Primed Brass

gdeal · September 3, 2009, 05:10 PM

What do people think of primed brass? Especially since it is about the same price as brass with no live primers in them. I guess you would have to take your depriming die out when working with these too.

tom234 · September 3, 2009, 05:14 PM

Primed brass is fine and sometimes it's cheaper than having to buy primers. I use to buy Winchester primes pistol brass. As you mentioned, just remember to leave out the decaping stem if you size them.

wpsdlrg · September 3, 2009, 05:17 PM

Primed brass is simply brass sold with primers already installed. After firing, it's just like any other brass. I don't use it myself, because I always do a light full-length sizing on my new cases, before use.....and the primer will just be in the way (you won't get the brass fully to specs without the expander stem in the die). I don't see the point of buying brass pre-primed, anyway.

gdeal · September 3, 2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

I don't see the point of buying brass pre-primed, anyway

Ok.

Uncle Buck · September 3, 2009, 10:53 PM

Buying pre-primed brass, or already primed brass will save you a step in the reloading process.
How many guys complain they can not find primers? How many guys have already primed their brass, but not yet reloaded it?

Nothing wrong with it, some people actually prefer it I would guess.

Note: The term "Guys" as used in this post is gender neutral, it actually refers to both male and female gender.

Gotta love that political correctness.

dmazur · September 3, 2009, 11:45 PM

Quote:

I guess you would have to take your depriming die out when working with these too.

Typically you will find that factory brass needs to be run through the resizing die. As it hasn't been fired, there is almost no effort required. The only thing you are doing is setting up the neck for proper bullet tension.

So, instead of removing the die, I would remove the depriming pin from the end of the expander. Most dies permit this so you can replace the pin if (or perhaps when) you break it.

With the depriming pin removed, the resizing die does the rest of the process as usual.

You can drop the case in a gauge and check it for trim length, too. It's probably OK, but it doesn't hurt to check.

rn22723 · September 3, 2009, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Primed brass is simply brass sold with primers already installed. After firing, it's just like any other brass. I don't use it myself, because I always do a light full-length sizing on my new cases, before use.....and the primer will just be in the way (you won't get the brass fully to specs without the expander stem in the die). I don't see the point of buying brass pre-primed, anyway.

Geez you can slip the decapping pin out of most dies! NOT AN ISSUE!

wpsdlrg · September 4, 2009, 03:50 PM

Geez - no you can't....not ALL dies have a removable decapping pin. So, yes it IS an issue..... for some.

Nightowl · September 4, 2009, 04:41 PM

As long as you can remove the de-capping pin, it looks like a simple issue of saving some time and possibly a little dough. I would certainly consider it.

snuffy · September 4, 2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Geez - no you can't....not ALL dies have a removable decapping pin. So, yes it IS an issue..... for some.

If you can't remove the decapping pin, then back the entire decapping rod back up until it don't decap. Easy squeezy, maybe cheezey!

I lucked into a sale at Midway for 500 Speer primed 357 sig brass. It was all new nickel plated, and about the same price as unprimed plain brass, essentially free primers! A no-brainer to be sure.

emcon5 · September 4, 2009, 05:22 PM

I have used quite a bit of primed 5.56 brass, the reason was the cost difference was about the same or a little less than the price of the primers over the unprimed brass. I just ran them through a neck sizing die to remove any dings from shipping.

jepp2 · September 4, 2009, 05:24 PM

I seem to be in a minority. When I buy new brass (primed or unprimed), I DO NOT resize it. If it was going to be sold as loaded ammo, it wouldn't be sized again. I do run an expander through the neck of rifle brass since the necks deform easily in the annealed state. And pistol brass gets expanded during the loading process.

dahermit · September 4, 2009, 05:32 PM

In regard to rifles:
My prime consideration for handloading is accuracy. I always neck size (except some autos), brass to obtain best accuracy. As part of my search for top accuracy, I consider the first firing of the brass as just fire-forming to fit my chamber. Therefore, any primer will do, most any bullet will do, most any load will do. After that, I use a specific primer, load, bullet. thus, in this scenario, pre-primed brass saves some time.

Russ5924 · September 4, 2009, 06:22 PM

The first thing I did when I got my Lee Press and my Dillon 550 is take everything that has to do with primers OFF. I do all my primers by hand after cleaning. That is the only thing saving me right now I had about 5000 cases primed, so with the little I have found and about breaking even between shooting and reloading

rn22723 · September 4, 2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Geez - no you can't....not ALL dies have a removable decapping pin. So, yes it IS an issue..... for some.

Nope it is YOUR issue for not buying better dies!

**Shane Tuttle** · September 4, 2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Nope it is YOUR issue for not buying better dies!

Maybe so, but that's no reason to embarrass the person that has them. Maybe he couldn't afford better ones. Maybe they were given to him. Maybe they work just fine for his application...

Farmland · September 4, 2009, 08:42 PM

Primed brass was a pretty good deal and a nice time saver when I was able to find it locally. I used to by thousands of 40 Winchester primed brass. The point to buying primed brass is that you do save an extra step, sometimes it is cheaper and to be frank it can be a good step for beginners.

With the cost of some dies it is a simple solution to be an extra sizing die if you are having problems with no being able to adjust the decapping pin or remove it. When I can find primed brass for the right price I buy it. In addition it gives me an opportunity to retire some of the older brass that has been reloaded probably more than it should have.

Russ5924 · September 5, 2009, 10:59 AM

If you order primed brass do you have to pay a hazardous fee just wondering?

snuffy · September 5, 2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

If you order primed brass do you have to pay a hazardous fee just wondering?

Nope! That's another reason to buy primed brass, no haz-mat fee.

QBall45 · September 5, 2009, 11:59 AM

if ya order pre-primed brass, how do ya know what primer is being used?

snuffy · September 5, 2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

if ya order pre-primed brass, how do ya know what primer is being used?

You don't! But you can assume the primer is from whatever company made the brass. In the case where I got primed Speer 357 sig brass, I assumed it would be a CCI small pistol primer. Since the load I used for that brass wasn't a max load, I could go ahead, load 'em up. If you were working up a load, you could start at the lowest recommended loading, go up to max like any other trial load.

Farmland · September 5, 2009, 12:34 PM

You will find that some companies will state what primers they are using.

arizona98tj · September 5, 2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Geez - no you can't....not ALL dies have a removable decapping pin. So, yes it IS an issue..... for some.

So....if you break your decapping pin, you have to replace the entire rod assembly?

If so that die would last about 2 seconds on my bench before it went into the trash can.

Farmland · September 5, 2009, 04:20 PM

I was trying to figure that one out too. I'm not saying I know every die ever made but then again I was trying to figure out how in the world you would put a new pin in if it broke. Than again if the pin broke you could use it for primed brass.

What type of dies to to have wpsdlrg?

snuffy · September 5, 2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

arizona98tj
Quote:
Geez - no you can't....not ALL dies have a removable decapping pin. So, yes it IS an issue..... for some.
So....if you break your decapping pin, you have to replace the entire rod assembly?

If so that die would last about 2 seconds on my bench before it went into the trash can.

Most dies have removable decapping pins. Others that don't like the lee, the rod is held in a collet, (on top) that allows the entire rod to slide out the top of the die/collet to prevent it being broken by a berdan case that gets mixed in with range brass. In that case, you simply loosen the collet to slide the entire rod up so it don't decap. Hornady had a similar arrangement, they have since went with a threaded rod.

September 3, 2009, 05:10 PM	#1
gdeal Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 748	Primed Brass What do people think of primed brass? Especially since it is about the same price as brass with no live primers in them. I guess you would have to take your depriming die out when working with these too.

September 3, 2009, 10:53 PM	#5
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	Buying pre-primed brass, or already primed brass will save you a step in the reloading process. How many guys complain they can not find primers? How many guys have already primed their brass, but not yet reloaded it? Nothing wrong with it, some people actually prefer it I would guess. Note: The term "Guys" as used in this post is gender neutral, it actually refers to both male and female gender. Gotta love that political correctness. __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

September 4, 2009, 04:41 PM	#9
Nightowl Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2009 Location: New England Posts: 113	As long as you can remove the de-capping pin, it looks like a simple issue of saving some time and possibly a little dough. I would certainly consider it. __________________ Nightowl NRA Life Member & GOAL Supporter Proud Veteran Always - Safety First!

September 4, 2009, 06:22 PM	#14
Russ5924 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Posts: 1,874	The first thing I did when I got my Lee Press and my Dillon 550 is take everything that has to do with primers OFF. I do all my primers by hand after cleaning. That is the only thing saving me right now I had about 5000 cases primed, so with the little I have found and about breaking even between shooting and reloading __________________ Russ5924

September 5, 2009, 10:59 AM	#18
Russ5924 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Posts: 1,874	If you order primed brass do you have to pay a hazardous fee just wondering? __________________ Russ5924

September 3, 2009, 05:14 PM	#2
tom234 Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 753	Primed brass is fine and sometimes it's cheaper than having to buy primers. I use to buy Winchester primes pistol brass. As you mentioned, just remember to leave out the decaping stem if you size them.

September 3, 2009, 05:17 PM	#3
wpsdlrg Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2009 Posts: 826	Primed brass is simply brass sold with primers already installed. After firing, it's just like any other brass. I don't use it myself, because I always do a light full-length sizing on my new cases, before use.....and the primer will just be in the way (you won't get the brass fully to specs without the expander stem in the die). I don't see the point of buying brass pre-primed, anyway.

September 4, 2009, 03:50 PM	#8
wpsdlrg Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2009 Posts: 826	Geez - no you can't....not ALL dies have a removable decapping pin. So, yes it IS an issue..... for some.

September 4, 2009, 05:22 PM	#11
emcon5 Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 1999 Location: High Desert NV Posts: 2,850	I have used quite a bit of primed 5.56 brass, the reason was the cost difference was about the same or a little less than the price of the primers over the unprimed brass. I just ran them through a neck sizing die to remove any dings from shipping.

September 4, 2009, 05:24 PM	#12
jepp2 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,476	I seem to be in a minority. When I buy new brass (primed or unprimed), I DO NOT resize it. If it was going to be sold as loaded ammo, it wouldn't be sized again. I do run an expander through the neck of rifle brass since the necks deform easily in the annealed state. And pistol brass gets expanded during the loading process.

September 4, 2009, 05:32 PM	#13
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	In regard to rifles: My prime consideration for handloading is accuracy. I always neck size (except some autos), brass to obtain best accuracy. As part of my search for top accuracy, I consider the first firing of the brass as just fire-forming to fit my chamber. Therefore, *any primer* will do, most any bullet will do, most any load will do. After that, I use a specific primer, load, bullet. thus, in this scenario, pre-primed brass saves some time.

September 4, 2009, 08:42 PM	#17
Farmland Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Posts: 869	Primed brass was a pretty good deal and a nice time saver when I was able to find it locally. I used to by thousands of 40 Winchester primed brass. The point to buying primed brass is that you do save an extra step, sometimes it is cheaper and to be frank it can be a good step for beginners. With the cost of some dies it is a simple solution to be an extra sizing die if you are having problems with no being able to adjust the decapping pin or remove it. When I can find primed brass for the right price I buy it. In addition it gives me an opportunity to retire some of the older brass that has been reloaded probably more than it should have.

September 5, 2009, 11:59 AM	#20
QBall45 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2008 Location: South Central Minnesota Posts: 584	if ya order pre-primed brass, how do ya know what primer is being used?

September 5, 2009, 12:34 PM	#22
Farmland Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Posts: 869	You will find that some companies will state what primers they are using.

September 5, 2009, 04:20 PM	#24
Farmland Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Posts: 869	I was trying to figure that one out too. I'm not saying I know every die ever made but then again I was trying to figure out how in the world you would put a new pin in if it broke. Than again if the pin broke you could use it for primed brass. What type of dies to to have wpsdlrg?