Do you decap before you tumble your cases?

[Inkognito]

When I first got into reloading about 20 years ago I did not. I mostly was relaoding 9mm then and I just tumbled my cases with the old primer still in the case. I never had an issue. Over the years I have learned more and improved my skills and equipment. I now use a Dillon progressive reloader and I find myself reloading larger and larger quantities. As I was sitting there decapping a bunch of 9mm cases this morning I wondered if I was adding an extra step for no reason.

I use Thumbler's Tumbler with stainless steel media and it cleans out the primer pockets really well. But is it necessary? When I first started and was not doing this, I never had any problems. What do you do? Are there definite advantages to having the primer pocket clean?

 

[JohnD13]

I deprime and then tumble the cases myself.

 

[JohnM]

I like to deprime, then toss the cases in a tumbler for a quick clean up. Or a good one if they're really dirty.
I use a depriming die for that first step. Doesn't take long to do a lot of cases.

 

[Steve C]

I deprime after tumbling. If I want the primer pocket clean then I'll use the primer pocket cleaning tool to scrape out any of the residue from the pocket which is a lot quicker than picking out media that can get stuck in the pocket.

 

[dbarnhart]

When I dry tumbled using corn cob or crushed walnut I always did so before decapping.

Now that I have a Thumler's Tumbler and SS media, I decap prior to tumbling because I'm concerned about moisture getting trapped in the primer pocket. It might be many months after tumbling and before the brass gets reloaded.

I'm no expert and it could be me that's all wet instead of the primer pocket but that's my concern and that's what I do.

I do seem to have a better 'feel' when seating primers in cases with clean primer pockets.

 

[jcwit]

I deprime after tumbling. If I want the primer pocket clean then I'll use the primer pocket cleaning tool to scrape out any of the residue from the pocket which is a lot quicker than picking out media that can get stuck in the pocket.

Steve if you use the finer media there will be no media to worry about picking out.

One more time!

http://www.drillspot.com/products/521055/econoline_526040g-40_40_lbs_blast_media

Shipped right to your door for $33.00. 40 LBS.

Regarding the ops question, yes I deprime first then tumble.

 

[jcwit]

When I dry tumbled using corn cob or crushed walnut I always did so before decapping.

Now that I have a Thumler's Tumbler and SS media, I decap prior to tumbling because I'm concerned about moisture getting trapped in the primer pocket. It might be many months after tumbling and before the brass gets reloaded.

I'm no expert and it could be me that's all wet instead of the primer pocket but that's my concern and that's what I do.

I do seem to have a better 'feel' when seating primers in cases with clean primer pockets.

You're on the right track.

 

[blarby]

My first tumble has the cap in. Usually about 30 minutes or so for brass i've previously shot or loaded- bout an hour for stuff I haven't touched.

I do this because I want the brass as clean as possible from range and other debris before it comes anywhere near my dies.

I then de-cap and size, and do the rest of the case prep.., which includes cleaning the pockets...I just use the pocket uniformer on my RCBS trim-mate... it cleans just as well as it cuts. And perfectly almost every time. It takes no more time to do it, as the brass is on the trim-mate anyways for other functions, and this is the fastest step ( about three seconds ).

Then I ultrasonic, finish-tumble dry, prime, charge, cap, crimp, and finish tumble after assembly.

If you are using an SS tumbler, and aren't worried about getting your dies dirty- or have a universal decap die that you don't care about anyway- decaping before tumbling just makes sense. One of the biggest advantages to SS tumbling is the pocket cleaning.

 

[TxAg]

I like to decap as soon as possible to avoid any corrosion from the primer. I bought a lee universal decapping die and a cheap press and have it dedicated to this. I'll wait to tumble the brass until I have a full tumbler's worth.

 

[TonyT]

I deprime after tumbling.

 

[codefour]

I bought a lee universal decapping die and a cheap press and have it dedicated to this. I bought a lee universal decapping die and a cheap press and have it dedicated to this.

I too use the LEE Universal decapper. I like it more than the RCBS decapper. I have a RCBS Rock Chucker Jr set up just for depriming.

I am pretty OCD when it comes to brass. I like to deprime and brush out the primer pockets and then tumble 12-24 hours in a Thumlers.

 

[Blue68f100]

I only decap prior to cleaning with wet solutions. If I'm using my tumbler with corncob, no. I use clean burn powders which keeps the soot down to a bare minimum. I only use wet cleaners every 4-5 shootings or on some nasty range brass.

I have yet to see any data showing clean brass improves accuracy on pistol ammo. We clean the brass to preserve our dies.

 

[2zulu1]

I decapped and cleaned, now I decap after tumbling w/o any performance difference.

 

[rcmodel]

I generally deprime, and clean pockets while inspecting cases.

Then tumble.

Then load.

Then tumble again.

rc

 

[BWB]

Any method that suits you is the best, but strictly from the point of view of function, cleaning primer pockets is a waste of time.

 

[mbopp]

I load more handgun than rifle now. If they're my cases I tumble before I deprime. If they're range pickups I deprime, wash, dry, and inspect them before they go into the "to be tumbled" can.

 

[blarby]

Any method that suits you is the best, but strictly from the point of view of function, cleaning primer pockets is a waste of time.

Oh reaeery....

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=651502

 

[gahunter12]

I tumble first, then deprime on my RL550b during the loading process for 45acp, and 38spl. I have a tool head setup with universal decaper dies for my 40s&w cases. I usually tumble them, decap and clean primer pockets while inspecting for cracks and damage. For some reason I have problems seating primers deep enough in my 40s&w cases without cleaning first.

 

[jelenko]

OK. For rifle, I tumble in dry media to get the cases, including the necks, clean.
Resize [which includes deprime]. Then tumble again [in 20/40 corn cob - no pieces in flash holes].
FWIW, I also haven't found any functional value in cleaning the primer pockets

 

[helotaxi]

Oh reaeery....

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=651502

Because you clean them, it makes a difference for everyone? Oh reaeery?

I quit cleaning primer pockets some time ago and have NEVER has a primer fail to ignite or had a problem seating a primer because the pocket was dirty.

I tumble first, decap with a size die, trim, tumble again to remove the lube and then put them away until I'm ready to load them.

 

[ResidentFarmer]

If it's stuff I've reloaded, or once fired factory stuff I get from friends who don't reload, I deprime and tumble in walnut. If it's range stuff I pick up or stuff I buy at auctions and things and it's grungy I tumble in ss media and then deprime and check all primer pockets and clean if need be.

 

[blarby]

Because you clean them, it makes a difference for everyone? Oh reaeery?

I quit cleaning primer pockets some time ago and have NEVER has a primer fail to ignite or had a problem seating a primer because the pocket was dirty.

Nope, my doing it has no relevance to the fact that this unfortunate member didn't, and debris in his pocket prevented him from seating his primer correctly.

I'd say that makes cleaning them , as evidenced recently, a point of function

 

[GLOOB]

^ I think an anvil properly seated over primer pocket crud should work fine. I decap and reprime my straight wall ammo in the same step. I never even look in the pockets. I've never had a dud with domestic primers.

Maybe that guy had a few bad primers, is all? Second strike didn't work, either.

 

[Jasper1573]

Tumble in walnut, deprime, clean primer pockets for match ammunition, Lee Collet neck sizing die, so no need to lube or tumble to remove the lube; prime and load.

For plinking ammo, I don't clean primer pockets.

 

[41wheelgun]

Deprime after tumble, tired of picking out media in the flash hole.