Oh, man!

[Spindrift]

Until very recently, I haven’t owned any form of tools to remove stuck cases in reloading dies. Why would I need that? I won’t do anything as stupid as sticking a case in the die, will I?

Well, the other day it was my turn. I was adjusting a 222rem FL die to minimal shoulder set-back. I noticed that the fit seemed a bit sloppy between the Lee case holder, and the S&B brass I was using for sequential down-sizing. Case was lubed with imperial sizing wax. Suddenly, the rim gave- at about the 5th sizing.

My local gun/reloading shop had the Lyman kit on the shelf. It worked well! In the future, I’ll use another case holder.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Have t had one in years now. Used to use a pad then a spray aerosol. Then to Dillon lubes and made my own duplicate. Redused immensely with Dillon and mynown same today Im 99% either Imperial or Unique hard stuff applied with fingers.


But I know Ill see one again too.
CW

 

[Rick]

Haven't stuck one in years but when it did happen my first thought was . . . Rick you stupid shit you know what case lube is but your not smart enough to use it.

 

[Ian]

I stuck a .30-30 case one time. Grabbed a range pickup to make a dummy with a new bullet, too lazy to lube it (plenty of my lanolin/castor goop in there already from the last time I used it, right?) And presto...stuck. Being a Lee die I pulled the collet nut and forced the case out using a ball joint press and deep socket using the expanding rod. Stupid me, sure it will happen again eventually.

Spindrift, I think you know this but from your description now I'm not so sure.... you get exactly ONE trial per case when setting back the shoulder, right? If you keep bumping the same case back until you're happy with the headspace you will get a false reading from the brass having been repeatedly massaged and the next fired case you size to the same length will bounce back a lot more and be too long. Check check check and check again every 5-10 cases after you're sure you got it right.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I haven't stuck a casing in a die since the Clinton Administration (one of the many bad things that happened in that era).

I remember exactly how I did it. I was setting up a sizing die, lubed a bunch of casings and was fiddling with the adjustment; way more than needed.
I had just about got the die where I wanted it (it was probably correct 10 minutes before that point but I thought it needed just a little more adjusting). I picked up a case and rammed it home. I had run out of the lubed casings and was working on dry ones. I made it to about the 4th un-lubed case when I realized I was using dry casings.
YEP- one casing too many. And there it was.

 

[david s]

Early 80's when I stuck my first case then waited a week or so for Midsouth to deliver the RCBS stuck case remover. Wasn't it's last use though.

 

[CZ93X62]

<----Not copping to ANYTHING. Call my lawyer.

 

[Joshua]

Replacement decapping pins are cheap on Amazon. They only seem to be good for one case removal. They get a little “wonky” after you beat on them with a hammer.

 

[RBHarter]

You know I can't remember what the last case was I stuck ........ I know it was in an RCBS die because the one before that was 3-4 in a Lee 308 die . That sticky ...... little darling would just hug the brass like , I don't know but even with the decapper/expander out it would drag coming out ...... Handy having that pin intended to knock the stuck cases out . I don't remember what I finally did I think that was the one I ran the lapping compound in . After that Lee dies get over lubed to start .

 

[RicinYakima]

Notice how Lee dies and Lee shellholders are a common thread in this issue?

 

[RBHarter]

I've done it with RCBS too but it was purely operator error .

 

[462]

I've stuck cases with RCBS and Hornady dies.

Speaking of Lee shellholders. I have a Lee for cartridges with a .473" base that allows a case to slide from its back to its opening, if not held in place with a finger, otherwise brass will catch the edge of a die.

 

[Joshua]

I stuck mine in an RCBS.

 

[Spindrift]

The die was RCBS, the shell holder Lee. I think the case was lubed. At least, I have no recollection of having forgotten it

If you keep bumping the same case back until you're happy with the headspace you will get a false reading from the brass having been repeatedly massaged and the next fired case you size to the same length will bounce back a lot more and be too long.

I didn’t know that, thanks! It makes sense. I do indeed use the same case.

I see that my description is maybe not entirely correct, or precise. I don’t usually adjust to minimal headspace. My goal is to avoid dangerous, excessive headspace while still having effortless chambering. So, I adjust the die till the bolt closes with a little resistance, and then a bit more. I typically end up with 2-3 thousands of an inch headspace, which I consider OK. This might be why my method has not caused problems so far; the springback issue is within the tolerance of my system.

Most of my reloading is done with neck sizing. My FL-dies see action when I’m sizing range pick-ups the first time, and hunting ammo. I also use FL sizing on my Whelen cases, since I have no neck die I’m happy with for that cartridge.

 

[dale2242]

I have always loaded on a single stage press.
In over 50 years of loading, I have never stuck a case.
If the case starts feeling tight in the sizing die, I back out and use more lube.
Feel is an important part of reloading.
If something doesn`t feel right back off and take a look.

 

[L Ross]

I only stick cases when I get lax about the correct shell holder. Yeah I know. They are all dumped in a little drawer and some I know by memory, but I've gotten careless with .223 and went by try and feel and got bit.
dale2242 has it right about feel. I use Imperial sizing wax. Once everything gets lubed up I can finger wipe every 3rd to 5th case and you can definitely feel if you should withdraw a case and touch it up before bottoming out.
Darn that sounds dirtier than it was intended.

 

[Walks]

In 1974 when I set up my own reloading gear, among the things my Dad gave me was a New RCBS Stuck Case Remover Kit. I had never seen him stick a case or anyone else for that matter.
He said it's better to have one and not need it, then to need it and not have it.

Well 15yrs later I needed it. I was showing a newbie how to reload. And I forgot to roll the cases across the lube pad.
Too busy talking, not paying attention. Well it was a lesson We both will remember.

 

[abj]

I'm not saying a word about it, execpt that my case lube is black bear tallow. So far(knock on wood) it has worked better than any store bought.
So I took the leftover Hornady spray and use it for hard to size bullets as a pre lube in the Star.
Tony

 

[jonjon]

the only cases I have stuck are .223 and all in an RCBS die.

 

[Mitty38]

First and only case I stuck was, 233.
Using a Lee full length die. Did not know about case extractors so loosened up the de-priming rod and drove it out with the case. Then I threw the mess away, and ordered a new de-priming, rod., which I got in 4 days for free.
I was using the Lee case sizing paste. I have always blamed it on that.

Since then I have always sprayed and rolled the cases in a mix of lanolin, coconut oil and high grade alcohol. From the combination of a recipe that was in my uncles stuff and a recipe I got on the internet. Just spay them down in a plastic bag then mix them around a bit. Then lay them out over night, or at least long enough for the alcohol to evaporate, a bit.
Never had an issue since, and I have sized a lot of brass with it.
Threw the Lee paste away. I would not give that stuff to my worst enemy. Only thing Lee , that I have used, so far, that just ever out and out failed me.
Like my mix, it makes my hands soft and supple, plus they smell good when I am done. Compliments my girlish figure.LOL