Lee PrecisionRotoMetals2Load DataTitan Reloading
RepackboxReloading EverythingWidenersInline Fabrication
MidSouth Shooters Supply
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 41

Thread: Need Help With A Stuck Case!

  1. #1
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    1,519

    Need Help With A Stuck Case!

    I was sizing '06 cases a few days ago when one went in really tight. I pulled it out, thinking it didn't get properly lubed. I sprayed it again (Alcohol/Lanolin) and pushed it back into the sizer. It still went in tight, when I tried to remove it the shellholder pulled the rim off! "No worries!" I say to myself and got out the RCBS stuck case remover. Drill, tap, attach the puller - No Go! I pulled hard on that Allen wrench and even with a "cheater" extension on it, it wouldn't budge. At this point I was afraid I'd strip the threads in the case head. I'll add that I was a machinist fpr 22 years so D & T is nothing new to me, nor are stubborn fittings.

    Plan B - Penetrating Oil
    I put the die into a ziplock baggie and added enough PB Blaster to submerge the die. I put it under a heat lamp and let it sit overnight. The next day I tried to remove the case again. No good. I tried this three days in a row. Yesterday I used Kroil instead of Blaster, still no-go. Bear in mind, when I do this I have the die screwed into my press upside down with a vise-grip on the knurling of the die and the case puller on the top. I can put all kinds of torque on the puller, but nothing works. I've also tried tapping the case out with a steel rod down through the top of the die, nope.

    Plan C - Freeze It and Torch It
    Right now, the die is sitting on the top shelf of my freezer. Later today, I'll pull it out and use my propane torch to try to expand the die body a couple thousandth's and see if the case will release.

    The lesson here is, when you use this case lube, you need to let the alcohol evaporate before you try to size the case. This lube has worked well for me in the past, this time I forgot that detail. My Bad!

    If anyone has other ideas, I'm listening!
    "We take a thousand moments for granted thinking there will be a thousand more to come. Each day, each breath, each beat of your heart is a gift. Live with love & joy, tomorrow is not promised to anyone......"

    unknown

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Feb 2021
    Posts
    217
    I have had a few like that too. I think it makes a metallurgical bond to the die.
    Took the propane torch and heated the die and then a rod and hammer. I switched to Lemon Pledge for case lube and that solve all but a few stubborn ones (223 rem). Those needed Lee sizing wax on a Q-tip on the inside of the neck.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master WRideout's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Butler, PA
    Posts
    2,605
    I had an (unlubed) 30-06 case stuck in my sizing die once. After all my attempts, I finally plugged the neck, then pured molten lead to fill the case. After that I hammered it out with a steel rod. Still use the sizer die today.

    Wayne
    What doesn't kill you makes you stronger - or else it gives you a bad rash.
    Venison is free-range, organic, non-GMO and gluten-free

  4. #4
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    1,519
    Quote Originally Posted by WRideout View Post
    I had an (unlubed) 30-06 case stuck in my sizing die once. After all my attempts, I finally plugged the neck, then pured molten lead to fill the case. After that I hammered it out with a steel rod. Still use the sizer die today.

    Wayne
    Wow! Unlubed and you still got it out!! I may have to try that if all else fails!
    "We take a thousand moments for granted thinking there will be a thousand more to come. Each day, each breath, each beat of your heart is a gift. Live with love & joy, tomorrow is not promised to anyone......"

    unknown

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Northwest Ohio
    Posts
    14,455
    Another little trick that helps is to soak in a copper remover for a few days put the disassembled die in so solvent can work from both ends. I would try the die cold from the freezer first since the brass will shrink more than the die body will it may be enough.

    I have used shooter choice copper remover for this dissolves the case with out harming the die

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Posts
    2,515
    Yep I have done it also!
    Get your rod ready for tapping the case out and I find a dead blow hammer to work the best for me. Get a light directed inside of the case.
    I put the die in a vice, heat it with a heat gun until quite warm, then spray an inverted can of compressed air into the case - using the tube extension and directed to the shoulder of the case until frost can be seen Immediately start tapping - hasn't failed me yet, although it may take a couple of attempts.


    Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

    BigAlofPa.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Shamokin/Coal twp Pa.
    Posts
    1,670
    I use the RCBS stuck case tool.
    One round at a time.
    Member of the NRA,GOA and FAOC. Gun clubs Zerby rod and gun club. Keystone Fish and Game Association.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Outer Rondacker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    The Adirondacks
    Posts
    1,862
    I had the same thing happen on a much larger round. I was able to grab the brass with needle nose pliers and spin it. Not spin in a circle but to put a dent in one side like when you twist a spring lip in place. This made the case a bit smaller and then I used a small punch to help it alone. Good luck.
    Stop being blinded by your own ignorance.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    1,519
    Quote Originally Posted by BigAlofPa. View Post
    I use the RCBS stuck case tool.
    As stated in the OP, that was the first thing I tried!
    "We take a thousand moments for granted thinking there will be a thousand more to come. Each day, each breath, each beat of your heart is a gift. Live with love & joy, tomorrow is not promised to anyone......"

    unknown

  10. #10
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    1,519
    Thanks to all for your ideas, it's good to learn some techniques that have been tried and proven. I'll get back at it....
    "We take a thousand moments for granted thinking there will be a thousand more to come. Each day, each breath, each beat of your heart is a gift. Live with love & joy, tomorrow is not promised to anyone......"

    unknown

  11. #11
    Boolit Master

    BigAlofPa.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Shamokin/Coal twp Pa.
    Posts
    1,670
    Ops missed the part he tried the RCBS tool.
    One round at a time.
    Member of the NRA,GOA and FAOC. Gun clubs Zerby rod and gun club. Keystone Fish and Game Association.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Western Oregon
    Posts
    2,623
    I've had expierience in this area. Twice, I've stuck two .223 cases. I tried my RCBS stuck case remover that has worked very reliably in the past with larger cases. But in these two instances, no go. I drill out the tapped hole to the largest size without touching the inside of the sizer die. I had bought a set of needle files (Central Forge) in the past. I picked the files that had teeth to the edges or corners i.e. half round, elipticle? etc. Then I started filing a groove from inside of the drilled out case head to the outside. You have to continously clean out the file to keep it from filling with brass. It takes a while, and you can tell when when the file cuts through the case head wall. No harm to your die, "IF YOU STOP FILING". The case head will relieve itself when the slot is cut through. Now, just take your vice-grips, latch onto the case head and gently twist back and forth. This technique should work on most all size cases. You just need to make sure to not mangal the outer case head and not have any meat to clamp onto with the vice-grips.
    Last edited by littlejack; 01-14-2022 at 07:35 PM.
    If a 41 won't stop it, I wouldn't bet my life on a 44.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    NWO sunset country
    Posts
    716
    dont think home freezer will get it cold enough,maybe. I usually use a freezing spray made by crc, I use it a lot in the shop for testing sensors and fitting bearings. Works really well and its reasonbly cheap and availible at most automotive stores ie pep boys auto value who ever you like, be sure to wear skin protection. Also if theres a auto service shop nearby that does A/C work, they use nitrogen for testing for A/C leaks (at least a lot do) ask if one of the techs will spray your die down while you hold (pliers would be a good thing to have with you as well as eye gear/ shield better) then give it a abrupt tap on hard surface it'll probably shoot out like a proverbial goose dung.
    Last edited by brass410; 01-14-2022 at 07:14 PM. Reason: grammer

  14. #14
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    North central Ohio/Roane County, W.Va.
    Posts
    1,426
    I chuck the die in a lathe, turn off the base and grind a very small version of a cape chisel and holding the die vertical, base up in my vice, split the offending case. Peels out like foil once you get it started. Good luck.
    “Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”
    ― Mark Twain
    W8SOB

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master
    rockrat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    5,311
    Drill a 5/16" hole in the case head, take out the decapping rod, hold the die in a vise and tap the hole for a 3/8" bolt. Install bolt and put the die in a vise vertically and lightly close the jaws, keeping the die lock ring in place to keep the die from slipping out of the vise.
    Grab a heavyish claw hammer and long 1/4" punch and run it in the die and give it a few whacks with the hammer. Not too hard as the case should come out easily with just 2 or 3 whacks

  16. #16
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Western Oregon
    Posts
    2,623
    Lots and lots of good methods. These are going into the "back of my mind archives".
    If a 41 won't stop it, I wouldn't bet my life on a 44.

  17. #17
    Moderator


    Minerat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Jefferson County, CO
    Posts
    9,542
    Get a shorter allen head screw or a stack of washers to go between the screw and the top of the puller die. I had a similar problem with a 223 case and found the screw was bottoming on the deprimer rod before it could start extracting the stuck case. The shorter screw fixed that.
    Steve,

    Life Member NRA
    Colorado Rifle Club member
    Rocky Mtn Gun Owners member
    NAGR member

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Posts
    480
    Warm the die up to a couple of hundred degrees, then give the inside of the cartridge case a blast of freon. The case will tap out easily.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    1,519
    FINALLY! I finally got the bugger out of that die! Oy! I tried the hot/cold remedies, to no avail. I tried several different penetrating oils, the last of which was the CRC Freeze Spray. The "freezing" didn't work, so I left it soaking for four days. I made up my mind that it was gonna' come out with my RCBS stuck case remover or I was gonna' strip the threads in the case head trying. After four days in the freeze spray I put an 8" cheater on the end of the Allen wrench and started turning....It was TIGHT! But, it finally came out! HOO-RAY! I never thought I'd be able to put that much torque on brass threads, but lemme' tell ya', cartridge brass is tough stuff!
    "We take a thousand moments for granted thinking there will be a thousand more to come. Each day, each breath, each beat of your heart is a gift. Live with love & joy, tomorrow is not promised to anyone......"

    unknown

  20. #20
    Boolit Buddy 414gates's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Posts
    357
    A little late to the party, but good for future.

    https://ysterhout.net/docs/stuck_case/index.html

    This was made for .223 brass, and has worked on all sizes since.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check