About 25 years ago I failed to lube a case and you can guess the results - much heartache and a hopelessly stuck rifle case. I haven't recalled it in years. It's unfortunate because I did it again last night. Needless to say that today I sent off for an RCBS stuck case remover. Now if I only get a case stuck every 25 years I can imagine I'll have lost the stuck case remover by then, but I can hope anyway. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Well Cal, you're not alone. I did the same a few years back. Pulled the rim off the case. Got the stuck case remover and was back in business. Now, just don't put the stuck case remover where you can't remember, when you need it again 25 years from now. :D

well if you are like me, you'll never need the tool again :D

Been down that road.... don't want to go again!

A gunsmith friend of mine once gave me a "stuck case remover kit". Fortunately, I never had to use it. It's in a box at home where I keep my spare dies. I'm out of town, so I have to remember what's there. It has:
A 1/2 inch pipe nipple about 1-1/2" long. (Nipple's ID is > the case head diameter.)
A tap drill.
A tap - not sure, 1/4" I think.
An allen screw about 2" long, again, 1/4" I think.
A large washer for the screw, at least the OD of the pipe nipple. May need 2, a 1/4" and a 3/8".
An allen wrench.

He said:
"Drill the primer pocket through, and tap it. Put the screw thru the washer(s) and then thru the nipple. Rest the other end of the nipple against the bottom of the die. Thread thescrew into the tapped primer pocket, and tighten. It'll pull the case right out.

"Since it's all made of common shop materials, it's practically free, and faster than waiting for a stuck case remover kit."

Good luck!

I forgot to lube a case I was forming from 30-06 to 338-06 and stuck it but good, and pulled the rim off trying to remove it.

Feeling quite stupid, I ordered another FL die, figuring I would just write it off.

A couple of days later I had a thought that I would try to engineer a way to remove it... I'm an engineer, so that what I do...

I removed the decapping pin, unscrewing it from the expander ball (with a bit of difficulty), leaving it inside the case. I found a long deck screw just small enough to fit through the decapping pin hole and long enough to protude a bit from the top of the die. I used a socket (I think it was a 5/8" bolt head) under the bottom of the die with the case inside, stuck the deck screw into the top of the die and into the expander ball, and set it into my bench vise. I tightened the vice to compress the rig and the case squeezed right out.

To my amazement, there was no vizible scratching or other dammage to the die or expander ball, although the deck screw bent a bit.

I now have an extra FL die with a tapered expander ball. I figure that I probably did some small damage to the first one so I use it for case forming only and will use the new one for shoulder "bumping".

If I stick another case, after beating myself thoroughly with a heavy object, I will try this process again.

I stuck a 270 case one time, so I drilled and tappped the case head, left the die threaded into the press, threaded the bolt and some fender washers into the case and backed the die out with a pair of channel locks

Needless to say that today I sent off for an RCBS stuck case remover. Cal - MontrealBeen there, done that. At the first sign a case resists entering a sizer die pull the case and add a little more lube where the case is sticking. Usually the case has gone "dry" at that spot. Trying to force the case further is what sticks it. The RCBS stuck case remover works real well. Chances are good that you will never have to use it again but keep it in a safe place just in case. No pun intended. ;)

Cal: when I first reloaded, I went the other way. I had read and heard so many horror stories of just what you describe, I lubbed up those first 30-30 cases so the lube practically hung from the case. Took me a while to figure out what was causing those massive demples on the shoulders, over and over. To this day, I still have a tendancy to overlube. It's something I have to watch myself on. --Mykal

For the last 30 or so years I have used STP oil treatment for case lube--Never had one stick. Problem is you got to get that nasty stuff off before proceeding. I need to join the modern world.

Goatwhiskers,

I recently discovered STP, too. Best case lube I've used. Actually, RCBS used to have an oily lube like it years ago, but I don't think they offer it any more. Probably the same stuff, in a smaller bottle with a different label & higher price.

As I size, I drop the cases into my vibratory tumbler full of corn cob. It absorbs off the STP as it polishes very nicely.

I tried Midway minute lube, but I'm not impressed. Goes on really easily, but doesn't lube as well as STP.

Tried a couple water soluble lubes, but find the washing more of a nuisance than tumbling. Also seems like cases take quite a long time to dry inside.

I also found STP to be good for reforming 30-06 to 8MM Mauser. It's heavy duty enuf to move that shoulder back that 1/4".

Imperial Die Wax - greatest stuff in the world for case lubing.

For the last 30 or so years I have used STP oil treatment for case lube--Never had one stick. Problem is you got to get that nasty stuff off before proceeding. I need to join the modern world.

I loved that stuff as an assembly lube Goatwhiskers. I can't even find it anymore. It really did "hang on" to metal. Remember the screwdriver test? The best I can find is bar oil for a chain saw. Lots of pariffin I think?
Cheezywan

You guys are good, seems I stick one out of every 100... Been using Hornady one shot.. gonna shot twice form now on.. If that doesn't get it done, I'm gonna try the Imperial

I've been using One Shot for years. Have yet to get a case stuck. You have to be sure to spray all sides, and get some in the neck also.

I just use the RCBS lube pad and lube and toss them in the tumbler when I am done

I just use the RCBS lube pad and lube and toss them in the tumbler when I am done

Me too jb12string. Case lube-2 in my current inventory. I use it in Redding Profile Crimp dies also. It works as long as I make sure to get the right amount in the right places.
Cheezywan

I don't know about you guys, but I usually only bring out whatever I'm going to use for the caliber I'm loading for. Two or three cans of powder, or boxes of bullets can lead to heartache. I think the problem with my stuck case is that normally I only neck size my cases and use a Forster item that holds graphite and has three brushes in a vertical position. I run the case over the brush and dip the neck in the graphite. Of course that won't do me any good when full length sizing, and I didn't allow for this. By golly, next time the case lube pad will be right in front of me where I can't avoid seeing it. Best wishes to all.

Cal - Montreal

Wow, I sent the body die (cartridge still in it) and shell holder I damaged that was the reason for my starting this topic off to Redding just a few days ago. This morning I opened the front door and voila a package from Redding containing a new .25-06 body die and shell holder, and it was free. I knew RCBS was customer oriented and apparently Redding is also. I'm impressed (and happy as ****). Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Wow, those Redding people are fast. I opened the door this
morning to retrieve my newspaper and a package was on my doorstep from Redding. It contained a new .25-06 body die and a new shellholder. The nicest part was "no charge." There was an unwritten message though, a little can of Imperial Sizing Due Wax. Do you suppose they were telling me something? Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal :)

I use the RCBS pad and lube on rifle cartridges and I use the Lee water base on a cue tip for the inside the neck lube. It is called Lee resizing lubricant. I wipe the case outside with a paper towel and inside with a clean cue tip.

I am wierd I guess. Just what works and it is how I started. I don't load enough rifle stuff to improve on this. If I did load a lot of rifle I know I would look for every time saver. Especially in case prep. I hate case prep.

I was recently full sizing a bunch of once fired PS 78 30-06 brass along with some LC 68 30-06 brass with a Lee die. I usually roll a very light coating of Lee's Resizing lube, and it works great with LC 68, I noticed the PS 78 needed a little more pressure to form but seemed to be working OK - Until I got one stuck. The head didn't pull off but the brass at the bottom sheared in U shape around the rim. Fortunately all I had to do was loosen the nut that holds the decapper and give the decapper a few raps with a small hammer and the case fell out. I cleaned out the die real good and set it back up, this time making sure to apply a little heavier coating of lube to the PS cases.

I use the RCBS case lube 2, but not the pad anymore... it got too messy, I just toss all my brass in a Ziploc bag and spray a bit then shake a bit... After sizing them they go right into my tumbler to clean and polish... works pretty good for me...