Keep your lube warm!

[adcoch1]

I went out today to size up some gun show 30-06 brass, and the heater in my shop was off, so I started it up and jumped right in sizing using hornady unique case lube like always... Well I guess it was TOO cold, cause my fingers could barely get any to wipe off. So I carefully sized the first three cases with no trouble, but the fourth one STUCK! This was my first stuck case! And the rim ripped off while trying to get it out, and somehow in the process the de primer pin got broken on it too( probably while i was hammering the case out with the expander). Reason for all this? Frozen lube in the die from last use... Really dumb way to start a reloading session.

Lucky for me I had a universal decapper die sitting there, and a 308 win expander to substitute in the 30-06 sizing die, but talk about frustration. Now to go order a new decapper pin...

 

[Skeet 25]

Thanks for the information,good thing to know. My reloading area has temp control but I will remember this .

 

[adcoch1]

I really couldn't believe it when I took the die apart... It was just starting to melt in my hand before i wiped it off.

 

[243winxb]

Wax needs heat.

Mink Oil (animal oil mixed
Glycerol Monooleate
Bleached Tallow
Refined Paraffin Wax

http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/msds/Unique_Case_Lube_MSDS.pdf

Looks like it would make a better cast bullet lube to me.

You may want to switch to RCBS case lube 2

 

[dredd]

I had this very exact thing happen to me with that Lube.
I love the stuff, but with cold lube & components, things went south.

Also, don't let it freeze. It kinda curdles and just isn't the same afterwards even after it warms up and you stir/mix it up again.
It does still work, but there are these little "grains" that drive me nuts.

 

[adcoch1]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one... I never would have thought it was frozen in the die since it wasn't in the tub, just really hard. But we have been floating right around freezing, and I guess the dies were cold up on the shelf...

 

[adcoch1]

Wax needs heat.

http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/msds/Unique_Case_Lube_MSDS.pdf

Looks like it would make a better cast bullet lube to me.

You may want to switch to RCBS case lube 2

The stuff would be amazing for cast bullets, and once i start some casting I plan on trying it out. Might need to fix the thermostat in the shop too...

 

[JimKirk]

Since this was you first stuck case .... you may want to prepare for the next one( may not happen soon, but but if you load enough it will happen again) ... you probably already have what is needed to get it out ... a 1/4" tap, a drill bit for the tap, a socket that will fit just over the case, a 1/4' bolt, a large thick 1/4" flat washer ....

Unscrew the decapping stem pull it as high up in the die/brass as possible ... drill the primer pocket with the bit being careful not to let the drill bit run up into to the case ruining the decap stem ... tap the hole ... slide the socket over the brass ...put the flat washer on top of the socket ...screw the bolt into the tapped brass ... go slow and easy ... the brass will come right out ... with out ruining you stem ... screw the stem out of the die ....you will have to cut the case off the decap stem ... a small pipe cutter works great here ...

 

[kingmt]

Since this was you first stuck case .... you may want to prepare for the next one( may not happen soon, but but if you load enough it will happen again) ... you probably already have what is needed to get it out ... a 1/4" tap, a drill bit for the tap, a socket that will fit just over the case, a 1/4' bolt, a large thick 1/4" flat washer ....

Unscrew the decapping stem pull it as high up in the die/brass as possible ... drill the primer pocket with the bit being careful not to let the drill bit run up into to the case ruining the decap stem ... tap the hole ... slide the socket over the brass ...put the flat washer on top of the socket ...screw the bolt into the tapped brass ... go slow and easy ... the brass will come right out ... with out ruining you stem ... screw the stem out of the die ....you will have to cut the case off the decap stem ... a small pipe cutter works great here ...

I've only had one that I couldn't get out & I tried this method. It didn't work ether. I had to drill out the bottom large enough to remove the mandrel then slowly step up in size until the case was thinned to tissue paper then I drove the neck & shoulder out.

Usually if you don't rip the rim off you can work done lube around the button & keep bumping the shell holder off the bottom of the die & it'll come out after a few times.

I forgot to lube one of my 50 BMG brass the other day & had just taken the die apart to wipe it dry. Talk about your heart sinking. I used this method but having to back the die out so I could use all the leverage at the bottom of the stroke to get it a few thous at a time. After I got it all the way in & bumped it a few times my son pulled on the handle while I tapped on the mandrel & it popped out pretty easy.

 

[adcoch1]

Well that is some good advice on removing the case. I have all the taps and drills, and thought that was what i was going to be forced to do. Instead I just used the hammer and broke stuff. More patients would have been good. I knew it was bound to happen someday even though I'm really careful to get the cases lubed up, well you live and learn...