Leaving Media in the Flash Hole

chasep255 · May 13, 2011, 02:43 PM

I perfer to tumble after I size to get the lube off of the case. Often there is a piece of walnut stuck in my flash hole. If I don't remove it the cartridge will still fire but is it really a good practice?

Miata Mike · May 13, 2011, 03:29 PM

I would remove any piece of walnut found in the flash hole myself.

wncchester · May 13, 2011, 03:37 PM

I'm more concerned about hang fires than failure to fire. I elimanated the problem by going to a 40/20 media grit. It's too fine to plug a flash hole and works just as well as the larger stuff.

jhansman · May 13, 2011, 03:47 PM

I decap and resize my brass before tumbling, so I get media stuck all the time. The next step for me when the brass comes out of the tumbler and is separated from the media is to clean the primer pocket, so I punch out any stuck walnut then. I wouldn't leave the flash hole blocked, but that's just me.

Ozzieman · May 13, 2011, 04:24 PM

If I don't remove it the cartridge will still fire but it it really a good practice?
I would consider it dangerous.

mikld · May 13, 2011, 05:27 PM

Get a dental pick and when you inspect the clean brass, pick the chunks out...

Sky Master · May 13, 2011, 05:27 PM

I sometimes get a piece of walnut in the flash hole too. I reload on a Dillon 650 so leaving the decapping pin in the sizing die will knock the walnut out, otherwise you may need to put the die with the decapping pin back in your press and run it thru again. Or change to 40/20 as wncchester mentioned

CherokeeT · May 13, 2011, 06:26 PM

I always check to make sure there is no media in the flash hole.

Hydrostatic Shock · May 13, 2011, 08:09 PM

All you have to do is empty all the media out of the cases and tumbler and put only the cases back in. Run it for a minute or two and viola! I got this tip off another thread and it works. You still need to check them but I would guess it works for minimum 9 out of 10 cases.

It is a little loud but it works for me!

Tim R · May 13, 2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

I perfer to tumble after I size to get the lube off of the case. Often there is a piece of walnut stuck in my flash hole. If I don't remove it the cartridge will still fire but is it really a good practice?

no

May 13, 2011, 02:43 PM	#1
chasep255 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 727	Leaving Media in the Flash Hole I perfer to tumble after I size to get the lube off of the case. Often there is a piece of walnut stuck in my flash hole. If I don't remove it the cartridge will still fire but is it really a good practice? Last edited by chasep255; May 13, 2011 at 04:33 PM.

May 13, 2011, 03:47 PM	#4
jhansman Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2007 Posts: 680	I decap and resize my brass before tumbling, so I get media stuck all the time. The next step for me when the brass comes out of the tumbler and is separated from the media is to clean the primer pocket, so I punch out any stuck walnut then. I wouldn't leave the flash hole blocked, but that's just me. __________________ Blessed is the man who has nothing to say, and cannot be compelled to say it.

May 13, 2011, 05:27 PM	#6
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	Get a dental pick and when you inspect the clean brass, pick the chunks out... __________________ My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...

May 13, 2011, 06:26 PM	#8
CherokeeT Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2008 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 273	I always check to make sure there is no media in the flash hole. __________________ God Bless America US Army, NRA Endowment TSRA Life, SASS

May 13, 2011, 03:29 PM	#2
Miata Mike Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2010 Location: North East WI Posts: 418	I would remove any piece of walnut found in the flash hole myself.

May 13, 2011, 03:37 PM	#3
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	I'm more concerned about hang fires than failure to fire. I elimanated the problem by going to a 40/20 media grit. It's too fine to plug a flash hole and works just as well as the larger stuff.

May 13, 2011, 04:24 PM	#5
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	If I don't remove it the cartridge will still fire but it it really a good practice? I would consider it dangerous.

May 13, 2011, 05:27 PM	#7
Sky Master Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2009 Posts: 136	I sometimes get a piece of walnut in the flash hole too. I reload on a Dillon 650 so leaving the decapping pin in the sizing die will knock the walnut out, otherwise you may need to put the die with the decapping pin back in your press and run it thru again. Or change to 40/20 as wncchester mentioned

May 13, 2011, 08:09 PM	#9
Hydrostatic Shock Member Join Date: February 17, 2011 Posts: 47	All you have to do is empty all the media out of the cases and tumbler and put only the cases back in. Run it for a minute or two and viola! I got this tip off another thread and it works. You still need to check them but I would guess it works for minimum 9 out of 10 cases. It is a little loud but it works for me!