Stuck case stuck goodly.

So, usual story have a stuck case in FL sizing die. Peterson brass. Used the imperial graphite media with the ceramic balls. First run in the new Redding die. Have used the same lube in my Lee die previously with no issues so finished the rest off with imperial sizing wax and had no issues.
Now, I’ve tapped and fitted a 6mm screw which fits in my shell holder in the press and it won’t budge. Have tried freezing the die with penetrating oil as well. I’ve tried punching it out with a small drift but have to be careful as the expander is still in the case. Any other suggestions? What’s the usual method for extracting them once at this stage? Cheers.

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Originally Posted by Snowgrass

So, usual story have a stuck case in FL sizing die. Peterson brass. Used the imperial graphite media with the ceramic balls. First run in the new Redding die. Have used the same lube in my Lee die previously with no issues so finished the rest off with imperial sizing wax and had no issues.
Now, I’ve tapped and fitted a 6mm screw which fits in my shell holder in the press and it won’t budge. Have tried freezing the die with penetrating oil as well. I’ve tried punching it out with a small drift but have to be careful as the expander is still in the case. Any other suggestions? What’s the usual method for extracting them once at this stage? Cheers.

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Try putting a half inch socket over the case. Change the Phillips head screw for a bolt with some fat washers between the bolt head and the socket and tighten with a spanner. Clearly there was not enough lube. You need to lubricate the case walls with a die wax. The graphite is for necks.
Regards Grandpamac.

Use a hex head bolt. Select a socket that just fits over the base of the case diameter and rests on the bottom of the die. Add some sort of strong washer between bolt and socket. Hold dies in soft jaws in vice. Hope.

Follow up - don't use graphite for full length sizing, ever.
Imperial wax or a good quality sizing oil.

Good luck.

Ha ha beat me to it GPM.

Cheers all. Had also tried the socket trick and slowly pulling out but will give that another nudge. Never thought about the graphite for necks only. Thanks for the advice.

https://www.gunworks.co.nz/shop/cate...k-case-remover

you need to be winding the nut not trying to use the press to pull it out.

Squirt some lanoline case lube or WD40 down through the top of the die as well.
Works a treat with Hornady F/L dies.
Didn't even have to drill and tap the case.

Got the bastard. Chucked back in the press with a pipe wrench holding the die and wound it out with bolt/socket combo. Took a bit to move. Thanks all for the advice. Every days a school day eh.

I like stories with happy endings.....

Yes, happy endings are great


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I use good old vasoline on body of case....just a very light smear...and the necks dipped in graphite...havent had an issue in years. pleased you got it sorted.

I have had the same experiences, with Redding dies, they can be not so forgiving, tighter tolerances.
Cheap & cheerful -----Lees dies you almost have to try to jam cases.
So Well done! Kroil is an excellent penetrating oil, also has other barrel cleaning properties
BUGGER it Took me about 3 stuck cases before I woke up, using Hornady sizing liquid, coating the shells on a pad & No No NO.
Bought a tin of "Imperial sizing Die wax" just grab a small amount on your finger, give the whole case & neck area, a swipe -- also slight rub over the neck to lube the mandrel, never had a problem since. The little tin will last you years, great stuff.
Life's to short to suffer stuck cases!

Now you must make a sacrifice to Zeus
to make sure the god of reloading is not angered again!

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

I use good old vasoline on body of case....just a very light smear...and the necks dipped in graphite...havent had an issue in years. pleased you got it sorted.

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Vasoline and happy endings......... what have I stumbled into?????

It pays to clean a new FLR die with solvent before using. Manufacturers usually add a protective coating.

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Originally Posted by tetawa

It pays to clean a new FLR die with solvent before using. Manufacturers usually add a protective coating.

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Yep I pulled both dies apart and cleaned them out when I got them. Run another lot through the Redding last night with sizing wax and all is good.

@Snowgrass

With that screw jammed in the expander ball has to be high up in the resizing die.

Mechanically, if the expander ball is too far up, that is, up in the neck area of the die, then the brass is truly jammed in between.

Are you able to remove the jammed in screw and then tap the stem of the expander ball to make it sit low in the case? The decapping pin should be visible through the drilled out primer hole then.

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Originally Posted by Cordite

@Snowgrass

With that screw jammed in the expander ball has to be high up in the resizing die.

Mechanically, if the expander ball is too far up, that is, up in the neck area of the die, then the brass is truly jammed in between.

Are you able to remove the jammed in screw and then tap the stem of the expander ball to make it sit low in the case? The decapping pin should be visible through the drilled out primer hole then.

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With the screw in, the expander still had room to move. Pulled the decapping pin out with the stem so had no issues there. She’s out now and all good.

In my experience with cases stuck in dies, it’s the area in front of the web towards the base that usually binds in the LGS die if you’re light on lube.

If you want a very good case lube that is cheap, rock into your compounding pharmacy and ask for Anhydrous wool fat. About $15/100 grams and will last a life time. Only need a smear. Or you can dilute a small amount with a bit of solvent (shellfire) and make a spray pack up.

Might be an idea to polish the arse out of the inside of the die, in case there's been some galling happened when this case got stuck?

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Originally Posted by tetawa

It pays to clean a new FLR die with solvent before using. Manufacturers usually add a protective coating.

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two stroke chainsaw/mower fuel works well too..... takes out all the built up lube etc from years of useage and leaves them clean.....

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Originally Posted by Dicko

In my experience with cases stuck in dies, it’s the area in front of the web towards the base that usually binds in the LGS die if you’re light on lube.

If you want a very good case lube that is cheap, rock into your compounding pharmacy and ask for Anhydrous wool fat. About $15/100 grams and will last a life time. Only need a smear. Or you can dilute a small amount with a bit of solvent (shellfire) and make a spray pack up.

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You guys in Oz love your sheep and their products don't you?

I have used an Oz made lanolin spray for rustproofing, lubricating etc. Excellent stuff.

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Originally Posted by 257weatherby

Vasoline and happy endings......... what have I stumbled into?????

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And lube :pacman:

zimmer it is dangerous territory when you use sheep and lube in same paragraph...the ozzies dont like to share the sheep.....

All true. I bloody love sheep, particularly eating them and wearing their fleece!

And AWF is a great and cheap case lube.