Stuck Case Removal

MSD Mike · May 22, 2017, 05:12 PM

Everyone has little things they learn as time goes on so I thought I would pass along something that worked for me.
I stuck a .223 case in a sizing die the other day. To get it out I put the die in plastic jaws in my vice and drilled out the primer pocket. I then used an easy out made to remove broken or stripped bolts in the primer pocket. It grabbed the the case and easily removed it from the die.
Probably better ways but this one worked for me.
This advice is worth every penny you paid for it

Second part of the lesson is to be sure and lube rifle cases before sizing.

Mike

F. Guffey · May 23, 2017, 08:42 AM

When it comes to drilling: I remove the die from the press, after removing the die from the top of the press I screw the die back into the press through the bottom with the die upside down. After drilling the primer/flash hole I remove the primer punch/neck expander assemble.

I make stuck case removers that are different, I use a straight pull puller instead of the 'twist-um-out' pullers.

In line pullers require two wrenches, I choose to use one hand.

F. Guffey

MSD Mike · May 23, 2017, 09:07 AM

Thanks for the tip about installing the die upside down in the press. The vice is a bit awkward and prone to damaging the dies. Hopefully I wont stick another one but things happen.

Mike

RC20 · May 23, 2017, 02:00 PM

There are those who stick them and then there are those who stick them again.

I don't stick one too often but stick I do

RCBS makes a nice tool to do the same thing.

I actually drilled one out before I knew about the RCBS, now that is fiddly work without chewing up the die.

You can make your own as well. Fine thread bit and a spacer.

DEMOLITION MAN · June 17, 2017, 08:41 AM

Just use Lee dies. Loosen lock-nut, drive out decapping pin with a few snacks with pin punch, remove case from pin, done.
All without remove die from press

F. Guffey · June 17, 2017, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Just use Lee dies. Loosen lock-nut, drive out decapping pin with a few snacks with pin punch, remove case from pin, done.
All without remove die from press

Or remove the die from the press and then invert the die and screw it into the press from the bottom. After installing the die upside down raise the ram, if the case was shoved into the die with the ram when it stuck it should be possible to shove it out with the ram. I have Lee dies, I do not use them but I have them just in case so it is not likely I am going to stick a case in a Lee die.

I do have other dies, I have dies that want to keep ever case that is shoved into them, after I measured the dies I decided the dies were mistakes. I know, I could have sent them back, but; if small base dies are a good thing these dies have got to be the best dies in the world because they go beyond small base.

I do not suggest a reloader snack

while reloading and I suggest they was their hands and I understand the key board with the 'n' and 'm' being next to each other.

F. Guffey

DEMOLITION MAN · June 17, 2017, 02:31 PM

Lee dies are designed for easy stuck case removal with that method. I would not suggest using the ram, some cases get pretty stuck.
BTW, I always snack while reloading.

F. Guffey · June 18, 2017, 10:07 AM

Quote:

BTW, I always snack while reloading.

I understand the philosophy of sergeants, it is the same as the philosophy of reloaders. I do not agree with the sergeants, I do not agree with reloaders so if you snack

while smacking wash your hands often.

Smacking the primer punch/sizer plug assemble, there is a chance the top of the assemble will upset, I do not want my dies to take on the appearance of having been hammered on.

And then there was Ol' Ben Franklin, he was not a doctor but he had seen things, one day he went overseas, while there he was asked what was wrong with this large group of workers; he asked if they were print setters, he asked because the afflicted reminded him of most of the type setters he had seen everywhere, Ol' Ben Franklin had seen things. And now? Phossy jaw of the body.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts...l-disease.html

F. Guffey

cptjack · June 18, 2017, 10:21 AM

USE 1/4 TAP and tap threads where the primer was, find a socket which is larger than the diameter of cartridge and sits on bottom of die, thread bolt through socket and into tapped hole use washer under bolt head ,turn bolt and cartridge is pulled into socket. ,remove case

F. Guffey · June 18, 2017, 11:41 AM

captjack, I choose to avoid rotating the case, I use the two wrench method, I hold the bolt/stud that is screwed into the die and then turn a jam nut. The two wrench method pulls the case straight.

One hand, two wrenches is used when working with hydraulic lines and fitting.

F. Guffey

hooligan1 · June 22, 2017, 04:52 AM

And meanwhile my "Stuck case remover" sets on the shelf and looks on.......RCBS Case Lube and Roll pad......no stuck cases, ever.

cptjack · June 22, 2017, 04:57 AM

never say never

mojoracing · June 22, 2017, 09:09 AM

I agree, rcbs pad and lube, never a problem.

RC20 · June 22, 2017, 01:40 PM

Quote:

And meanwhile my "Stuck case remover" sets on the shelf and looks on.......RCBS Case Lube and Roll pad......no stuck cases, ever.

I would rather a rare stuck case than that gooey 70s roll pad setup!

hooligan1 · June 22, 2017, 03:03 PM

Never ever....a stuck case...

Panfisher · June 22, 2017, 10:09 PM

RC20, I 110% agree. I was going to buy one, and looked at the lics, duh I can make my own. Granted it takes me a while to find all my parts/tools but it gives me time to cuss and be mad, then get it out of my sysem. the actual doing goes pretty quick.

May 22, 2017, 05:12 PM	#1
MSD Mike Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2009 Posts: 212	Stuck Case Removal Everyone has little things they learn as time goes on so I thought I would pass along something that worked for me. I stuck a .223 case in a sizing die the other day. To get it out I put the die in plastic jaws in my vice and drilled out the primer pocket. I then used an easy out made to remove broken or stripped bolts in the primer pocket. It grabbed the the case and easily removed it from the die. Probably better ways but this one worked for me. This advice is worth every penny you paid for it Second part of the lesson is to be sure and lube rifle cases before sizing. Mike

June 22, 2017, 04:52 AM	#11
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	And meanwhile my "Stuck case remover" sets on the shelf and looks on.......RCBS Case Lube and Roll pad......no stuck cases, ever. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

June 22, 2017, 03:03 PM	#15
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	Never ever....a stuck case... __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

May 23, 2017, 08:42 AM	#2
F. Guffey Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Posts: 7,249	When it comes to drilling: I remove the die from the press, after removing the die from the top of the press I screw the die back into the press through the bottom with the die upside down. After drilling the primer/flash hole I remove the primer punch/neck expander assemble. I make stuck case removers that are different, I use a straight pull puller instead of the 'twist-um-out' pullers. In line pullers require two wrenches, I choose to use one hand. F. Guffey

May 23, 2017, 09:07 AM	#3
MSD Mike Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2009 Posts: 212	Thanks for the tip about installing the die upside down in the press. The vice is a bit awkward and prone to damaging the dies. Hopefully I wont stick another one but things happen. Mike

May 23, 2017, 02:00 PM	#4
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	There are those who stick them and then there are those who stick them again. I don't stick one too often but stick I do RCBS makes a nice tool to do the same thing. I actually drilled one out before I knew about the RCBS, now that is fiddly work without chewing up the die. You can make your own as well. Fine thread bit and a spacer.

June 17, 2017, 08:41 AM	#5
DEMOLITION MAN Member Join Date: March 19, 2008 Location: Pa. Posts: 35	Just use Lee dies. Loosen lock-nut, drive out decapping pin with a few snacks with pin punch, remove case from pin, done. All without remove die from press

June 17, 2017, 02:31 PM	#7
DEMOLITION MAN Member Join Date: March 19, 2008 Location: Pa. Posts: 35	Lee dies are designed for easy stuck case removal with that method. I would not suggest using the ram, some cases get pretty stuck. BTW, I always snack while reloading.

June 18, 2017, 10:21 AM	#9
cptjack Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2014 Posts: 314	USE 1/4 TAP and tap threads where the primer was, find a socket which is larger than the diameter of cartridge and sits on bottom of die, thread bolt through socket and into tapped hole use washer under bolt head ,turn bolt and cartridge is pulled into socket. ,remove case

June 18, 2017, 11:41 AM	#10
F. Guffey Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Posts: 7,249	captjack, I choose to avoid rotating the case, I use the two wrench method, I hold the bolt/stud that is screwed into the die and then turn a jam nut. The two wrench method pulls the case straight. One hand, two wrenches is used when working with hydraulic lines and fitting. F. Guffey

June 22, 2017, 04:57 AM	#12
cptjack Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2014 Posts: 314	never say never

June 22, 2017, 09:09 AM	#13
mojoracing Junior Member Join Date: June 19, 2017 Posts: 6	I agree, rcbs pad and lube, never a problem.

June 22, 2017, 10:09 PM	#16
Panfisher Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,337	RC20, I 110% agree. I was going to buy one, and looked at the lics, duh I can make my own. Granted it takes me a while to find all my parts/tools but it gives me time to cuss and be mad, then get it out of my sysem. the actual doing goes pretty quick.