Wrecked expander / decap rod assembly

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MattRidge

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Hi folks,

Yesterday, I was re-sizing a batch of .223 when I got my first stuck case. I guess it was not lubed enough. As it was a first for me, I was not sure of the way to go to clear the die. I ended up using the expander / decap rod assembly to force the brass out of the die. While the operation went fine, I ended up wrecking the rod assembly. The bushing and lock nut is stuck in place. When fully screwed in, it is the expander is protruding about 1/4". Even though, if I loosen the rod, I push it up enough to be able to fully push a (properly lubricated) case in the die.

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Newbie's mistake I guess... :)

[and yes, my next reloading gear order will include a stuck case remover... and a new .223 dies. I could only replace the expander / decap rod assembly, but it would pretty much end up at half the price of a full set ]
 
depending on how you feel about it, if you tell rcbs about your issue they would likely replace it free of charge.
 
Contact RCBS, they will send you replacements no charge, call the number in the instruction book. I've done this twice so far for 308 and 223
 
HeavyT said:
Contact RCBS, they will send you replacements no charge, call the number in the instruction book. I've done this twice so far for 308 and 223
Click to expand...

^^^ yes

...and keep your old die set if this doesn't materialize...never know when you will find a wrecked die at a gun show but with a good exp/decap for a song...i've even sold old rcbs storage boxes!...

oh...and welcome to the club! ;)
 
Assuming it is RCBS, they will fix it for free. Even if you caused it or bought the dies used. Other brands still have a warrantee, but not as good.
Used the steel rod from a Lee Classic Loader to bash a case out, long ago. No such thing as stuck case removers in those days. Only works if you can get the thing in though. Not all dies have a place for a rod to go.
 
if not enough room for a rod in top of die,
1) drill and tap base of stuck case while in die, 1/4" 20 thread
2) use a socket as a spacer about the same diameter as the die
3) insert a bolt through a washer, then through spacer, into case and begin to tighten
4) tightening will pull case out of die.

Google "homemade stuck case remover" for visual
 
slicknova said:
if not enough room for a rod in top of die,
1) drill and tap base of stuck case while in die, 1/4" 20 thread
2) use a socket as a spacer about the same diameter as the die
3) insert a bolt through a washer, then through spacer, into case and begin to tighten
4) tightening will pull case out of die.

Google "homemade stuck case remover" for visual
Click to expand...

I thought of doing something like that. Plan A was the following:
- drill the base of the stuck shell with a 3/16" bit
- screw in a #12 1 3/4" wood screw (thread is 7/32")
- use a Lee #1 shell holder to pull the case out of the die

Though, it was 1am when that happened, and did not feel like waking up the hole block by playing with the power tools.
 
nw mb said:
...surprised your crying didn't do so already, especially at 1 am! :)
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I thought personal insults were contrary to CGN ToS, especially from someone adverting a "Team Gunnutz" status...

Anyway I don't really see the point of your comment...
 
RCBS makes a little jig for pulling out the decapping pin.
A hollow spacer, a long threaded nut and you take the lock nut
off the pin, slide the hollow spacer on and thread the long nut
until it pulls the expanding ball out the brass neck.
Then proceed to bash and crash at yer leeshure........... :wave:
 
MattRidge said:
I thought personal insults were contrary to CGN ToS, especially from someone adverting a "Team Gunnutz" status...

Anyway I don't really see the point of your comment...
Click to expand...

...my apologies...was trying to be sarcastic...i'd have been cursing a blue streak...
 
nw mb said:
...my apologies...was trying to be sarcastic...i'd have been cursing a blue streak...
Click to expand...
I don't blame you :) Though, I wonder if my date's screamings (and mine) in the middle of the night are not effectively waking up some neighbor.
 
MattRidge said:
I don't blame you :) Though, I wonder if my date's screamings (and mine) in the middle of the night are not effectively waking up some neighbor.
Click to expand...

...yeah...when i said 'cry' i meant it in the way of sorrow, frustration, etc...not in the slang meaning of whining...should have asked you how you felt about what happened first...inquiry is always best, so i failed on that account...but it's perhaps a bit embarrassing to get too personal on this forum! (THAT might get me kicked off really fast!)

later

best

craig
 
kamlooky said:
RCBS makes a little jig for pulling out the decapping pin.
A hollow spacer, a long threaded nut and you take the lock nut
off the pin, slide the hollow spacer on and thread the long nut
until it pulls the expanding ball out the brass neck.
Then proceed to bash and crash at yer leeshure........... :wave:
Click to expand...

I did just that, and broke the entire rod. Then tried using a rod from my crimp swage die and broke it too. Ended up going outside in the winter, shoveling two feet of snow away so I could get my shed, and got a few long bolts. That case was the first, and last, case I'll ever stick
 
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