case stuck in lee sizing die
- Thread starter neotekz
- Start date
There is a tool available for this but basically what you do is put the die and
case into a vise, though a lathe chuck is better. Then you drill out the primer and the bottom of the case and tap it for something around a 1/4 x 20 thread. Then put a short, 1 inch or so, piece of pipe around the base of the case, lay a washer on the pipe and screw in a 1/4 inch bolt. When the bolt tightens up it will start to pull the case out of the die. Don't forget to pour in lots of penetrating oil first.
case into a vise, though a lathe chuck is better. Then you drill out the primer and the bottom of the case and tap it for something around a 1/4 x 20 thread. Then put a short, 1 inch or so, piece of pipe around the base of the case, lay a washer on the pipe and screw in a 1/4 inch bolt. When the bolt tightens up it will start to pull the case out of the die. Don't forget to pour in lots of penetrating oil first.
stuck case
What I have done is remove the die from the press, loosen the jam nut holding the deprime pin and then use the deprime pin to tap the case out.
Be carfull not to peen the end on the decap pin. I use a plastic dead blow hammer.
Had a 9mm sneak into a 38 spec. die, once or twice
Good luck.
Kim
What I have done is remove the die from the press, loosen the jam nut holding the deprime pin and then use the deprime pin to tap the case out.
Be carfull not to peen the end on the decap pin. I use a plastic dead blow hammer.
Had a 9mm sneak into a 38 spec. die, once or twice
Good luck.
Kim
Hi-Standard
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Lee dies were designed to use the decapping pin to remove stuck cases. Remove the collet from the top of the die, get something soft like a brass drift, and hit the decapping pin. Should remove that stuck case for you.
Just loosen the collet off as mentioned previously, and tap it out with a mallet or hammer. I do this while the die is still in the press. Then you'll have the case stuck on the sizing mandrel (you probably won't be able to just pull it down and off, because you've sized the neck down, but not drawn the tapered ball back through the neck yet.)
EDIT to ADD: you don't need to use a brass drift or punch, unless you happen to have one. The sizing mandrel is quite hard, so you shouldn't gall it using a smooth faced hammer. If you do, just dress the edge with a file before reassembly.
Cut the case at the shoulder with a hack saw or tubing cutter, and slide the neck and shoulder piece back up and off. The rest will just fall off the bottom end.
Make sure to adjust the sizing rod properly whey you reassemble the die; you want about 3/16" of decapping pin showing past the bottom of the die body. Tighten the collet properly, and carry on!
EDIT to ADD: you don't need to use a brass drift or punch, unless you happen to have one. The sizing mandrel is quite hard, so you shouldn't gall it using a smooth faced hammer. If you do, just dress the edge with a file before reassembly.
Cut the case at the shoulder with a hack saw or tubing cutter, and slide the neck and shoulder piece back up and off. The rest will just fall off the bottom end.
Make sure to adjust the sizing rod properly whey you reassemble the die; you want about 3/16" of decapping pin showing past the bottom of the die body. Tighten the collet properly, and carry on!
