[olyeller]

Dont know if this is a revelation to you fellas but it was for me. I dont have a case remover (but Ill be getting one!;))

It was a .223 so all I did was pop out the decapper pin and mouthsizer, saw off the bottom of the case (I chewed up the case lip trying to pop it out several times), and squirt some 3in1 oil in there. Then I grabbed a plain old tapered round file, like the kind you use to sharpen chain saws, only bigger and rougher. I put it into the inside of the case, pushed and twisted it by hand to engage a lot of the file's spiral cutting surface with the brass, the I turned it around, put the die on the edge of the bench, then gave the tip of the file that was coming out of the opposite end of the die a whack, then out came the file and the brass. If your round file is sufficiently long and tapered enough, you should be able to use it on many calibers.

was this worth my keystrokes?

[longrifleman]

Not exactly a revelation, but it never hurts to know another technique for fixing commom problems. I'd save my money on a stuck case puller and buy a set of tap and dies. More versatile and not a lot more cash.

http://www272.pair.com/stevewag/reloading/reloading2.html

The above link gives an excellent description of a very effective procedure for removing stuck cases. The only thing I would add is to use some type of penetrating oil before pulling the case. Kryoil is the best I've ever tried. If you already knew about this, never mind.:D

[rchernandez]

I don't load rifle rounds, only pistol and my dies are carbide but isn't it possible to unscrew the top portion of the die, insert a rod/dowel down to the (inside) bottom of the stuck case and whack the rod a few times with a mallet (or a sledgehammer) to free the case?

[Smokey Joe]

Rchernandez--but isn't it possible to unscrew the top portion of the die, insert a rod/dowel down to the (inside) bottom of the stuck case and whack the rod a few times with a malletYes it is--I've done it. You do have to get the sizing ball unscrewed from the decap rod before removing the decap rod (that's the "top portion of the die" that you mention) but having done that, you then put something down through the die so it rests on the inside of the base of the stuck case, rest the die on something with a space for the stuck case, and whack, you (1) destroy the neck sizing ball and the decap pin, and (2) get the case out of the die.

It works if you're desperate, and have a spare sizing ball and decap pin. There are better options IMHO.

[olyeller]

good link; thanks.

[Roadkill]

I don't jam them as much as when I first started, but I eventually got an extra sizing die for all my rifle calibers. That way I can continue and mess with the stuck case when I'm not so mad.

rk

[YellowLab]

Man, I can jam 2-3 cases in a die on any given day.... you fella are doing it the HARD way.

Lee's die are SOOOOO simple.

Case gets stuck
Unscrew the collet at the top
take brass punch and hammer to top of decaping pin/neck sizer
strike firmly
case and decapper fall out
Use needle nose pliers to rip open neck to retrieve deacpper and neck sizer

Die never comes off press and it takes all of 5 minutes.