decapping die problem

[trickyasafox]

hi all,

im reloading 223 right now and am having some difficulties with my full length sizing die. as i am processing brass the decapping pin gets stuck in the case and gets pulled out of the die. i am using spray on lube as per the directions, and i even tried lubing the pin a little bit, all to no avail. the dies are lee, the brass is both winchester and lake city. brass has one firing on it.

it seems no matter how tight i wrench the pin in it still gets pulled out every few rounds. . .

 

[Ol` Joe]

This is a common problem with Lee and Hornady dies. The decapping pin is retained with a collet and if it isn`t tight enough it slips leaving the decapper in the case. The only thing I can say is make sure the lock nut is good and tight. I use a pair of wrenchs on mine, one for the die and one for the lock nut and really reef on them. Don`t strip them out but get them good and tight.

 

[JA]

Remove the pin and collet from the die and spray them with brake parts cleaner to remove all the oil on them. Then reassemble the die and tighten down the collet real good.

 

[timuchin]

The only time I have had that problem...

Was with that Bosnian Ammo with the anchor head stamp. Flash holes were under sized. The tiny pin on the bottom of the decapper/expander kept pulling out. Put the pin back in with superglue, threw that crappy brass away. Hasn't come out since. If the whole decapper/expander is moving, check to see that you didn't strip the threads on the collet. Maybe check the pin to see that it's not bent. Did that once too. Called Lee, and they sent me a brand new one. No hassle. Is the expander corroded? Are you lubing the inside of the case neck? That military brass is harder than commercial brass. You also might try annealing the case necks. One last trick I have used is to peen over the top of the decapping pin just slightly so that it will not slide down through the collet. The whole purpose of the sliding collet is so that it will slide UP, not down.

 

[JA]

The 223 ammo with the too small flashholes is the "HotShot" brand ammo that was imported by Century Arms.

 

[trickyasafox]

update:

I used almost double the recomended lube (frankfurt brand) and really cranked down the dies, and it resized and worked through 40 cases easily enough. waiting for some more unprocessed brass to come in.

thanks for the help!

 

[Red_SC]

I roughed up the stem on my decapper with a file on one of my Lee dies, and it helped it hold better.

 

[1911 guy]

extreme situation

This works for berdan primers and such, but is a bit labor intensive. Make a dowel the size of the case mouth then fill the case with water. Place the case over a shell holder or something else that gives the primer room to move and insert the dowel into the case then tap it with a hammer. Water doesn't compress, so the pressure will drive out the primer. Like I said, labor intensive, but it works.

 

[timuchin]

I've heard that crap from a dozen people....

It Doesn't Work!!!!

 

[Rockstar]

Go back to "normal" lubing. The amount of lube you're using has absolutely nothing to do with the problem that you describe. Torque the heck out of that locknut and load 'em up!

When I'm loading .223s, I lightly lube with Hornady One Shot; never a stuck case and never had the problem you describe, unless I forgot to tighten the locknut properly. You REALLY DO need two wrenches to do it right.

 

[trickyasafox]

further update: i just got a thousand cases from twobeards over at handloaders bench.com (thanks again two beards!) ran through another 200 cases, die only got caught once, so i tried roughing it up a touch and really cranking it on there. will post tomorrow if any more problems arise. that being said if i get one stick in 200 rounds i really cant see a reason to complain

 

[BluesBear]

What doesn't work Timuchin?

 

[timuchin]

The whole wooden dowel, fill the case with water thing.

I have tried it. Any primer that you can punch out with that method you could have pushed out with a nail and your hand. As for berdan primers, forget it. Just make a huge mess all over your bench. This was printed in the back of the Dixie Gun Works catalogue, so eveyone swears by it, but no-one has really tried it. It sounds simple enough, and the theory is sound, but it will not work unless the primer is already almost falling out.

 

[JA]

If you want to remove berdan primers get one of these it works great.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=245983

 

[landon74]

Are the primers crimped in? The only time I've run across that happening is with LC brass with crimped primers, when I run them through the Universal decapping die no problems, but if I try to full length size them and decap it'll start pulling the decapping pin out every ten to twenty rounds....

 

[BluesBear]

I've never used a wooden dowel to decap berdan cases. But I used to have a steel set for that purpose and it worked great.

The RCBS Berdan decapping tool works very well on both Berdan and sealed to the pocket Boxer primers.

 

[Matthew748]

I roughed up the stem on my decapper with a file on one of my Lee dies, and it helped it hold better.

Excellent suggestion. I do not know why I never thought of that. For the record, I have only had this problem with Hornady Dies. Specifically, with my 8mm Mauser die set. The brass I had the problems with was US made component brass, so it cannot be attributed to berdan cases or crimpted primer pockets.

 

[Kamicosmos]

I recently did the same thing, had the decapper get stuck in a win 223 case.

Uh....how to get that pin out? I tried using a punch to push it back though the case, but it is stuck good! Right now I have the shell holder in a vice, and I'm about to take a dremel to the case, I just want my shell holder back. Allready replaced the lee resize die with an XDie.

(As a small Lee bashing note: I've never liked their O-ring lock rings, and now I don't like their depriming stem setup. Back to RCBS Dies for me from now on!)

 

[Ol` Joe]

I recently did the same thing, had the decapper get stuck in a win 223 case.

I would put the shellholder back in the press and raise the ram with the die removed. Grasp the expander stem with a pair of vice grip pliers useing the press top as a stop for the pliers, and lower the ram. This should pull the stem back out of the case and save both.
BTW this works to pull bullets in a pinch also..........

 

[Kamicosmos]

Grasp the expander stem with a pair of vice grip pliers

That's the problem. Stem is way down inside the case. I can't quite get it with needle nose pliers. Hence, the punch from the shell holder side, and now the dreaded dremel technique.

Oh well, one case lost out of several hundred ain't bad.

 

[trickyasafox]

i rock the pin back in forth in the case. the brass is so much weaker then the primer punch that it eventually lets go. i had enough practice gettin the pin out till i figured out how to get the pin to stay in :banghead: