Is my die ruined?

[Mackinac76]

Ok, I've gone and done a stupid thing while attempting to reload some .308 brass. I put a RCBS full length resizing die into my Redding press and left a 30-30 shell holder in the piston. Of course, the .308 casing went into the die but when I tried to remove the casing, some of the cartridge base snapped off. Instead of stopping and asking for advice, I tried to fix the problem myself by removing the decapping rod. The neck expander ball and decapping pin are still inside the casing. I put a piece of hardwood dowel into the casing from the top and pounded away like a fool. The situation I have now is that the casing is apparently immovably seated fully in the die and the hardwood dowel is hopelessly pounded into the die from the top, effectively plugging the die from both ends. Is there any way to fix this situation short of buying a new die?
Any guidance will be appreciated.
Mackinac76

 

[The Bushmaster]

I hate that when that happens...do you have a brass drift punch? If so, try to drive the dowel out the way it went in. If that won't work. drill the wooden dowel through. Then collapse it and push it out. Take a center pinch or a nail set punch and collapse the brass case. At some poin it should just fall out or will be able to be driven out. Try very hard not to scratch the die wall...

A photo would help to give a better idea of removing it. What I wrote above is what I think the die looks like in its present state.

 

[Schutzen]

A RCBS Stuck Case Remover will still ectract the case with out hurting the die.

 

[depoloni]

Schutzen +1

With the RCBS stuck case remover, you simply use the included drill bit to drill straight through the primer pocket, then the included screw tap to tap the hole. Then a base cap goes over that end of the die, a hex head screw is screwed into the freshly tapped case head, and as you tighten the screw it uses the threads to pull the case out of the die.

Don't know about everyone else, but this usually goes down with vice grips and a workbench vise clad in leather to protect the die because i've YET to screw a stuck case loose by hand...

Suffice it to say, getting a case stuck in a die is a common problem. At least for a goof like me and I reload thousands of pistol and rifle rounds per year. USUALLY it's because you didn't lube the case well enough, but the same process will solve your problem from the wrong die/shellholder combo.

 

[nicholst55]

When you totally give up, mail the die to RCBS and they will remove it for you. It used to be free; I would expect it still is. AMHIK.

 

[mallc]

Dowel

+ 2 on the stuck case remover. Cut the dowel off and use a small drill to clear it.

+3 on Dillon spray lube for everything, and a handy tin of Imperial at the press for cranky cases.

Scott

 

[rogn]

The punch method may work in a pinch-time running short etc. BBut Id 100% on the stuck case remover!!! +2. LACK of LUBE is greatest cause of stuck caes. Imperial is great, spray lubes I cant personally speak of Dillons but I know another brand is associated with stuck cases,cant say if its technique or product. The wax lubes like Lees are great also, and bag lubing with Lees is acinch to do a 100 mag cases. Necks the same with swab, easy to handle when dry. If you get the acase out get on the horn for a new decapping expanding assembly. My son did the same w/ Hornady 204 die, I called and they sent complete updated assy at N/C wuth my protest that they didnt make him do what he did. Still N/c -NO FREIGHT no nothin.most cos are good on CS and CR. Too bAD THIS DOESNT RUB OFF WITH OTHER PARTS OF BUSINESS. Sorry, fat fingers. Kinda PS, if times aproblem, can you borrow an extractor, most folks been at this a while have one. Lacking that, get a match of coarse thead tap and matcking drill, these are usually abt34,16" or 1/4" 1/4 inch will be fine on 33-330. Pad the die and fix in vise, drill out the primer and through the base until the base is cleanly cut through, dont go deeper, you dont know where the decapper is. tTap the hole youve made, careful to be straight and perpendicular. Use a good oil lube on the tap, tap magic is good, cheep too. The other thing necessary is abolt, I preferr abolt abt 2" long with threads to head. A 3/8 socket with the inside ID big enough for the case rim to pas is place over base of die, a couple of washers go over square hole an a nut is run up to the head of the bolt. Then screw the bolt through the assy and run threads into case at least the thichness of web, Then lube the botl and run nut down on washers, hod the bolt head with one wrench and screw bolt down with another, you may have to clamp die in padded vise. Usually only a coule turns at pressure will get case losse and moving. Good luck , but it all works. rogn

 

[Mackinac76]

It's fixed!

Thanks to depoloni, rogn, and a shooting buddy of mine for the idea that utilized a tap. I used a Craftsman deep socket. And, I used grade 5 hardware as the softer "junk" grade of hardware started to deform. After I got the case out, I had to saw it in half to get the neck expander and decapping pin out but nothing seemed damaged, including the die itself.
Thanks for the advice. Hopefully, I'll be smarter next time.
Mackinac76