How do you deal with a stuck case?

[Tinker-S]

Greetings all!
I have only been reloading for less than a year, and I have experienced the issue that when resizing some centerfire rifle cases, the rim will snap leaving the case stuck in the die.
I use mostly Lee brand products, and, in most cases, it is easy to clamp the die in a vise to take it apart and proceed to use some kind of tool to remove the case.
The issue is, that while drilling the pilot hole to thread the extractor tool, the decapping pin gets damaged. I was frustrated that every time I had to remove a stuck case, I had to purchase a new decapping pin, and decided to look for a better option.
Recently, the same thing occur and this time I decided to take the die apart, and with a hammer, I forcefully removed the case by striking the decapping pin, and with it out of the die, I proceeded to cut the case with a rotary tool, well, same thing happen again! The decapping pin was damaged!
Yesterday, I got another case stuck in the FL die, and I was pissed!
I went to the hardware store and purchased a hand-held Ridgid tubbing cutter, and after the ritual of taking the stuck case out, I proceeded to cut the case just above the rim, and voila! Success!
No damage to the decapping pin, and, best of all, no drilling, no reaming , no extractor tool, no busted knuckles either! It took me less than 2 minutes to get it done!
Let me know how you deal with a stuck case.

 

[DukeConnor]

I suggest better lube.

 

[Howland937]

I suggest better lube.

X2

 

[.308 Norma]

I have only been reloading for less than a year, and I have experienced the issue that when resizing some centerfire rifle cases, the rim will snap leaving the case stuck in the die.

Howdy Tinker-S!
I'm really not trying to be a wise guy here. I'm simply curious.
You see, I've been loading centerfire rifle cases (and many other types of cases too) for well over 40 years, and while I have a stuck case remover, I've never used it because I've never had a stuck case. Are you sure you're not missing something when it comes to your reloading procedures - not enough case lube, maybe?

 

[Tinker-S]

Howdy Tinker-S!
I'm really not trying to be a wise guy here. I'm simply curious.
You see, I've been loading centerfire rifle cases (and many other types of cases too) for well over 40 years, and while I have a stuck case remover, I've never used it because I've never had a stuck case. Are you sure you're not missing something when it comes to your reloading procedures - not enough case lube, maybe?

Well, I use lube, but as I stated, the brass rim shears off right where the shell holder "holds" the case. And the die is set as per the manufacturer's directions.

 

[Tinker-S]

I suggest better lube.

I think I will try something else.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

X2

X3. In almost 50 years of handloading I have stuck fewer than a half dozen cases, mostly .30-30 shot through a Marlin, and all were because I got in a hurry and skipped a few cases between lubricant applications. Every time I figure there’s plenty of lube in the die, I stick a case. Fwiw I use Imperial wax but there’s lots of good sizing lubes out there. I don’t think the one you’re using is working for you though.

 

[emb]

Ditto on the lube. Not to plug a product, but I use Hornady One Shot for a variety of reasons. I recently stuck a case in a Lee die-my fault entirely. I previously stuck one in a Dillon die too-again my fault entirely. In over 20 years those are the only 2 I recall. Anyway, for the Lee, I removed the nut holding the decapping pin and banged away thus damaging the decapping pin. Midway had replacements. THEN I read the directions and watched a Lee video on how to remove a stuck case. First loosen the nut, but do not remove it. Then take a punch and drive the case out. I've no idea if this method may result in a bent decapping pin simply becasue I've never had to use it. However, either use more lube or choose a better one.

 

[Offfhand]

Check size of shell holder. It may too large and only partially holding the case rim, thus causing the rim to sheer off under extraction pressure.

 

[ballman6711]

I would try a different shell holder as well, especially since it keeps happening.

Another thing I do when loading rifle is lube every case when I start resizing. Sometimes I'll skip a case or two, but when I do I can feel the sizing effort getting more difficult.

chris

 

[Barbaroja]

I’ve never stuck a case. It seems like you have an issue somewhere if you are doing it repeatedly, breaking the rim of the brass. I believe you either
1) not lubing the case correctly
2) not using the correct shell holder
3) something wrong with your die

Does this keep happening with the same die or is it multiple cartridges getting stuck in various dies?
I think you need to examine your procedures a bit closer

 

[Ironicaintit]

Which cartridge?
What brand and size is the shell holder?

 

[kalielkslayer]

The only case I ever stuck was because I forgot to change the shell holder.

But I did it twice, back to back because I thought it was a case problem, not a shell holder problem.

And I’ve been using Hornady 1 shot the last several years, way quicker and easier than rolling cases on a pad.

I even lightly spray straight wall pistol cases now. I would never roll those.

 

[mdi]

Howdy Tinker-S!
I'm really not trying to be a wise guy here. I'm simply curious.
You see, I've been loading centerfire rifle cases (and many other types of cases too) for well over 40 years, and while I have a stuck case remover, I've never used it because I've never had a stuck case. Are you sure you're not missing something when it comes to your reloading procedures - not enough case lube, maybe?

I'm right there with 308 Norma, 40 years with no stuck cases. Some pretty hard to extract but none so bad I had to use an extractor or disassemble the die. A lot of my rife dies are Lee and I at first used Lee case lube (BTW; I worked for a large city utilities dept. and the electrician's trouble trucks all had a 5 gal bucket of "cable pulling lube", which by the MSDS was the same compound as the Lee lube). I switched to Mink Oil Boot Dressing Cream which has worked as well or better than any dedicated reloading case lube for about 30 years of my reloading...

 

[CQB45ACP]

Amazing how we have so few stuck cases on this thread yet every reloading equipment maker sells a stuck case puller. Who’s buying em and why?

I personally have had two or maybe three stuck cases (one or two 45ACP, one 9mm) and made my owner puller. Nope I don’t use case lube nor will I start.

Edit: I use it infrequently enough that I had to write down my own instructions.

 

[74man]

I have had probably had 5 stuck cases in the last 3 years, only because I didn't use not enough lube or sometimes none. I bought a Lyman which said Carbide but the only thing that was carbide was the sizing ball on the decapping pin so I didn't lube it and got two stuck cases in that Lyman set and had to replace the decapping rod and pin both times. I got a couple stuck in my RCBS dies, 2 each .223 and one in my 30 Carbine die. I would lube every 5th case and now I lube every case and have never had a stuck case since. I notified RCBS about the decapping rod and pins and they replaced both the rods and pins for Free. Can't beat that11

 

[Tinker-S]

Which cartridge?
What brand and size is the shell holder?

.223 using Lyman shelholder #26.

 

[Tinker-S]

I’ve never stuck a case. It seems like you have an issue somewhere if you are doing it repeatedly, breaking the rim of the brass. I believe you either
1) not lubing the case correctly
2) not using the correct shell holder
3) something wrong with your die

Does this keep happening with the same die or is it multiple cartridges getting stuck in various dies?
I think you need to examine your procedures a bit closer

Well, it is not every other case that gets stuck, but every now and then, it does occurs.
But you are correct, I must review what is going on. I know I have what the manufacturer says to use as far as shell holder, and I do use Lyman case lube. I have to take the die apart again, and see what the inside looks like, but because of my predicament, I am very good at dealing with a stuck case, and I will not buy a remover again. So, there was a "silver lining" after all.

 

[gwpercle]

You may not want to believe this but ... you are doing something wrong .
You shouldn't be sticking cases and ripping the rims off so many cases .
Something just isn't right somewhere .
When a case begins to go into the die and it starts getting hard to go in ...
Stop ... when they start going in hard ...they will get harder to remove ...that's when the rim is pulled off . When the force stiffens , back the case out and add more lube , spread lube around or as a last resort use STP Oil Treatment as sizing lube ...
Yes it's sticky and slippery but it's the best lube for hard sizing jobs .
Don't use spray on lube or Lee Lube ... STP on an ink pad ...roll the case across the ink pad to coat the body ... if it gets hard going in ...repeat the lube job and try again .
Gary

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

.223 using Lyman shelholder #26.

Are you also lubing the inside of the neck? Expander balls can really get sticky too.

 

[LiveLife]

you are doing something wrong ... You shouldn't be sticking cases and ripping the rims off so many cases ... Something just isn't right somewhere.

... roll the case across the ink pad to coat the body ... if it gets hard going in ...repeat the lube job and try again

+1 and on using better lube.

I use mostly Lee brand products ... clamp the die in a vise to take it apart ... drilling the pilot hole to thread the extractor tool, the decapping pin gets damaged ... I was frustrated ... I was pissed! ... Ridgid tubbing cutter ... cut the case just above the rim ... the decapping pin gets damaged ... had to purchase a new decapping pin

Why?

Let this Lee video show you how to easily remove stuck case without buying tools or damaging anything

 

[AJC1]

If you size a lot of range pickups shot out of who knows what you deal with stuck cases. I've only had issues in 223 and I use rcbs dies and Redding sizing wax. The key for me was pulling the expander and using a mandrel. A sheared case head is a 5 second problem with a transfer punch and back to business.

 

[cfullgraf]

In 40 years of reloading, I’ve only stuck a couple of cases in sizing dies. The reason has been insufficient lubricant.

The stuck case removal kits have worker fine. I think mine is a Redding kit, works fine.

I was able to back the decapping stem enough to clear the intallation of the removal case kit but even so, replacing the decapping pin is a small price to pay.

I use RCBS case lubricant mostly for rifle cases. I have been dabbling a bit successfully using lanolin and alcohol with 204 Ruger cases.

I have gotten to like lubricating larger diameter hangun cases before resizing in carbide sizing dies. It makes the process go more smoothly and I tumble clean the cases before moving to the next step.

Finally, I have not had success with the Hornady spray lube in the aerosol can. Maybe I am not using enough lubricant but i’ve had potential issues with stuck cases. Anyway, use the canned Hornady case lubricant at your own peril

 

[kalielkslayer]

I have had probably had 5 stuck cases in the last 3 years, only because I didn't use not enough lube or sometimes none. I bought a Lyman which said Carbide but the only thing that was carbide was the sizing ball on the decapping pin so I didn't lube it and got two stuck cases in that Lyman set and had to replace the decapping rod and pin both times. I got a couple stuck in my RCBS dies, 2 each .223 and one in my 30 Carbine die. I would lube every 5th case and now I lube every case and have never had a stuck case since. I notified RCBS about the decapping rod and pins and they replaced both the rods and pins for Free. Can't beat that11

They are the bestestest!!!

 

[Highland Lofts]

If using spray on lube you are not waiting long enough for the alcohol to dissipate.
After spraying let it sit for five minutes then resize.
Buy good quality products, stay away from the garbage lee ****