Depriming Military Brass (5.56x45mm)

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9mmepiphany

9mmepiphany

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I was depriming some military cases in preperation for swaging the primer pockets.

I was using a Lee Universal De-priming die mounted in a Lee Classic Cast single stage press.

Ran across some very stubborn primers which causes the de-capping pin to back out of the die. I remounted the pin twice with the same result. I also tried a factory fresh De-priming die with the same result.

One of the guys at my local reloading club recommended using a brass hammer on the end of the pin to knock out the primers.

I was wondering if other folks had run into this issue and what solutions have worked for you.

Thanks in advance
 
Considering how much of this stuff I find laying about, if the brass wants to be that stubborn, it goes to recycling to become a door knob. On the other hand, I've done a lot of different headstamp stiff with the Lee die, (specific, not Universal), with no issues so far, so far, so I'll see if it pops up.
 
You really have to wrench down on the locking nut on those Lee dies or they keep slipping. It takes two opposing wrenches to do it right.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
My 223 sizing die needs to be TIGHT! I had to put all the mustard I had into those two wrenches. She works well now. I even pierced the pin straight through one primer. Now that's a stubborn primer! I had to toss that case. Must have been welded together.

The directions mention "significant force" or something along them lines when referring to the tightening of the pin.
 
I've been using two opposing box wrenches, but I'm not the biggest person around.

Might be time to bring in the manual labor buddies...maybe even slip extensions onto the ends. Or...a socket and breaker bar over the top of the lock nut
 
What head stamp brass , off center flash hole ? I think I read some headstamp had an issue with off center / small flash holes see if you notice if its the same headstamp doing this just an idea
 
Are you sure that some of the cases aren't Berdan primed ? I can't remember ever running into a berdan primed case but OTOH if I don't recognize the headstamp it goes in the scrap bucket. I do pickup range brass and the vast majority is once fired LC or Federal,on average I pickup 100 +cases each trip.
 
Yep, they need to be pretty tight not to slip on some of the stubborn primers. One option is another brand of sizer or universal decapping die, and a couple of extra pins, just in case. I have broken one pin in many years, and it was from a berdan primed case.
 
I have the same setup for depriming every caliber I load for. I'd be careful about putting too big of wrenches on it. It probably wasn't meant for a 3ft breaker bar. Ok that's an exaggeration but seriously a pair a 6" wrenches should be enough leverage. Have you tried degreasing the die and pin? After all, the collet is supposed to let the pin slip at some point.

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk
 
I'll get snaps of the head stamps later today.

They are not Berdan primed. I was able to hammer one out before starting this thread...there just seemed like there should be an easier way.

There aren't a huge number of cases, maybe just over 150. If it had only been 10 or so, I would have chucked them
 
First off, thanks for all the suggestions...I've arrived as a resolution to my issues.

Next, Mea Culpa is in order.

While the batch of cases I was working with were Boxer primed, a closer inspection of the bulk of the cases...in preparation for pictures of the head stamps...showed that they were indeed Berdan primed. 150 cases into the recycle bin

Since the batch I was working on, with the stubborn primers, only consisted of 10 cases, the easiest solution was to shelve them.
 
I havent seen many berdan primed 223 cases, thank god. But when I run into cases that deprime hard, I just toss them. Not worth the effort everytime to deprime when they have off center flash holes or other problems when 5.56 brass is generally plentiful and or cheap.

What brand cases were they? I just use a Lee universal decapper, and the cheap Lee C press for all my decapping and have no issues. My pin is set to slip if it hits something. Takes me less time to re-adjust the pin with a couple taps of the brass mallet, than to change a bent pin.
 
It's not you or how tight you have the locking nut on the die. Sometimes you just get a piece if brass that is too hard to decap by normal means.

As for hitting the decapping pin, I would not to that but Lee does have a solution. Here is what I bought for those stubborn primers.

For the .223: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/297408/lee-decapper-and-base-22-caliber

For the 30 Cal.: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/636747/lee-decapper-and-base-30-caliber

They have never failed me and I don't abuse my dies.
 
I made a base and use a Lee decapping rod for when I want to deprime a case by hand. Mostly for reusing the odd primer or two, not for initial prep of range brass. The RCBS sizer has never failed to deprime a military case with a crimped primer. Never say never, but so far.....
 
There's also some "IK" / "PPU" 223 / 5.56 cases that have undersized flash holes. That caused issues for me while depriming them when the decapping pin was getting stuck in the flash hole. I took those cases and drilled out the flash holes to spec.
 
Berdan primed cases do give decapping dies a hard time. Reloading for my first rifle in 1968 , a 7.5 X 55 Swiss K-11 , I bent every decapping pin I had trying to reload some military cases .......When I went to the gunshop to buy more pins , that's when the gunshop owner explained to me the difference of Berdan and Boxer primed rounds ....I had no idea ! Never forgot that lesson, To this day I always inspect every case for them two tiny holes !
Gary
 
I reload a lot of GI brass...223. 308. 06 and even 45 ACP. all with crimped primers and have never had a problem de capping with a size die. Over 30 years I've probably broke or bent 3 de capping pins. The cause was off center holes or not seating the case into the shell holder 100%. This is feeding 06 and 308 M1 Garands and two AR's for High Power competition. Not to mention the 1911's.

If you are having problems de capping there has to be a problem some place. Maybe you just need a bigger press but what you have should work well. maybe dump the decap die and go with a size die. Oh and the dillon Super Swag is hard to beat.
 
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FWIW my Lee universal decapping die has a bigger pin than the Lee 223 die. I have gone to using my 500 S&W sizing die for a universal decapper as of late (small decapping pin like on the 223 die and wide body). It will decap all but the longest rifle cartridges with ease.
 
FLIGHT762 said:
There's also some "IK" / "PPU" 223 / 5.56 cases that have undersized flash holes. That caused issues for me while depriming them when the decapping pin was getting stuck in the flash hole. I took those cases and drilled out the flash holes to spec.
Click to expand...
I ran across some of the IK headstamp as well. Small flash holes - I just sorted and tossed them, Not worth the extra effort.
 
Had a similar problem.
So.......
I got out a quality open end wrench and a quality five point socket snap on. Put the socket on my makita cordless impact driver put the wrench on then hit it with the impact. You couldent move that pin with a hammer.
The key here is tools that fit well.
 
jeeptim said:
Had a similar problem.
So.......
I got out a quality open end wrench and a quality five point socket snap on. Put the socket on my makita cordless impact driver put the wrench on then hit it with the impact. You couldent move that pin with a hammer.
The key here is tools that fit well.
Click to expand...
You defeated the whole design of the Lee dies. It's not a flaw in the dies, they are designed to allow the pin to slip so as not to break the decapping pin.
 
FLIGHT762 said:
There's also some "IK" / "PPU" 223 / 5.56 cases that have undersized flash holes. That caused issues for me while depriming them when the decapping pin was getting stuck in the flash hole. I took those cases and drilled out the flash holes to spec.
Click to expand...
That is the headstamp on the cases I have culled which aren't Berdan primed.

I actually punched out one primer and the case stuck on the pin.

Interesting to know that it wasn't my pin with a "fat" shank or a rogue case
 
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