Case stuck in Die... Help!

[engelwood]

Thanks for all the ideas guys. It was not nickel plated, just standard brass. I think that heredoggy had a good idea and I gave it to my buddy. Personally I guess I'm lazy, I'd just send it to RCBS and ask them to fix it. He sprayed the cases with RCBS spray and used a lot more than normal he said as he normally neck sizes his brass and he decided to try FL sizing some. He said he's done using that spray, but who knows. He's going to go back to the normal RCBS case lube with pad. That's what I have and haven't had any problems in my limited experience with it...

[Gutpile]

The RCBS Stuck Case Remover Kit is a high-priced way to buy stuff you can get at any hardware store:  A #7 drill bit, A 1/4-20 Tap, (a tap wrench is handy) A 1/4-20 bolt about 1 1/2" long, and enopugh washers or a socket that fits over the case head, and that's all you need.  Clamp the die in a vise, (with soft jaws or wood blocks so as not to damage the die threads) drill out the primer pocket with the #7 drill,  tap threads in the hole with the 1/4-20 tap,  put the washers or socket over the case head to build it higher than the case, and turn the bolt into the threaded case and turn with a wrench to extract the stuck case.  After the case is loose, I usually have to add more washers to pull the case over the expander ball.  You can't unstick a case with vise-grips or pliers.  Don't even try!

Maybe so but it works very well. I've only used it twice but it sure is nice to have around and I think I only paid $15.00 or so. Thats not that much considering all of the other garbage we reloaders talk ourselves into buying.

[KillBilly]

Just out of curiosity, was it a nickel case? They will get stuck more readily than brass because they are harder.

I here this about nickle plated all the time, but I reload a lot of it with no issues. The only time I see any difference is when trimming, it can feel pretty hard then.

I have only stuck one nickel case but never another one. I lube well when using nickel however it still re-sizes harder than brass.

[wadu1]

Just out of curiosity, was it a nickel case? They will get stuck more readily than brass because they are harder.

I here this about nickle plated all the time, but I reload a lot of it with no issues. The only time I see any difference is when trimming, it can feel pretty hard then.

When I can I only use nickel because it does not get stuck; I've only had one out of 400 or so and I did not lube it. Brass on the other hand I get one stuck often mostly with Federal then Remington followed by the thin walled Winchester. I will be starting a new run on Tuesday of 6.5X55 SE with Norma brass; I'll see how that goes. In my 9.3X62 I completly buggered up a set of dies on the first case. 

[Heredoggydoggy]

I guess I should have clarified why I think the RCBS Stuck Case kit is expensive.  I'm spoiled!  For nearly 40 years in my construction career I installed tons of door hardware on metal doors and jambs.  Therefore, I have GOBS of 1/4-20 taps, and GOBS of #7 drills, which are the main items in the RCBS kit.  I've seen the RCBS kits in gun shops, and if I remember right, they are now @ $20.00.  A drill and tap should not cost nearly that much, and the rest should be found in the average workshop.  If you have money to burn, and are a "gotta have it now" person, the RCBS kit will do the job.

There are two kinds of reloaders:  Those who have stuck a case in a die, and those who will.