Resize and deprime on same run as reloading ?

[FWest]

I'm looking at a Dillion RL 550B and the Hornady Lock and Load AP. Are these presses better at reloading on a single run ?
Is the common practice to deprime and resize prior to pistol reloading on all progressive units ?

My Loadmaster seems pretty sensitive to mixed brass and the OAL seems to be directly linked to the effort required to resize.

 

[cfullgraf]

On my L-N-L, I do pistol brass in two distinct steps. First is resize/deprime and expand the mouth. I then clean the brass and store for future loading.

I process brass shortly after shooting so I only have small batches to deal with at a time. maybe 5 minutes to zip through a hundred cases.

Second when loading, I prime off the press then charge the case, seat the bullet, and crimp on the press. I wait until I have sufficient cases stored away to make a reloading session worth while. At a minimum 300-400.

I believe I am in the minority. Most clean the brass then resize, prime, charge, seat and crimp in one sitting at one time on the press.

The press mounted priming systems and I do not get along, again, I am in the minority. Also, I prefer to clean/polish the brass after resizing. One of my idiosyncrasies.

 

[Snowbandit]

When loading straight walled cases on the Dillon I use carbide (or Hornady's TN) dies so there isn't any lube to clean off later. Clean the cases first then just run them through the press. One pass gets you from a clean case to a loaded round. All the better progressives will do that. The first station sizes, deprimes and puts a new primer in. Second station bells the case mouth and puts the powder charge in. Third station seats and crimps the bullet. Fourth station is not used and the loaded rounds fall into a tray ready for shooting.

 

[BYJO4]

I use the Hornady LNL AP press. I always clean my brass first (even when I used my single stage press) as this keeps grime out of the sizer die and the decapping pin will remove any cleaning media from the flash hole. When the dies are properly set, OAL should not be a factor.

 

[FWest]

Thanks for the information. I agree if the dies are set up properly and the brass is clean it should not effect OAL. I clean all my brass before I reload. I am sure my dies are set up correctly.
I purchased a progressive to save time and not to excessively tinker or batch load. I'm a fleet/diesel mechanic so I have some experience at tool useage and following directions. Thats why I'm asking about the other units in my price range.

 

[dmazur]

The only thing I can think of is to suggest you perform a full stroke, regardless of which press you eventually purchase. The stopping point should not be based on effort, but on running out of "throw".

I use a 550B and I get consistent COL with .45 ACP. I also get consistent COL with .44 Mag, but the crimp uniformity suffers if I don't trim to a consistent length before starting. However, once I have clean brass (and trimmed for .44 Mag), I just run it through the press, using Station 1 for resizing/depriming/repriming.

(And I can't use my Giraud trimmer...fortunately I don't reload huge quantities of .44 Mag.)

 

[dbarnhart]

My 45 acp brass goes into the polisher when it comes home from the range, that way it is ready to load. Here is my setup on the Hornady LnL-AP:

1. Size/decap (the case is primed on the downstroke)
2. Expand
3. Powder
4. RCBS Lockout Die
5. Seat (no crimp)

 

[MCMXI]

Is the common practice to deprime and resize prior to pistol reloading on all progressive units ?

Not for me ... until recently that is. I've been reloading on an RCBS progressive press for 16 years using the following procedure:

Tumble brass (dry) > progressive press >

Station 1: Size/decap
Station 2: Prime/expand case mouth
Station 3: Drop powder
Station 4: Seat bullet
Station 5: Taper crimp


I recently switched over to stainless steel wet media so now the procedure is:

Single stage press > decap (universal die) > tumble brass (wet) > progressive press

Station 1: Size
Station 2: Prime/expand case mouth
Station 3: Drop powder
Station 4: Seat bullet
Station 5: Taper crimp

 

[RandyP]

On my Lee turret the four stations are:

size-deprime-prime(on downstroke)
expand and charge with powder
seat
factory crimp

 

[Hondo 60]

I have the Dillon 550B
Station 1. Deprime/Resize - Prime
Station 2. Bell Case & Drop Powder
Station 3. Seat Bullet
Station 4. Crimp

Some guys do trim pistol cases. So their method is different.
But I've got brass that's on it's 10th reloading & isn't too long.

 

[codefour]

I ALWAYS deprime, clean primer pockets, dip them in IOSSO case cleaner, and then tumble em for 12 to 24 hours. All my brass is stored after this process. I like my cases very clean and professional looking. It is just a pride thing

Yes it is loooong and tedious. I found on progressive presses, it is much smoother seating a new primer into a clean pocket than a dirty one.

Then the process is:

1) size with the deprime rod still in to remove case media that may be left behind.
2) bell and prime
3) powder charge
4) seat
5) crimp

 

[Nick93]

well .. in my case .. i prefer to clean them with wet media to clean the insade and outside of the case ( don´t really care if it´s look nice in this step ) so i used tu run them in my progressive just with the Lee universal decapper ( it is fast if you have a case feeder )
after that i let them dry and runed them just once (resizing,primer seating, mouth belling, powder , bullet seat and finally crimp ) ... then i run them again in the tumbler but with rise and a polishing compound (and protect the entire cartridge from rusting) but also to take out the resized polished part of the case

 

[357Shooter]

I Deprime w/RCBS universal, Wet Tumble w/SS media, quick-dry hot water, then towel & hairdryer, tumble in vibrator w/walnut and NuFinish, (can then store for whenever) then resize w/deprimer to make sure it's clear, prime, and expand. This is done in approx 1000 unit lots, I then store the primed brass and reload any amount I choose, with these dies in my LNL: Powder Drop, RCBS Lock-out, Hornady Bullet Feed Die w/tube (homebrew), Hornady Seating Die, Lee FC Die to finish. I know extra steps, I don't mind. I find separate sizing and primer seating gives my press a better "Feel", the primers get two bumps seating, (common in Match Loading for Rifle), and each "process" on the press is faster because less is going on each cycle. I know this isn't for everyone, but works well for me.

 

[jmorris]

The point of a progressive is speed, making two trips doubles your time.

All you need to do for pistol is...

Tumble to clean.
Size/deprime
Prime
Powder charge
Seat bullet
Crimp bullet

...even the 4 station 550 can get it done in one pass.

 

[FWest]

What I'm hearing is the 550B and Hornady LL AP are capable of processing clean brass with spent primers and turning out consistent ammo in a single run. On my loadmaster I have to deprime and resize prior running them through for relatively consistent ammo.

Thanks again.