Brass stuck in die

[Will Learn]

I'm new to reloading and I think I just fouled up. I'm attempting to deprime .308 brass and I got a piece of brass stuck in the die. I popped a few primers out and then all of a sudden the case rim ripped off leaving the case in the die. I'm using lee classic press and deluxe dies. I also put lube on the head of the case inside and out. I've tried pliers and this case won't come out for anything.

I'm new to this and feel like a dumb***, please bear with me.

 

[esheato]

Don't feel dumb. There's a thing called a "Stuck Case Remover" for a reason.

I'm not all that familiar with Lee dies, but I believe there is a way to hammer the case out.

Did you check Lee's site?

Ed

Edit: Go here. It's towards the bottom.

 

[bofe954]

I had some problems like this when I started playing around with .308 brass too. Mine wouldn't rip the case rim off though, it just pulled the decapping pin out with the case.

Without knowing how the case is in there, I will say, see if you can loosen the top nut on the the sizing die (the one that holds the decapping pin in) and take the die apart.

Your situation may be different, but I could get it so I had the case in my hand with the decapping pin stick in the case. Then I just cut the case neck off with the cutting wheel on my dremel and pulled the case off.

 

[sublimaze41]

You feel dumb? Ha... I was a few days away from going to Africa and finishing my loads. Stuck two cases in 24 hours. Luckily for me Dillon really came through.

FWIW, I hate Hornady One Shot. That was the problem. I now use Frankford Arsenal and they just sssssllllllide in and out.

 

[Will Learn]

Well I wonder what the warranty is on these Lee dies because I just ruined the threads and decapping pin following the instructions on their website. I loosened the collet and attempted to punch(w/appropriate size punch) the brass out by hitting the deccaping pin.

 

[Will Learn]

Time for a glass of scotch, cheers to a dead die and redundant toasts.

 

[esheato]

Ouch...did you at least get the brass out?

Sticking a case is like a rite of passage, so don't worry about it.

If the die body is salvageable, a replacement decapping rod is cheap.

Next time use lube! (recommend Imperial Sizing Die Wax sold by Redding)

Ed

 

[Will Learn]

nope the brass is still in there. I did use a generous amount of lube, inside and out. How is Lee's CS?

 

[dcloco]

Here is how to remove the case.

Take a second die lock nut, tighten next to the other one.

Chuck the die lock nuts in a vice, then proceed with a pair of vice grips. It is ok to crush the case a little, in order to get a good grip.

With the vice grips locked on to the brass, firmly tap the vice grips with a hammer.

 

[frogomatic]

I did the same with a .223, still got the die with the case still stuck in it. It has defied every attempt to remove it, so I just keep it as a reminder. Such is reloading, I think everyone I know that reloads has done it at least once.

 

[Will Learn]

Would Lee replace this or should I even bother?

 

[strat81]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=305660
Been there, done that.

The 7.62x39 was removed by a buddy with a two pound hammer and a punch. He said he really had to give it a whack. A stuck case remover should run about $10-$15. You can try calling Lee, but if they give you no satisfaction, just pick up one of their RGB sets. Midway sells them for around $15, at least in the calibers I looked at.

As the thread says, I've moved on to Imperial Sizing Wax. I also spray some One Shot into the die before I start sizing a batch of brass.

It sucks. Hoist a glass of scotch for me!

 

[RustyFN]

To unstick a case in a Lee die. Loosen the nut that holds the decaping pin. Get a small punch the same size as the decaping pin and drive the pin down into the case pushing it out of the die. I have had to do this three times, works great and only takes a minute. If you don't have a punch turn a drill bit upside down and hammer on the drilling end. Thats what I did and it turns out that the drill bit after bieng hammered on makes a perfect primer crimp remover.
Rusty

 

[pete f]

Do you have access to dry ice or liquid nitrogen, I use that method when we have an oops. (and we all have had them) i warm the die with my hands or just set it on a warm stove top, then take it and set the brass on the dry ice, the brass will contract enough to fall out. or at least hang up on the neck sizing ball, then spray lube every where and try to pull it out.


I had a 300 win mag case get really stuck once, I was tired and grabbed one straight out of the bin and not out of the lubed stack. I ended up drilling and tapping the base of that case, putting a 1/4 -28 bolt in the case head, then using the ram of my press to pull the bolt and the case out. (this was after an evening of letting the die sit upside down with Kroil drizzled on it.)

 

[KI.W.]

If there was no sitzing oil or grease, the die is kaputt. There is "cool welding" in the die, I think so. Never hapend to me. Stop the fighting and take the new die.

 

[Doug b]

Will can't tell from the pics if the die is ruined,but if you want to see this kind of thing,and dents, go away I highly recommend one of the wax type resize lubes such as Imperial or Lee.A little goes a long long way.

 

[res45]

I know its kind of old fashion with all the new spray lubes out here but I still use a lube pad and Lee Resizing lube I smear a small amount on the pad and roll about 6 cases at a time across it,the first case I resize I swab the inside of the neck with lube. Then one every third case after that I swab another always had smooth resizing with no problems or stuck cases in 25 years doing that. I also tumble my brass for a couple hours to clean it before resizing.

 

[cpttango30]

I cleaned one of my dies then went to resizing I stuck one in there and had to beat it out with the decapping pin. I got lucky and a lady with a sexy voice at hornady sent me a new decapping pin at no charge had it to me in 2 days. I am a fan of Hornady One Shot. But I do think the Midwayusa spray lube is better. My dad is still stuck in the 1930's and uses a greesey RCBS lube pad and that nasty lube.

 

[res45]

+1 for you dad better stuck in the 30's than stuck in the die. Never had a single stuck case using the stuff in 25 years. Call me lucky but the stuff works.

 

[rcmodel]

Here is how to get it out with a few simple tools:

#1 Back out the expander stem:
#2 Drill out the primer pocket with a #7 drill bit.
#3 Tap the hole with a 1/4" x 20TPI thread tap.
#4 Find a 1/4" or 3/8" drive socket that will fit the end of the die, and have room for the case to come out inside it.
#5 Insert a 1/4" bolt through the socket, and screw it into the case.
#6 Tighten it with a wrench.
#7 Go have a beer and congratulate yourself on all the money you just saved on Case extractor kits, new dies, etc!

BTW: To prevent future stuck cases always lube the complete case and rub it around with your fingers to spread it evenly all over the case as you pick each one up.

It only takes a tiny amount, just so you have a film of lube on everything.

Inside the neck is not that important.
You can't stick a case on the expander button!
(although a light film makes for smoother operation.)


rcmodel

 

[redneckdan]

a method I have found that works good is to leave the decapper stem in, drill and tap the base of the case to 1/4-28, insert a grease zerk and pump that sucker full of grease. Do this outside or in the garage, the case will come rocketing out of the die, leaving a trail of grease. I've found this to work when nothin else will.

 

[Will Learn]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions guys I really feel like I'm not alone in this whole reloading venture now. I called Lee and they said to send it back to be repaired or replaced so now it is in the mail. I used the lube supplied with the lee kit but i guess I didn't use it enough. Again, I really appreciate the help and will probably have more hang ups to bug you all about in the future.

One more thing, when im adjusting the decapping die their instructions tell me to screw the die in until it meets the raised shell holder. Then lower the shell holder and then lower die 1/4 of a turn more. It just seems like it was taking an awful amount of pressure to pop the primer out. Not that it was difficult physically but it was making the bench flex a good amount. Thanks again guys.

 

[strat81]

Will, it shouldn't take much pressure to deprime. Some of the resistance you may have been feeling could have been from inadequate lube. After a while, you'll get a feel for how much pressure it should take to resize a case. If you feel the need to press harder, lower the ram, throughly relube the case, and try again. Even with crimped military brass, depriming should be able to be done by a small child.

 

[gandog56]

$8 something for an RCBS Stuck case remover kit. Very easy to use and works every time.

 

[Dave P]

You might be a Red Neck ...if you insert a grease zerk and pump that sucker full of grease.

I love it!