Best Universal Decapping Die

Lee at the moment.

I did break one of my lees by putting the decap on a non decap station while processing cases. DOH! That little hole in the floor plate on the decap station is important!

I had no idea decappers got this fancy, need some reloading gear so I’m splurging on a fancy decap die thanks to some of you.

Sorry I just cannot wrap my head around the LEE BRAND. Something in the back of my mind tells me that inexpensive is just cheap. I do not want controversy on this, it is just my opinion.

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I feel sorry for those who form opinions without evidence. Regarding decappers, I don't know how well many of these work compared to Lee. I can only state that the only decapping pins I ever broke on a Lee were when I forgot to check a 7.62X39 and a 5.56 for a Berdan-primed case before I decapped. I do know that I'd be impressed if any decapper of any manufacturer could survive a Berdan case.

Walkalong said:

Lee dies work, if they didn't, they wouldn't sell them by the truckload.

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Yep - I bought a Lee decapper a few years ago with 2 extra pins. I still have the 2 extra pins and have decapped lots of various cartridges.

I like the Mighty Armory colors - I suspect it will work as good as the Lee, Need vs want.....want for me.

isaidit is a pin to punch out a primer. Not a high precision, tight tolerance tool.

Ease of changinging the pin is important to me
Availability of pins is important to me

A $10 die or a $50 die, they do exactly the same thing, exactly the same way. I use them $10 die and have not had a problem.

I have broken 2 pins on RCBS dies, both from military crimps.

My tool box contains 8 RCBS replacement pins. It also, contains an unopened pack of
Lee pins.

Lee here.. cheap, easy to get and works.

Had my Lee decapping die since 1993/4. Never a problem. Still using it.

My only caveat is that the smooth polished surfaces on the die are susceptible to rust, but a thin film of wax or resizing lubricant will keep it from developing.

Had my Lee decapping die since 1993/4. Never a problem. Still using it.

My only caveat is that the smooth polished surfaces on the die are susceptible to rust, but a thin film of wax or resizing lubricant will keep it from developing.

You bet it was a mistake on my part, thanks for letting me know that. Wasn't very expensive though so I am still set!!

gifbohane said:

It has been a while ago but I had trouble setting them up so they would not enter the loose chamber sideways and bend/break the pin.

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A quick thought about your previous issues: Is your press mounted plumb? Maybe set a level on it front to back and left to right to make sure. Early on in my reloading endeavors (the first time I ever used my press, actually) I bent the pin on my Lee universal decapper by sending a .223 case into the die all caddywompus. My press was securely mounted to a sturdy bench that was not level front-back and the whole case neck tried to enter between the pin and one side of the die, Oops. It was a cheap lesson and I now have spare pins but have never had to replace that first replacement.

Skgreen said:

Something about the anvils of certain SPP's cause them to hang up/stick to the decapping pin. The pin pushes the primer out, primer sticks to pin and then it gets pulled back in to the primer pocket just enough to stick.

Aggravating for such a simple tool.

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Not the anvils.....small flashhole on 9mm brass. Usually GECO headstamp or....what is the other brand that has the small flashholes........

dcloco said:

Not the anvils.....small flashhole on 9mm brass. Usually GECO headstamp or....what is the other brand that has the small flashholes........

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The other brand might be Igman, headstamp IK 20on some .223 cases I have. So far, bent/broke 2 RCBS decapping pins. Haven’t tried my Lee on them yet. Now waiting for my Squirrel Daddy heat treated pins to give them a go with the Lee Universal decapping die.

Started out with a Lyman and had a couple of broken pins that were more my fault than the hardware.
I eventually switched over to a Mighty Armory, and I’ve not regretted the switch. I saved the Lyman for a backup and remote location use.

2ndtimer said:

The other brand might be Igman, headstamp IK 20on some .223 cases I have. So far, bent/broke 2 RCBS decapping pins. Haven’t tried my Lee on them yet. Now waiting for my Squirrel Daddy heat treated pins to give them a go with the Lee Universal decapping die.

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Got my Squirrel Daddy heat treated decapping pins, installed one in my Lee Decapping Die, and successfully removed the primers on the Igman lK 20 .223 brass. Not sure it was worth the effort (and expense), but sometimes it becomes the principle!

Walkalong said:

Mighty Armory de-capper, and it's the bomb. But hey, all they have to do is knock out primers.

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Figured I'd give one a go based upon your recommendation.......Just received it.......Funny how something so simple and mundane can work so well.....!!
Thanks for the heads up......................

I have/used an old Texan 30-06 die and it is large enough to decap everything for which I loaded, as long as I used the correct shell holder.

Any mil brass I've come upon, I'd use the Lee deprime tool. Not the one you install on a press, the one that uses a plastic hammer/mallet. I broke a pin once, around 1986, trying to do a Berdan primed case. Called Lee and they sent me a new one, just on my call, even though it was my fault.

I'm old, retired now, and would have no pressure to hurry the case prep.

Skgreen said:

NSomething about the anvils of certain SPP's cause them to hang up/stick to the decapping pin.

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Break the edge of the pin; stone the sharp edge to a more rounded edge then it will not swage itself into the primer anvil.

Mark_Mark said:

Lee is $12! buy 3 and call it a lifetime

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I have two: one for the APP and one for the hand press. I keep the pin collets loose enough to push up before breaking. I also keep a brass mallet handy to tap the pins down when they pop up. I think of it like a primer cop: if the pin pushes up, check the brass and make sure it’s NOT something I don’t want - like Berdan or crimped milspec stuff. The crimped get tossed in a can and decapped on the hand press with a different pin setup - threaded with a lock nut instead of a collet. On the hand press I can go nice and slow and make sure everything’s lined up instead of breaking things. In 40 years of reloading I have yet to break a decapping pin punching primers.

gifbohane said:

Do you guys have a preferred die to decap 9mm and 223/556? Tried a buddy's Hornady and another's RCBS and I did not like them. I also must say it was me and not the dies.

I want to deprime them before sizing on a single stage. Price is no object. Method is not important to me.

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Might Armory or FW Arms. I prefer the Mighty Armory dies, they are pretty tough, and they are long enough to do 9mm up to 338 LM. Buy one, buy a pack of replacement pins.....and be good for the rest of your life. I've decapped probably 100K mil rounds with one without a single broken pin...but I'm pretty sure that's only because I bought the replacements and have them on hand. They also have a spring loaded version now as well that I haven't yet tried. The FW Arms is kind of the go to for automated presses, the spring loaded decapper is as close to 100% as you're ever going to get with regards to clean decapping, they'll almost never suck a primer back in.

GeoDudeFlorida said:

I have two: one for the APP and one for the hand press. I keep the pin collets loose enough to push up before breaking. I also keep a brass mallet handy to tap the pins down when they pop up. I think of it like a primer cop: if the pin pushes up, check the brass and make sure it’s NOT something I don’t want - like Berdan or crimped milspec stuff. The crimped get tossed in a can and decapped on the hand press with a different pin setup - threaded with a lock nut instead of a collet. On the hand press I can go nice and slow and make sure everything’s lined up instead of breaking things. In 40 years of reloading I have yet to break a decapping pin punching primers.

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want to see something pretty that will need some decapping soon!!!!????

Nobody like unfired Colt 1964 SAA bling, go it for a STEAL

Hornady or Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Hand Deprimer. Started with a Lee...nothing but trouble. Required massive torque to prevent the stem pushing out, and that finally distorted the aluminum sleeve so that the decapping pin looked like this / . No more decapping with that baby. I picked up a Hornady Universal Decapping Die....and nothing phases that baby.

The Frankford Arsenal hand depriming gun is perfect for marathon sessions with bulk brass. Did thousands of 40 S&W, 380 Auto, and 9mm sitting in from of the tv...just have to keep that primer cup secure or you plan 357 cap pickup in the living room. Then you have to hear..."I found another one of your primers today!"...for a few months.

The OP asked for the best.

Redding Reloading Universal Decapping Die Kit.