Don't be me... episode 563... How to unstick a cartridge...

Goosebrown · Dec 10, 2015

... from a stuck cartridge remover...

OK so I wasn't thinking when I pulled the lever on the press without having lubed the case. I never have stuck a case. Ever. Not going to happen to me.

Well. It stuck.

So easy fix, turn the die 90* and try again.

Nope, more of the rim ripped off.

OK disassemble the die and then try to push case out.

Nope ball expander stuck. Not coming out.

OK off to Sportsman's to get a stuck case removal tool (RCBS) $20. Cheaper than a new die.

Come home, get the die in the vise and drill the hole carefully so as not to hit the decapping pin and ball expander caught in the case. OK.

Tap the case to accept the machine screw. OK

Place the metal cap over the die and use the hex wrench to screw the machine screw into the case pulling case out. OK.

Now... how do you unscrew the damned case from the screw? Well It took half an hour, but if you cannot get it off the screw, try holding it in the fire of a stove burner to expand the brass and then work the screw till it comes out.

<sigh>

Stomper · Dec 10, 2015

LOL.... I was just thinking "heat the brass" then you mentioned it.

Goosebrown · Dec 10, 2015

Stomper said:
LOL.... I was just thinking "heat the brass" then you mentioned it.

Well I get to do it all again tonight. 30 years reloading and two stuck cases in one day.

Stomper · Dec 10, 2015

Try spitting on them first.

Capn Jack · Dec 10, 2015

Don't know what this "Spacer" is you're talking about. Next time use a socket that will butt up against the die, put a washer under your bolt and suck the case up into the socket.

$20.00 for a case puller...

You really only need, a drill. a tap, a bolt, a socket and a washer.

.223's are delicate, but you'll cry if you rip the rim off of a .458S at .85 cents ea.

Goosebrown · Dec 10, 2015

Capn Jack said:
$20.00 for a case puller... You really only need, a drill. a tap, a bolt, a socket and a washer.

Drill Bit:$4 (Home Depot)
Tap: $6 (Home Depot)
Screw: $.25 (Home Depot)
7/8" socket: $3 (Home Depot)

$13.50 and I have to go to Home Depot or $20 and I get to go to Sportsman's Warehouse and everything fits without me going home to find out something isn't the right size. Worth the $6.50 just to avoid Home Depot.

Capn Jack · Dec 10, 2015

Open the drawer, take out the socket, electric drill, drill bit and tap, on the bench is a 1/4 x 24 x1" bolt and a washer.

Remember to trim your cases and use an FTC Die.

Not making fun of you. I can still remember a two bedroom apartment with a tool bench in one bedroom.

Goosebrown · Dec 10, 2015

OK, so just as follow up. It appears that you actually need to use the right shell holder on these suckers... I think that may help now that I have torn off three rims...

BTW, Its the tap that got me. $6 premium is worth it not to go to HD and put it together.

Capn Jack · Dec 10, 2015

Before I learned that trick, I ended up sending a die back to RCBS. They removed the case for free and sent me back my die (it may have been a new one). Since then I've stuck a few more, cuss, pull them out and try not to get in a hurry. Like I said, when I ruin a .458S it makes me cry.

Sabertooth · Dec 11, 2015

Goosebrown said:
... from a stuck cartridge remover...

OK so I wasn't thinking when I pulled the lever on the press without having lubed the case. I never have stuck a case. Ever. Not going to happen to me.

Well. It stuck.

So easy fix, turn the die 90* and try again.

Nope, more of the rim ripped off.

OK disassemble the die and then try to push case out.

Nope ball expander stuck. Not coming out.

OK off to Sportsman's to get a stuck case removal tool (RCBS) $20. Cheaper than a new die.

Come home, get the die in the vise and drill the hole carefully so as not to hit the decapping pin and ball expander caught in the case. OK.

Tap the case to accept the machine screw. OK

Place the metal cap over the die and use the hex wrench to screw the machine screw into the case pulling case out. OK.

Now... how do you unscrew the damned case from the screw? Well It took half an hour, but if you cannot get it off the screw, try holding it in the fire of a stove burner to expand the brass and then work the screw till it comes out.

<sigh>

A little oil on the screw helps.

But then I would nothing about stuck brass.

Certaindeaf · Dec 11, 2015

Goosebrown said:
OK, so just as follow up. It appears that you actually need to use the right shell holder on these suckers... I think that may help now that I have torn off three rims...

BTW, Its the tap that got me. $6 premium is worth it not to go to HD and put it together.

Lol. I was going to bring that up but didn't.