Separated Case Removal
Posted: 19 Feb 2018 07:02
Yesterday, I had a case separation with my SMLE Scout, a 303 British cartridge. I've had a couple of these, and I thought I would show you how I do it.
First thing I consider is to keep the carbon ring that will form wet or at least damp if you can, it sure will make the ring removal easier.
Straight wall cartridges can usually be removed with a pin gauge, the greatest size that will drop free from the muzzle. This won't work with bottlenecked cartridges; I used a spiral fluted screw remover. What is weird is that I bought two new sets last year, both fluted and square, just for my reloading room. The sets in my toolbox are kind of crappy from 40 years of use.
As checked at the muzzle, the #4 was a good deep fit so with the bolt removed, I placed it inside the separated case and lightly tapped it into place with a wood dowel and small mallet. As soon as my fingers started the twist, the case came free. The remover did not make bore contact because of its taper.
There was a good ring of carbon at the location of the case's web. The great part of it was washed away with water on a Q-Tip until I got down to a hardened ring. You could see how that will deliver an etched chamber in short order. I used a 45 caliber brush wrapped with a patch, coated in JB Bore Paste. The brush was on a length of old military style cleaning rod and chucked in a drill. In seconds there was no trace of the ring.
First thing I consider is to keep the carbon ring that will form wet or at least damp if you can, it sure will make the ring removal easier.
Straight wall cartridges can usually be removed with a pin gauge, the greatest size that will drop free from the muzzle. This won't work with bottlenecked cartridges; I used a spiral fluted screw remover. What is weird is that I bought two new sets last year, both fluted and square, just for my reloading room. The sets in my toolbox are kind of crappy from 40 years of use.
As checked at the muzzle, the #4 was a good deep fit so with the bolt removed, I placed it inside the separated case and lightly tapped it into place with a wood dowel and small mallet. As soon as my fingers started the twist, the case came free. The remover did not make bore contact because of its taper.
There was a good ring of carbon at the location of the case's web. The great part of it was washed away with water on a Q-Tip until I got down to a hardened ring. You could see how that will deliver an etched chamber in short order. I used a 45 caliber brush wrapped with a patch, coated in JB Bore Paste. The brush was on a length of old military style cleaning rod and chucked in a drill. In seconds there was no trace of the ring.