De priming question
 

I’ve started collecting some reloading stuff the past little bit. I use my buddies tumbler and press so I’m wondering without having to buy a press myself I wanna start de-priming my brass before I bring them over to his place. What tool would you guys recommend?

RCBS universal decapping die with replaceable headed decapping pin I have decapped literally thousands (20+ 5gallon pails) of crimped mil brass with mine.It will do every case that I ever encountered, Even punched thru a berdan primed case by accident, bent the decapping pin but thats all. Wholeheartly recomend. Can get part number if you want, I probably even have a spare one around somewhere in my reloading mess.

Decapping die is super fast and easy. Avoid hornady decapper... as the pin gets loose too often. Lee makes a simple and sturdy one that you can't go wrong with.... also has a replaceable sturdy pin.

-Reza

I have one of those hand decappers and it is really fast

Sure I’ll take the part number and have a look for sure!

I seen Cabela’s has a hand one in stock I believe it’s Frankfort Arsenal or something like that. I wondered if those were worth the 70 bucks.

How much abuse can those pins take?

I use a Lee Universal Decapping die and one of their tong tool hand presses. Decap anywhere and you can load with the press as well.
Cat

Picked one of these up a the other day for $45 at Cabela's on sale, have not used it but similar intention, wanted to deprime while watching TV as my tumbler is in garage. Will give it a try this weekend and give some feedback.

Yes let know how they work. They aren’t on sale
Anymore but if worth it would be nice to have for that reason as well. Watching hockey or something you could plot through a good chunk I would figure.

Lee decapper die can take plenty abuse. Have easily pushed through crimped primers. Haven't done much recently so I can't speak to durability but looks and feels more solid than some other brands.

-Reza

Been looking at this one lately.

https://x-reload.com/bf-909283.html

All by hand, no press required.

Have this one
It works good
Needs a smaller pin for small rifle primers
Not sure if I lost it in the package when I bought it or not
Lol oops

That’s the one I seen at Cabela’s gonna have to pick one up and try it out.

Can someone explain why you'd want to decap in a separate operation when a resizing die will do it simultaneously while resizing? If you're going to neck size only, I get it.

You can deprime your cases, and then clean them. Gets rid of all the carbon and crap and you won’t get it in your dies

[QUOTE=gunluvr;4493215]Can someone explain why you'd want to decap in a separate operation when a resizing die will do it simultaneously while resizing? If you're going to neck size only, I get it.[/QUOTE

I don’t have a press and was looking to save a little time when I get to my buddies that has a press. That’s all I’m aware there are other for efficient ways to do it but I don’t have all the gear yet and don’t plan on purchasing right away. So that tool will save a little time and I can do it while watching hockey or tv.

For me, the brass cleaning process is more thorough and faster when the brass is already deprimmed. I prefer resizing clean brass too.

-Reza

If you are only bumping the shoulder first, or preferring to size with polished brass , you may want to decap first.
I decap in a separate step because many of my cartridges are not sized after firing.
I also Suize some of my wildcats with dies that will not decap , or when I am partial full length sizing.
Cat

How is everyone cleaning their brass nowadays? I quit de priming before tumbling because of the time it takes to clean out all the media out of the flash hole and primer pocket.

Steel pins
Works great

Didn't read all the posts so may have already been suggested, likely has, but a Lee hand press is very cheap. MSRP new is $70 U.S., they go for about half that used. Can sit on the couch and deprime to your hearts content. Add a scale and you can do complete reloads with it.

I decap first because I use stainless pins so they clean out the primer pocket really well.

They also dry inside better since a bit of air can flow through the flash hole.

Another question: Is it safe to decap live primers? I have some live 223 ammo that I wish to pull the bullets from and sell (or give away) the empty brass. I no longer have a 223 rifle to fire the live primers in and cannot sell hand loaded ammo.

Yes, it's safe. But I wear glasses for eye protection. If you lean over the process, it might be a good idea. I've never had any issues de-capping live primers.

Andy 6MT

x2^

Yup, safety glasses and gentle pressure, re-use the primers for sighter/fouling rounds.

I have a separate press only for de-priming, it keeps my loading press station & dies much cleaner. Brass always gets cleaned before resizing. I have also de-primed many live primers with no issues, with proper PPE, but I don't reuse the primers.

Maybe I'm missing something but...
Why not just buy a die that deprimes AND resizes in one step?

Because in some cases you don't want to decap and resize at the same time.
Cat