Dumb: Case Jammed in Sizing Die

Wleoff · March 4, 2009, 06:25 PM

Boy, I just pulled a dumb one. I was preparing to load some .223 cartridges and had the dies set up. I measured the chamber on a Savage 12 rifle with a Hornady OAL gauge and decided to make up some dummy rounds, with the bullet loaded long, off the lands, to make sure they would chamber. In a hurry, I stuck a new piece of brass in the sizing die and on the up stroke, I remembered that I forgot to lube the case. That was about the time that the head came off the case. Boy that case is stuck and it's not coming out easy.

I've been reloading actively for about fifteen years and that's the first time that I've ever stuck a case in a die. I've hear of people jamming dies, but this was the first for me. Without lube, that brass case really takes a bite. I turned the die upside down and put some Kroil oil around the case. I'll let it soak overnight and try getting it out tomorrow. It's a RCBS competition full sizing die, too. Sure wish that it had been one of my Lee dies instead.

Boy, I believe in lube now.

dmickey · March 4, 2009, 08:56 PM

Now you know the reason for a stuck case remover!

HiBC · March 4, 2009, 09:25 PM

Roll back a few pages,this has been discussed at length a week ago or so.

Breaking things is unnecessary! Good luck.

hodaka · March 4, 2009, 09:39 PM

RCBS is a great company. If you have the time, send the die to them. They will take care of it. If not, you may try a combination of heat and cold to separate the two different metals. Good luck.

flyboy14 · March 4, 2009, 10:14 PM

Everybody has done it, or will do it. I remember the panic when I did. Brand new 25-06 die, brand new rifle begging to be fed some handloads. Stuck the fifth case. @!#$#%^$#. Frantically ran into town and picked up stuck case removal kit. Unstuck case, then realized I had everything I needed in my toolbox in garage to do the job. Then also realized I didn't really mind, it was only 7 bucks. It's kind of like slipping on the ice and landing on your a@$ in the middle of the parking lot, it doesn't hurt near as bad when you realize nobody saw it! Good Luck flyboy

Inspector3711 · March 4, 2009, 11:33 PM

Sometimes an hour or two in the freezer will unstick it.

March 4, 2009, 06:25 PM	#1
Wleoff Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2008 Location: North AL Posts: 380	Dumb: Case Jammed in Sizing Die Boy, I just pulled a dumb one. I was preparing to load some .223 cartridges and had the dies set up. I measured the chamber on a Savage 12 rifle with a Hornady OAL gauge and decided to make up some dummy rounds, with the bullet loaded long, off the lands, to make sure they would chamber. In a hurry, I stuck a new piece of brass in the sizing die and on the up stroke, I remembered that I forgot to lube the case. That was about the time that the head came off the case. Boy that case is stuck and it's not coming out easy. I've been reloading actively for about fifteen years and that's the first time that I've ever stuck a case in a die. I've hear of people jamming dies, but this was the first for me. Without lube, that brass case really takes a bite. I turned the die upside down and put some Kroil oil around the case. I'll let it soak overnight and try getting it out tomorrow. It's a RCBS competition full sizing die, too. Sure wish that it had been one of my Lee dies instead. Boy, I believe in lube now.

March 4, 2009, 08:56 PM	#2
dmickey Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2006 Posts: 124	Now you know the reason for a stuck case remover!

March 4, 2009, 09:25 PM	#3
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,314	Roll back a few pages,this has been discussed at length a week ago or so. Breaking things is unnecessary! Good luck.

March 4, 2009, 09:39 PM	#4
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	RCBS is a great company. If you have the time, send the die to them. They will take care of it. If not, you may try a combination of heat and cold to separate the two different metals. Good luck.

March 4, 2009, 10:14 PM	#5
flyboy14 Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2008 Location: south dakota Posts: 175	Everybody has done it, or will do it. I remember the panic when I did. Brand new 25-06 die, brand new rifle begging to be fed some handloads. Stuck the fifth case. @!#$#%^$#. Frantically ran into town and picked up stuck case removal kit. Unstuck case, then realized I had everything I needed in my toolbox in garage to do the job. Then also realized I didn't really mind, it was only 7 bucks. It's kind of like slipping on the ice and landing on your a@$ in the middle of the parking lot, it doesn't hurt near as bad when you realize nobody saw it! Good Luck flyboy

March 4, 2009, 11:33 PM	#6
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	Sometimes an hour or two in the freezer will unstick it.