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Stuck cases...
Hollywood
Member Posts: 686 ✭✭✭✭
I have had two stuck cases in less than 50 shells![:(!] I lubed empty cases and cleaned my die before I started. I'm tearing the rim right off! I'm trying to size some Lake city 5.56 using RCBS small base die. What am I doing wrong? Is it because of the small base die?[xx(][V][:(]
Comments
You've cleaned the dies, so that probably eliminates that problem.
If your brass was fired in a machine gun, it may be badly swollen or damaged.
The brass may be dirty.
You may be using poor lube or insufficient lube.
You may be working the press handle too violently, ripping the rims before the brass can release.
Finally, any or all those conditions can be made worse by using a small-base die.
What kind of lube, spray lube? Make sure can is well shaken. I've noticed with Hornady one shot, it seems to be more effective near bottom or end of can. Make sure shaken well. Apply evenly, like a auto paint technique. Don't just wiggle the can like a 8 year old spraying paint. I spray 3 angles from 30 degrees off horizontal so some lube gets inside neck. I use a 16"x18" piece of cardboard, spray. Turn one third, spray, turn one more time. I can get 100 rounds if I stack carefully.
Also, after cleaning die and reassembling, spray with one shot and let dry.
Learn to feel the brass go in, if it squeaks and you feel it binding into the die. Like hard/give/hard/give. If you don't stop and back out, it will get stuck. If one feels bad, back down. Either put sizing wax on finger. Or I have even, sprayed my index finger and thumb to put a little extra on a case or two.
The "feel" going into the die is important. You have a lot of leverage with any of the bigger presses. RCBS, Redding, Lyman, Hornady. I do all my sizing on a RCBS Special 5, in between a Rock Chucker and Partner press. I can still rip the rim off pretty easy.
This may sound strange but for years I dumped about 100 freshly cleaned brass in a brown paper sack, gave a 2 second shot of spray "Pam" and shake the bag. Never had a problem and I loaded thousands and thousands of 5.56 like this. Never had a stuck case ever
Stuck cases are caused by NOT USING IMPERIAL SIZING WAX
Everything else is a stuck case looking for a place to happen.
Get some Lee water-based lube, or some Hornady Unique Lube, or -best of all- some Imperial Sizing Wax. A TWO-ounce tin of Imperial has so far lasted me ten years, and is less than a quarter used up. All I do is swipe my fingertips across the tin and then handle the brass as usual between basket and press. That's all it takes. Effortless, cheap to the point of free, and I have NEVER stuck a case even during case-reforming operations with wildcats.
A ten-dollar tub of the wax will last for years, never let you down, does not leave a mess on your case and will not stick a case in your die.
Maybe I am getting old and curmudgeonly but I just don't get it.
Until a superior product is PROVEN, I'll stick with Imperial Sizing wax, Kroil, Butch's Bore Shine, JB Bore paste, one piece cleaning rods, bore guides and flannel patches.
Most people that diss on oneshot are simply not following the directions.Either let it dry or help it to dry completely before attempting to size the case.Its just that simple. I only use Imperial when forming cases.
I followed directions. It worked mostly. Still stuck 1 or 2 cases with it. My problem was the horrific waste. You line your cases up on a block and spray 'em, most of the spray just goes off into the air. I did much better by spraying them in a ziplock bag, but then I might as well just use a regular lube and put a few drops in and knead it around, no reason to use the spray anymore.
That's what I do now. I dillute some Lee case lube with the highest concentration rubbing alcohol I can find about 10:1, dump the cases (around 30 at a time) in a ziplock, and pour in a little of the lube. Knead around, take out and let dry. Usually just enough gets in the neck to take care of that as well.
Must be the Oneshot. As far as the Pam goes, regular or butter flavored?[:D]
I think it's butter flavored. [;)] first time i heard of it i thought yea right. but damed if it don't work. i tumble them all again after that anyway so the residue isn't a problem.
I do however use the liquid lubes for the mandral in the trimming machine. That allows the case to slide onto the mandral nice and easily.[;)]
It is a pain to use though. If I were just loading for 1 or 2 bench rest guns, it would be all I'd use, but for now I'll stick to dumping the cases in a bag as outlined above.
FWIW- been reloading 12 years. Not quite a half a century yet but 1/8 of one. [:D]
BTW, Hornady Unique Sizing Lube is Mink Oil boot paste. Identical. Either one is almost as good as Imperial. But not quite.
Lastly, I can't understand how using Imperial is a pain. You have to pick up each case to put it in the press for sizing anyway, right? So just slide your fingertips across the Imperial and handle the cases as always. Repeat every ten cases or so. That's literally all there is to it.
I use the redding brand I think it was 6 bucks at Sportsmans. Its great
So there is the kicker to Imperial! Here I thought all you had to do was have a tin of it and you were good to go! Now you throw in this manual labor, maybe this stuff isn't as good as sliced bread![:0][:D][:D][:D]
Of all the things I've lost, It's my mind I miss the most.
p.s. I used to use the regular PAM the butter stuff just made me hungry
Jonk and bpost, just let these youngsters reload for a half century as we have. They'll see the light eventually. At this age, they are still attracted to small shiny objects.
Rocky, Do think everyone else on this forum just started reloading yesterday?
I have to ask; why use an expensive gimmicky spray or messy liquid when the top shooters, those that load tens of thousands of cases, feeding VERY expensive rifles almost universally use Imperial Sizing Wax?
A ten-dollar tub of the wax will last for years, never let you down, does not leave a mess on your case and will not stick a case in your die.
Maybe I am getting old and curmudgeonly but I just don't get it.
Until a superior product is PROVEN, I'll stick with Imperial Sizing wax, Kroil, Butch's Bore Shine, JB Bore paste, one piece cleaning rods, bore guides and flannel patches.
You say: why use an expensive gimmicky spray or messy liquid when the top shooters, those that load tens of thousands of cases, feeding VERY expensive rifles almost universally use Imperial Sizing Wax?
AMEN to the above statements!
Also get the neck Imperial Dry Neck Lube when you get the Imperial sizing Die Wax!
I've reloaded for several years and never even knew that Imperial existed until about 2 years ago when I started reading these forums! I had intermittent stuck case issues when using the other case lubes unless I flooded the cases with excess lube, then I would get wrinkled shoulders on the cases due to too much lube and sometimes still stick a case, even when being trying to be careful and short stroking the press! Imperial Sizing Die wax eliminated all these issues! I place the small Dry neck lube container inside a slightly larger bowl when using to protect from accidental spillage. (it's a dry type graphite and real messy if spilled)
You can readily review the products at Midway reloading supplies![:D]
I put spray lubes in the glitzy and gimmicky category. They are indeed expensive, wasteful, messy - and not always very effective. In comparison, a tiny tin of Imperial seems bland and boring, except that it is cheap, frugal, clean - and works to utter perfection.
Here's my tin of Imperial. I've been using it for at least five years, and as a reloading writer, I reload a lot.
Sorry for the lack of attention to your posts. Will purchase a tin after you and others give it high recomendations. Will be looking for your by-line in "Anger Mangement Monthly".
Yes, We responders have to go to the Anger Management DAILY for counseling quite often.
Both, before and after replying to some threads![:D]
Have a nice day and make reloading a testing fun thing!
We can cure anything but a broken heart, usually![:)]
NRA Supporting Member!!!!!!!!!!
I use a slightly different method that has worked for me for the last 3 years of metallic reloading.
I have all 50 cases in the tray and only spray the necks (Hornaday One Shot) at an angle to lube the case mouth inside.
I then lay 10 cases at a time on my RCBS lube pad and give them a few rolls.
I also have a grease rag handy.
This has worked flawlessly so far.
As an aside, I loaded (200) 30/30 and (270) .223 last weekend while my wife was out of town, just to pass the time. I really love reloading!
I have a RockChucker, a Lee Classic, and a Lee Turret press and only load about 11 calibers.
I have been reloading shotgun shells for nearly 35 years and still love it.