Stuck case in sizing die

[Michael]

I have used a variety of case lubes over the years, Imperial, RCBS, Redding, Hornady, etc., and have stuck cases with all of them. Bottom line, does not matter what kind is used, have to use enough to get job done. Also, clean cases and clean dies go a long way.

 

[popper]

That old saying, if it don't work, get a bigger hammer. Or in the electronics world, if it don't work, hit it with a hammer.

 

[JWFilips]

That old saying, if it don't work, get a bigger hammer. Or in the electronics world, if it don't work, hit it with a hammer.

I like to call that "Percussive Maintenance" I had that work for me plenty of times ! Even resurrected a Trashed hard drive! 2 hours in the freezer then when it warmed up to room temps a nice flat hit on a hard object! Enough time to recover my files to another drive!

 

[BBerguson]

I use Imperial sizing die wax, and never have such problems. FWIW

I’m with you Rich, I’ve never had a stuck case in a die. Love Imperial sizing wax!

I have to admit though, I’m kind of tempted to stick one just to see if I can get it out now.

 

[RBHarter]

Don't do it ......

Or something . It's pretty easy to do just get in a hurry miss the shell holder and cam the press over . Just like that you have a case stuck almost flush with the die mouth .

 

[RicinYakima]

I have only stuck one case in my life, and that was using the Hornady "one shot" when it first came out and I was still shooting High Power. Didn't get enough on the case or it was still wet. Learned my lesson, and went back to the tried and true.

 

[Tom]

I've stuck a couple and usually drill/tap and use a washer and socket worked.
I did stick a 223 so bad that kroil, freezer, nothing worked. Stripped the threads. Finally gave up, ordered a new die and pitched the old one in the trash.
I'm thinking using superglue as a lube wasn't the best idea I've had

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I've stuck a couple and usually drill/tap and use a washer and socket worked.
I did stick a 223 so bad that kroil, freezer, nothing worked. Stripped the threads. Finally gave up, ordered a new die and pitched the old one in the trash.
I'm thinking using superglue as a lube wasn't the best idea I've had

No, Superglue is fine, you just have to work really fast.

 

[fiver]

i got a story about a LEE size die that i couldn't get rid of.
i finally had to throw it off the edge of the black canyon and move to finish off the saga.
no issues with any of my other ones, but that one die... jeezuz.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

Having used Imperial Wax for 30+ years I know it to be excellent case lube. However, I have had cases stick with Imperial. I was doing some heavy duty case form or some really screwed up brass from grossly oversized chamber. My solution is a RCBS stuck case remover. Personally, I'd qualify "never sticking." Making 256 Newton from 270 bass will teach lube moderation.

Added: One cause of a stuck case have been omitted. I was sizing 45-70 brass when the lip on the shell hold broke way. That left a case stuck in the die with intact rim. the solution was as simple as slipping a good shell holder into the ram catching case rim. I consider a broken shell holder to be a once in a lifetime fluke. Instead of getting radical removing a stuck case leave it for twenty-four hours untouched. It always looks better given a little time. I can always make one problem into two getting in a hurry.

 

[jonjon]

I also use Imperial it's great. That being said , every case I ever stuck was lubed with Imperial. They get unstuck easy enough if you don't lose your temper and get in too big a hurry.

 

[BBerguson]

The end of this story… My buddy that stuck the case got impatient and ruined the base so bad there wasn’t enough left to drill and tap and use the case remover. He ended up buying another set, with the LFCD included (which he wanted) so it wasn’t a huge loss to him. The die hasn’t been ruined yet, just unusable with the case stuck in it.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

I got another spin on things since my last post. I was wanting to load some 270 Winchester rounds. All on hand was nickle plated hard to size once fired Winchester cases. I'm not trolling on Imperial!

Basically, the brass was extremely hard to size. A stuck case happened within the first few cases sized. The lube was Imperial. Elsewhere, one participant in a thread on plated brass suggested using a different kind of lube. Using the new style RCBS lube it was significantly easier to size the cases. Imperial is great .When case forming or working on some other sizing problem the RCBS lube is always close at hand these days. There may be a need for some more 256 Newton brass. Doing this job will give me a chance to try the RCBS lube. Before tossing a die it may be better to try another lube.

Added: t's almost universally suggested to lube the inside of necks. This lube is for cases being resized using a die with an expander ball. The Imperial inside neck lube does the job. No bizarre stuff needed to lube inside necks. The Imperial neck lube works great.

 

[PED1945]

Any decent case lube, preferably applied with your fingers, is much better than no lube.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

Thats what I always said... This last one was WITH IMPERIAL applied by fingers.
Aparently its not as infallible as I wanted to believe.

Imperial: A 99% success rate is passable.