Stuck case removal for Dummies

9.3mauser

9.3mauser

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So I pulled a bunch of bullets this afternoon, and I wanted to run the brass through a sizer to restore neck tension before I loaded it up again. Since a lot of this was brand new brass, I thought I could get away with running it through a FL die without the hassle of lubing and degreasing later.

WRONG!!

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So I thought I would take my screw-up an turn it in to a tutorial on what to do when it happens to you:

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You will need:

7/32" drill
1/4-20 tap
1/4-20 machine bolt
Some sort of spacer- I used a piece of steel tubing, a socket will work.
A washer

You'll also need a ratchet, a socket to fit your machine bolt, and some means of holding the die. I used vice grips with the jaws padded.

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Drill out the primer pocket.

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Tap the hole you just drilled.

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Slide the tube or socket over the base of the stuck case, place the washer on top, then thread in the bolt. I unscrewed the decap rod at this point; the expander ball is still rattling around inside.

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Get a good grip on the knurled end of the die (vice grips) and start ratcheting in the bolt. You may need to switch to a longer bolt or add more washers if the case is stubborn.

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A bit of ratcheting and the case should pop right out. Last step was to cut the case in half to get my expander ball back.

I experienced my first stuck case shortly after I joined this site, and some helpful CGN'ers gave me this tip. Just thought I'd pass it along.
 

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Last edited:
I hope no one follows your directions to drill a 7/16" hole for a 1/4" tap!

OK, it was a typo, but I just couldn't resist.
 
Buying the RCBS kit gives you a case to store it in.
You may as buy one now as you will need it eventually and if you don't consider it an investment for the future.
Not all of your friends may be as smart as you.
Heard a story about an experienced reloader giving a course and during the demonstration used Imperial sizing wax he stuck a case.
However he had a second die so continued the demonstration . . . right . . . and stuck a second.
 
Nice tutorial. They should make it a sticky!

Instead of using vise grips on the die to hold it steady, you can screw the die back into the press and the lock collar should be able to keep it from slipping. Even better if you can screw the die in from the underside but ya can't do that on a Hornady and Lee press with their quick change system.
 
horseman2 said:
Buying the RCBS kit gives you a case to store it in.
You may as buy one now as you will need it eventually and if you don't consider it an investment for the future.
Not all of your friends may be as smart as you.
Heard a story about an experienced reloader giving a course and during the demonstration used Imperial sizing wax he stuck a case.
However he had a second die so continued the demonstration . . . right . . . and stuck a second.
Click to expand...

just a tip for anyone else reading this, if you got the RCBS route make sure you have a tap handle! Otherwise you will have one curse-filled time trying to tap it, its do-able without but why not use the right tool for the job?
 
Trinimon said:
Instead of using vise grips on the die to hold it steady, you can screw the die back into the press and the lock collar should be able to keep it from slipping. Even better if you can screw the die in from the underside but ya can't do that on a Hornady and Lee press with their quick change system.
Click to expand...

I tried doing that, but I couldn't tighten it enough from the underside to keep it from turning when I was trying to tap the hole.
 
bsand said:
just a tip for anyone else reading this, if you got the RCBS route make sure you have a tap handle! Otherwise you will have one curse-filled time trying to tap it, its do-able without but why not use the right tool for the job?
Click to expand...

I just drilled the hole with the bit provided, then put the tap in the drill and tapped the case. Easy-peasy. No need to try and do it by hand, but if you do, definitely get a handle!
 
The only times that I have had to remove stuck cases, was when friends learning to reload stuck them. I already own a tap and die set, and plenty of drill bits, so it was just a matter of putting together some washers and spacers to get the cases pulled. The cases were stuck in the first place, because the person either forgot to lube them. or was using a spray on lube. One case actually left streaks of material in the die that I had to use a bronze brush to remove.
 
Instead of holding the die in your hand to drill ,install it upside down in the press and go from the top....easier on the hide....Harold
 
brass is the worst material to drill, it always bites when breaking thro, for this reason never hold it by hand when drilling, put it in the press from underneath, use the clamp nut to jamb it and drill, tap and pull the sucker out, cases and dies will be replaced with a few dollars but fingers, well take a guess
 
There is a simple method that no one has mentioned and may be first worth a try.
I was once at a friends house when he had a 30-06 case badly stuck in a sizing die, with the shell holder rim pulled off. I offered to take the die home with me and take the empty out.
At home I put the die in a little jar and filled the jar with kerosene. Two days later I took it out of the kerosene, screwed it into my press with the damaged case sticking out below. I took a grip on the base of the case with a vise grip, gave a light tap on the vise grip with a plastic hammer and the case popped right out!
 
H4831 said:
There is a simple method that no one has mentioned and may be first worth a try.
I was once at a friends house when he had a 30-06 case badly stuck in a sizing die, with the shell holder rim pulled off. I offered to take the die home with me and take the empty out.
At home I put the die in a little jar and filled the jar with kerosene. Two days later I took it out of the kerosene, screwed it into my press with the damaged case sticking out below. I took a grip on the base of the case with a vise grip, gave a light tap on the vise grip with a plastic hammer and the case popped right out!
Click to expand...

Must be a old timer trick.. I can't say that I've ever seen kerosene in my lifetime? Actually that is a lie, I remember seeing some when I was 5.. so 20 years ago. I haven't seen any outside of a store in the 90's.
 
bsand said:
Must be a old timer trick.. I can't say that I've ever seen kerosene in my lifetime? Actually that is a lie, I remember seeing some when I was 5.. so 20 years ago. I haven't seen any outside of a store in the 90's.
Click to expand...

Kerosene? I use it every winter in heaters in the garage. I buy jugs of it at Crappy Tire for $26. But you can get it most anywhere. Have you left your house in the last 20 years?lol
 
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