Decapping

[Mike in Oregon]

When I asked what was your brass prep process, I saw decapping and sizing. Two steps. 20+ years agoi I was NK or FL sizing and decapping in one step. What am I missing? Was I doing it wrong?

 

[SVT_Tactical]

All preference IMO. I use a FA decaper tool as my first step. Then clean brass. I personally like clean cases going through my dies.

 

[Rick Richard]

All preference IMO. I use a FA decaper tool as my first step. Then clean brass. I personally like clean cases going through my dies.

Exactly

 

[Mike in Oregon]

All preference IMO. I use a FA decaper tool as my first step. Then clean brass. I personally like clean cases going through my dies.

I get the clean brass and die. After decapping, I would clean, then anneal. So, if I decap and neck in one step, I would be annealing with lube on the case. Is the bad?

 

[J_idaho]

When I asked what was your brass prep process, I saw decapping and sizing. Two steps. 20+ years agoi I was NK or FL sizing and decapping in one step. What am I missing? Was I doing it wrong?

You can’t get accurate shoulder measurements with primer in. That’s why I do it.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

You can’t get accurate shoulder measurements with primer in. That’s why I do it.

Starting to make sense now!

 

[bfiles]

When I asked what was your brass prep process, I saw decapping and sizing. Two steps. 20+ years agoi I was NK or FL sizing and decapping in one step. What am I missing? Was I doing it wrong?

I always tumbled, annealled, then sized/decapped in one step…until the spent primers were messing with my annealling-feed. So now I decap, tumble, anneal, size.

It literally doesn’t matter.

 

[M-61]

I always’decap’ before anything else. Also decapping as a first and separate operation. No desire to introduce debris in any die. Just my preference.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

I always tumbled, annealled, then sized/decapped in one step…until the spent primers were messing with my annealling-feed. So now I decap, tumble, anneal, size.

It literally doesn’t matter.

When do you trim?

 

[Oso]

I didn’t like the crud deposited on or under my press. Also, nice to get primer pockets cleaned during tumbling.

I spent a little money ($125) nand bought a Lee APP press (dedicated decapping station) to handle this job. Dirty stays in garage and reloading press stays clean.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

And what is the best decapping tooling? The Wilson way?

 

[jds holler]

KIDS, DON'T ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME!!

When I'm loading high volume plinkers and squirrel burners, I'll full size and de-prime on the down stroke, and seat a new primer on the up-stroke. - BAM!! Ready for powder! jd

 

[kelbro]

KIDS, DON'T ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME!!

When I'm loading high volume plinkers and squirrel burners, I'll full size and de-prime on the down stroke, and seat a new primer on the up-stroke. - BAM!! Ready for powder! jd

That's how my Dillon 550 does it. No problem!

 

[bfiles]

When do you trim?

Last thing after everything else is done. I left some steps out for brevity.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

That's how my Dillon 550 does it. No problem!

I have one and was wondering if that would speed things up?

 

[jds holler]

KIDS, DON'T ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME!!

When I'm loading high volume plinkers and squirrel burners, I'll full size and de-prime on the down stroke, and seat a new primer on the up-stroke. - BAM!! Ready for powder! jd

That's done on a single stage press with standard auto prime attachment. And only with cases that I know don't need trimming.
jd

 

[Webster]

I get the clean brass and die. After decapping, I would clean, then anneal. So, if I decap and neck in one step, I would be annealing with lube on the case. Is the bad?

My 1st step is to decap the cases as fired, clean the pockets, Maybe anneal, lube size, wipe cases with a towel, prime. Trim not every time.

You mentioned pushing too hard when seating primers. Once the primer cup bottoms on the pocket bottom you cannot move it any deeper, what I have noticed if you push real hard it looks like the rounded dome of the cup looks a little flattened. it's not obvious you have to look real close. Never has a misfire seating to the bottom in 55 years.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

When cleaning the brass in a wet tumbler and ss pins, does the normally clean the primer pockets pretty well?

 

[M-61]

Never has a misfire seating to the bottom in 55 years.

Nor should you. To the bottom is correct.

 

[rjtfroggy]

I do mine a little different. First I put the cases in the vibratory cleaner, then I de prime, size, wipe off lubricant, go to prep station, clean pockets with wire brush on the prep station, champher, deburr, prime, load.
I leave the primer in so as not to clog up the flash hole.