Size first or prime first?

[CQB45ACP]

I see a few folks who size before tumbling/cleaning. As stated I use a universal to deprime, then clean, then prime etc..

I was taught to clean/tumble before resizing, brass that has not been cleaned (tumbled in my case) could scratch dies or cause brass to bind when resizing. So, question is, for those that size before cleaning/tumbling, are you seeing any issues, scratches on dies, binding etc when reloading pistol?

I use a carbide die which (according to Lee) cannot be scratched by any of the grime one might have on a dirty case. I have always deprimed and sized before cleaning and true to what Lee suggests, have experienced zero problems. Don’t shoot the messenger

 

[merlynski]

Years ago I somehow damaged a 357Mag size die (not carbide) and it started putting a horrible scratch down the side of every case. That was a perfect excuse to buy a carbide sizing die, but I still did a better job cleaning cases after that. At that time I was just hand wiping them.

 

[CMB]

Still here. Learning from the good folks.

Good deal!! Just checkin.

 

[res45]

I agree.
But, I have read about some members here that pull the decapping pin out and size primed cases.
Not my cup o tea, but there must be a reason to do it that way.

I can only think of two occasions where I actually did that, one being when I bought some new primed brass and I wanted to make sure the cases were properly sized, and the case necks were concentric and expanded to the correct dia. to fit my bullets. Secondly when I demilled some surplus ammunition and replace the steel jacket FMJ bullets with a better quality SP bullet for hunting purposes for the same reasons as above. Other than that I never primer a case till all the case prep is done and I ready to load the cartridge.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Using the classic "Mallets toward all" Lee loader for most rifle rounds, I necksize each case then prime it.

Reloading for C96 Mauser pistol, I resize casings, inspect the cases for flaws, then use a hand priming tool.

Since the only investment I have in sizing cases is my labor, but primers do cost money, priming a case that on inspection might show a flaw after sizing is not economical. Most of the time, inspecting cases before sizing shows up most major flaws that would relegate cases to the metal recycler box.

 

[Jack B.]

I do all my case prep before priming then powder, bullet and then make sure the round is concentric if loading for rifle. Case prep prime then powder, bullet and crimp if loading for handgun.
Always go through each step till each batch of rounds is completed. Usually I do 10-15 rounds of rifle and 25-50 rounds of handgun.

 

[KentM]

The big question is (for rifle ammo at least)...How do you handle a stuck case during sizing when it is already primed? Can you safely drill out a live primer?

 

[merlynski]

The big question is (for rifle ammo at least)...How do you handle a stuck case during sizing when it is already primed? Can you safely drill out a live primer?

That is as good a reason as any NOT to prime before sizing. I would be very nervous about drilling an unfired primer. When I was still a kid I emptied out a shotgun shell, clamped the case in a vise, set a punch against the primer and whacked it with a hammer. The primer went off like I expected. What I did not expect was that the primer blew out of the case head, and sent a ring of metal sliding up the tapered punch just far enough to painfully slam into my finger (luckily) without doing any damage to my finger (or my eyes). The valuable lesson I did learn was "Don't screw around with primers, they EXPLODE!" IMHO the best thing to do would be to buy another sizing die.

 

[entropy]

Remove the neck sizing/depriming rod, pour oil down the hole, let it soak into the primer good, then punch it out with a long, thin punch.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Remove the neck sizing/depriming rod, pour oil down the hole, let it soak into the primer good, then punch it out with a long, thin punch.

Lots of prior conversations about this and other tactics...I’ll sit back and watch.

 

[entropy]

I've never had to do such a thing, but versus throwing the die away, I'd give it a shot.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I've never had to do such a thing, but versus throwing the die away, I'd give it a shot.

As I recall, one of the less dangerous approaches is to cut the base of the case above the primer. But, I’m not saying I’d do it either, it’s just better than screwing around with the primer.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Do you prime the case first or resize first? Or does it hardly matter at all in that first step?

The first step should always be to purchase one or more reloading manuals and read the "how-to" section. All your questions will be answered.

 

[Airborne Falcon]

Do you prime the case first or resize first? Or does it hardly matter at all in that first step?

So IMHO there is really only one way to do it.

Completely prep the case first ... decap, size, bell, decrimp and trim, chamfer and debur if necessary .... then I wet tumble and dry.

THEN it's time to prime, charge, seat the pill and factory taper crimp.

Then I have my wife or one of my girlfriends kiss the lot for good luck.

 

[Darth-Vang]

So IMHO there is really only one way to do it.

Completely prep the case first ... decap, size, bell, decrimp and trim, chamfer and debur if necessary .... then I wet tumble and dry.

THEN it's time to prime, charge, seat the pill and factory taper crimp.

Then I have my wife or one of my girlfriends kiss the lot for good luck.

 

[JimKirk]

Priming before sizing adds an extra item that has to be dealt with if you get a stuck brass ....otherwise it is just a piece of brass .... now you have get the primer out safely on the primed brass...

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Then I have my wife or one of my girlfriends kiss the lot for good luck.

Oh, a Harem guy, huh? Must be one of them Amish. nyuk nyuk!

 

[vaalpens]

I always deprime before cleaning. Then it is resize and prime. Unless I am working on a load, then it could be resize, priming, seating, pulling, resizing, and seating. This means I sometimes resize after seating.

 

[Zendude]

I could see one way that priming before resizing would take place for handgun cartridges. That’s if you use a universal decapping die before cleaning and then want to hand prime before loading them on a progressive press.