Cartridge stuck in die

Neutron · Jul 4, 2019

I was reloading some 9mm rounds and one of them got stuck in the crimp die. It didn't pull out of the die on the down stroke. So now I've got a live round stuck and it won't budge. I unscrewed the adjustment knob so I can see the bullet and tried tapping on it but that made me a little nervous so it's still in there. Any ideas on how to get this out?

ToolAA · Jul 4, 2019

Does any bit of the rim protrude from the die? If so just cut off the back of the case with a hacksaw blade and dump the powder then push the round out.

You could soak the whole thing in wd40 some other penetrating liquid and try some light pressure to push it out from the top.

Neutron · Jul 5, 2019

Yes a little bit of the rim does stick out. I've tried grabbing it with vice grips but it won't budge. I sprayed some penetrating oil on top of the bullet last night so maybe that will help loosen it. Might try the hacksaw idea if I can't get it out next try. If I can cut it enough to dump the powder out, I'd feel better about pounding on the bullet.

buellsfurn · Jul 5, 2019

any luck ? this is one of my fears being new at reloading

rseymorejr · Jul 5, 2019

How did the case head get free of the shell holder?

jimbobborg · Jul 5, 2019

rseymorejr said:
How did the case head get free of the shell holder?

Maybe it's a 380. I've had some sneak into my pile o' brass and they kind of fit 9mm holders.

Neutron · Jul 5, 2019

Got it! I put the die back in the press and raised the ram and slipped the shell holder back on the rim from a different direction. The down stroke pulled it right out. It's a 9mm case Blazer Brass. The edges of the case rim were sheared off from the initial removal process. I still don't know why it stuck in the first place. I don't lube pistol brass but maybe I should start. Thanks for the suggestions.

GuitarmanNick · Jul 5, 2019

I never lube any straight cased pistol brass. I have had a few cases fit very loosely in shell holders, though. Those go to the scrap bin.

atblis · Jul 5, 2019

Is it a Lee FCD by chance? I've never stuck a case in a crimp die having loaded probably 50k+ of 9x19 of everyknown headstamp. If it's boxer primed and not cracked, it gets reloaded and shot. If a case didn't get resized, the bullet would simply fall into the case until it contact the powder charge. Even so, a regular crimp die shouldn't contact the case body, only the mouth.

There's definitely some variation in rims with 9x19 cases, with some brands notably causing problems with certain guns. However, a crimp dies shouldn't require much force at all to pull the round out after crimping.

Oversized bullet
Oddly bulged case
...???

I use carbide dies in an XL650 for 9x19. I used to not lube, but I now do. With lube, the resizing is much much smoother and requires less effort. Makes the whole thing run much better with less fatigue. A quick spritzing with One Shot is all it takes.

A minor note that many don't realize, 9x19 is not straight-walled, it has a taper to it.

GuitarmanNick · Jul 5, 2019

It is tapered, but the walls are straight. I only lube cases with a smaller neck size.

Neutron · Jul 5, 2019

atblis said:
Is it a Lee FCD by chance? I've never stuck a case in a crimp die having loaded probably 50k+ of 9x19 of everyknown headstamp. If it's boxer primed and not cracked, it gets reloaded and shot. If a case didn't get resized, the bullet would simply fall into the case until it contact the powder charge. Even so, a regular crimp die shouldn't contact the case body, only the mouth.

There's definitely some variation in rims with 9x19 cases, with some brands notably causing problems with certain guns. However, a crimp dies shouldn't require much force at all to pull the round out after crimping.

Oversized bullet
Oddly bulged case
...???

I use carbide dies in an XL650 for 9x19. I used to not lube, but I now do. With lube, the resizing is much much smoother and requires less effort. Makes the whole thing run much better with less fatigue. A quick spritzing with One Shot is all it takes.

A minor note that many don't realize, 9x19 is not straight-walled, it has a taper to it.

Not sure what an FCD is, but it's the last one used on a Lee Turret Press with a 4 die set.

SWO Daddy · Jul 5, 2019

NeutronBlu said:
Not sure what an FCD is, but it's the last one used on a Lee Turret Press with a 4 die set.

Lee Factory Crimp Die.

John from MD · Jul 5, 2019

NeutronBlu said:
Got it! I put the die back in the press and raised the ram and slipped the shell holder back on the rim from a different direction. The down stroke pulled it right out. It's a 9mm case Blazer Brass. The edges of the case rim were sheared off from the initial removal process. I still don't know why it stuck in the first place. I don't lube pistol brass but maybe I should start. Thanks for the suggestions.

I have never seen a pistol case stuck in a crimp die before. :shrug:

K-43 · Jul 5, 2019

John from MD said:
I have never seen a pistol case stuck in a crimp die before.

Me either.
30 Luger, 30/7.63 Mauser, 7.62 x 25 Tok, and their parent the 30/7.65×25mm Borchardt are bottle-necked cases like little baby rifle rounds. I did stick a Tok case in the sizing die once for lack of lube.
Straight pistol cases I wipe a little lube on the carbide ring before I start or if it feels like the cases are starting to drag a bit. However, I've never stuck one.

John from MD · Jul 5, 2019

Ahh, you reminded me of the good old days when we made 7.63 and 7.62 x 25 out of .223 cases. I was hoping to never remember those days. :lol:

Pinecone · Jul 5, 2019

John from MD said:
I have never seen a pistol case stuck in a crimp die before.

Me either.

Cases stuck in the sizing die is pretty common.

For that reason, I keep a stuck case remover set with my dies.

John from MD · Jul 5, 2019

I have three different types of stuck case removers. Funny, I never got stuck cases back in the day we were using rolling ink pads. Plenty of dented necks, but not too many stuck cases until the spray lubes came about.

Uncle Duke · Jul 5, 2019

John from MD said:
I have three different types of stuck case removers. Funny, I never got stuck cases back in the day we were using rolling ink pads. Plenty of dented necks, but not too many stuck cases until the spray lubes came about.

Ah yes! The good old days. No dies with carbide inserts, so you got to roll your pistol cartridges across the pad too. And if you were in a hurry, it helped if you had the hands of a gorilla for squeezing on that bottle to refill the pad too. Slow wasn't even in it.

Neutron · Jul 5, 2019

First time for me getting one stuck. The round looked normal once I got it out except for the clipped edges of the rim. Even those weren't that bad. I ran a few more rounds through today and no problems at all.

youngsait · Jul 5, 2019

I've been there. Put the whole die into freezer. Since the brass, lead, stainless steel all have different thermal expansion coefficients, they will start to separate by a little force. Repeat several times if necessary.

Cartridge stuck in die

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