Beginners universal decapping question

[skinsfan428]

Let me preface by saying I am very new to reloading (as my question will obviously show). I am using a universal decapper on my dirty 9mm brass before cleaning when I resize my brass is there any need to leave the decapping pin in my resizing die or can I pull it out and use it as a spare for the universal die. I know with rifle brass there is work being done by the expander ball on the neck of the case but I can't see where It would do anything on straight wall pistol. Thanks and I know this is a total newbie question so go gentle on me.

 

[dgod]

Yes, I have even used mine (Minus the Deprimer) to final size loaded ammo, primarily straight walled 45ACP pistol.

 

[cfullgraf]

If you leave the decapping pin in the resizing die, it will punch out any media from cleaning that you might have missed.

Next time you place an order from one of the gun emporiums, get some spare pins to have on hand. Until then, if you break the pin in your universal decapping die, no problems using the pin from your sizing die as long as they are interchangeable. Many of the different die manufacturers have different designs for their decapping pins from the other manufacturers.

 

[Mr. Farknocker]

I suggest leaving the decapping pin in the resizing die. Aside from having the benefit of clearing media stuck in the primer pocket as previously noted, the pin insures that the case mouth is properly sized and uniform. Case mouths will often deform as a result of striking the extraction port, hitting the ground, striking objects on the way down or from being stepped on. The degree of deformation can range from being blatantly obvious to subtle and undetectable.

 

[skinsfan428]

I suggest leaving the decapping pin in the resizing die. Aside from having the benefit of clearing media stuck in the primer pocket as previously noted, the pin insures that the case mouth is properly sized and uniform. Case mouths will often deform as a result of striking the extraction port, hitting the ground, striking objects on the way down or from being stepped on. The degree of deformation can range from being blatantly obvious to subtle and undetectable.

So even in straight wall pistol the pin sizes and uniforms the mouth of the case? Not questioning your answer as much as my understanding and knowledge.

 

[skinsfan428]

And thank you all for taking the time to answer I do appreciate it.

 

[earplug]

There is little need to deprime then tumble. Your making extra work.
The comment about finding media in your brass after tumbling is a great point.
Some brands of reloading dies can be fit with common finishing nails if your in a pinch.
Some brands of brass have off centered flash holes that will break pins, its worth while to keep spares on hand.

 

[cfullgraf]

So even in straight wall pistol the pin sizes and uniforms the mouth of the case? Not questioning your answer as much as my understanding and knowledge.

Just so all are on the same song sheet, there is a decapping pin which is usually a small diameter pin (about an inch long, .060" or so diameter) that inserts in a stem that mounts in the center of the die. This pin can be replaced if bent or damaged without replacing the entire stem. Some dies, I believe mostly from Lee, the pin and the stem are one piece. If the decapping pin bends or breaks, the entire stem has to be replaced.

In straight walled cases, the decapping pin may help keeping the case aligned with the die. Longer cases not so much as shorter cases as the case has entered the die before the decapping pin enters the flash hole. Other than that, the decapping pin does not work the case at all.

With rifle cases, you can remove the decapping pin leaving the mouth expander button and stem in place. The mouth expander button does the work on the case, the decapping pin only removes the primer. The advantage to this design is the decapping pin and/or expander button can be replaced. Sometimes a different size or carbide expander button is desirable.

Again, there are one piece units where the decapping pin and expander button are all part of the center stem. If some part of the stem gets damaged, the entire stem must be replaced.

 

[Demi-human]

The expander is a separate die for nine millimeter. You may remove the decapping pin if you wish.
Primers hold a few thousand pounds of pressure worth of explosive compound. While I don't think media in the flash hole would be a problem, it might be easier to prime cases without the need to clean media out of the pocket.
And, stick around it's great here!

 

[hdwhit]

skinsfan428 wrote:
I am using a universal decapper on my dirty 9mm brass before cleaning when I resize my brass is there any need to leave the decapping pin in my resizing die

Just out of curiosity, whose universal decapping die are you using?

Whose 9mm reloading dies are you using?

To answer your question, if you decap as a separate step, there is no need to leave the decapping pin your sizing die.

It could be argued that if you are reloading bottleneck cases (i.e. 223 Remington, 308 Winchester) that there is a benefit to having the decapping pin in place because it helps maintain the position of the expander plug as it is drawn up through the case neck, but in 9mm expanding the case mouth is done as a separate step so it doesn't apply here.

 

[goldpelican]

I removed my pin from my resizing die - I prime off-press using an RCBS APS hand priming tool. They genuinely rock. Obviously you don't want the depriming pin in place if you're sizing pre-primed brass!

If you're depriming off-press and priming on-press, leave it installed. I enjoy reloading (as opposed to it being a chore), I like shiny brass, so I don't mind the extra work to deprime by hand (using a Harvey), wash/polish and prime, before the case even sees the loading press.

 

[Milt1]

I use a Lee Universal decapping die which is one of the best investments that I've ever made in my reloading equipment. For my sizing dies I back the decapping pin back out of the way and everything works fine. I don't see any need to remove the decapping pin from my resizing dies but some reloaders might want to do that.

 

[Demi-human]

I take them out so I don't run the bottom of my wrist and arm over it. The exception is the hunting rifle. When I do a run of thirty aught six I place a empty case over the top. A tip I learned here. Some of those rods are sharp.

 

[skinsfan428]

Just out of curiosity, whose universal decapping die are you using?

Whose 9mm reloading dies are you using?

Both are Lee

 

[LeftyTSGC]

If you tumble or shine your 9mm brass before you load them to make them shiny, i would keep the de-capping pin on, as previously stated. This will get out any media that may have gotten stuck in you brass, ALSO, if you do large volume of 9mm you may have slipped a piece of brass that has not been deprimed into your loading and it will catch it at that time. Ask my how i know.

LeftyTSGC