Nested cases jammed together (.223 inside .45)

[Jumping Frog]

Alright, I was sloppy in terms of adding cases to the tumbler. I inadvertently tumbled both .45 ACP and .223 Rem cases at the same time in walnut media.

The .223 cases are jammed so tightly within the .45 case with the walnut media in between the inner and outer case walls that it is darn hard to get them unstuck. Literally have got the blisters to prove it.

I was irritated enough to almost grab pliers, but see no point in ruining the cases. I know you guys always seem to know the shortcuts or easy way of getting things done. Any suggestions on how I attack this smarter instead of harder?

 

[gamestalker]

I dumped a bunch of 45 acp, 40 S&W, 9mm, .357 and .380 in at one time. They were all range pick up, which is why they were all mixed together in the first place, and I didn't think to separate them before, big mistake!

Oh BTW, make sure you separate bigger cases from the smaller ones before tumbling, ha! ha!
GS

 

[T Bran]

I would try running some pairs in the tumbler again but without any media in the hope that they will rattle apart.
The next thing would be the bullet puller hammer tool.
We all oops now and then.
LUCK
T

 

[FROGO207]

I have done the bullet puller trick like T Bran said using a shell holder instead of the collet to save time. Just put the open end on the down side while tilting the hammer and you can screw the cap on without problems. Only mixed the brass once. Funny how these things work eh.

 

[Walkalong]

Toss the larger caliber cases in first and let them fill with media, then toss in the smaller ones. This will stop 99.9% of that.

 

[EddieNFL]

I absolutely hate 9MM and .40 cases. No matter how carefully I segregate, I always get one stuck inside a .45 case and of course I don't find it until it makes it's way through the casefeed mechanism.

 

[Gtimothy]

Which is why I always deprime my brass befor tumbling...kind of forced sorting plus I can cull the garbage and not waste time tumbling it!

 

[blarby]

A lot of times a drywall screw through the business end will allow you to unplug pistol cases that are really stuck.... for 223........... dunno. ITs probably just a torque thing due to the length....cuz usually to get 'em REAL stuck you need less room than that

Try soaking 'em in real hot water. CC doesn't like water. It gets all slippery. Tension and friction are what are cursing you here....mebbe the oldest ingredient will work !

Like everyone says, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure....but we've all done it !

 

[rcmodel]

As T Bran said, tumble them again with no media.

Most all of them should shake apart in the empty tumbler.

rc

 

[Jumping Frog]

Kinetic hammer solved the problem. Thanks for a solution that worked.

Didn't try tumbling again without media, so I don't know if that would have worked or not.

 

[Timmypage16]

I always just use pliers and never damage and of the cases. Use needlenose pliers and just grab the lip of the shell with the smaller diameter and gently twist and pull. They always come right apart causing no damage.

 

[Walkalong]

The needle nose trick always works for me as well, but ever since I took Fred's advise about putting the larger calibers in first, it rarely happens.

 

[Jeff H]

Most of us have done this at least once. I may be wrong, but I doubt that most of us have done this more than once because getting the cases unstuck is a PITA.

I have enough brass that I can accumulate 500+ of each cartridge way before I am out of reloaded ammo. So I tumble each size separately.

 

[Hondo 60]

Ahhh the bullet puller! (now why didn't I think of that?)

I usually (very carefully) use needle nose pliers.
Haven't wrecked any cases yet.

But the bullet puller is a great idea.

 

[TheCracker]

I've done that before a fee times. I jaut grab the needle nose and snatch it out. They size right back out. Really no biggie in my experience

 

[jfh]

Then, of course, there are those of us who choose to NOT EVER tumble more than one case size at a time--because, we learned from the school of experience.

But, I may have to try the techniques for dealing with that--

Jim H.

 

[LightningMan]

What walkalong said; Toss the larger caliber cases in first and let them fill with media, then toss in the smaller ones. This will stop 99.9% of that.
This works for me, as I have very few stuck together.

 

[Nushif]

I always just use pliers and never damage and of the cases. Use needlenose pliers and just grab the lip of the shell with the smaller diameter and gently twist and pull. They always come right apart causing no damage.

I do this, when I forget to sort or get too lazy.

 

[Fishslayer]

Ahhh the bullet puller! (now why didn't I think of that?)

^^^ THIS! :banghead:

I sort my brass but always seem to miss a few. Never even considered the bullet puller.

Gonna try that dumping the .45 in first the next time I have a few bits of different sizes.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I have my dirty brass broken down into groups for this reason

.172-.257 cal rifle & .251 pistol
.264-.358 cal rifle
.375-.458 cal rifle
.30-.32 cal pistol
~.35 cal pistol
.40 cal pistol
.44/.45 cal pistol
.50 cal rifle and pistol