I goofed... Looks like I joined the club

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Harriw

Harriw

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Nov 8, 2018
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Well, I did something stupid last night. Below are the results. I think most of you could probably tell the story for me so I won't bother. After having researched how to deal with this and reading all the threads about it I almost feel like I've gone through a rite of passage (even if only because of my own poor decision).

Drilling, tapping, and removing all went quite smoothly, and the die appears to be unharmed so all's well that ends well. But I'll NEVER put a case through a rifle sizing die again without sizing wax.

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Welcome aboard!

For the record, my first time (also a .30-30) I used the pound-through method with long punch and soft-blow hammer. It only took four or five good raps and the case dropped out, still in the shell holder. :)
 
I like what you did there. I never considered making my own stuck case removal tool...very creative. In the one case that I got stuck in die, I removed the decapping assembly and drove it out from the top with a brass rod...same one I'd use to clear a squib load. Sadly...my case was a precious .458 Socom that I HAD lubed...but perhaps I didn't lube it enough.
 
Removing the decapping assembly would have been a lot simpler... But with the Hornady system the expander ball won't fit through when the neck is still in the die so it isn't really a possibility. I did unthread the stem, but the expander ball was still in there. It probably would have come out if I'd just banged away with a rod, but I was afraid that would also damage the expander ball trapped in between the rod and the case.

I've been "making due" without my own set of taps for years now (I could usually borrow whatever I needed from work). I should have bought a set years ago anyway, so this was a good excuse if nothing else.
 
Harriw said:
I've been "making due" without my own set of taps for years now (I could usually borrow whatever I needed from work). I should have bought a set years ago anyway, so this was a good excuse if nothing else.
Click to expand...
Even though I just experienced my first a few days ago, while I was out searching for components I found the Hornady kit at my LGS and bought it. It was about $17, so now that my brass knows I have the kit on hand, they'll never stick again.
 
markr6754 said:
I like what you did there. I never considered making my own stuck case removal tool...very creative. In the one case that I got stuck in die, I removed the decapping assembly and drove it out from the top with a brass rod...same one I'd use to clear a squib load. Sadly...my case was a precious .458 Socom that I HAD lubed...but perhaps I didn't lube it enough.
Click to expand...

Sorry, can't take credit for that idea. My buddy google helped me out. I have used sockets in a similar manner while pressing out bushings for car repairs though.

This case got its neck all buggered up when something inside the seating die got stuck in a funny way. I wanted to save the case if I could, but since it already had a primer installed I didn't want to get sizing wax all over the case (since I couldn't wash it off properly due to the primer being present). Should have just removed the primer and used wax anyway, but was trying to avoid removing the live primer if I could get away with it...

Anyway, I did smear a little bit of One-shot on the case, and figured I'd be OK. I left the capping stem and expander ball in so it would size the neck properly, but removed the decapping pin so the primer wouldn't get pushed out. It worked the first time and the case was a bit better, but I figured I'd try once more.... and got it stuck :)

Yup, you read that right - got the case stuck with a live primer installed, and no decapping pin in the die.

So I removed the die, pulled the seating stem up to jam the expander ball against the case neck, and un-threaded the decapping stem. Dropped the decapping pin down into the expander ball, then threaded the decapping stem back in (that procedure took a few tries to pull off...). I put the die back into the press but left the ram down, and used an "F-style" wood clamp between the frame of the press and the top of the decapping rod to slowly and carefully press the live primer out (all while wearing safety glasses and ear muffs). Then I repeated the first half of that procedure to remove the decapping stem and pin, leaving just the expander ball in the case, and went hunting for taps, lol.
 
markr6754 said:
Even though I just experienced my first a few days ago, while I was out searching for components I found the Hornady kit at my LGS and bought it. It was about $17, so now that my brass knows I have the kit on hand, they'll never stick again.
Click to expand...

You found it locally? I figured the odds of THAT happening for me were roughly 0 :) I didn't see much availability online either, and the scalpers were all asking close to $50 for them on ebay. Even the though of letting that stuck case sit there while I hunted down an extractor kit was driving me crazy. So homebrew seemed the only option.
 
Harriw said:
You found it locally? I figured the odds of THAT happening for me were roughly 0 :) I didn't see much availability online either, and the scalpers were all asking close to $50 for them on ebay. Even the though of letting that stuck case sit there while I hunted down an extractor kit was driving me crazy. So homebrew seemed the only option.
Click to expand...
I accidently discovered a shop last year about 30 miles south of me. I'd been unable to buy VV N320 for 2 years, so while researching Vihtavuori powders, I discovered Country Attic Treasures. They called me when they had VV N320 in stock, so I made the journey. I go every 4-5 weeks now, and almost always come home with something. Helps that they're also a Hornady dealer, so I can pick up "locally" what I used to buy online. I also picked up the new Hornady Media Separator. I've had the Frankford Arsenal Rotary all in a bucket, but the Hornady has a clear cover and looks like the pins won't fly all over the room after I wet tumble.
 
I reloaded for over 3 decades before I stuck a case in a die.

After carrying an M16-A1 whilst working for Our Crazy Uncle, I had no desire to shoot anything resembling that thing. I still don't own one.
However, I had finally bought a single shot NEF in 223, for Mrs Thunkit to shoot.

I stuck a case during my first session loading some 223 for her rifle. Fortunately, I had a puller that I had acquired in a trade at some point. It worked perfectly, and I'm glad I had it.

I hope to never use it again.
 
Harriw said:
Removing the decapping assembly would have been a lot simpler... But with the Hornady system the expander ball won't fit through when the neck is still in the die so it isn't really a possibility. I did unthread the stem, but the expander ball was still in there. It probably would have come out if I'd just banged away with a rod, but I was afraid that would also damage the expander ball trapped in between the rod and the case.

I've been "making due" without my own set of taps for years now (I could usually borrow whatever I needed from work). I should have bought a set years ago anyway, so this was a good excuse if nothing else.
Click to expand...
Any excuse to buy new tools is a good excuse. :);):D
 
markr6754 said:
Even though I just experienced my first a few days ago, while I was out searching for components I found the Hornady kit at my LGS and bought it. It was about $17, so now that my brass knows I have the kit on hand, they'll never stick again.
Click to expand...
Now you did it. My first stuck case was a week after I bought a stuck case remover kit for "just in case". At least I had the kit to use.
 
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