Yep, got a 223Rem case stuck in a FL sizing die. I did the first round and got some old lube on the neck when I pulled it out of the die. So I stopped and cleaned the die, reassembled it and ran the same case into it again; but I had wiped the old lube off the case and didn't think, repeat, didn't think, to relube the case. Ouch!
With this Lee die it was made even more problematic because the expander won't come out of the top of the die and the decapping pin is sticking out of the flash hole. So carefully with a Dremel cut off disk I removed as much of the case head as possible. Then a small drill was used to weaken the remaining base around the flash hole. It was then possible to drive the expander out of the case.
The hole it left was big enough to start a tap and I first tried a 5/16nc, but that was too small, 3/8 was too large, but 9mm course was just right. I ran the tap in slowly and backed up often to keep the threads clear. About 3/4" in it freed up and I was hoping that the stress relief was enough to get the case free but instead it had finally cut the case thin enough that that short section cut free.
Rather than risk damage to the die, or worse yet getting a tap stuck in the die, I opted to try a drill bit to cut the case down a little at a time. Using a tap handle to turn the bit it looked like it was working with a nice brass shaving spiraling up the flute. Just as the shaving got to the mouth of the die the case spun free and came out stuck to the bit.
Three hours and some patience and some motivation to be more aware the next time I clean a die, and I was back in business.
With this Lee die it was made even more problematic because the expander won't come out of the top of the die and the decapping pin is sticking out of the flash hole. So carefully with a Dremel cut off disk I removed as much of the case head as possible. Then a small drill was used to weaken the remaining base around the flash hole. It was then possible to drive the expander out of the case.
The hole it left was big enough to start a tap and I first tried a 5/16nc, but that was too small, 3/8 was too large, but 9mm course was just right. I ran the tap in slowly and backed up often to keep the threads clear. About 3/4" in it freed up and I was hoping that the stress relief was enough to get the case free but instead it had finally cut the case thin enough that that short section cut free.
Rather than risk damage to the die, or worse yet getting a tap stuck in the die, I opted to try a drill bit to cut the case down a little at a time. Using a tap handle to turn the bit it looked like it was working with a nice brass shaving spiraling up the flute. Just as the shaving got to the mouth of the die the case spun free and came out stuck to the bit.
Three hours and some patience and some motivation to be more aware the next time I clean a die, and I was back in business.
). That was a pain, but If I had to go through what you did - I'd own a new set of dies already 
