Decapping pin in cartridge

[MattB000]

I used a universal decapper on some .38 spl brass, tumbled them, and primed them using a hand primer. As I'm running them through a progressive press, I just adjusted the decapping rod so it was "all the way up" and out of the way. After several hundred rounds, however, the pin fell out into one of the cartridges. I heard it drop in and was able to remove it without incident.

What do you think might have happened had I not noticed and fired a round with that pin in there?

 

[Slamfire]

The only capping pins that won't come loose and fall off are Lee. They break in the primer pocket instead.

I have had this problem, the pin came off. Thank goodness I figured out that the primers were not coming out. Now, lets say that the pin stayed in the case, not stuck in the primer hole, and I will give my opinion of what will happen.

Those pins are hard metal. They are going to go out the barrel by gum. Since it is behind the bullet it probably will not delay the bullet in its passage out the barrel. But it could well gouge something on the way out. Worst case, two deep scratches from one end of the barrel to the other. Best case, nothing.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Even better...

If the loose decapping pin were toward the rear of the powder charge, it might not even leave the cartridge--best scenario yet!

In a straightwall cartridge the pin probably would enter the bbl. (Worst-case scenario: The pin stays in the bbl and serves as an obstruction for the bullet of your next shot. NOT nice!) I imagine that in a bottleneck cartridge, the chances are good that the pin would stay in the cartridge.

'Course, the pin WOULD come out in the tumbler when that lot of cartridges was being prepped for reloading. Prompting a "Wotinell is this and where did it come from???" kind of reaction.

I think that if I were using Matt B 000's described procedure, I would REMOVE the decapping pin before starting to resize the cases. Anything that can loosen itself and fall off, will loosen itself and fall off, and at the worst possible time. One of the subsections of Murphy's law.

 

[trickyasafox]

wow. i have one in some of my 38spl cases right now. funny this problem came up for you as well. only problem is, the case fell into about 150 other loaded rounds and i didn't notice it till it was mixed in.

i'll let you know if it kills me when i shoot them

 

[The Bushmaster]

Let us know which is more accurate...The pin or the bullet...

 

[OLD DOMENION]

Decapping Pin Problem

I clean my cases then decap in a seperate operation.
I have decapping dies and reloading dies.
All my reloading dies have the decapping stim removed.