Case preparation

[hlq]

Let's say you just got a bunch of brass from some place that you know nothing about. What steps <b>and in what order</b> do you take when preparing these cases in preparation for charging with powder? I've noticed some folks prep their cases in slightly different orders and some don't include all these steps. Put the numbers of your steps in the order that you do them.

Example, 1,2,6,7,8

rifle and or pistol

1. inspection
2. clean (water, soap, etc)
3. tumble
4. gauge case
5. trim case
6. deprime
7. resize
8. prime
9. other - (explanation please)

thanks
hlq

 

[The Bushmaster]

hlg...Wrong order on a couple of those on your list.

1. Sort and inspect.
2. Tumble (if you have a tumbler) for 15 to 20minutes.
3. Resize/decap
4. Now you measure and trim (if needed)...
5. Debur and chamfer case mouth.
6. Tumble for about an hour.
7. Prime and reload case.
8. Go to range and shoot.
9. Start over from one.

 

[Dean Williams]

Your ordering of steps is kind of off, for me.

Check inside cases for debris, and tumble.

Inspect cases.

Lube, size, and de-prime.

Tumble again if you want the lube off, or just wipe them down.

Then case gauge and trim. Always trim after resizing, if trimming is needed.

Normal loading procedures follow. Priming, charging, etc.

 

[hlq]

Sorry I wasn't clear, they weren't meant to be in exact order as I listed them.

 

[Walkalong]

Ditto the Bushmaster, although I usually skip the second tumble with pistol brass unless I trim etc.

 

[lgbloader]

Ditto the Bushmaster as well as Walkalong. I usually skip the second tumble with pistol brass unless I trim etc, as well.

LGB

 

[Snowboy]

1-fast inspection (big wear & no presence of live primer)
2-tumble 1-1½ hour
3-normal inspection after cleaned
3-reload as usual

Snowboy

 

[nksmfamjp]

Pistol:
1) Inspect
2) Tumble
3) Inspect and sort by length.
4) Reload

Rifle(semi)
1) Inspect
2) Tumble
3) Decap
4) De crimp primer pocket(ream)
5) Trim to min length
6) Chamfer/Deburr

Rifle(accuracy)
1) Inspect
2) Tumble
3) Decap
4) Uniform Primer pockets
5) Uniform Flash Holes
6) Trim to min length
7) Chamfer/Deburr
8) Neck turn, maybe(FL size, expand, turn)
9) Reload

Inspection:
Visual for buldges, excessive damage, corrosion, crease lines
Excessive pressure signs
*OAL, neck dia, case head dia, shoulder dia and headspace lengths(documented)
*Runout

* rifle only

 

[rcmodel]

I would always check each rifle case with a L-bent paper-clip for a stretch ring inside before I did much else of anything with them.

rc

 

[33rowdy]

The mistake of trimming and measuring before you resize is starting to be quite common in here. But here is my way;

1-Right from the gun it goes in the tumbler (sometimes a quick glance for case inspection). I like clean brass before it sees any of my tooling.

2-lube brass

3-resize/deprime

4-inspect the case after the resize die. (mostly making sure my die is still adjusted good)

5-Measure length of case.

6-Trim cases to length if needed.

7-clean primer pocket

8-clean the inside with a brush

9-Put brass back into the tumbler. This step cleans up more from case prep. Mostly brass shavings from the trimmer and primer pocket unifier.

10-charge brass.

11-seat bullet.

12-pack and label package.

 

[Walkalong]

I would always check each rifle case with a L-bent paper-clip for a stretch ring inside before I did much else of anything with them.

Huge DITTO!

 

[nksmfamjp]

The mistake of trimming and measuring before you resize is starting to be quite common in here.

Why is this a mistake? I do realize the case grows, but it is minimal. In addition, that works best loading progressive or semi-progressive.

YMMV

 

[Dean Williams]

Why is this a mistake? I do realize the case grows, but it is minimal. In addition, that works best loading progressive or semi-progressive.

If you want all your cases to be the same length, you need to trim after sizing. If you trim first, then re-size, you may be within safe limits for case length, yes, but they won't all come out of the sizer the same length.

 

[Antihero47]

Plinking Rifle Ammo.. If I didn't know where any of it came from.


1. Tumble for 45 min.
2. Check for cracks or split case mouths while sorting by head stamps, separate military vs commercial.
3. Resize and Decap.
4. Trim to length.
5. Chamfer and Deburr.
6. Clean primer Pockets.
7. Prime.
8. Charge Commercial then Military.
9. Seat Bullet.
10. Tumble for 2 hours.


Ready to go.

 

[rcmodel]

Why is this a mistake?

One big reason is the case trimmer pilot is made to perfectly fit a sized case neck.

They are loose in a fired case and can allow the cutter to chatter, making an uneven cut.

Another big reason is one of the objects of trimming is to make all the cases exactly the same length.
If you trim before sizing, they won't be after sizing.

rc

 

[Birdhunter1]

First thing I would do is sort it if it's not all the same caliber, while doing this I would toss any that are obviously not worth reusing. Then I would run them all through my decapping die and in one of these steps I would have noticed if any were crimped rimers that needed another step.
Then I'd throw them in a tumbler for a while and go eat dinner, lunch, mow the yard etc. Then I'll full length size them in which I will also be looking for split necks, other cracks etc.

Then I'll either trim them or throw them back in the tumbler to remove the sizing lube, when I pull them out I'll poke the media out of the flash hole and chamfer/debur (if already trimmed) then either start loading or throw them in a box as "ready to load." Either way I have looked them over about 4 times and tossed the junkers. I have noticed that if I trim first then toss them in the tumbler it seems to kind of smooth off the case mouth, but I still chamfer and debur it anyway.

Now what not to do, if you have them in your junk pile don't ever look at one and try and figure out why you put it there, you had a reason and you should just stick with it and not 2nd guess yourself.

 

[33rowdy]

Their was a guy that came in here not too long ago with pictures of his broken gun, wondering what went wrong. He measured them right from the gun and thought they were good for another relod. Never looked back after the resized case.

 

[nksmfamjp]

If you want all your cases to be the same length, you need to trim after sizing. If you trim first, then re-size, you may be within safe limits for case length, yes, but they won't all come out of the sizer the same length.
__________________
Dean W
-------------------

Good point. I guess I never considered this imortant enough. Also, with my WSM, all the cases are fired from the same chamber for the life of the brass, so that makes it more consistent. For my AR, if they are safe, that is all the length control I need. Thanks for the details.

One big reason is the case trimmer pilot is made to perfectly fit a sized case neck.

I have had some issue with a similar thing. When deburring and chamfering the ones which hit the gun being ejected. I may try sizing first next time I do this in the AR as I tossed about 10 in 600 because I didn't like the deburr and chamfer operation results. When trimming it doesn't really matter as I use a Wilson Case Trimmer. The Wilson never chatters.