Reloading question
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Reloading question
I have gotten a brass tumbler. Do you size and de-prime before or after tumbling brass?
- J Miller
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Re: Reloading question
Sometimes I size and decap before I tumble.93marshooter wrote:I have gotten a brass tumbler. Do you size and de-prime before or after tumbling brass?
And sometimes I just toss the fired cases in the tumbler.
Then size and decap later.
Then again sometimes I tumble them first, size and decap them, then tumble them again to remove all traces of case lube.
Just all depends.
Joe
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Re: Reloading question
Like Joe said, It depends. Time is another thing, If I don`t have a lot of time and want to get the process started I sometimes will tumble first but usually I size and clean primer pockets first.
Hornady makes a very good simple primer pocket cleaning tool.
I prefer it to all the other brands I have tried.
Also, I expand/flair the mouth after I tumble the brass. I think it comes out better. Just me I guess??
Hornady makes a very good simple primer pocket cleaning tool.
I prefer it to all the other brands I have tried.
Also, I expand/flair the mouth after I tumble the brass. I think it comes out better. Just me I guess??
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Re: Reloading question
Tumbling media winds up in the stuck in the flash hole often enough that I have to check every case anyway even if they're not deprimed...It's easier to remove media if they're deprimed before tumbling. Also during the inspection you can look for foreign objects (gravel, 22 cases etc.) or clumped media.
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Re: Reloading question
I run my brass through a Sinclair de-priming die. Then I tumble the brass. Then I size the brass and then tumble again. Tom.
Re: Reloading question
same here, universal deprime no size before tumbling.Ben_Rumson wrote:Tumbling media winds up in the stuck in the flash hole often enough that I have to check every case anyway even if they're not deprimed...It's easier to remove media if they're deprimed before tumbling. Also during the inspection you can look for foreign objects (gravel, 22 cases etc.) or clumped media.
grit and grime are hard on dies.
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- Old Time Hunter
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Re: Reloading question
Deprime first, then soak in a vinegar/soap and salt brine twenty minutes, dry 'em overnight...then tumble them.
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Re: Reloading question
What Old Time Hunter said. But then I use mostly ffg. Suspect he does too.
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Re: Reloading question
pokey wrote:same here, universal deprime no size before tumbling.Ben_Rumson wrote:Tumbling media winds up in the stuck in the flash hole often enough that I have to check every case anyway even if they're not deprimed...It's easier to remove media if they're deprimed before tumbling. Also during the inspection you can look for foreign objects (gravel, 22 cases etc.) or clumped media.
grit and grime are hard on dies.
Here too, Lee universal deprime then tumble. I don't tumble a second time after sizing.
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Re: Reloading question
Wouldn't de-priming them pretty much clear any media from the flash hole...?Ben_Rumson wrote:Tumbling media winds up in the stuck in the flash hole often enough that I have to check every case anyway even if they're not deprimed.
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Re: Reloading question
I do like Joe does. All depends on how crummy the fired cases look before I start. I always use a primer pocket cleaning tool before putting in new primers, too.J Miller wrote:Sometimes I size and decap before I tumble.93marshooter wrote:I have gotten a brass tumbler. Do you size and de-prime before or after tumbling brass?
And sometimes I just toss the fired cases in the tumbler.
Then size and decap later.
Then again sometimes I tumble them first, size and decap them, then tumble them again to remove all traces of case lube.
Just all depends.
Joe
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Re: Reloading question
I tumble first to avoid any possibility of a piece of media in the flash hole.
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Re: Reloading question
I do not like getting small pieces of tumbling media out of flash holes so I tumble before I do anything else.
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Re: Reloading question
Smokeless rounds get tumbled, then deprimed & sized.
Black powder rounds get deprimed w/universal decapper, rinsed, dried, then tumbled and sized.
NOTHING but clean brass goes thru my sizing dies!
Black powder rounds get deprimed w/universal decapper, rinsed, dried, then tumbled and sized.
NOTHING but clean brass goes thru my sizing dies!
Griff,
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Re: Reloading question
Deprime, tumble, size, load.
OR
Tumble, size, load.
Like Griff, I only let CLEAN brass go through the
dies.
-Stretch
OR
Tumble, size, load.
Like Griff, I only let CLEAN brass go through the
dies.
-Stretch
- fordwannabe
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Re: Reloading question
As usual I agree with Griff always tumble first cause I only want clean cases in my dies. I have had to replace sizing dies that were scratching the cases BADLY, before I took to this policy.
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Re: Reloading question
I tumble first, then deprime and resize, then tumble again to remove the case lube. The media won't hurt the depriming pin when you're knocking out the primer so that's not an issue, however, tumbling off the case lube after resizing tends to leave a piece of media stuck in the flash hole. The simple way to deal with it on a progressive press is to add a universal depriming die in station 1 of your toolhead so the flash hole is cleared immediately before you prime, add powder, bullet and seat. Your depriming/resizing die from your set is on your case prep toolhead so you have an empty station 1 anyway so it's a cheap $10 insurance step.Ben_Rumson wrote:Tumbling media winds up in the stuck in the flash hole often enough that I have to check every case anyway even if they're not deprimed...It's easier to remove media if they're deprimed before tumbling. Also during the inspection you can look for foreign objects (gravel, 22 cases etc.) or clumped media.
Steve
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Re: Reloading question
AJMD429 said:
I’m not a high volume loader..... Like others I deprime and reprime outside of the press... Nothing but clean primed brass goes into the press... It really cuts down on the abrasive grime ..(I can’t stand seeing the lube on the press ram carrying all that abrasive grime up and down)
With deprimed & tumbled brass instead of poking a deprime rod into the flash channel I hit the pockets with the RCBS primer pocket brush to start with... I pick up a case, spin the brush in the pocket and more often than not any media that may be stuck in the flash hole gets pushed in and fall out of the case mouth... Boom, clean pocket and flash channel...You still need a paper clip handy though for the ones that aint with the program... I know primer pocket cleaning isn’t supposed to be necessary but for me the few extra seconds involved allows a thorough overall inspection of my brass after its been tumbled and any problems arising with priming isn't from dirty pockets....As I said, I’m not a fast high volume handloader.. I batch load...As for removing case lube... I mostly neck size.. I’ve found that by the time I’ve loaded/ handled the rounds in the process there’s not much lube left on them, but will spin the odd one that does have too much left between my fingers in a paper towel...
Yes, for sure. Every once in a while you might run across a case with media clumped in the bottom though... no big deal... might throw a little hitch in the job...Wouldn't de-priming them pretty much clear any media from the flash hole...?
I’m not a high volume loader..... Like others I deprime and reprime outside of the press... Nothing but clean primed brass goes into the press... It really cuts down on the abrasive grime ..(I can’t stand seeing the lube on the press ram carrying all that abrasive grime up and down)
With deprimed & tumbled brass instead of poking a deprime rod into the flash channel I hit the pockets with the RCBS primer pocket brush to start with... I pick up a case, spin the brush in the pocket and more often than not any media that may be stuck in the flash hole gets pushed in and fall out of the case mouth... Boom, clean pocket and flash channel...You still need a paper clip handy though for the ones that aint with the program... I know primer pocket cleaning isn’t supposed to be necessary but for me the few extra seconds involved allows a thorough overall inspection of my brass after its been tumbled and any problems arising with priming isn't from dirty pockets....As I said, I’m not a fast high volume handloader.. I batch load...As for removing case lube... I mostly neck size.. I’ve found that by the time I’ve loaded/ handled the rounds in the process there’s not much lube left on them, but will spin the odd one that does have too much left between my fingers in a paper towel...
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Re: Reloading question
Yep!M. M. Wright wrote:What Old Time Hunter said. But then I use mostly ffg. Suspect he does too.
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Re: Reloading question
As others have implied, using a 'generic' all-caliber depriming die helps be sure your cases don't get scratched more, or worse yet, that your dies don't get scratched, regardless of what step you do your depriming.
I tend to de-prime and inspect brass with a Lee 'Hand' press, when watching television (preferably a western ); it's about the only reloading activity you can do when 'relaxed', and since it is one of the slower steps, the 'movie' makes it bearable and less boring.
I tend to de-prime and inspect brass with a Lee 'Hand' press, when watching television (preferably a western ); it's about the only reloading activity you can do when 'relaxed', and since it is one of the slower steps, the 'movie' makes it bearable and less boring.
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- kimwcook
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Re: Reloading question
What the man said.Griff wrote:Smokeless rounds get tumbled, then deprimed & sized.
Black powder rounds get deprimed w/universal decapper, rinsed, dried, then tumbled and sized.
NOTHING but clean brass goes thru my sizing dies!
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Re: Reloading question
Like others, I prefer to clean my cases before doing any of the reloading operations. I don't really care if the primer pocket is dirty. I suppose it may eventually get dirty enough to prevent proper primer seating, but I don't think it is likely. I have had to inspect every primer pocket when I tumbled them after depriming to knock out tumbling media that gets caught there. This can be a PITA. Clean cases are easier on reloading dies.
What ratio do you use OTH?Old Time Hunter wrote:Deprime first, then soak in a vinegar/soap and salt brine twenty minutes, dry 'em overnight...then tumble them.
- El Chivo
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Re: Reloading question
I thought the whole reason for tumbling in the first place was to remove grit that might scratch your dies. So I do it first.
I leave the primers in there for tumbling; at first I didn't and had media stuck in the hole about 10% of the time. So after tumbling I deprime and clean the primer pocket with a quick turn of the Lee tool. You'd be surprised how much ash you can get out of 50 primer pockets.
The bit about tumbling again to remove lube is a new one for me; very conscientious. I'm not going to go that far, although I have taken to wiping off the finished round with a napkin to remove nearly all the lube. I take it easy on lube anyway.
I leave the primers in there for tumbling; at first I didn't and had media stuck in the hole about 10% of the time. So after tumbling I deprime and clean the primer pocket with a quick turn of the Lee tool. You'd be surprised how much ash you can get out of 50 primer pockets.
The bit about tumbling again to remove lube is a new one for me; very conscientious. I'm not going to go that far, although I have taken to wiping off the finished round with a napkin to remove nearly all the lube. I take it easy on lube anyway.
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Re: Reloading question
+1 and tumble again to remove case lube.Griff wrote:
NOTHING but clean brass goes thru my sizing dies!
Pete
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Re: Reloading question
I do that as well, Doc.AJMD429 wrote:I tend to de-prime and inspect brass with a Lee 'Hand' press, when watching television (preferably a western ); it's about the only reloading activity you can do when 'relaxed', and since it is one of the slower steps, the 'movie' makes it bearable and less boring.
I always clean my brass before depriming. And then, depending upon mood and brass condition, either run them through the tumbler again for a couple of hours or use a hand pocket primer cleaning tool. So far, I've only loaded for .45-70 in rifle that needed lube, and for those I just wiped off what little was left after handling during the reload process. For those that run the cases back through the tumbler, do you find the lube mucks up the media?
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Re: Reloading question
Thanks, I think I will wash the brass first with vinegar dishwashing detergent bath dry then tumble. A foot wash basin and a cat litter scoop and a rinse basin.