decapping pin removal

[bubba the roach]

Hello just got my lee reloading kit today. ordered a universal decapping/priming die, can I or do I need to remove the pin from it. Would it help or does it matter thanks for the info.

Bubba

 

[ericuda]

Need more information, what are you trying to do and help will follow. What kit did you get and what do you want/need to do?

 

[Ditchtiger]

Why remove the pin?

 

[Jeff H]

ordered a universal decapping/priming die, can I or do I need to remove the pin from it.

What good would a universal decapping die be if you removed the decapping pin?

We need more info on what you are trying to accomplish.

 

[beatledog7]

I once primed a bunch of .38SPL brass before I realized I had not resized it. I had initially decapped it with a universal to test a new tumbling media's ability to clean primer pockets.

On that occasion, I removed the pin and resized it.

 

[bubba the roach]

not from the universial but the resizing die also my first attempt to flare my brass it really opened it up is it okay to use that one or should i discard it. Lee die instructions said to tighten to it touch shell holder and back out one turn but i find it better about 2 times back

 

[scythefwd]

youre neck gets sized down too far when you do the upstroke.. when you down stroke on the ram.. the decapping ping/expanding ball sizes the neck up to the correct dimension... this is on shouldered cases. Not so much of an issue on straightwalled cases.

you remove that decapping pin, and you're going to have more than normal neck tension.. if you can even put a bullet in the round.

 

[sfed]

Why go universal on the dies?

I started reloading about a year and a half ago, I ordered the Lee Breechlock Challenger and the Lee dies to match the cartridges I intended to reload. I had never even seen the reloading operation done much less had anyone show me how to do it. Using the Lee dies and following the instructions to the letter I have reloaded a thousand or more of cartridges since, also got a turret press from Lee to help speed things up some. I have read the Modern Reloading by Richard Lee and a couple other books, but the one by Richard Lee was by far the most informative in my opinion. I have never had a misfire or misfeed or any problems whatsoever even teaching myself albeit very cautious all the way through several batches. I guess I sound like I am trying to sell Lee dies, and no I am not. Bottom line they work everytime and are designed for the Lee equipment, and I was wondering why you got the universal versus the Lee?? Being new to reloading myself in comparison to most on this forum, I have loaded over 1000 223 Remington and 1200+ 40 S&W and several hundred 30-06 all using the Lee dies. I guess the book I read by Mr. Lee was so easy to understand I felt comfortable from the first round. What was the reason for the universal dies? Have you done any reading on the subject? Just Curious.

 

[Scimmia]

You really aren't giving us much information, but as long as you deprime them at some opint, you can remove the pin from handgun dies, but it really doesn't matter. You cannot remove the pin from rifle dies.

I'm guessing you're wanting to decap before cleaning?

 

[scythefwd]

sfed.. the universal decapping die IS a Lee product.. or Lee at least makes one. The purpose is to run dirty brass through it before you tumble it. You then tumble the brass and run the clean brass through your sizing dies. Just keeps your dies clean and from getting damaged from carbon on the outside of the cases.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO there is no reason to remove the primer before you tumble the brass. Sometimes it causes more problems than it's worth like if you get a piece of media stuck in the flash hole.

Don't make things hard on yourself, clean the brass then resize/decap. BUT, if you decide you want to decap first there is no reason to remove the pin from the sizing die because it will not matter since there is no primer to remove. Just leave it in the die so you don't lose it...

 

[Hacker15E]

Unless he's wet tumbling the brass.

 

[jcwit]

I deprime and resize my cases before tumbling. Using the 20/40 grit size available thru DrillSpot does away with any problem of media getting stuck in the flash hole and/or primer pocket, and it still does an excellent job of cleaning/polishing. I fail to see how decapping and resizing then tumbling is making anything harder on oneself, just turning the order of things around. That is of course is if one is using the right size of media.

Generally I do not use a universal depriming die but there are times when I do use it as in wanting to remove unfired primers to use over again.

Removing the decapping pin from a universal decapping die serves no purpose whatsoever that I can imagine.

 

[Buckeyeguy525]

Your post was pretty difficult to understand, but I guess you are asking if you can use the universal decapper to deprime, then size the brass using the Lee sizing die without the decapping pin? Sure, just use a wrench to loosen the nut on the pin and it will fall right out (make sure to catch it or it might break).

Now, to put the pin back in if need be is a bit more tricky. The Lee design allows the pin to retract inside the die if there is an obstruction in the case, rather than breaking off. If you just put the pin in and tighten the nut all the way, it will not allow it to retract when theres an obstruction (like tumbling media) and you will break your pin. So here is how I put them back in:

1) Place pin till it is flush with the top of the nut and tighten just enough that it doesn't fall out
2) Size a piece of brass, the pin will (should) retract
3) Tighten a little more, and size another piece of brass
4) Continue tightening in slight increments until the pin no longer retracts when you size the brass.