Case broke in 223 body die and is stuck

[ranger3]

I had a 223 case break in my body die and so the upper half of the case is stuck in it. Any idea I have tried lubing it I have tried freezing it. My next thought is to drill it out but I prefer not to ruin my body die.

 

[jepp2]

You don't state the manufacturer of the die. Some will provide the service for you if you ship them the die. I have never used one, but a broken shell extractor?

 

[nmkid]

Happened to me a while back. Tried everything I could think of...No luck. Finally ended up squeezing a small screwdriver between the case and the wall of the die. Almost worked but, it just got tighter toward the upper part of the case. Bought a new die.

 

[CaptainMal]

Royal PIA when the head is torn off. Hard to get something in there and pull now.

I have done this successfully and recently. Find a drill bit that is just under the size of the neck of the die. Insert that into the neck of the case and slowly grind down the neck of the case so its like paper thin. You should not be hitting the edge of the neck portion of the die.

Now take a small flat punch and feel your way done the side of that neck area and push a flat in the brass. That will be about where the shoulder will be below the neck.

Soak the whole die in light oil for a while to hopefully get some around the outside of that case. Then back to that punch and tap the flat you made down and HOPE the case taps out.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Small file? Small screw driver? Anything you can get your hands on?
Pack it up and ship it back to the die maker. Save yourself some frustration and the chance of damage to your die. Well worth the $$ to get it done right.

 

[dickn52]

Buy a new one and remember to lubricate just enough. Too much is as bad as too little.

 

[Bc'z]

Stuck case remover or,
Screw die in form bottom so that bottom of die and stuck case are showing on top of press.
Drill and tap primer pocket, place a socket and washer over base of die run screw into threaded case when you run out of screw add more washers or longer socket.
It will draw the case out of the die.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Stuck case remover or,
Screw die in form bottom so that bottom of die and stuck case are showing on top of press.
Drill and tap primer pocket, place a socket and washer over base of die run screw into threaded case when you run out of screw add more washers or longer socket.
It will draw the case out of the die.

There is no case head this time

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Nows the best time to get away from neck sizing- its a sign.
Get a good fl bushing die and use imperial on the body only- below the shoulder. No more issues.

 

[McFred]

If it's some custom, expensive steel die and the manufacturer isn't interested in assisting, then soak the whole die in ammonia. Dissolve the brass out.

You can also try and find a fine tap that has a minor diameter of the ID if what's remaining of the case and screw it in there. Then you'll have something to pull on. I've used this method to extract brass from a chamber whose head's fallen off, and a cleaning rod would not do.

 

[riflewoman]

Send it back to the manufacturer. They have the tools necessary.

 

[Bc'z]

There is no case head this time

Missed that part

 

[dolek]

Damn,another thread for Dusty to beat a dead horse horse about neck sizing.

To the OP...maybe try a tight fitting hardwood dowel from the top. put it in and oil everything up good inside...the wood will swell and hopefully you can catch enough if the brass to knock it out. Good luck !

 

[Bc'z]

Damn,another thread for Dusty to beat a dead horse horse about neck sizing.

I'm not grasping how using a body die is neck sizing.
@Dusty Stevens necks are sized in a separate operation

If the case ripped in 2 with with his body die, its probably time for new brass, or a touch more lube.

 

[ranger3]

It's a redding die, I'll call them on monday. I did lube the case, but I bought this brass used and out of 60 pcs (it's lake city) 45 got split necks on my first firing .. so the brass had been used pretty hard. Thanks for the advice. I may try the ammonia. I do have the right drill bits.

 

[DaveTooley]

You have a body die so no expander. I would get the right size tap and run it into the remaining case body. Then come in from the top with a punch. Ammonia will take years to dissolve the case. I have used epoxy at least one time before. Degrease, plug the neck, fill with epoxy and let it harden for several days. Then come in from the top with a punch.

 

[olddav]

^^^^^^^^^^^*
That sounds like a pretty good idea!

 

[watercam]

Why not heat a pan of oil and drop the die in for a couple of minutes? Die will expand hopefully enough to loosen the bond between the two.

 

[joshb]

Send it back to the die maker or buy a new die and use Imperial. I haven’t stuck one case in 7 years, since I started using it.
My next thought is about your brass. It seems the case was ready to separate, if it came apart in the die. You should inspect the rest of your brass for signs of head separation!

 

[fyrewall]

Just get a $7.90 small USPS priority mail box and send the whole works back to the manufacturer with a brief note explaining how much you like the die and all the other products you own that have been made by the same manufacturer and then ask what particular case lube they would recommend.