Hand decapping/depriming

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murphys_law

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I have recently started to buy equipment to start reloading, and have come to the conclusion that I want to decap my brass before it is ultrasonic cleaned. I will probably be buying a progressive press and see no real way to do this with that set up, thus I have been looking for some sort of easy way to deprime my brass that I will be loading. I did find this: http://www.harveydeprimer.com, also I am not worried about "shiny brass" I just want good quality plinking ammo. However I figured I would get some input from guys who are doing this. So my questions basically are:

1. Do I really need to de-cap before ultrasonically cleaning my cases? My assumption was that this is the best option to enable me to get a clean primer pocket.

2. Does anyone else here use a progressive and ultrasonic?

Any other suggestions and advice anyone has would be helpful. BTW I will be reloading 9mm. Thanks.
 
If you are wet cleaning, then you will probably want to decap the case before cleaning. It will allow the primer pocket to dry better.

You could get a universal decapping die and set the press up with just that die and nothing else. The Hornady L-N-L progressive is easy to that on as you install each die individually. It could be done on a Dillon 550 or 650 but you would have to either buy a second tool head or screw the dies in and out.

The Dillon Square Deal B may not permit it, or depriming only is an real pain in the caboose.

Decapping with a universal decapping die would be duck soup on a single stage.

Lee may still make a hand depriming arrangement. It is a decapping pin and a base and you tap the primer out with a hammer.

Finally, you could get a dry tumbler for cleaning and not worry about decapping until you resize the case.
 
For "plinking ammo", I'd not worry about it one bit.. well except for the wet powder part.
I'd either dry tumble or not tumble myself.
 
murphys_law said:
I have recently started to buy equipment to start reloading, and have come to the conclusion that I want to decap my brass before it is ultrasonic cleaned. I will probably be buying a progressive press and see no real way to do this with that set up, thus I have been looking for some sort of easy way to deprime my brass that I will be loading. I did find this: http://www.harveydeprimer.com, also I am not worried about "shiny brass" I just want good quality plinking ammo. However I figured I would get some input from guys who are doing this. So my questions basically are:

1. Do I really need to de-cap before ultrasonically cleaning my cases? My assumption was that this is the best option to enable me to get a clean primer pocket.

2. Does anyone else here use a progressive and ultrasonic?

Any other suggestions and advice anyone has would be helpful. BTW I will be reloading 9mm. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I have a progressive press and ultrasonic cleaner. I don't deprime before cleaning. May not be the best option but works for me. You must take care the cases are dry before loading.
 
Well it looks like I will be getting a Harvey's decapper and I will just run my decapped brass through the progressive. Thanks for the input everyone.
 
murphys_law said:
1. Do I really need to de-cap before ultrasonically cleaning my cases? My assumption was that this is the best option to enable me to get a clean primer pocket.
Click to expand...

Yes, it is the best option to get a clean primer pocket, but why do you want a clean primer pocket in the first place? I don't bother with pistol rounds, and only do with rifle rounds because I'm a bit anal and the lower volume doesn't take much time.
 
murphys_law said:
Well it looks like I will be getting a Harvey's decapper and I will just run my decapped brass through the progressive. Thanks for the input everyone.
Click to expand...
In my opinion there is a better way to go instead of spending $50 on a decapper. Lee sells a very inexpensive Single Stage Press for only $27.49 and a Universal Decapping Die for only $9.89. That's a total of $37.38 so you save $12.62 and you have a press that can do more than decap. That's just my thoughts on the matter...
 
ArchAngelCD said:
In my opinion there is a better way to go instead of spending $50 on a decapper. Lee sells a very inexpensive Single Stage Press for only $27.49 and a Universal Decapping Die for only $9.89. That's a total of $37.38 so you save $12.62 and you have a press that can do more than decap. That's just my thoughts on the matter...
Click to expand...

That actually is a very good option, I had no idea that there was a single stage which is so inexpensive. Now you have me checking my options again.... might also help me if I want to do any rifle ammo etc in the future.
 
Are you talking about the hand press or the C press? I'm not sure the C press could do rifle sizing. The Chalanger is around $60.
 
This is what i use to decap. i also hand prime before putting them into my progressive.


In my opinion there is a better way to go instead of spending $50 on a decapper. Lee sells a very inexpensive*Single Stage Press *for only $27.49 and a*Universal Decapping Die *for only $9.89. That's a total of $37.38 so you save $12.62 and you have a press that can do more than decap. That's just my thoughts on the matter..
Click to expand...
 
I use a universal decapping die, a Lyman.
Usually went I get back in I'll deprime what I've just shot and toss the cases in their respective tubs till there's enough for a tumbler load.

I thought about getting one of those cheap cast aluminum Lee presses for such light duty jobs, but decided "why bother". Only takes a few seconds to screw that die into the press I use for everything else.
 
I shoot a lot of black powder and keep a Lee hand press with a Universal decapping with me when at the range. I decap and drop the brass into soap and water solution. When I get home I dry out the brass then tumble clean. Now I also use magtech brass shot gun shells and bought a couple extra pins for the Universal decapping die using them with a hammer to decap my shot shells. I use the hand press to put in new primers and a shot shell shell holder on top of the press. Works well really and if at home I use the Lee Reloader Press for this. I paid $28.98 for the Lee Hand Press and Lee Decapping Die (Universal) was $7.98 from FS Reloading.
 
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