Simple tip to avoid stuck brass in size die

[Jim Hardy]

If you have ever stuck a case in a size die, especially a custom size die, you understand the panic rush you get that can lead you to an adult beverage. Here is an easy tip to prevent the stuck case issue from ever happening:

For each chambering you load for, take a sized case and save in in a box/container clearly marked. When you get ready to size brass, pull out the already sized case and lube it up. Run it into the the die three times while turning the brass in the shell holder. Now the die is pre-lubed without the friction of having to size fired brass. You will never suffer the stress of a stuck case again. Hope this helps.

Jim Hardy

 

[FlaTarheel]

??? "Never" is a very long time.

 

[K22]

Sounds like it would work BUT If your sizing die is set up correctly and the case is lubed properly you won't get a case stuck in the die. Never had one stuck when starting with new brass loaded in the same rifle. Where the problem sometimes occur is resizing field pick up brass shot in someone else's rifle, especially semi-autos.

 

[Jim Hardy]

??? "Never" is a very long time.

Yep "never" is a long time. And "never" is exactly what I meant as to sticking a case because of friction on the first sized case -- where the most risk is. For me, "never" means about 50 years since i stuck my first case. Of course, the alternative is to just size the brass and run the risk and "hope" you "never" stick a case. However, I have found that "hope" without a plan is nothing but a wish.

Thanks for your observation. "Never" is indeed a long time.

Jim Hardy

 

[V509]

I was sure the original post was going to have the words
"Imperial Sizing Wax"

 

[SWRichmond]

How about "when the ram starts resisting an unusual amount, stop pushing".

 

[22BRGUY]

Good suggestion that will help and reduce but not eliminate the stuck case problem
Thanks for idea

 

[Sniper338]

I was sure the original post was going to have the words
"Imperial Sizing Wax"

This was my first thought!!!!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Or you could just coat every case properly with good quality lubricant in the first place...

Only time I ever stuck a case was when I decided to see if a case would size without lube. I don't do that anymore.

 

[ireload2]

The mickey mouse rim on a 5.56 guarantees most people will pull a rim off sooner or later regardless of how you prelube the FL die.
Skimp a little on the lube for one case and you can pull off a rim- even if you have prelubed the die.

 

[Jim Hardy]

If you have ever stuck a case in a size die, especially a custom size die, you understand the panic rush you get that can lead you to an adult beverage. Here is an easy tip to prevent the stuck case issue from ever happening:

For each chambering you load for, take a sized case and save in in a box/container clearly marked. When you get ready to size brass, pull out the already sized case and lube it up. Run it into the the die three times while turning the brass in the shell holder. Now the die is pre-lubed without the friction of having to size fired brass. You will never suffer the stress of a stuck case again. Hope this helps.

Jim Hardy

I never realized there would be so much confusion on such a simple tip. Lube you cases as you always do. The tip was just to address what might be a tight fit on a the first fired case when you first start to size your cases.

I continue to learn the danger of leaving tips of any kind. That is on me. You never know the experience of the person reading the tip or whether they read something into the tip that you never intended -- sometimes because the author of the tip did not make it clear -- that would be me. With that in mind, there is a reason to post and not to post. I have found them both. To those who found the tip useful I hope it helps. To those that did not find the tip helpful, I also hope that helps in some way.

Sincerely,
Jim Hardy

 

[Sniper338]

Lol oh jim, you said something on a forum, it gets taken all kinds of ways... no worries, we all got what you were saying...

 

[waldo1979]

I'm waiting for someone to deliver the joke so I can drop a "that's what she said".

 

[OmegaRed]

I never realized there would be so much confusion on such a simple tip. Lube you cases as you always do. The tip was just to address what might be a tight fit on a the first fired case when you first start to size your cases.

I continue to learn the danger of leaving tips of any kind. That is on me. You never know the experience of the person reading the tip or whether they read something into the tip that you never intended -- sometimes because the author of the tip did not make it clear -- that would be me. With that in mind, there is a reason to post and not to post. I have found them both. To those who found the tip useful I hope it helps. To those that did not find the tip helpful, I also hope that helps in some way.

Sincerely,
Jim Hardy

Jim, as a recently new reloader, I appreciate seeing this type of stuff on the forum. Not all of us are seasoned competition bench rest shooters with thousands of reloads under our belt. If ya dont know, then ya dont know!

Thanks

 

[Phil]

If you have ever stuck a case in a size die, especially a custom size die, you understand the panic rush you get that can lead you to an adult beverage. Here is an easy tip to prevent the stuck case issue from ever happening:

For each chambering you load for, take a sized case and save in in a box/container clearly marked. When you get ready to size brass, pull out the already sized case and lube it up. Run it into the the die three times while turning the brass in the shell holder. Now the die is pre-lubed without the friction of having to size fired brass. You will never suffer the stress of a stuck case again. Hope this helps.

Jim Hardy

Thanks Jim.........


I will add this simple task to the list.

Phil.

 

[fastarget]

Jim, as a recently new reloader, I appreciate seeing this type of stuff on the forum. Not all of us are seasoned competition bench rest shooters with thousands of reloads under our belt. If ya dont know, then ya dont know!

Thanks

Agreed, any and all tips and tricks are appreciated.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Good Post I am on the Old side.

This could be the start of a Hardy Boy's Story ?

 

[JRS]

Or, disassemble your sizing die, tape the outside of the die (you don't want the outside slick), then tumble it in hBN

 

[amlevin]

Hmmm. I wonder if this is why Hornady suggests squirting some One-Shot in their die before using it the first time. Probably would hold true if one were to clean the die real well.

Me, I just use a Q-tip that I've dipped in the Hornady Unique tub and pre-lube the sizing die with the de-capping rod removed. Same-ole, Same-ole.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I always clean my dies out with automotive mass airflow sensor solvent about every 50 sizings or so. Dont like a lot of lube "in" the die. If cases are sizing hard enought to stick with proper lube, probably best to check your reamer or chamber dimensions.

Hmmm. I wonder if this is why Hornady suggests squirting some One-Shot in their die before using it the first time. Probably would hold true if one were to clean the die real well.

Me, I just use a Q-tip that I've dipped in the Hornady Unique tub and pre-lube the sizing die with the de-capping rod removed. Same-ole, Same-ole.

I fully clean the inside of my dies using automotive MAF cleaner. Never pre-lube my dies before use. If fired cases are sizing hard enough to get stuck in a clean die when using a good lube like imperial wax or whatever else, you probably have a chamber that is out of spec. I've seen this with factory rifles, but even then, I've never stuck a case that was lubed properly.

I will usually lube the entire body and shoulder of the first case in a clean die. After that, I just hit the shoulder and about half way down the body. No issues