Stuck case ... dead die .223 RCBS

[Bullseye]

Stuck case ... dead die .223 RCBS - REVISED FIXED!!!!

No way is this coming out. ( edit Way! ) Tapped, used the old bolt, flat washer. big NUTS, in the primer pocket trick.
It's a goner. :banghead:
I wrote RCBS and described how hopeless this is. I asked for a new resizing die. I hope they will bail me out under warranty. Sad situation here.
Has anyone else ever got a case stuck so bad that it was hopeless.
I had a 45-70 case stuck once but got that one out, but I don't think there's any hope for this one and if there is, it sure isn't worth the labor it will involve.

 

[Ditchtiger]

Yep, did the stupid thing and pushed a case into the die when it felt not right.
Sent it to RCBS and got back what looked like a new die but for the marks I had made on it from use. Your out $5 is all.

 

[Bullseye]

If they want me to send it in I guess I would. Just got the thing, didn't get very far with it. I'll wait for a reply. These sort of things always happen on a Saturday night. LOL

 

[tcoz]

What were you using for lube?

 

[murf]

sigsmoker,

i have a 30-06 case stuck in an rcbs die. after mangling the case i bought another die. the stuck case die is still sitting in my loading bench waiting for me to have an epiphany on how to unstuck the case.

murf

 

[243winxb]

Spray wax lube, would be my guess.

 

[Axis II]

I did the same thing with the same cartridge and got an rcbs stuck case remover kit. I tried with vice grips, old bolt, but nothing worked until I got the actual kit for it.

do yourself a favor and use imperial wax and get a legit rcbs stuck case remover. it took me a couple tries to get mine out.

 

[mr wack]

Stick it in the freezer for a day, different expansion between steel and brass.
Try all that you did afore and see if it works, it did for me one time.
You have nothing to lose, might work might not....


Also this==== " do yourself a favor and use imperial wax and get a legit rcbs stuck case remover. it took me a couple tries to get mine out ".

 

[Bullseye]

Used RCBS case lube 2.
It's not the end of the world. I think I will buy the dumb RCBS stuck case kit. It would be worth it if I never have to use it again anyway.
I could always loan it out to my reloading buddy when it happens to him too.
Still, I am curious how RCBS will respond on Mon or Tues.
My shelf and bench are 80 % RCBS and I told them so.

 

[SARuger]

I stuck a .223 case in my Lee die the other day, my first time. I looked at it for a bit and decided that I would just remove the collet that holds the de-capper pin and used a long shank flat nose punch/drift. A couple of whacks with a small ball-pen hammer and it fell out. It was lubed so I don't know why it stuck.

No troubles since.

 

[Axis II]

Used RCBS case lube 2.
It's not the end of the world. I think I will buy the dumb RCBS stuck case kit. It would be worth it if I never have to use it again anyway.
I could always loan it out to my reloading buddy when it happens to him too.
Still, I am curious how RCBS will respond on Mon or Tues.
My shelf and bench are 80 % RCBS and I told them so.

I have to say RCBS will always get my money after helping me out. I stuck a case and had no clue what I was doing so tried pulling the decapper/sizer out of the case and broke the rod in half. I then laid the piece on the counter and someone threw that as well as the black piece the rod threads into.

I emailed them about the broken rod and got one in a week at no charge. I then realized the black threaded thingy the rod goes into was thrown away so I email them again and the guy said that's on the way also. I got it in a week and now ready to go.

I was shocked that they sent both for free. I have an otter box cell phone case I paid almost $100 for and it broke in less than a year so I emailed them and they emailed me back saying they need a credit card number for $2.99 shipping. I thought to myself holly crap I just paid $90 for this thing 8 months ago and your going to ping me on $2.99 the case was in fact a defect where they welded the rubber together and the seam broke apart. I don't like giving credit card info over the phone or internet so I'm just dealing with it as of now. some companies have great CS and some not so much. RCBS being the good one IMO.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I stuck a 6.5 x 50 Jap case in the die last month but drilling and tapping the primer pocket and using a pipe reducing bushing with a flat washer and a bolt eased it right out. It stuck because the flange on the shell holder (RCBS) broke off on one side. When I told my local shop, who I buy 90% of my reloading stuff from, what had happened he exchanged the broken shell holder for a new one. Good on RCBS and my local shop.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

That's what I like about Lee dies, they're designed so you can remove a stuck case. I've had to do it a couple of times.

 

[hdbiker]

I've stuck a couple cases over the 45 or so years loading.I've always been able to get the out with taping and a 1/4-20 bolt, a large nut and some washers.GOOD LUCK. RCBS, great tools and awesome customer service. hdbiker

 

[John3921]

Only stuck case I've ever had was a .300 win mag case in Lyman dies. Switched from RCBS lube and lube pad to Imperial sizing wax. First case - stuck, pulled the rim off of the case. I used a socket and a self tapping TEK screw to pull it out.

I've since switched to a different type of wax lube and have never had another problem.

 

[X-Rap]

The 1/4 20 tap and bolt with nut, washer or socket, washer has always worked for me. If that strips out go up a size until you run out of case head.

 

[witchhunter]

Sig, everyone has stuck one before, it ain't the end of the world. RCBS will fix it and send it back. I agree, it always happens on a weekend, when you can't contact help. I bought my stuck case remover when I needed it, It has come on handy a couple of times since on other people's dies. Send it back Monday, they are good people to buy from. They will take care of it.

 

[kcofohio]

Stick it in the freezer for a day, different expansion between steel and brass.
Try all that you did afore and see if it works, it did for me one time.
You have nothing to lose, might work might not....


Also this==== " do yourself a favor and use imperial wax and get a legit rcbs stuck case remover. it took me a couple tries to get mine out ".

I thought iron expands and contracts more than brass.

 

[X-Rap]

Brass does contract more, dry ice may be a better bet.

 

[lightman]

A friend stuck one really bad and then mangled up the case with vice grips before bringing it to me. The 1/4 in bolt stripped out but the case was large enough that I was able to drill and tap for a 5/16 bolt.

I had another friend that did the same thing, only worse. I ended up using an ez-out on that one.

 

[speedreed]

I read a story on another forum where the guy tried dry ice. The case simply dropped out when he tipped the die over. He said it actually startled him and his buddy. But of course that was a story I read on the internet, FWIW.

 

[X-Rap]

The hot cold concept becomes very clear if you have been involved in the assembly of large mechanical parts. Hot oil or liquid nitrogen will expand or contract to an amazing degree

 

[kcofohio]

Brass does contract more, dry ice may be a better bet.

Okay, I think I see the error of my way.

Some metals expand more than others due to differences in the forces between the atoms / molecules. In metals such as iron the forces between the atoms are stronger so it is more difficult for the atoms to move around . In brass the forces are a little weaker so the atoms are free to move about more. These differences in contraction are used in a bimetallic strip, which is composed of a strip of brass laid along side strip of Iron. When the strip is heated the brass expands more than the iron so the strip beds. It is used in devics such as fire alarms and circuit breakers to either make or break contacts in an electric circuit.

I had looked up and found the shrinkage of casting on a different search. But those two are over 1000' F. In temp difference at the molten state. I stand corrected.

 

[Bullseye]

Fixed !!!!

I was determined. Drilled a bigger hole and tapped for a larger bolt. Got it out!
Fixed up my die and it worked fine on a primed case.
Here's some victory pictures!
Thanks for your support!

I'll have to tell RCBS I fixed this tho. This was some stuck case, I'll tell ya. I'm temporarilly out a stainless steel bolt a couple nuts and a Craftsman socket but that beats being out a die.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

You can use a pipe thread reducer bushing instead of a socket. Much cheaper and available in a number of sizes.