How to remove stuck brass cases quickly and harmlessly!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ค. 2024
- If you have ever gotten a cartridge case stuck in a sizing die, or if that's your predicament right now, you need help. Avoid causing damage to your expensive die. Also, see what dies are the easiest to remedy when this problem invariably occurs to every loader, whether experienced or novice!
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Sir, at 57 I find myself feeling like I'm back in the school bench, enjoying every class and smiling as I watch this brilliant teacher doing such a great job with wit and a highly respectable down-to-earth attitude that should set an example to us all. You would make a brilliant teachers' instructor.
Don't feel bad I'm 62 and used to think I knew a thing or two........I don't.
Patrick Slevin I’m 68 and realize I know very little. I still keep learning though
I'm 38 and I was blessed at a young age by my grandfather instilling in me that when someone who's lived life starts speaking you better listen because there's a good chance they've forgot more about the topic than you currently know. "God gave you two eyes and one mouth for a reason."
Thank you for great tips, Sir! Lee's instructions are limited to how to tap the decapping rod with the case out of a die. They don't describe how to remove decapping rod from the case. Your instructions along with other people's comments are very helpful. With a case stuck in a Lee die, sometimes I was able to remove it with the following technique. Remove shell holder. Raise the ram, slide in the shell holder in the ram and around the case head. Spin the shell holder around about 90 degrees or so. Lower ram. Very often (about 70% chance in my experience) it will grip the case head better and pull it out. Try again if it fails until it the case rim is stripped completely all around, then do what you did.
"Oh, Hi ... I knew you were comin' eventually ..." - that was so corny and yet so appropriate for this video. Had me smiling right from the start, just like all of your amazing videos. many Thanks, Sir from the UK.
I really enjoy you videos. I hope you’re storing all of these videos for generations to come. Don’t count on TH-cam. Thank you for all the information.
After removing the stuck case from a lee die just use tube cutters the ones that look a pipe cutter . There’s less chance of ruining the end of your decapping rod
Good advice never goes out of style. Thank you for posting this video. It saved me a little money and a lot of time and stress.
You sir, just saved my bacon! I've learned so much from you, words cannot say how grateful I am. Thank you Sir, God bless and keep up the good work
Thank you for being very clear and practical in everything you put out for us. You are a national treasure.
Tell ya what, Cap, though I'm usually a Redding guy, you're swaying me to the House of Lee. Love the videos, thanks for 'em.
@@cole4406 I happen to have a used gunship here. So for $6-8 less I got a used RCBS die.
Fun fact. No one In store carries Lee. RCBS is King with dabbles in hornady, Lee, Lyman
Thank you so much for your video! Got my 300 blk lee die back in action after watching your video, you are a man of much knowledge and I really appreciate all of your videos! Thanks again!
Thank you for another of your very informative videos. I have been hand loading since the early ‘80’s and finally got a stuck case. There are two kinds of hand loaders, one that has had a stuck case and one that will!
I already got one stuck. Never thought to go to YT! I think I called Lee and they sent me a new one. Subbed
Gun blue I luv lee dies prices right and made the best in my opinion. You are the best teacher and authority on firearms!
YOU Have The Best,Most informative videos out there! Clear, Non complicated straight forward Information.. Thank You for Your Time and Effort! And Yes I have stuck a Case in my Sizing die! got it out using Drill and Tap Method
God Bless you GunBlue490. Another day you took me to school and learned. I hear times are tough for gun channels and can understand these advertisers getting upset with some of these jokers. Please keep up the good work, you are solid rock with wealth of knowledge for us 2nd Amendment gun owners.
LOVED THIS VIDEO , SURE HELPED ME OUT GETTING MY 22-250 STUCK CASE OUT. IT WORKED WELL WITH MY HORNADY DIE. WILL REMEMBER THIS . EXCELLENT WAY TO EXTRACT A CASE. MANY THANKS
Nice tutorial. Have been using the same method myself, for quite a few years. Very simple and easy.
Thanks, just started reloading necked brass. I have the lee setup and you validated what I thought was a hillbilly method that I use
I use Lee dies. I followed the instructions here exactly, except, I drilled a 13/64 hole in an ice cream stick and put it over the top of the decapping pin so my hammer wouldn't contact the top of the die body. A couple of whacks and the case came free. Then, I took the suggestion of one of the comments here and used a tubing cutter to cut the case free of the decapping pin. Brass is harder than copper so go slow and be patient. Everything worked perfectly. Thanks, GunBlue and Mike.
Thank you. Your information and knowledge sharing is always valuable.
Wish I knew this before I chucked my die on the ground out of frustration after doing everything else , but this. $80 lesson right there.
Pull the decapping pin out? Your method is great, just throwing it out there. No reason to leave those parts in the die, unless they're stuck in there which is doubtful. In any case(pun intended), I've been reloading for 25 years, made thousands of cartridges, and never got a case stuck. Just blessed, I guess...
You have great information going out there, to new reloaders, and I'm learning more detailed stuff I didn't know before. Thank You
Very helpful video. I'm a Lee user and your procedure certainly will assist me.
Thanks for another great instructional video. The only trouble I've had with the Lee dies was getting the split ring to catch the threads going back in. Other than that, I love them and they are all I use.
Is a great video thank U. I felt obligated after the introduction as I'm currently in preparation stage
I'm actually in "preparation" mode. lol I got a RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme for Christmas. I've been watching reloading videos nonstop, so it will be a success!
I've heard how to do this, but I'm glad I've actually seen it. Thanks. Btw Probably took a while to get one stuck since you would have residual lube on the dies themselves.
I have now watch two of your videos and i have enjoyed watching . Your the man bud ! I would recommend trying a brass hammer and brass rod if you have one laying around .
As always … Great advice.
Thank you
Excellent teacher and a very cool guy !! I haven't stuck a case yet but Now I am prepared ! That part of my life must be charmed...... When it does happen I hope I am using one of my Lee die sets. With Lee there is more value than saving some money. I absolutely love the value being able to use wrenches that fit my dies for a solid grip instead of my old worn out fingers trying to grip a knurled surface.
I use lee dies and when I get them stuck i remove the brass like you did but when I get the brass out of the die I cut the brass in 2 pieces with a small pipe cutter and remove both halves. Love your videos.. Thanks
Very good. I had this happen with my Lee and messed around a whole evening viewing videos and jimmying up my decapping pin. I did learn that Lee has all the replacement parts available on their website.
Nice and easy as very good detailed instruction...Good stuff...
Great Video! I usually grab the de-capping pin with vise grips and pull it out before drilling and tapping the brass. they are only in hand tight and come out easy. Saves on pins that way. My Herters die is almost the same as RCBS. I also take the die apart and blow the inside of the die out to make sure it is clean and squirt some "One Shot" case lube in it and let it dry before re-assembling.
Now I know why I like Lee Dies . It isn't that my first press I got was a used Lee Turret 3 stage with the 45 ACP dies included . Couldn't beat the price at the time , if it would have been Blue or Green or the other Red , I would be up the creek w/o a paddle . But then again , I wouldn't have gotten ANY of the others for what I paid for that nice Lee set . Thanks again for a very easy to follow video . Can't wait for the next one .
Great information as always - Thanks
Good tips, love Lee Dies and presses.
Thank you so much. Appreciate the help
I really appreciate your videos! Thank u
Thank you Sir! Excellent Video
12:07 I've never said " I hope this gets stuck pretty soon " Had to laugh.
Y'know, it's kinda funny that you had a time getting a case stuck in the die. I'm I had not trouble at all! This is one problem I'm glad I got out of the way early on in my reloading career. Now, I know how to take care of it with minimal cursing. My wife also thanks you. I have one of each kind of die, a Lee and an RCBS @@# die. Your vids are the best, bar none. Gun Blue, I hereby nominate you for the Nobel Prize! All those in favor, say "Aye,"
Love the channel and in my opinion your channel should have many more subscribers !!!!!! But you know what that say about opinions
may the Lord keep blessing you
brother
Just discovered your channel sir and i've been stuck on it for 2 days straight now. I just retired from policing after a 30 year career and i am now taking the time to go out to the range a lot more. I also recently purchased my 1st rifle and i got an AR-15 ( i know i know another black gun nut). I never had the chance to use a rifle when i was active and really wanted to learn more about this caliber and platform. In my "Progression" i also plan to start re loading hence why i watch related videos. I must say i was quite sold on Dillon machines before watching you videos but now, hmmm not so sure anymore :-)
Dillon makes great machines, but I consider Lee a better bargain, with equally good engineering, and they think outside the box. Nobody makes dies as good as Lee, and I've used every brand costing much more. If I were to own a Dillon press, and they are good with many great innovations, I would still equip it with Lee dies.
Know what ? I think you've just convinced me. I was talking to a friend who's been using a Dillon for years now and his reaction was "I don't think Lee is robust enough to handle 223 rem reloading". I don't know what is the rational behind that. Since i've been watching your videos (and i have watched many) i have seen nothing that even remotely suggests that ! But people being what they are, they always feel the need to justify what they already have as being the best wether it's a gun, a camera, a car or anything else for some reason. One guy near where i live has a used one for sale, not with the dies i need but it seems like a good deal nonetheless.
Great video, thanks for posting. I haven't had a stuck case yet, but I'm new at this and I'm sure I will some day.
Well, that day has come. I think my problem was swithcing lube types. I tryed a spray on lube that's supposed to be quicker. I guess it is, unless you count the time removing the stuck case. Think I'll switch back to the traditional way.
Good info . . . . thanks.
Thanks, you made it look easy.
Great video...Thank you.
The opening is just too true! Eventually, we all get there!
Thank u for making feel better about my doo!
I've used the tap method plenty of times in my rcbs dies, but the lee dies are looking really appealing.
MR MIKES GUNRACK
They are very precisely made, and have a highly polished finish. The case neck expander is gently tapered, rather than an abrupt ball, to prevent undue case stretching and distortion, and it makes the withdrawal stroke much easier. For target and varmint shooting bolt rifles, their highly refined collet die is the best in the business, and sizes necks gently to a mandrel. It's best to get the deluxe set, which includes a standard sizing die for sizing hunting ammo that must chamber freely.
I did exactly that before I saw this video, but I slightly deformed the end of the decapping rod by hammering on it. It would no longer fit into the collet. It required a slight application of the bench grinder to clean up the decapping rod, then all was well. I also did not think about using the turret and used a bench vise instead. Being the brilliant fellow that I am, I ordered a new die before I discovered this and now have two .223 sizing dies.
Didnt know this now i do! Thanks for this vid.
Yep. Sticking a case is like riding a motorcycle, it is never IF you are going to have an accident, it is WHEN.
Thank you Sir!
I have had it happen to me too. Good Video Sir
Wish I had seen this twenty years ago. I threw away a 06 die because of a stuck case. Thanks professor.
Lol really? I use a bench vise and a punch and I hammer that b*** home. Because I reload with a Lee hand press.
Awesome thank you learnt a lot
I just unscrew my die and put the casing head in my vice and tighten to deform the brass. Then I use a wrench to turn the die and the case loosens off. Now with the case firmly in the vice I tap the die rearward with a leather mallet to remove the case off of the neck expander.
I haven’t had one stuck yet, but I’ve been close, and I’m sure it’ll happen some day. Now I don’t have to swear so much, and start searching videos when it does 🙂
Thank you.
I use the Lee dies as well, and like many have had a stuck case or two. I use the same steps you did punching the pin thru the die, but I use a vise to hold the die. The problem I have/had is that the sizing/decapping pin is very hard to pull from the case. I nearly destroyed one pin with vice grips trying to get a good hold on it. Finally I took a Dremel tool and cut the case on opposing sides and removed it like a clam shell. The issue with this is that you can cut too deep and into the pin. I have one pin that has cut marls on it, but after a little Emory cloth to remove the sharp edges it still works fine.
I did this on my 222 remington FL RCBS die. It was so jammed that I used a 1/4-28 fine thread vs 1/4-20 Course thread for greater tensile strength. It was tough but, going very slow on tightening the bolt it did the job! Wish I had researched this earlier before i threw out a good die three months ago. By the way I won't use One shot case lube any more . Imperial wax all the way!
Tried worked great
I like that apron! I'm a N.O. native, living in SC since Katrina.
TheGoodLife62
Got that apron just the spring before Katrina. Loved the city, and especially the fabulous food. Great time. Spent a year at Ft. Polk a long time ago. God bless you for the trial you endured.
Thanks GB. We still go back a few times a year to visit family and of course, have some of the wonderful food that's so hard to find anywhere else. BTW, thank you very much for taking the time to document and share so much valuable information. I've learned a lot and point all my shooting buddies to your channel. God Bless.
He is the Bob ross of reloading
Yep I use Lee Dies .....I have driven the de caper threw the bottom of the case, no biggie just use a 1/4 inch dowel to finish knocking the brass out...Thanks
I found this out on my own 😆
nice tips
Terrific.
i know the video is old but a word of warning about beating the lee decapping stem to remove a stuck case . the lee stems are very soft and will mushroom very easy and or bend very easily if you have a brass or leather hammer try them first but if you do it long eneough the stem will be destroyed and will have to be replaced but still better than replacing the die every time i have used both methods if you drill for the tap in a mill or drill press most of the time you can do it without destroying the primer pin great video sir
Thanks!
Twice got 308 stuck in 45 colt die, second time on purpose. Trying to decap without resize, shoulder buckled like Glass Joe. Used the Lee trick and had to verify, thought the engineering was pretty clever. Lee fan since.
I am the one in 10.... but have them stuck. I just want to see what you do to remove a stuck casing. This is informative
Thanks
Here is the easiest fix of all. I had this same thing happen on the resizing die on a progressive press. The rim was sheared off on two sides exactly like what is in this video. I removed the die and screwed it into a single stage press. Raised the ram and inserted the shell holder around the case - at the same time I snapped the shell holder into the ram of the press. Then I rotated the shell holder so it was on the undamaged portion of the case. Then I lowered the ram and presto problem solved. No special tools, no die disassembly.
as a caution with the Lee die, you may need to lightly redress the de-capping rod on the end which you needed to hammer on. I did anyway, because the 06 case was really in there. It took numerous smacks and a rawhide and wooden mallet that I tried at first of course did nothing. The de-capping rod flared just a bit at the top. Putting the de-capping rod in a drill and just touching it to a grinding wheel will restore it and it will moved freely through the collet once again. Great video.
Very true. However, when driving out large cases like that, I suggest placing a flat steel on the rod, such as the smooth hilt of a file, and striking it with a 6 to 10 ounce ball peen hammer. The buffer will greatly preserve the rod from rolling over.
Yes, that is a great idea for sure.
Great video. It's 30 Carbine that did it to me.
If you try to remove a magnum brass in a Lee die by using the hammer method you will end up with a broken decapping rod for sure. The drill and tap method works everytime. I usually attach a drill stop to prevent drilling on my decappingrod
With many dies you can pull on the stem so the expander ball is jammed against the case and unscrew it. Then drop in a pin punch and hammer the case out. If that doesn't work you at least have more room for drilling/tapping without wrecking the decapper or expander. Using a stop collar on the drill bit and a bottoming tap will also safe guard your die parts.
Greetings GunBlue, Thank you for this video! I am currently dealing with a .45 Colt RCBS sizing die that's very stuck. The decapping pin is protruding from the primer pocket, so I can't drill and tap the primer pocket to extract the case. Could you recommend a solution for me? Your videos are greatly appreciated - Thank you!
I found the only time I stuck a case when converting .223/5.56 to 300 AAC Blackout was when the inside forming ball was set too high in the die. I am using an RCBS die set. If I adjusted the decapping pin so it sticks out the bottom of the die about 3/8” then the case do not get stuck.
I have used the method you describe to remove the stuck case..
I've used as simple dent puller from auto store before and vise the time I had one stuck.
I’m glad I have the Lee dies
How about pre-lubing the the internal neck portion of the casing prior to starting the operation??
Had a 243 get stuck just the other day with a Lee die. Figured out I had to do the same thing. Use a BFH and once the case was out, I just took a hacksaw to the case and out came the pin. Except I put the die on a vise loosely with 2 nuts on it. Was not gonna take a chance of damaging the press.
Yes,, recovery mode
I got a 38 special case stuck in a lee die once. I didn't know about just driving it straight through. I ended up clamping my die in a vice and pulling on the case with some pliers.
Lee equipment, dies in particular are really inexpensive compared to other manufacturers. That being the case it makes me wonder why Redding dies are 5 to 7 times as expensive as Lee, in some instances. "Just proud of being flush" Sir, I do love your command on english.
Patrick Slevin
Because people believe Redding dies do something different, that's all. I've used every die made, including Redding, and a die is nothing more than a minimum dimension chamber, and they all use the same dimensions. Lee's finish and polish is exceptionally smooth, and their engineering and intelligent tool-free design is without peer. Micrometer adjustments mean nothing. Any die can be reset to a perfect previous adjustment by counting turns and rotating to the same point logged for future use, using a simple Sharpie mark, as I demonstrated. The simplest way to convince folks that you have a better product is to charge more. Eat where the parking lot is full, not where the menu in the window has high prices.
Your experience saved me a lot of money. Always viewed Lee as a sort of "cheap" alternative but used them most of the time now anyway due to the price of other dies.
Patrick Slevin
They are actually far better dies, period.
i took it out and actually just taped it out with a hammer worked fine after that i figured it worked or it didnt and i was buying a new dye if i bent it..... lucked out and still works... lube em good!
When drilling use a stop collar to keep from drilling to far, then a bottoming tap so the tap will not go to deep. now you don't damage the decaping pin.
the right tools gets the job done right.
to keep the bolt from smashing the pin keep adding more washers
Why not just remove the decapping pin first so it's out of the way and doesn't get damaged....
With RCBS dies, you can loosen the nut from the top of the die like you did, but continue unscrewing the 2 nuts to the top of the threaded rod of the primer extractor. I usually remove the smaller nut and then get the larger nut unscrewed to the point that it is just extended past the end of the rod. Then you can tap the nut like you did with the Lee die to get the casing out.
Yes, you can, but it's far more complicated. I used many calibers of RCBS dies for 40 years, but I sold them all for Lee dies. RCBS are good, but Lee is in another class. They are far more smoothly polished, they come with a shell holder, and require no tools to adjust, and stay adjusted under constant use. Not to mention that they are still made in the USA, are guaranteed for life, and cost less. I recommend you try them.
@GunBlue490 I buy Lee dies if I need a factory crimp like my 35 rem or plan on using my Lee progressive press. Lee, RCBS and Redding dies have served me well over the last few decades, but they all have there quirks
What do you do if a case head separates and leaves the brass in the die?
This is one more for my library of useful videos from you. I have a question about the .223 brass. Is it really that easy to convert .223 to .222 ? If so, this is a double bargain video because .222 brass is so much harder to find!
Is this going to damage the decapping pin?
GunBlue490; Your skill and style of instruction brings a big grin to my face everytime. What a pleasure to share your knowledge combined with the love of firearms is downright heaven. My father was an engineer, and the skills you show are reminding me everyday how sharp he was. Thank you for your service and great guidance , Dana Huff
Ok, dont forget the lube. Got it! Thxs!
I just unstuck a case from a Lee die. Thanks much.
I know old video but. I have done similar to remove cases. To remove the expander I use a copper pipe cutter and cut the case in half just like you would cut a water pipe
I had a 300 rum case stuck in a Redding die... I tapped it and when I was pulling the bolt out it completely pulled the entire case head off the case and left the rest of case in the die with nothing but the case sides in the die... it's still in there I haven't figured out how to get this out yet I think it will be there forever lol