Single stage depriming

[fatmanonabike]

Another greenhorn to reloading. I've managed to read many reviews and descriptions but depriming is typically not covered. I realize it's not a highly interesting topic but here are my questions, 1) is it a hand or press operation?and 2) how are the spent primers captured? I will most likely be using a Lee single stage press.

 

[rsrocket1]

Depriming is usually done on the press. The huge mechanical advantage you have with the press makes it much easier than with a punch and mallet or even a Lee hand press. If you mean the Lee Breechlock Challenger press, you need to deprime with either the large or small primer arm insterted into the ram slot. That guides the spent primer into the square cup located on the left of the press. You then attach a plastic or tygon tube to guide them into either a waste basket sitting below the press or tape something like a 1 liter water bottle to the end of the tube to catch the primers. Then you dump the primers when it fills up or send them to the recycler.

 

[gamestalker]

On a single stage press, depriming is most commonly accomplsihed with the resizing die and is an integretated part the resizing process. Most presses come with a recovery primer catcher cup. The decapping pin in your resizing die should be adjusted to extend approximately 3/8" from the bottom of the die. Only allow the decapping pin to extend just enough to completely remove the primer, or you could damage the web and flash hole.

 

[rfwobbly]

Mr Rocket told you right. I might only add that de-priming is done with the first die, during case sizing. No two presses catch the spent primer the same way. A lot of "smut" comes out with the old primer. Most folks consider dealing with the spent primer and associated mess anywhere from a filthy mess to a health hazard. Depending upon where you land on that issue, you might want to add that to your list of "features" to look for in your new press.

Personally, the tube leading down to a sealed can/bottle is optimum.

Hope this helps.

 

[mo841]

like previously stated, depriming is typically part of the resizing die. I usually bring the depriming pin all the way up untill I get the shell sizing correct, then with the ram all the way up push the depriming pin all the way down untill it hits the bottom on the shell, then I lower the shell and lower the pin a little bit more untill it just knocks the primer out.

 

[BYJO4]

The decapping pin should stickout about 3/8" below the bottom of your sizing die. Most die sets come with the decapping pin properly set but you can easily shorten or lengthen if needed. Suggest you can a copy of the ABCs of Reloading for more info on equipment and operation of dies. Good luck with your new hobby.

 

[boltgunner93]

I'm just starting myself with the Lee Breech lock single stage press and I opted for buying the universal depriming die. I just finished depriming all of my brass, cleaned the primer pockets and ran it through a tumbler to clean it before resizing. I'll resize as my next step this weekend. I just let the tube that came with the press catch the primers then emptied it when it was full, but putting a plastic bottle on the end sounds like a good idea. And like the rocket man said, you need to have one of the priming arms in the ram otherwise the primers will go everywhere.

 

[ranger335v]

"The decapping pin should stickout about 3/8" below the bottom of your sizing die."

Make it closer to 5/16", that's more than enough to push primers out. Put the pin down 3/8" in a lot of dies and not only will the expander ball hit the case web, you may bend the decap rod.

 

[Lost Sheep]

All the above is correct except that you CAN get a "deprime only" die that does nothing usually done at the same time as depriming. There are occasions when you would want to deprime only. I have never had occasion to do that, but some like to.

Of the Lee single stage presses in current production, one (The Classic Cast) drops the primers down the center of the ram, where they can go into a tube or bucket. The other, (Challenger) drops ejected primers off to the side into a cavity which communicates with a tube where they can go into the bucket.

The bucket or "catch bottle" is not necessary. If you put a cap on the tube, it can hold a couple hundred primers before you have to empty it. Lee supplies a tube and cap with the press.

As far as how much the depriming pin should stick out the bottom of your cartridge goes, I have mine adjusted to just barely knock the primer out. If the primer is not fully removed, you will know it pretty quick because you will not be able to remove the casing from the shell holder (the primer sticking out hangs up on it). So, you screw the deprime pin in a little more until it never happens. Lee's depriming pins are installed in the dies with a collet and are not solidly mounted. That way, if the pin hits something immovable (like a Berdan-primed casing) it will slip up into the collet instead of bending or breaking. You can tell a Berdan-primed casing by looking inside and observing that there is no center flash hole, but two off-center flash holes. They are used mostly in Europe and in some American (non-reloadable) steel or aluminum cases.

As mentioned before, the "ABC's of Reloading" has a lot of this information in it and is a good read. Check one out at your local library. "ABC's" is compiled by editors and the authors change over time, so the older editions are just as useful as newer ones. Reading about reloading from many different (and authoritative) voices is a good thing.

Welcome to reloading and thanks for asking our advice,

Lost Sheep