Helpneeded - snapped off decapping pin

[twinwillows]

I had a stuck case in my 223 die (Lee) & in the process of getting it unstuck I snapped off the decapping pin.. Trouble is it broke off almost flush.. There's less than 1/16 sticking out & I can't grab it to pull out.

Any one have any suggestions?

Thanks
Twin

 

[MMCSRET]

Call Lee, buy spares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They do break, especially on the odd berdan primed case that gets mixed in. I've broken several that way because I had the collet too tight. Buy spares, thats why RCBS, Lyman, Redding sell their pins in packets of 5. Did I suggest buying spares?

 

[NCsmitty]

+1 for spares and rethink your lubrication on the cases to keep from sticking them. Either add more lube or change lube.

NCsmitty

 

[JuryRig]

I did the same thing on about the 100th round after buying new RCBS dies on a berdan primer. Contacted RCBS and they sent two or three pins for free, no questions. I don't know if Lee does that.

 

[bullseye308]

#6 finish nail, needle nose pliers, small hammer. Hold the nail with the pliers and tap it with the hammer. Pin should come out. Try Imperial wax at your earliest chance. Order spare pins, it does happen. :banghead:

I stand all my brass up and shine a light in every case looking at the flash holes. It halps to prevent the sneaky berdan primers from messing up my last pin. There are some brands of brass that have tight or off center holes and will eat pins, you will learn to look for them. I can't remember the HS right off, but this has been discussed here before so it will turn up in the search.

 

[softail99]

Less Pressure

Don't be in such a hurry to crank down on that press. If you have a berdan primed case or misaligned you can fell it as a solid resistance as opposed to a soft start.

That is how I have prevented breaking pins on many occasions.

Good Luck!
By the way, Lee will also replace them free if you call or even just write an email to them.

 

[Randy1911]

The last time I broke a pin I called RCBS and they sent me a package of 5 pins. I learned to not put so much pressure on the handle. If it don't go easy, something is wrong. Stop and figure it out.

 

[Flash!]

I broke two this past weekend.... they are so cheap, I buy 15 to 20 at a time

 

[helg]

I drilled a hole at the opposite side of the Lee decapping rod, hammered there a nail of appropriate diameter and file-rounded its tip. This worked until a batch of new rods came in a mail.

If it is a Lee die, you should not screw the rod too tight in the die. It is designed to raise up instead of breaking.

 

[twinwillows]

I think I know what not to do again (I should say "hope")..

The question I have now is how to get the broken pin out as it's basically snapped off flush.. Anyone w/any ideas??

Thanks
Twin

 

[AirplaneDoc]

Loosen the collet at the top, and the pin and rod should drop out the bottom of the die. then replace. I believe they are 1 piece.

I am partial to the Lee universal decapping die, They aren't that expensive, decapp everything, and don't shut you down, buy extra pins for this as well.

 

[helg]

how to get the broken pin out

Don't try to get the pin out of decapping rod. Instead, drill a new hole at the OPPOSITE side of the rod, and put a nail there. Unlike pin, which is made from hardened material, Lee rod is soft, and easy to drill.

Then insert the fixed rod into your die UPSIDE DOWN. Old broken pin will be on top, and nail in the new hole - at the bottom. The nail will work as a new pin.

 

[Sport45]

Don't try to get the pin out of decapping rod. Instead, drill a new hole at the OPPOSITE side of the rod, and put a nail there. Unlike pin, which is made from hardened material, Lee rod is soft, and easy to drill.

Then insert the fixed rod into your die UPSIDE DOWN. Old broken pin will be on top, and nail in the new hole - at the bottom. The nail will work as a new pin.

That won't work with a rifle die that has an expander button built into the decapping rod.

Unless you can construct a quasi-universal decapping die from a larger rifle die and a pistol decapping pin you may be out of luck decapping those .223's until the replacement parts arrive. I suggest ordering a universal decapping die. In the future you won't be shut down by a broken pin. (The pin has been broken on my Lee 30-'06 set for years.)

 

[helg]

That won't work with a rifle die that has an expander button built into the decapping rod.

Yes, Lee neck-sizer die has built-in rod. I do not know if there is DIY fix for the broken pin in the neck-sizer. However, Lee full-sizer die for rifles and pistols has a standard collet with standard decapper rod that can be fixed in the upside-down way.