Lee Decapping Die....

[gfanikf]

I like it I like it alot!

After reading about the issues of depriming Military brass I figured to give my Lee Decapping Die I bought (along with an extra pin) a try before using my resizer that came with my dies. Ignoring the Lee Classic's issues with not dropping spent primers into the tube and instead spitting them out of the press sometimes, it's been working very well. After futzing around with the screw in depth, they have been popping out with little issue and not needing a ton of pressure applied. I will do the rest (and the case trimming/cleaning) in the backyard though (see other recent thread). The decapper works decently (needs more pressure applied) in the hand press too. Just really happy with the $10 bucks I spent on it and the uses I'm already getting out of it has more than paid itself back...or if not yet with my 500 rounds of 1X fired Lake City 30-06 I got this weekend for for $50 bucks it will!

 

[jaguarxk120]

It's always nice to remove the spent primers before tumbling or cleaning the brass.

I have just stared with the Stainless Steel media in a rotary tumbler. So far the results are great, brass comes out like new inside and outside.

It's a extra step, but handloading is a hobby in it self so any extra time I spend for brass prep is just part of the game.

 

[dragon813gt]

What issues w/ depriming military brass? I've never had an issue. Now crimped primer pockets create a problem for priming.

I have the same Lee die and use it for processing new to me rifle brass when I first get it. The only pin I've broken was from a berdan primer that snuck by. The design is simple and works well. It's a die that every reloader should have. You'll find a need for it.


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[hentown]

I haven't found that the Lee Universal Decapping Die decaps military brass any better than my Lee sizing dies. I do use the Universal Die when decapping for removing military crimps in bulk.

 

[SSN Vet]

I've got one... works fine... don't use it often...

The big advangage (as I see it) is that it allows you to deprime dirty brass without risk of damage to your sizing die.

Though it's a nice idea to tumble de-primed brass for cleaning out the primer pockets... I personally do not feel the need for most of my ammo.

I hope to get into bench rest shooting with a "for real" accurate rifle, and if I do so, then I'll look to address every detail possible with my ammo.

 

[tcj]

I deprime all my brass before cleaning -- mostly due to opps moments when reloading (progressive) and a primer doesn't come/fall all of the way out...really screws up my reloading rythm.

 

[korny351]

Ignoring the Lee Classic's issues with not dropping spent primers into the tube and instead spitting them out of the press sometimes, it's been working very well.

Keep the primer arm mounted in the ram during de-priming. It helps funnel the spent primers down the hollow ram.

 

[hentown]

I can't imagine depriming before tumbling. Just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[gfanikf]

Keep the primer arm mounted in the ram during de-priming. It helps funnel the spent primers down the hollow ram.

Thanks, I appreciate the advice. I finally have my new reloaded station setup, but no priming or depriming done yet.

 

[Searcher4851]

I had that leaking primer problem too, but as Korny stated, if you leave the priming arm in the ram, the leakage stopped for me. I wish I'd have figured that out sooner. :banghead: Hunting for primers in carpeting is time consuming.

 

[JohnM]

I can't imagine depriming before tumbling. Just doesn't make sense to me.

It's a good way to go. I batch process large bunches of brass, a universal deprime die lets me knock out the primers without worrying about clean cases.
Then I can send big loads through the tumbler and have them ready for whatever next steps they need.

 

[jcwit]

I deprime before tumbling, but I do not use dies or a press to do so. I also resize handgun cases before tumbling, my handgun resizing dies are all carbide. I have yet to scratch a carbide die with sand or dirt that is softer than the carbide. If in fact it is possible to wear out carbide dies using dirty cases I'll never know it at my age as it hasn't happened to me yet in my 50 years of reloading.

Tumbling after depriming does help to clean the primer pockets.

 

[bdejong11129]

For everyone that deprimes before tumbling do you have any issues with media getting stuck in the primer pocket and then fouling up the priming operation?

Disclaimer-this is my opinion and yours may vary.

 

[jcwit]

If using the media referred to in the link provided below there will be no problems with media clogging the primer pocket or the flash hole.

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

 

[mdi]

I don't like to get all the carbon/soot/residue from the spent primers on my press. I would think all that stuff would hasten wear on the ram/ram bearing. So, I'll either decap with my Lee Loader pin and arbor press, or tumble first...

 

[ping]

I do not remove the primers either. Always get media in the hole and then have to mess with that.

 

[jcwit]

I do not remove the primers either. Always get media in the hole and then have to mess with that.

Then obviously your media is to large.