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Posted: 2/8/2010 6:22:08 PM EDT
I have no idea what has been the problem, but I have had some serious issues with stuck cases in my RCBS and Lee .223 FL sizing dies. I've tried Hornady One Show in the spray and pump, and I'm still getting stuck cases. Now, my RCBS sizer is completely out of commission (and I'll have to replace it). What the hell is the problem???
<Title edit. Please keep profanity out of thread titles. ––tbk1> |
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I have no idea what has been the problem, but I have had some serious issues with stuck cases in my RCBS and Lee .223 FL sizing dies. I've tried Hornady One Show in the spray and pump, and I'm still getting stuck cases. Now, my RCBS sizer is completely out of commission (and I'll have to replace it). What the hell is the problem??? Why is the die out of commision? Did you scratch it or something? cause the parts that can get tweaked are replaceable. Also I use one shot and like it but with .223 cases you can't scrimp on the application. The trouble is there are better lubes but none are as easy for me to use as one shot. |
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Why is the die out of commision?
Case is stuck inside of the RCBS die, and bent the threaded decapping rod trying to use it to hammer the case out. Pretty much the same thing with the Lee die, except I was able to get the case out (except the decapper assembly is fooked). |
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I think it depends on how many cases you are processing. I use Hornady's One Shot on straight-walled pistol cases. Some people swear by Imperial Sizing Wax, but it is slow compared to spray lubes when you are doing large quantities. Dillon spray lube gets a lot of praise as well, but I haven't used it. There are a couple of threads on homebrew lube currently that could net you enough lube to last several years without breaking the bank.
ETA links Case Lube for cheap guys homemade lube |
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Why is the die out of commision?
Case is stuck inside of the RCBS die, and bent the threaded decapping rod trying to use it to hammer the case out. Pretty much the same thing with the Lee die, except I was able to get the case out (except the decapper assembly is fooked). I bent an RCBS decapping rod in 9mm (my fault) and one call to RCBS was all it took to get a new one in the mail. I even volunteered to pay since it was my fault, but they refused and said it was covered under warranty. |
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I'm really cheap. I read somewhere that somebody used PAM cooking spray in a pinch so I figured I'd give it a shot. It worked so well that I've used it exclusively for about 700 rounds now with RCBS full size, non-carbide die and no stuck cases. I'm a little worried that it might be wearing my die out a little faster, but so far everything is still to spec.
I usually take about 100 rounds at a time in a container, give it a few light shots of PAM, mix with my hand till evenly coated and I'm done with lubing. A little goes a long way. Too much and you'll get oil compression dimples in the brass. I throw the resized brass back in the tumbler with corn cob litter for a while to get all the oil off. I'll keep using this method till I find a good reason not too. ETA: Forgot about 300 rounds of .357 I did using PAM in addition to the .223. |
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I'm trying to avoid using pads if at all possible, mainly because I have a few thousand cases to size. I *really* want to use a spray, but not at the expense of stuck cases.
On a side note, I did get the case out of my RCBS sizer die. I saw a stuck case removal tool on Midway, and made my own. I have to admit it was very satisfying, but I still have to order a replacement decap/expander rod... |
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i never had good luck with the one shot. i use the RCBS lube and a lube pad. put some on the pad and rub it into the foam then roll the cases. never had a stuck case when using a lube pad. just don't use too much or you'll dent the shoulders. This. Been reloading rifle cases since 1972, using the pad and RCBS lube, never had a stuck case, or even close to it. Loading everything. 223, 243, 270, 7mmRemMag, 30-30, 308, 300RUM, 338RUM, 38/357, 45ACP, 45LC |
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I dont know if that lube is the same as the Lyman spray, but if it is, I had to let mine sit for a good while before the alcohol or whatever evaporated and left just the lube behind. If I tried to size the cases 5 min or so after I sprayed, they would be rough going in the sizer.
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RCBS Case Slick is one of the BEST spray lubes, IMHO. I spritz 'em lying down, roll them 180, and spritz again. I also make sure to spray at a very shallow angle, such that a bit of lube gets inside the neck. Wait 3 minutes, then size away.
Couple of questions: 1) Are you tumbling your cases before sizing? They should be clean before doing this step (don't need to be gleaming- just clean.) 2) Do you de-prime beforehand? (Not necessary, but I de-prime with universal decapping die from Lee, then tumble, then size.) 3) Are you vigorously shaking your lube before spraying? This is IMPORTANT- otherwise you might just be spraying alcohol on them. |
| The first couple cans of One Shot I had (about 5 or 6 years ago) worked great for me then the stuff turned to crap. I had stuck case after stuck case. They must have changed the formula or something. I switched to Dillon spray lube and haven't had a stuck case since. |
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The problem with One Shit is that the wax and delivery agent are not intermixed. If the can sits for a couple of days the wax settles to the bottom of the can and requires a crap load of shaking to get it broken up again. If it is colder (like now) it may require you to soak the can it hot water to get the wax to mix. Using One Shot when I first started reloading caused me to nearly give up ..... I am glad I just threw the can in the trash and went with Dillon Spray Lube. I have also used Unique Sizing Wax. If I just need to size a couple case I use the wax ... if I am working on a box full I use the spray lube. I haven't had any problems since. Honestly I cannot believe Hornady is still selling the stuff ... and I don't know why people keep buying it. After so many back reviews your just dancing with danger ... it's the "oh it couldn't happen to me thing" I guess.
Sarg |
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i never had good luck with the one shot. i use the RCBS lube and a lube pad. put some on the pad and rub it into the foam then roll the cases. never had a stuck case when using a lube pad. just don't use too much or you'll dent the shoulders. This. Been reloading rifle cases since 1972, using the pad and RCBS lube, never had a stuck case, or even close to it. Loading everything. 223, 243, 270, 7mmRemMag, 30-30, 308, 300RUM, 338RUM, 38/357, 45ACP, 45LC This ^^^^. I've used OneShot on 500 223 cases last May and things were fine. The only two stuck cases I've had in 15 years happened when loading 308 with Dillon spray lube, 2 within 5 minutes, in both a Hornady and RCBS FL die. I did 200 and things were fine, but 2 just stuck. To be fair, the Dillon stuff was a good 10-12 years old, so it might have gone bad. RCBS Case Lube II for bottlenecks is great. A tad slower, but it wipes off with a damp rag. Chris |
| One shot works great if you stand the cases on end and spray from 4 sides. Works very well doing it this way. It does not work well if you toss the cases in a shallow pan, spray, then shake, and spray again. Dillon case lube works no mater what you do, as long as you give it a shake. 4-5 sprays per 200+ rounds, shake well, and you are good to go after a few minutes of dry time. Hate the freakin' pad. Slow, slow, and if I forgot to mention, slow. |
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Midway and others like Cabelas sell the RCBS Stuck Case Removal Kit for about $16. It works like a champ. The whole process takes about 5 mins. to pop the stuck case right out. Midway also sells decapping rods and pins to fix your bent parts. You could also consider just buying a new FL Sizing Die that are sold individually for about $25.
I've been reloading for a long time and have reloaded thousands of rounds. Until recently when I was trying to resize some new unused .223 brass I'd never got one stuck in my dies. I wasn't lubing them because most will tell you that you don't need to size new brass, but it didn't work out for me. I have the Stuck Case Kit now if I ever need it again. When you get the case out, clean up your die real well and get all the gunk out of it. Roll-up some 600 grit or higher into about the size of a pencil and lightly polish out all the brass build-up too. Lastly, quit using the One Shot stuff, it's crap. Good luck to you. 
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I'm really cheap. I read somewhere that somebody used PAM cooking spray in a pinch so I figured I'd give it a shot. It worked so well that I've used it exclusively for about 700 rounds now with RCBS full size, non-carbide die and no stuck cases. I'm a little worried that it might be wearing my die out a little faster, but so far everything is still to spec. I usually take about 100 rounds at a time in a container, give it a few light shots of PAM, mix with my hand till evenly coated and I'm done with lubing. A little goes a long way. Too much and you'll get oil compression dimples in the brass. I throw the resized brass back in the tumbler with corn cob litter for a while to get all the oil off. I'll keep using this method till I find a good reason not too. ETA: Forgot about 300 rounds of .357 I did using PAM in addition to the .223. Cost is the reason. |
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You need to at least try the Dillon pump spray lube. I think you'll stick with it after giving it a shot.
I've used One Shot on occasion & never had a stuck case, but sometimes felt resistance & was probably close to one. Like many, I use the bag, apray & shake method with the Dillon lube. Probable did 4-5k 223 over the last year & never had one that felt like it was close to getting stuck. |
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I still roll my .223 cases out on an RCBS lube pad. Sometimes the lube pad get a little dry before I realize it. I've dealt with stuck cases & prefer the drill/tap pull method. Worst stuck case required me to put it in the freezer for an hour before I could remove the offending brass. The sizing die shrinks the brass down as it cools. It is just enough to be able to complete the task. I did switch to Hornady New Dimension dies from RCBS. Not one stuck case since. |
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