Stuck 9mm case

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KYregular

KYregular

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Yesterday I was sizing some 9mm cases and had several get stuck. Never had it happen before. I was using Lee carbide dies, with no lube. I typically keep them adjusted to size the whole case, but cant for the life of me why this batch of clean brass was doing this. Using Lee turret press loading single stage. Any ideas?
 
KYregular said:
Yesterday I was sizing some 9mm cases and had several get stuck. Never had it happen before. I was using Lee carbide dies, with no lube. I typically keep them adjusted to size the whole case, but cant for the life of me why this batch of clean brass was doing this. Using Lee turret press loading single stage. Any ideas?
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I got some wet tumbled cases from a bullet dealer awhile back and ran a few of them through my lee dies and LCT the other night and they felt kind of sticky but the ones i dry tumbled with some car wax seemed to be okay. Maybe run some imperial size wax on one case and run it up in there to slicken it up a little.

Also, make sure your using the proper shell holder. I accidently put my 38spl shell holder in there one time which is looser than the 9mm and the case fell off the shell holder and came a hair of sticking one if it had not fell out.
 
ohihunter2014 said:
I got some wet tumbled cases from a bullet dealer awhile back and ran a few of them through my lee dies and LCT the other night and they felt kind of sticky but the ones i dry tumbled with some car wax seemed to be okay. Maybe run some imperial size wax on one case and run it up in there to slicken it up a little.

Also, make sure your using the proper shell holder. I accidently put my 38spl shell holder in there one time which is looser than the 9mm and the case fell off the shell holder and came a hair of sticking one if it had not fell out.
Click to expand...

If I'm correct I think both .38 and 9mm take the #19 shell holder
 
Without more info like which headstamps got stuck, my guess is that it's freedom munitions american steel brand cases. They are steel plated in brass. Gotta run a magnet over all range pickups now because of this.

I've had 2 in the past year. Now it all gets a magnet before it even gets tumbled.
 
bocefus78 said:
Without more info like which headstamps got stuck, my guess is that it's freedom munitions american steel brand cases. They are steel plated in brass. Gotta run a magnet over all range pickups now because of this.

I've had 2 in the past year. Now it all gets a magnet before it even gets tumbled.
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Good info, I believe most headstamps were WIN. Not every case got stuck, just a few. Most were fired from a Glock, I could tell from the primer strike.
 
KYregular wrote:
Yesterday I was sizing some 9mm cases and had several get stuck. Never had it happen before.
Click to expand...

A couple of weeks ago, I had a post up entitled "Chatter" dealing with a similar situation with 223 brass that I got a great deal on. They had been polished by a commercial company to be really beautiful. Even with liberal amounts of Hornady Unique they would still occasionally "chatter" going into the sizing die. The consensus response was that they were so clean they were starting to gall even with the lubricant. That was probably right since I dry tumbled the last few and after they got some walnut dust on them they went as smooth as silk.

I always lightly lubricate my 9mm brass; usually every fourth one, even using a carbide sizer die because the cartridge is slightly tapered and if it has been fired in a loose chamber, the forming pressures can get high enough to be uncomfortable; the lube helps even that out.
 
If the brass was cleaned without any car wash/wax added the brass is squeaky clean. The reason most add the some kind of car wash with the wax to lubricate the brass and to slow down the tarnish process. Tumble in your tumbler with some NuFinsh for 30 min and the problem should go away. Or add some spray lube to the brass.
 
Lee has two shell holders that are shown to "fit" 9MM, but one fits much better than the other and some people have had issues with the one turning loose of some cases.
 
Walkalong said:
Lee has two shell holders that are shown to "fit" 9MM, but one fits much better than the other and some people have had issues with the one turning loose of some cases.
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The only one I see is a number 19. Any idea on the other?
 
Could be a combination of some large brass and very clean brass/carbide interaction. Try lubing 5 or so cases, run them, then see if that doesn't settle things down. When I'm running new 9mm, I'll often lube the first few and then every 30-50 depending on how the handle feels.
 
Well, Walkalong, I learn something new every day. Thank you. A #6, huh? I'll try it on my next 9mm's. I had been noticing that one of my #19's seemed to fit better than the other ones I have...and this could be part of it.

For the OP; carbide dies or not, I lube my pistol cases for resizing and always have. May not always be necessary, but it makes it easier and it's just too easy to do. I use the RCBS spray stuff, a little spritz on a pile and I'm good to go.
 
^^^ This. There might already be some gaulling inside of the carbide die. Look at some of the already sized brass and look for vertical streaks or scratches. If so then the die needs to be polished inside to remove the brass that has stuck on the carbide sizing ring first. Then every so often lube a case---especially when using raw wet tumbled brass. I have little to no problems with my 9MM brass by lubing every tenth one after wet tumbling. I just lube a handfull and grab one of those every tenth one.YMMV
 
Ran a couple hundred more tonight, lubing every 10th or so no problems. Thanks for the input
 
I use Lee shell holders, and they say you can use the 6 or the 19. But, the 6 is definitely sloppy, and I can see the rim slipping by it. I'll only use the 19.
 
TheDomFather said:
By a can of Hornady gun cleaner and dry lube. Its a spray, Soak the heck out of that die and twist up a shop towel and take the die apart and clean it really well every 500 rounds or so.
Click to expand...

Actually thinking about getting a sonic cleaner for that purpose as well as others.
 
I don’t but yes I do have lots of equipment. I build lots of things to make my life a bit more enjoyable, I am not a huge fan of repetitive tasks and it helps that I enjoy building too.
 
TheDomFather said:
By a can of Hornady gun cleaner and dry lube. Its a spray, Soak the heck out of that die and twist up a shop towel and take the die apart and clean it really well every 500 rounds or so.
Click to expand...

This works but red BrakeClean is even better. Will break down lanolin based lubes as well better than anything else Ive seen. And it dries completely, dont even need to wipe it off. Spray it the part thoroughly, spray it again, then blow it dry with an air compressor. Done

As far as the cases sticking, I use a little bit of Hornady OneShot case lube on all my pistol cases, even with TiN and carbide pistol dies. The good thing about OneShot? You dont need to wipe or tumble off because once dry it will not contaminate powder or primers.
 
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