What did I do wrong? This sucks!!!

[CRNA]

Ok, so I was sizing a few cases after taking them out of the tumbler a couple days ago. The cases were well lubed going through a new Forster BR sizing die with the die backed out 3/4 of a turn as to size only the neck. Some cases went through the sizer smooth as silk and required very little pressure on the lever/arm/ whatever it's technically called. Some required considerably more work by me. Then this crap happens!!! What the hell? How does this happen?

Even better question, how does one go about fixing this problem? Oh, should have mentioned, I didn't leave the case in there just to show off my new dies. It's in there so **** tight I don't think it will ever come out!!!!

 

[lazylabs]

Well to remove it here is one way.

RCBS Stuck Case Remover - MidwayUSA

I would start with your die a little further out and see how much of the neck your actually sizing. You don't have a small base die do you? What kind of brass, what kind of chamber and what kind of load pressure are you running? How many sizings to the cases have on them? Is it the same lot of brass? What kind of lube are you using? Lube the inside of the neck? Do any of the other sized cases have scratches or a ring around the base where the die stops? Lots of things can go wrong and make it happen. The good news is it's a die and not a barrel!

 

[CRNA]

Well to remove it here is one way.

RCBS Stuck Case Remover - MidwayUSA

I would start with your die a little further out and see how much of the neck your actually sizing. You don't have a small base die do you? What kind of brass, what kind of chamber and what kind of load pressure are you running? How many sizings to the cases have on them? Is it the same lot of brass? What kind of lube are you using? Lube the inside of the neck? Do any of the other sized cases have scratches or a ring around the base where the die stops? Lots of things can go wrong and make it happen. The good news is it's a die and not a barrel!

Well, to be honest I am not sure what you mean by a small base die. I have the Forster BR dies. The brass is Winchester, 7mmRemMag. By load pressure, do you mean powder? If so, I am using max of 70gr. of H-1000. The cases are once fired--by me in my rifle. Don't know if it's the same lot of brass. Bought 2 packs (50 each), threw the bags away. Mixed the brass. They were both purchased at the same time, and both bags were virgin brass, now once-fired by me. I am using the Lyman case lube and pad. No lube to inside the necks. I see some fine scratches on the bodies of most of the brass. Nothing major. I will try to get a picture and post it up.

 

[CRNA]

Ok, so I tried to take a few pics in just the right light so you could see the very small scratch marks on the cases. I just pulled a few from the ones that I had already sized. Not all were this "bad". Most were undetectable just by looking. I had to get these in the right light so they would show up in the pictures.

 

[pridekills]

How often do you clean your dies?

 

[tzahoy]

My first question would be what are you using for lube? Inmy experience the spray lubes are only good for short straight wall cases. Nothing bigger than 44 mag. Get some Imperial sizing wax or Unique case lube. The force need to resize will go way down, ypur brass will last longer and you will never stick a case using this stuff properly.

The first time I tried to resize a bottleneck case with Hornady One Shot was the firat and only time I stuck a case. I went right back to the Unique case lube after that. I ended up pulling the decapping pin and knocking the case out with a brass punch and a hammer.

 

[RDM416]

Unscrew your decapper / expander from the top of the die. Drill and tap the primer hole in the stuck case. Depending on the type of press you are using you may have to be creative on how to use the screw from the bottom of the case to secured in your press.... then raise the ram and pull the stuck case. I have had to do this once using my Forster press and it is pretty easy to do since it does not use a shell holder like an RCBS press does. There are some commercial "stuck case" pullers out there but I don't have one as I have only had a case stick once.......

As for why???? The most likely reason is not enough or proper lube. Even a case that requires a lot of sizing should not stick if it is lubricated properly.

What are you using for lube? I switched to Imperial Sizing Die Wax several years ago and have not looked back. It is a little messy since you put it on with your fingers but it works really well. The one and only case I have stuck was when using "One Shot" spray lube, and I have had several that "almost" stuck when using it. No problems since switching to sizing die wax.

 

[Boss Hoss]

My first question would be what are you using for lube? Inmy experience the spray lubes are only good for short straight wall cases. Nothing bigger than 44 mag. Get some Imperial sizing wax or Unique case lube. The force need to resize will go way down, ypur brass will last longer and you will never stick a case using this stuff properly.

The first time I tried to resize a bottleneck case with Hornady One Shot was the firat and only time I stuck a case. I went right back to the Unique case lube after that. I ended up pulling the decapping pin and knocking the case out with a brass punch and a hammer.

Sorry but the One Shot if used properly works with VERY little effort. Have used it for many thousands of rounds including both my 300 and 338 Slowpoke's (300 RUM and 338 Lapua Improved). It is very important to know how to properly lube the case and to take care of the interior of your dies.

 

[retiredcpo]

I agree with boss and use 1 shot
thats all i have ever used and have only had 1 stuck case it was a 223 and I just did not lube it enough.

I am guessing you did not lube the stuck case enough and Im guessing the scratches are from tumbling dust the got tranfered from your tumbler to your dies since you sized after you tumble before you size try cleaning out your dies
Just my 2 cents Im no expert
retiredcpo

 

[HARPERC]

My experience with Hornady One shot also resulted in stuck cases. Went back "old school" and back to the happy place of no stuck cases. What would you describe as correct use?

 

[CRNA]

Well, as for the case lube, I was using the Lyman case lube. I actually thought I was being a little too generous with the lube. You can actually see in a couple of the pics the lube on my fingers from just touching the case. I tried to unscrew the decapping pin from the top of the die. It only moves a little and then it binds as well. The decapping pin is through the primer pocket, so I can't get to it to drill and tap it.
I will look into the wax as mentioned earlier. I just don't really know how the heck it happened so easily. I could have understood it if I had just a skim of lube on there, but these suckers were downright greasy!!! Any advice on how to remove the decapping pin so I can go to work on it?

Oh, and also, how do you guys clean your dies? Keep in mind, this is a very new set of dies and brass. I only used the dies to size the new brass to straighten the necks out from shipping. This is the VERY FIRST time I have used the dies to actually punch out spent primers!!

 

[mountainman]

Your problem is lack of lube. I don't like the lubepad on bottleneck cases. I've been useing spraylube since it came out, what 20-25yrs ago and never had any problems at all. Also need to clean your dies for time to time. I load up my loadingblock with cases and spray 4 sides ( quickly) from a 45 degree angle from above the cases which allows lube to get into the inside of the case necks. After sizing I clean my cases, let dry, then load, no problems. I've loaded several thousand rounds and never had a stuck case or any problems other then 1 misfire in 32 yrs of reloading.

 

[retiredcpo]

Sorry was not trying to imply the cases where lubed incorrectly only not lube enough.
Im not sure what the correct way is. I will try to discribed the way I and my shooting buddies do it.
I have a 5 in deep tupperware bin about 8inx12in with two sheets of newspaper on the bottom. I stand all cases up in the cornes give a quick shot over the case mouths thne tip thme all flat in the bin I shake them aroubnd while spraying them Its kind of like rolling them around in the bin while coating them with lube. The news paper get saturated and helps coat the cases I only do around 25 cases at a time.
As I said I have only had 1 stuck case it was a 223.
I load 223,270wsm,30-06, 25-06, 300 wsm 7 mm rem mag 40SW 45Auto 44mag 357 and 38 spec
retiredcpo

 

[CRNA]

Sorry was not trying to imply the cases where lubed incorrectly only not lube enough.
Im not sure what the correct way is. I will try to discribed the way I and my shooting buddies do it.
I have a 5 in deep tupperware bin about 8inx12in with two sheets of newspaper on the bottom. I stand all cases up in the cornes give a quick shot over the case mouths thne tip thme all flat in the bin I shake them aroubnd while spraying them Its kind of like rolling them around in the bin while coating them with lube. The news paper get saturated and helps coat the cases I only do around 25 cases at a time.
As I said I have only had 1 stuck case it was a 223.
I load 223,270wsm,30-06, 25-06, 300 wsm 7 mm rem mag 40SW 45Auto 44mag 357 and 38 spec
retiredcpo

Oh, I know you weren't trying to imply that. I just can't believe I got this sucker stuck!! I mean, I really thought I had enough lube. I will know next time!!! Now it's just a question of where the heck do I go from here to save this die! Man, what a day. Could have been worse I suppose, but could have been a heckuva lot better.