 bullets with it. Didn't work!

Necking up 300 RUM brass to .338 with a Sinclare .338 mandrel, no lube. Fix.... use some lube in side the neck.

Bucket full of 30-06 brass that did not make it to 6.5x55. Problem... to much lube. Will turn them into 44 AMP brass and 44 cal bullets. Great fix!

Last a 10-22 blown reciever. Was able to get a 36 grain jhp to 2400 fps before she let go. Was getting 1/2" groups at 200 with a strong cross wind. Good thing the one piece scope base held it all together as it fell apart on me after disasemble. Maybe I will come up with a better design.
















:kidding:

This is what happens when you get too crazy with the idea of glass bedding everything and trying to remove it from underneith with a punch and hammer. I did get a 9 out of 10 shot group out of it less then an inch at 100 yrds though. Could not repeat it as I wasn't even trying when I did it.

Good shooting

BT

[scrapcan]

BT,

I have to ask what you were using to propel the 22 cal 36 HP out of the 10-22?

[BT Sniper]

I made a lead free bullet from another piece of brass. The small primmer pocket was just the right size after turning down the diameter of the brass so I inserted a live primer upside down. At the pull of the trigger the powder would ignite the primmer getting a more efficient burn of all the powder, sort of like an after burner.

I actually thought about this technique for a second with the brass I use to make the larger caliber bullets but obviously chose not too.

:kidding:
That would be a pretty good trick wouldn't it.
This would be a pulling your chain post. Just kidding.

Good shooting

BT

[scrapcan]

I wondered if that was not a yank yer chain thing. But on the other hand I woudl like to hear how you broke that reciever?

[BT Sniper]

To much glass beding. Had to beat it out from the spot you load the clip with a punch and hammer.

[scrapcan]

Now I understand what the original post was saying. the BFH is sometimes the only tool that will break things into pieces you can use for something else.

[BT Sniper]

Yep BFH! Love it! LOL