Stuck case

hivel37 · July 7, 2011, 10:42 PM

Several times I've had to use an extractor to pull cases from dies where the shell holder had pulled over the rim. Today I had a 38 spcl case head seperate and leave the case body in the die. Nothing unusual; non-carbide dies, but the cases were lubed normally. I was finishing up with a 100 that I was prepping. The case was just ready to go.

I've seen info on here, and IIRC, the die is placed in a deep freeze for a time, then the remainder of the case will release.

Please, someone jump start my memory.

Thanks, Ed

WWWJD · July 7, 2011, 10:56 PM

That makes sense, and it sure won't hurt anything to try it. We used to freeze parts in an environmental chamber at work to loosen bearings and what not. Not sure which will shrink more, the brass or the steel. Might take the opposite; heat.

Go for it.

hivel37 · July 7, 2011, 11:14 PM

I know this has been covered a zillion times, but I couldn't get my search string worded right.

After a little time in the deep freeze, it may just fall out in my hand. Wont have time to fiddle with it again until Saturday, so I'll see then.

Thanks, Ed

William T. Watts · July 8, 2011, 11:15 AM

You never mentioned what you were using as a lubricant. William

AllenJ · July 8, 2011, 02:54 PM

If you are getting 38 spcl cases stuck to the point that the heads are tearing off you have some sort of issue going on. Think about it, a straight walled case pushed inside a sizing die is then resized, pulling it out should take very little effort. Things I would check would include: Type of case lube being used/amount being applied, clean the die with solvent, shell holder tolerance to the case.

Clifford L. Hughes · July 8, 2011, 07:17 PM

Hival37:

I can't comment on why your case stuck and its seperation leaving the body in the die. I've never needed to try this but give it a try and see what happens. Select a bronze bore bursh that is larger than a 38 special case and push it in far enough that both ends of the brush sick out of the stuck case. Now, pull the brush from the die. It will take a lot of effort when the brush's bristols reverse but the case should come out with the brush. Let me know what happens if you try this. A good solution is to purchase a carbide die, the time and effort that you save is well worth the cost.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired

Powderman · July 8, 2011, 07:22 PM

Quote:

A good solution is to purchase a carbide die, the time and effort that you save is well worth the cost.

Amen to that!

If you reload straight walled cases--especially handgun calibers--there is probably a carbide die made for it. It will save you tons of time and money. For my handgun cases, I put them in the tumbler until they're nice and clean. Then, when I'm ready to load, they simply get run through the press. No problems at all!

I reload .38 Special, .357, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .44 Magnum and .500 Smith and Wesson. All have carbide sizing dies.

hivel37 · July 8, 2011, 07:48 PM

As we all suspected, operator error was the crux of it.

I use Hornady One Shot lube. Of course as I sprayed them in the block not enough lube gets on the lower part of the case.

I froze the die. So much for the easy way so I took the EZ (out) way. Put it in the vise and with some WD-40 and a #5 EZ out managed to remove it. Then used an old cleaning rod, a slotted tip and cordless drill motor to work the die over with some Flitz. It cleaned up OK.

My other handgun dies are all carbide. This is the second time I've used this particular non-carbide die. I picked it up at a show to avoid having to jack with the preset .357 or the washer.

Anyway, I suspect the near future holds another set (carbide).

Thanks guys.

Geezerbiker · July 8, 2011, 08:06 PM

You can buy just the carbide sizer die from Midway...

Tony

July 7, 2011, 10:42 PM	#1
hivel37 Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2004 Location: Hill Country Posts: 522	Stuck case Several times I've had to use an extractor to pull cases from dies where the shell holder had pulled over the rim. Today I had a 38 spcl case head seperate and leave the case body in the die. Nothing unusual; non-carbide dies, but the cases were lubed normally. I was finishing up with a 100 that I was prepping. The case was just ready to go. I've seen info on here, and IIRC, the die is placed in a deep freeze for a time, then the remainder of the case will release. Please, someone jump start my memory. Thanks, Ed

July 7, 2011, 10:56 PM	#2
WWWJD Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Central KY Posts: 552	That makes sense, and it sure won't hurt anything to try it. We used to freeze parts in an environmental chamber at work to loosen bearings and what not. Not sure which will shrink more, the brass or the steel. Might take the opposite; heat. Go for it.

July 7, 2011, 11:14 PM	#3
hivel37 Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2004 Location: Hill Country Posts: 522	I know this has been covered a zillion times, but I couldn't get my search string worded right. After a little time in the deep freeze, it may just fall out in my hand. Wont have time to fiddle with it again until Saturday, so I'll see then. Thanks, Ed

July 8, 2011, 11:15 AM	#4
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	You never mentioned what you were using as a lubricant. William

July 8, 2011, 02:54 PM	#5
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	If you are getting 38 spcl cases stuck to the point that the heads are tearing off you have some sort of issue going on. Think about it, a straight walled case pushed inside a sizing die is then resized, pulling it out should take very little effort. Things I would check would include: Type of case lube being used/amount being applied, clean the die with solvent, shell holder tolerance to the case.

July 8, 2011, 07:17 PM	#6
Clifford L. Hughes Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2011 Location: Southern Californis Posts: 795	Hival37: I can't comment on why your case stuck and its seperation leaving the body in the die. I've never needed to try this but give it a try and see what happens. Select a bronze bore bursh that is larger than a 38 special case and push it in far enough that both ends of the brush sick out of the stuck case. Now, pull the brush from the die. It will take a lot of effort when the brush's bristols reverse but the case should come out with the brush. Let me know what happens if you try this. A good solution is to purchase a carbide die, the time and effort that you save is well worth the cost. Semper Fi. Gunnery sergeant Clifford L. Hughes USMC Retired

July 8, 2011, 07:48 PM	#8
hivel37 Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2004 Location: Hill Country Posts: 522	As we all suspected, operator error was the crux of it. I use Hornady One Shot lube. Of course as I sprayed them in the block not enough lube gets on the lower part of the case. I froze the die. So much for the easy way so I took the EZ (out) way. Put it in the vise and with some WD-40 and a #5 EZ out managed to remove it. Then used an old cleaning rod, a slotted tip and cordless drill motor to work the die over with some Flitz. It cleaned up OK. My other handgun dies are all carbide. This is the second time I've used this particular non-carbide die. I picked it up at a show to avoid having to jack with the preset .357 or the washer. Anyway, I suspect the near future holds another set (carbide). Thanks guys.

July 8, 2011, 08:06 PM	#9
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,909	You can buy just the carbide sizer die from Midway... Tony