Does using the Lee depriming/sizing die BEFORE cleaning the case ruin the die??

raddoc · February 19, 2009, 12:22 PM

I'm confused. My lee kit has the full length resizing die with the depriming punch, but I don't want to scratch the die using uncleaned brass. But...in order to clean the brass, I've got to deprime it first. What do you guys do?

thanks,

doc

Doby45 · February 19, 2009, 12:30 PM

If you MUST deprime prior to cleaning use a universal depriming/decapping die. That way all you are doing is depriming. Why are you not simply cleaning the brass with the primers in?

45Marlin carbine · February 19, 2009, 12:56 PM

if you don't have a tumbler use the Lee trim shell holder to spin brass by drill and burnish w/fine steel wool. you need the holder and trim anyway, to trim to length after a few firings. don't forget case neck brush and chamfer tool.
range pick-ups I always wash first to get any dirt/crud off.

Doby45 · February 19, 2009, 01:02 PM

That would be assuming that he is working with rifle brass. I would not trim and chamfer pistol brass. It would also appear that he has a tumbler and was simply under the impress that he must deprime prior to cleaning, which is not the case.

I tumble my brass with primers in and with a mix of walnut and corn cobb and a cap of Nu-Finish car polish and they come out uber clean and slickery

zxcvbob · February 19, 2009, 01:03 PM

It's much harder to ruin (scratch) a carbide die than you would think. More likely you will scratch some of your brass if they are gritty.

I just deprimed a bunch of .38 Special brass last night; I used a .45 Colt die. That way the die didn't touch the brass. (this brass was already cleaned and polished, I just didn't want to size it yet)

raddoc · February 19, 2009, 01:14 PM

thanks for the help guys.

I'm liking the walnut shell / corn cob tumbler media may I'll try some pistachios

doc

Alleykat · February 19, 2009, 01:50 PM

Why deprime prior to cleaning? I never have, and I've loaded several hundred thousand rounds.

raddoc · February 19, 2009, 02:11 PM

Just making sure the primer pocket is extra clean (even though I go over it again with a pocket cleaning tool), plus I wasn't too keen on the spent resorcinol from the primers mixing around with my tumbled brass...Just being extra cautious I guess

doc

Alleykat · February 19, 2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

plus I wasn't too keen on the spent resorcinol from the primers mixing around with my tumbled brass...Just being extra cautious I guess

Nope, just making an issue when no issue exists!

PCJim · February 19, 2009, 02:46 PM

Raddoc, if straightwalled brass, tumble then reload. If bottlenecked brass, tumble, lube and FL resize/deprime, then tumble again (15 minutes) to remove the lube, then reload after making sure your flash holes are clear.

Many reloaders who primarily load on a progressive press use a single stage/turret press for the initial FL resize/deprime on bottleneck cases. If you are one of them, pick up a universal deprimer for station one on the progressive to insure the flash hole is clear.

Jayhawkhuntclub · February 19, 2009, 03:14 PM

You guys tumble between every time reloading? I usually tumble when they get or look dirty.

CrustyFN · February 19, 2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

You guys tumble between every time reloading? I usually tumble when they get or look dirty.

I do, and I tumble with the primers in.
Rusty

Doby45 · February 19, 2009, 03:22 PM

Yheap, sure do. takes no time to drop some brass in the tumbler and let it do its thing.

totalloser · February 19, 2009, 03:35 PM

I can see where the OP is coming from trying to limit exposure to primer dust, but really we should be washing our hands anyway after loading and handling ammo, and before touching food/surfaces/mouth etc.

Something worth considering, however, is that if you decap and THEN tumble, you likely will find the occasional walnut piece stuck in the flash hole.

PCJim · February 19, 2009, 03:36 PM

As do I. Tumbling keeps everything clean. Load the tumbler, plug in the timer and, as Ron Popiel says, "Set it and forget it".

Inspector3711 · February 19, 2009, 09:22 PM

I tumble every time but I don't clean primer pockets anymore. I uniform them and deburr them once and then I'm done with them. I haven't noticed any ill effects yet.

bluetopper · February 19, 2009, 09:33 PM

If it's a concern with you, just wash the brass first as I do with the old primer in.
I usually wait till I have a gallon or so of brass in a container them put them in a bucket with dishwashing liquid and hot water then pour them from one bucket to another a few times. Rinse and let dry outside.

raddoc · February 19, 2009, 10:30 PM

thanks for the advice guys,

doc

warnerwh · February 22, 2009, 11:44 PM

I only tumble when the brass looks dirty. After thousands and thousands of rounds I've had zero problem with anything including my carbide dies. This is assuming you're using a carbide sizing die and not a steel die, Lee makes both.

February 19, 2009, 12:22 PM	#1
raddoc Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 16	Does using the Lee depriming/sizing die BEFORE cleaning the case ruin the die?? I'm confused. My lee kit has the full length resizing die with the depriming punch, but I don't want to scratch the die using uncleaned brass. But...in order to clean the brass, I've got to deprime it first. What do you guys do? thanks, doc

February 19, 2009, 01:03 PM	#5
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	It's much harder to ruin (scratch) a carbide die than you would think. More likely you will scratch some of your brass if they are gritty. I just deprimed a bunch of .38 Special brass last night; I used a .45 Colt die. That way the die didn't touch the brass. (this brass was already cleaned and polished, I just didn't want to size it yet) __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

February 19, 2009, 03:35 PM	#14
totalloser Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2007 Location: Fort Bragg, CA Posts: 679	I can see where the OP is coming from trying to limit exposure to primer dust, but really we should be washing our hands anyway after loading and handling ammo, and before touching food/surfaces/mouth etc. Something worth considering, however, is that if you decap and THEN tumble, you likely will find the occasional walnut piece stuck in the flash hole. __________________ You only truly believe in freedom if you believe in the freedom of those you disagree.

February 19, 2009, 09:22 PM	#16
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	I tumble every time but I don't clean primer pockets anymore. I uniform them and deburr them once and then I'm done with them. I haven't noticed any ill effects yet. __________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Llama (5/15/01, The Seattle Times) "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." George Orwell

February 22, 2009, 11:44 PM	#19
warnerwh Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2009 Posts: 329	I only tumble when the brass looks dirty. After thousands and thousands of rounds I've had zero problem with anything including my carbide dies. This is assuming you're using a carbide sizing die and not a steel die, Lee makes both. __________________ Portland, Or

February 19, 2009, 12:30 PM	#2
Doby45 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Powder Springs, GA Posts: 213	If you MUST deprime prior to cleaning use a universal depriming/decapping die. That way all you are doing is depriming. Why are you not simply cleaning the brass with the primers in?

February 19, 2009, 12:56 PM	#3
45Marlin carbine Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: South-Western North Carolina Posts: 1,124	if you don't have a tumbler use the Lee trim shell holder to spin brass by drill and burnish w/fine steel wool. you need the holder and trim anyway, to trim to length after a few firings. don't forget case neck brush and chamfer tool. range pick-ups I always wash first to get any dirt/crud off.

February 19, 2009, 01:02 PM	#4
Doby45 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Powder Springs, GA Posts: 213	That would be assuming that he is working with rifle brass. I would not trim and chamfer pistol brass. It would also appear that he has a tumbler and was simply under the impress that he must deprime prior to cleaning, which is not the case. I tumble my brass with primers in and with a mix of walnut and corn cobb and a cap of Nu-Finish car polish and they come out uber clean and slickery

February 19, 2009, 01:14 PM	#6
raddoc Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 16	thanks for the help guys. I'm liking the walnut shell / corn cob tumbler media may I'll try some pistachios doc

February 19, 2009, 01:50 PM	#7
Alleykat Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2007 Posts: 3,668	Why deprime prior to cleaning? I never have, and I've loaded several hundred thousand rounds.

February 19, 2009, 02:11 PM	#8
raddoc Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 16	Just making sure the primer pocket is extra clean (even though I go over it again with a pocket cleaning tool), plus I wasn't too keen on the spent resorcinol from the primers mixing around with my tumbled brass...Just being extra cautious I guess doc

February 19, 2009, 02:46 PM	#10
PCJim Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Location: FL Posts: 570	Raddoc, if straightwalled brass, tumble then reload. If bottlenecked brass, tumble, lube and FL resize/deprime, then tumble again (15 minutes) to remove the lube, then reload after making sure your flash holes are clear. Many reloaders who primarily load on a progressive press use a single stage/turret press for the initial FL resize/deprime on bottleneck cases. If you are one of them, pick up a universal deprimer for station one on the progressive to insure the flash hole is clear.

February 19, 2009, 03:14 PM	#11
Jayhawkhuntclub Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2007 Posts: 581	You guys tumble between every time reloading? I usually tumble when they get or look dirty.

February 19, 2009, 03:22 PM	#13
Doby45 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Powder Springs, GA Posts: 213	Yheap, sure do. takes no time to drop some brass in the tumbler and let it do its thing.

February 19, 2009, 03:36 PM	#15
PCJim Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Location: FL Posts: 570	As do I. Tumbling keeps everything clean. Load the tumbler, plug in the timer and, as Ron Popiel says, "Set it and forget it".

February 19, 2009, 09:33 PM	#17
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	If it's a concern with you, just wash the brass first as I do with the old primer in. I usually wait till I have a gallon or so of brass in a container them put them in a bucket with dishwashing liquid and hot water then pour them from one bucket to another a few times. Rinse and let dry outside.

February 19, 2009, 10:30 PM	#18
raddoc Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 16	thanks for the advice guys, doc