Thread: Cases getting stuck!

Originally Posted by Brennos

Getting Frustrated now. Last time I loaded I got 2 stuck cases out of 100, this time the first two got stuck, and now the decapping pin is broke. What am I doing wrong?
the gear is:
Lee FL die
Hornady one shot lube
.223 rem once fired cases assorted brands
lee 100th anniversary press

I assume my lube is the problem, now I have broken the capping pin, and suspect I have done damage to the collet on the back of the die (through being a rough C*nt) Can I buy the de capping pin anywhere? Or would I need to get it in from the states? And what case lube should I use? Also, can I just use a crimp die rather than a fl die on a semi auto? or is it best to use FL every time.

I use the Forsters Bonanza Lube on an Ink Pad ..... never had a stuck case with this yet.

As for your broken pin, you may have a Berdan primed case/s mixed with your .223 brass ( unless the pin was broken in your attempt to remove the stuck case)..... Berdan Primed Brass = Number 1 cause of broken decapping pins..... Good news is the pins are cheap and any Gun Store should have some in stock.

Check all your brass if it's head stamped 5.56 and/or it has a heavy crimp around the primer chances are it's Berdan Primed Military Brass.
Get a good torch or bore light and have a look down the case mouth if it's berdan primed it will have two flash holes, discard these into your Brass scrap bin.

Cheers
Pete