Stuck case in a .303

happydude

happydude

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I learned my lesson not to shoot gun show 'assorted once fired' grade brass from a collector grade No. I Mk. III. ####

I'm not left with a lovely 1/4" stub that was once a cartridge. I tried the trick of putting a once fired case into the stuck case to unstick it. I didn't ram the bolt too much but that trick didn't work, same thing with loaded cartridge which I barely forced in there since if it goes off I'm in a world of trouble.

Suggestions/recommendations for a good gunsmith in Winnipeg???
 
There are two ways, get a stuck case remover. Likely someone you know has one. Or pour cerro alloy into the chamber and bang the lump out with a rod.
 
Well, I feel like a douche bag now. I tried using a factory 174grn round and that did the trick. Turns out my 150grn reloads weren't contacting enough. Why is it that every time I post an "I need help" thread I solve my own problem 5minutes later. I'll consider this lesson learned about the cheap dubious quality brass though.

So, for future reference are these stuck case removers common or is this something I'm going to have to order in?
 
Take a cheap cleaning rod and make a 3/4" lengthwise cut in its end or better do the same to an old brass jag. Spread the ends just a bit larger than the bore.
Assemble the first two parts of the rod and insert them by the muzzle; insert the modified end by the breech and thread it to the rod.
Pull gently until the split ends click past the mouth of the case then tap the rod to dislodge the piece.
PP.
 
EASY remover that works with any caliber....

Take piece a soft lead wire, or cast a bullet of soft lead.... Proper caliber of course....

Hammer it down the bore from the muzzle. important that you use a rod of just under bore diameter, makes it easier....

Hammer away, the soft slug will expand and catch the brass "collar" on the way out, no damage to the chamber either....

John
 
very often a stuck case will come out of a .303 just by popping another round up the pipe and giving the bolt hand a smack to the rear.

Another easy way is just to make up a bore plug, good and tight, out of paper towel, ram that down the bore; when it contacts the mouth of the casing, it generally will pop it out. You can do the same thing with a good tight patch, using the pull-through in your butt trap: just use it backwards. Workd.

I find that if you check your brass for trim length AFTER you resize, you will have very little trouble....... and if you lubricate the inside of the case mouth BEFORE you resize, your brass will stretch very little.

Have funs!
 
smellie said:
Another easy way is just to make up a bore plug, good and tight, out of paper towel, ram that down the bore; when it contacts the mouth of the casing, it generally will pop it out. You can do the same thing with a good tight patch, using the pull-through in your butt trap: just use it backwards.
Click to expand...

then you get to explain to your gunsmith why you have a stuck case in your chamber and a barrel jammed solid with paper towel :)

honestly no offense guys, i know you are trying to help, but when you have a stuck case the best thing to do is get the proper tool for it or ask your gunsmith to remove it.
the $10 you save just might end up in ruining the rifle if you end up with more bull#### stuck in the bore, a scratched up chamber/throat, damaged crown, etc.
 
Anyone who reloads .303 for their No1's or No'4s should invest in a stuck case extractor tool. Sooner or later, you are gonna need it when that case head seperates after a number of reloads. It could just ruin your session on the range. With the tool, it's a 5 sec job to get the broken case out. :cheers:
 
I bought my broken case extractor from Brownells. From experience I can say that is an excellent piece of kit to have on the firing line during a timed stage. My Lee Enfield's don't leave home without it, especially when you use 62 year old brass.
 
Sorry about trying to help. I have been using this method for the last 45 years and have not screwed up a barrel YET.

Of course, there's always a chance, I guess, but a paper wad is a heck of a lot easier to ram out than you would think. If you do it slowly, the wad will expand in front of the stuck casing, giving you a relatively large bearing surface and a straight-backward moment of force. It has always worked when I've needed it.

On the other hand, I DO have a proper ruptured case extractor and DO use it on the rare occasions that the brass is not cut properly to length (qv). Just that I don't always carry a full tool kit every time I pick up a rifle and, I suspect, neither do a lot of other guys.
 
Anyone who intends to reload .303 should invest in a case trimmer and an inside case-mouth lubricating tool of some kind (like a screwed-up piece of paper towel with lube on it).

Do that and most of the time you won't NEED a stuck case remover.
 
happydude said:
It was a case head separation, craptastic brass of unknown origin was my culprit.
Click to expand...

I've reloaded for 303 more than any other rifle I own, and casehead separation will occure after several reloadings of any 303 brass, due to oversized chambers and over working the brass on the reload bench. I trim my cases before every reload, and I look for the tell tale signs that indicate the case is about to separate. That almost white line just ahead of the case web. But when I have had separation, and all reloaders will, most times a gentle tap of the buttsock on the shooting(wooden) bench suffices for me. If you don't have a stuck case remover, you may also very carefully insert your cleaning rod into the chamber(I did say carefully) about halfway into the broken shell and with the palm of your hand press down on the cleaning rod and gently pull back towards the buttstock, if the shell isn't moving then stop or you risk scratching the breechend of the chamber. I have never had to use a broken shell extractor, of course the proper tool is always better.;)
 
I bought a 303 broken case extractor from the antique store under the Johnston Terminal at The Forks for about $10. It's C.^.S marked.
 
My homemade broken shell extractor is so good that the Brownell'c made a copy of it, and selling it for $ 20.-

Take a brass or steel rod, which are smaller than the bullet diameter, and file a hook at the end of it and the file enough metal off towards the hook so it tapers towards the hook.

Then gently insert the hook through the broken shell and you will be able to "feel" when the hook goes over the lips of the broken shell, then gently pull out the broken shell from the chamber :)
 
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