Possible stupid question

kealil · August 19, 2011, 12:45 AM

So, as the title says, possible stupid question:

Why aren't you supposed to use a decapping/resizing die before tumbling? I haven't done it yet so I'm not sure what the problem would be.

BigPapa4147 · August 19, 2011, 01:15 AM

If the case is dirty, it could scratch up the inside of your sizing die. And, from my own experience, cleaning media likes to pack into the flash hole and primer pocket.

NWPilgrim · August 19, 2011, 01:34 AM

The above is pretty standard way of doing it. Clean the grime off then decap and resize.

However, I prefer to use a universal decapper first (does not contact sides of case, just decaps). Then wash in detergent and vinegar, rinse, dry, resize, and tumble with corncob and carnuba wax. I do have to poke corncob out of some flash holes. These get stored until ready to use and then I just prime and load. Sounds complicated but it really takes very little time. Gets rid of the spent primer in first step so it is not dumping its crud on every thing and in the media.

dahermit · August 19, 2011, 08:53 AM

Unless you have media that cleans the inside of the primer pocket, walnut and corn cob does not, there is no point in decapping first. Also, you do not want the dirt that has accumulated on the cases to contact your sizing dies...the practical reason to tumble first is not to have shinny cases, it is to have clean cases to hand load.

mehavey · August 19, 2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Why aren't you supposed to use a decapping/resizing die before tumbling?

There is NO technical/safety problem with decapping/resizing before tumbling at all.
(You just have to make sure that some tumbling media didn't get caught in the open flashhole and/or push it out w/ a needle afterwards, that's all.)

(And unless your cases are really dirty/grimy/corroded, there no reason to be overly concerned w/ wear on the dies either. Case-in-point is the fact that I might only tumble/clean after a half-dozen or more firings.)

kealil · August 19, 2011, 10:05 AM

Ok makes sense. I usually use a primer pocket cleaner for that area anyway. Makes sense not to take a risk of junking up the die.

m&p45acp10+1 · August 19, 2011, 10:13 AM

If you are reloading straight walled cases there is no need to tumble the brass at all. As long as no debris, or caked in dirt is in the case you can skip cleaning and lubing.

With bottle necked brass if you are full length sizing it is recomended to clean brass to keep from scratching the die, as has been said. Now if you use a Lee Collet die that only resizes the neck. There is no need to clean the brass, or lube it for that matter

. I like that die a lot.

AllenJ · August 19, 2011, 10:18 AM

Brass has to be clean prior to resizing and the easiest way to do that is to tumble. As long as your brass is clean you can tumble before or after resizing. I regularly resize/deprime rifle brass prior to tumbling since those cases rarely touch the ground and each case is closely inspected prior to reloading. Pistol brass on the other hand gets tumbled first, inspected, then resized.

temmi · August 19, 2011, 05:29 PM

You have gotten good answers.

I deprime first and then tumble...

cause the media can block the flash hole.

BUT

When you handload... THERE IS NEVER A FOOLISH QUESTION.

Just foolish actions.

Snake

Ideal Tool · August 19, 2011, 07:27 PM

"If you are reloading straight walled cases, there is no need to tumble the brass at all. This is true only if using carbide dies..and even then it is good practice to clean first..even these things can wear. "As long as no debris...you can skip cleaning & lubing". There are other straight walled cases besides pistol/revolver...try this stunt with a .40-70 2 1/2" or .45-110 & you'll have a scratched die..with a stuck case in it!

mehavey · August 19, 2011, 08:15 PM

Quote:

...try this stunt with a... .45-110 [4 5x 3-1/4 in my case) & you'll have a scratched die..with a stuck case in it!

Now I admit that I wash (yes, wash inside & out) my Sharps cases after every BP firing, but I don't have to tumble/polish them to get normal relaoding forces.)

(Come to think of it, I size/deprime before washing so I can squirt soapy water back & forth through the flash hole using a 20ga bore mop.)

T. O'Heir · August 19, 2011, 10:00 PM

"...true only if..." Brass needs to be cleaned, no matter what shape it has.
"...the media can block the flash hole..." Fills the primer pocket and it's a nuisance to get out.

m&p45acp10+1 · August 20, 2011, 09:43 AM

I use fine walnut media. No clogged flash holes. I do run bucket, and range brass for a bit in the tumbler before working with it, just to clean it up a bit. I also tumble my rifle brass after full length resizing to remove the case lube. so far I have not had a single clogged flash hole using fine media. Now with that said. It does not clean the primer pockets. I do not clean primer pockets for pistol brass, and ususaly do not with my rifle brass either.

mrbro · August 20, 2011, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Why aren't you supposed to use a decapping/resizing die before tumbling?

Who made this a RULE? I wipe down and lube, size and deprime, then tumble. After tumbling I clean the primer pockets (and flash hole if needed), inspect the case and check the length. I do it this way so the that case is clean of case lube for the majority of handling. I've been doing it this way for decades and never had a problem.

serf 'rett · August 20, 2011, 03:49 PM

I always deprime first, but I'm wet tumbling with stainless steel media; thus, the cases, including primer pockets, are clean before I size. I'm not using sizing dies for depriming. Extra steps - yes, necessary - no, but I'm pleasing my OCD self.

August 19, 2011, 12:45 AM	#1
kealil Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2011 Posts: 270	Possible stupid question So, as the title says, possible stupid question: Why aren't you supposed to use a decapping/resizing die before tumbling? I haven't done it yet so I'm not sure what the problem would be.

August 19, 2011, 01:34 AM	#3
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,357	The above is pretty standard way of doing it. Clean the grime off then decap and resize. However, I prefer to use a universal decapper first (does not contact sides of case, just decaps). Then wash in detergent and vinegar, rinse, dry, resize, and tumble with corncob and carnuba wax. I do have to poke corncob out of some flash holes. These get stored until ready to use and then I just prime and load. Sounds complicated but it really takes very little time. Gets rid of the spent primer in first step so it is not dumping its crud on every thing and in the media. __________________ "The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition." - James Madison

August 19, 2011, 10:13 AM	#7
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,946	If you are reloading straight walled cases there is no need to tumble the brass at all. As long as no debris, or caked in dirt is in the case you can skip cleaning and lubing. With bottle necked brass if you are full length sizing it is recomended to clean brass to keep from scratching the die, as has been said. Now if you use a Lee Collet die that only resizes the neck. There is no need to clean the brass, or lube it for that matter. I like that die a lot. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

August 20, 2011, 09:43 AM	#13
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,946	I use fine walnut media. No clogged flash holes. I do run bucket, and range brass for a bit in the tumbler before working with it, just to clean it up a bit. I also tumble my rifle brass after full length resizing to remove the case lube. so far I have not had a single clogged flash hole using fine media. Now with that said. It does not clean the primer pockets. I do not clean primer pockets for pistol brass, and ususaly do not with my rifle brass either. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

August 19, 2011, 01:15 AM	#2
BigPapa4147 Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2009 Location: Westland, MI Posts: 116	If the case is dirty, it could scratch up the inside of your sizing die. And, from my own experience, cleaning media likes to pack into the flash hole and primer pocket.

August 19, 2011, 08:53 AM	#4
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	Unless you have media that cleans the inside of the primer pocket, walnut and corn cob does not, there is no point in decapping first. Also, you do not want the dirt that has accumulated on the cases to contact your sizing dies...the practical reason to tumble first is not to have shinny cases, it is to have clean cases to hand load.

August 19, 2011, 10:05 AM	#6
kealil Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2011 Posts: 270	Ok makes sense. I usually use a primer pocket cleaner for that area anyway. Makes sense not to take a risk of junking up the die.

August 19, 2011, 10:18 AM	#8
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	Brass has to be clean prior to resizing and the easiest way to do that is to tumble. As long as your brass is clean you can tumble before or after resizing. I regularly resize/deprime rifle brass prior to tumbling since those cases rarely touch the ground and each case is closely inspected prior to reloading. Pistol brass on the other hand gets tumbled first, inspected, then resized.

August 19, 2011, 05:29 PM	#9
temmi Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 531	You have gotten good answers. I deprime first and then tumble... cause the media can block the flash hole. BUT When you handload... THERE IS NEVER A FOOLISH QUESTION. Just foolish actions. Snake

August 19, 2011, 07:27 PM	#10
Ideal Tool Junior member Join Date: October 6, 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,080	"If you are reloading straight walled cases, there is no need to tumble the brass at all. This is true only if using carbide dies..and even then it is good practice to clean first..even these things can wear. "As long as no debris...you can skip cleaning & lubing". There are other straight walled cases besides pistol/revolver...try this stunt with a .40-70 2 1/2" or .45-110 & you'll have a scratched die..with a stuck case in it!

August 19, 2011, 10:00 PM	#12
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...true only if..." Brass needs to be cleaned, no matter what shape it has. "...the media can block the flash hole..." Fills the primer pocket and it's a nuisance to get out.

August 20, 2011, 03:49 PM	#15
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	I always deprime first, but I'm wet tumbling with stainless steel media; thus, the cases, including primer pockets, are clean before I size. I'm not using sizing dies for depriming. Extra steps - yes, necessary - no, but I'm pleasing my OCD self.