Last night I was setting up my Dillon RT1200 to trim some 308 range brass I have (for my AR-10, not bolt rifle).  I almost had it set to the correct length (2.015") when a case got stuck in the trimming die.

I tried pulling it out with my side cutters - no deal.  I even got a punch to punch it out from the bottom which made matters much worse since now the neck was mushroomed around the die.  Maybe I shouldn't have had a few drinks while attempting removal of the case . . .

Anyway, I figured that I would buy another trim die since the case was stuck real good.  $50 plus shipping!  No way I was going to pay that - the case is coming out.

Surfed the internet (gotta LOVE it!) and found a solution.  Drill out the flash hole, tap out the hole with a 1/4-20 tap, then extract the case with a 1/4-20 bolt.  The bolt threads stripped on the first attempt so back to Ace to buy a SS 1/4-20 bolt.  Case came right out.  Total cost of tap and 2 bolts = $7.00, much cheaper than buying another die!  Used a couple of 3/8" drive sockets as spacers.

Your lucky. I had a case with a primer that had twisted when I tried to insert it. So ran it into my sizing die to poke it out and forgot to lube it first. Stuck. Internet was not much help. Tried everything and ended up buying a whole new die set since the die set was on sale for less than just the sizing die.

It happens...I have a Pacific Durachrome 223 sizer with a permanent brass bushing installed. The case head tore off when I tried the screw in the primer pocket solution. This was many years ago when dies were a lot cheaper. It gave me an excuse to go out and buy a new Bonanza benchrest die set. 

 I guess we all sooner or later will have a stuck case. I have been lucky enough to remove the cases so far. There were times that I really felt the case could not be removed with out damage to the die.

Stuck case here too.  What can you do if the dang decap pin can't be pulled out the top?  It's in the way of drilling and tapping.

Farging stuck in there.

I hate to say it but I had to buy a new die. I lucked out that a whole set was on sale for less than the single die I needed. But still it sucks you have to spend money when you least expect it.

My guess is that you are going to have to buy a new one as well.

Stuck case here too.  What can you do if the dang decap pin can't be pulled out the top?  It's in the way of drilling and tapping.

Farging stuck in there.

If you can find a steel punch small enough, tap it out.  As I understand it, it's the brass holding it in.  Once you have it tapped back far enough, you should be able to drill and tap the case to remove it.

If you can find a steel punch small enough, tap it out.  As I understand it, it's the brass holding it in.  Once you have it tapped back far enough, you should be able to drill and tap the case to remove it.

Thanks I might as well give it a try at this point!  I hope it just pops out the top!

Thanks I might as well give it a try at this point!  I hope it just pops out the top!

Lee dies aren't TOO bad in price...Good luck!!

That's what's stuck now.  No joy on trying to tap the pin out.  Broke one punch since so skinny, tried an old brass one and it bent.
Fark.  haha  doh.   I have an RCBS competition die set on order but still waiting.  Guess will start the hunt on what's in stock now, anywhere. 

That's what's stuck now.  No joy on trying to tap the pin out.  Broke one punch since so skinny, tried an old brass one and it bent.
Fark.  haha  doh.   I have an RCBS competition die set on order but still waiting.  Guess will start the hunt on what's in stock now, anywhere.

Sorry

Nah, no worries!  I stuck the case not you!     

Amazing how so much is still out of stock everywhere.  But I found a Lyman 3-die set on Optics Planet, whew.
durdblastit I forgot the shellholders for the others.  doh!  it never ends.
edit:  crap, got email response today everything is at least 3 weeks out from shipping.  oh well, hurry up and wait!

kewl - found a Universal Decapping Die for under $10 @ midsouthshooterssupply.com.  no need clean or lube, just tumble after. 

fooling around with another decap die, the pin unscrews from the bottom.  still, no way to overcome the stuck case though.  saw a $5 send in offer to remove stuck case but that was for Forster I think.  wonder if they'd do it for other mfr dies too.  gotta' find that link again.

hey!

hey!

*facepalm*

Well, apparently I tossed a perfectly good die..

Sucess! 

decapped one more then FAIL on the next again (maybe I should retumble).  I even sprayed lube on the outside and inside.  the dang shell just got stuck and ripped out the shell holder.

then did the same tap it out procedure, then while trying to reassemble onto the collet I snapped the dang pin off    

so just ordered a couple universal pins now.  argh.  I am having fun though.  really.

decapped one more then FAIL on the next again (maybe I should retumble).  I even sprayed lube on the outside and inside.  the dang shell just got stuck and ripped out the shell holder.

then did the same tap it out procedure, then while trying to reassemble onto the collet I snapped the dang pin off    

so just ordered a couple universal pins now.  argh.  I am having fun though.  really.

I tried what was suggested in the video and it didn't work for me and I ended up bending the decapping pin.

I know this sounds kinda silly but a good friend of mine was having a problem like yours. Every few shells he had one that was tight and it would get stuck and rip right out of the shell holder. After this happening for a couple of weeks he found out he was using the wrong shell holder.

Sorry you are having so many problems.

It's a brand new out of the wrapper holder for .223.  I tumbled the cases a long time ago and should just retumble, they're not real pretty.  Wish I had a thumbler and stainless pins!   The pin should tap free if it's completely unscrewed, it's installed into the die that way to begin with.  I'm not going to super tighten it when setting up the replacement.  That way if a berdan gets mixed in the pin will just slide up out of the collet?  Of course that might screw up resizing argh. 

Got a bunch of .45 to do later, wish me luck

update:  .45 processed easily so far!

got the replacement LEE decap pins - .223 and universal.  decapped about 150 cases, tumbling again now.  had a whole bunch get stuck so it was a process to tap the pin out, visegrip and tap the case off, remount the pin etc.  Tried to develop more touch and if the shell didn't decap the first time just tossed it aside provided the primer didn't partially eject and stuck in the shellholder.  Noticed that some of the harder ones had primer sealant but will inspect all those duds closely in the day time.