Case tumbling - Before or after depriming?

[davery25]

Hi guys,

I get my new tumbler tomorrow in the mail but now I have a dilemma. Am i meant to tumble cases before or after depriming? i have around 400 filthy spent cases with primers still in them, i really dont like running dirty cases through my dies but will putting cases with spent primers in them affect the cleaning process (or even the tumbler?)

Is there a rule with this?

Cheers,
D

 

[fdshuster]

Pretty much your choice of how you want to do it. Leaving the primers in can leave a tiny piece of corn cob ( if that's what you'll be using), jammed into the primer inside the case & that can prevent the de-capping pin from smoothly punching out the primer. Also easier for the de-capping pin to get bent. Been there, done that. Primer pockets will of course receive no cleaning. Knock out the primer before tumbling ( for large volume I use a dedicated RCBS de-capping die ), and a tiny kernal will get stuck in the flash hole and I use a carpenters awl to punch them out, giving each case a quick inspection at the same time. Primer pockets will also be very clean. I do prefer to de-cap first. Once the case's have been tumbled I am very careful to not let the case's lay flat on any surface, but keep them standing upright in a small loading block.

 

[davery25]

but after depriming, which in my case involves full length sizing and hence lubing the cases, wouldn't i then have to resize the cases after tumbling as they may or may not get bent out of shape slightly?

 

[TheSnake]

Once the case's have been tumbled I am very careful to not let the case's lay flat on any surface, but keep them standing upright in a small loading block.

FDS, What is the purpose of this?

I also remove the primers with a de-priming die before cleaning so the pockets come out cleaner. I use ultrasonic method for cleaning and don't have to worry about the media in the flash hole anymore from the vibratory cleaners. From the many posts on the topic of clean primer pockets, I don't think having them clean helps with accuracy, but it helps me sleep better at night knowing it's clean under them primers.

 

[TheSnake]

but after depriming, which in my case involves full length sizing and hence lubing the cases, wouldn't i then have to resize the cases after tumbling as they may or may not get bent out of shape slightly?

I would recommend the universal de-priming die so you are not resizing before cleaning. Are you talking about a true tumbler with something like stainless media or a vibratory cleaner? I think most people clean first then resize no matter what they do with the primers.

I have never had a case bent from a vibratory cleaner. I don't have a tumbler so I can't speak first hand, but I don't recall the people that do complaining of cases getting bent from them. Tumbler owners please chime in on this.

 

[NorCalMikie]

The #1 rule is, do them however you feel comfortable.
If they're range pick up brass and they're pretty nasty, throw them in the tumbler "before" they get to the dies. Keep dirt and grit out of your dies. That's your first priority.
99.99% of my brass never hits the ground so they stay clean.
Maybe wipe them off then resize. Dirty brass, primers in the first time. Get them clean first then deprime. If the primer pockets are bad enough, go after them with a primer pocket cleaner.(Crockagator works slick ) Polish the necks with steel wool, prime and set aside, ready to load.
I don't tumble "every time", I just make sure they're clean.
If I have to full length resize (M1A, Mini 14, AR), they get tumbled before and after. Clean, full length resize, back in the tumbler to get the case lube off. Or, tumble first, deprime and resize, then in a soapy wash to remove the case lube. Dry in the oven over night.
Inspect each and every primer pocket for stuck media and clean as needed, another inspection and reprime if all is good. And don't forget to measure OAL and trim if needed.
(I shoulder bump and neck size so no trimming is needed. ;D)
Work intensive but worth every minute of your time.
Over time you'll know what to add or subtract from the process.
And every time you get that piece of brass in your hands is another chance to look it over real good.

 

[M-61]

I like to tumble the cases straight from the range. This way the cases are clean before they go in any die. I've never had a media that would clean a primer pocket anyway so the spent primers stay 'til the cases are clean. I've never bent a decapping pin because a piece of media was stuck in the flash hole. Tumble, decap, and then clean the primer pockets with the proper tool, then you start with a clean case. This is my method and it has worked well for me. Anyway, to disassemle a die and clean it is a pain (everything has to be reset) so this way the dies stay cleaner longer. Clean dies are important so this keeps them cleaner longer.
Find a system you enjoy and are comfortable with.

 

[fdshuster]

"Snake": Once the case's come out of the tumbler ( Lyman 1200 & Frankford Arsenal/ both have been operational for almost 20 years), I keep them standing upright to eliminate any chance of them picking up any dirt on the case walls, where they then can cause scratches on the inside of the sizer die(s). Some of my Redding & RCBS dies are now well over 40 years old, and they cannot be told from new. Once they've been sized (with Imperial) and wiped off, then I don't care about them laying down. A case never goes into any die until it is shiney clean. Additional note: No, having clean brass does not have any effect on accuracy, but it goes a long way in giving the ability to spot a pending split in the case neck, and/or the beginning of the first indication of case head seperation, as shown by the beginning of a ring about 1/2" from the rim.

 

[necchi]

I'm another , tumble then deprime guy. Don't want any carbon or dirt near my dies.
I also use a universal deprimer die (Lee). I've pulled the deprime pin from my RCBS dies and adjusted the button higher in the die, but that"s another story.
I use the RCBS pocket brush/cleaner as another step in the prep process.

And like NorCalMikie said, the Rule is what you want to do.
Your guess is the smart move.

 

[spclark]

I deprime cases by hand using Wilson decapping pins and bases. Keeps the primer grit & stuff away from my presses & other dies. Then cases go into an RCBS rotary with ss media & appropriate solution. Two hours later a quick rinse & alcohol dip, they're dry in another hour & ready to re-size.

 

[NorCalMikie]

And the bottom line is, when your brass looks like new, bright and clean, you feel better about your loading process and the guys around "think" you really know your $hit! 8)
Like the old saying, "If it feels good, do it". ;D

I've never used a vibrator type tumbler but I've never see a damaged case come out of my "Thumlers Tumbler".
Clean brass goes in the dies. "Good" ammo comes out. 8)

 

[M-61]

I have to mention this also. The temptation to tumble or vibrate mixed cases is there. If you mix rifle and pistol (and I have done this but stopped long ago) certain pistol cases can lodge themselves inside rifle cases with the media locking them in place solidly. (Tapping knocks it all out including the media all over your bench). Point is when you are depriming and fail to notice the "too" heavy case, that will break the depriming pin.

 

[Cameron SS]

I usually clean cases with a krazy cloth first, then neck size (and deprime). Then if I am giong to body size, I'll lube, size and tumble afterwards.

I never had a problem with corncob media getting stuck in the flash hole. My media separator usually gets most of it out. The one in 50 cases with media in the flash hole comes right out with the flash hole deburring tool.

+1 for never really seeing the primer pockets get cleaned in a tumbler, I've always used the RCBS pocket brush.

Over the few years I've been doing this, I've refined my process several times to account for a new tool, new peice of advice, or new preference.

How you do it now will likely be different from how you will do it in 10 or 20 years, so play around with it. As long as you aren't destroying the brass, there isn't really a wrong way to clean it. Just good ways and better ways. YMMV.

 

[1shot]

Normally I wouldn't respond to this thread because everyone has their on “secret” way of fired brass prep, but was curious as to what others were doing, and hopefully learn something in the process. I like some others fit into the "my brass never sees the ground" category. So, when getting back to the shop I throw all the brass in a large Dillon vibratory tumbler, filled with ground apricot hulls and a tablespoon of Brasso every once in a while. When the brass comes out, I lay a towel on the floor, dump the brass on the towel after the media has been removed and give them a 2-3 sec. blast of Brake Kleen. This can be found at W-mart or most any auto parts store for about $2.50 a can. Chemically, it's the same as Gun Scrubber without the high price. (Please don’t ask me to spell it) :-\ Then I re-size the brass, using Imperial sizing die wax. Next, back to the towel and another shot of Brake Kleen to remove the sizing die wax. Finally I use the Crocagator to clean the primer pockets and I'm ready to seat primers. (Assuming I don't need to trim of course).
That is my case prep method. I don't know if it's the best, but as someone else said, "I sleep better at night".
I hope this helps,
Lloyd

 

[hawghunter]

I use a Neil Jones hand held decapper first then vibrate cases.
Check out the Neil Jones decapper slick as butter and fast.

 

[artbosco]

I get my new tumbler tomorrow in the mail but now I have a dilemma. Am i meant to tumble cases before or after deprimming? i have around 400 filthy spent cases with primers still in them, i really don't like running dirty cases through my dies but will putting cases with spent primers in them affect the cleaning process (or even the tumbler)?

If they're pistol cases, deprime after tumbling to keep the flash hole from getting clogged up with media.

If they're rifle cases don't tumble, clean the outside of the neck with Nevr-Dull and then rub the entire case with a cloth to remove the Nevr-Dull on the neck and any other reside from the exterior of the case. F/L size. Then, clean the inside of the neck with a nylon brush. Clean the primer pocket with a uniformer, prime, then drop power and seat a bullet. Done!

 

[lynn]

Davery25
If you don't have a universal decapping die simply unscrew the depriming rod out of your current die and use it by putting your cases into a shellholder and hitting the rod with a tack hammer.
None of my dies have a de-priming rod in them at all.
You can tumble them first then resize them and re-tumble them again to remove the sizing die wax.
Lynn

 

[memilanuk]

If you don't already have a separate decapping die or just want to keep the spent primer grit away from your press... this is a handy little tool:

http://harveydeprimer.com/

Not cheap, but built like a brick outhouse and handles everything from my .223 Rem & 6BR up to my .338LM.

When tumbling w/ corncob or walnut for bulk loading things like .223 Rem (sorry Outdoorsman, no way am I hand-rubbing hundreds or thousands of cases) or pistol, I leave the primer in and let the decapping rod in the F/L sizing die in my Dillon 550 do its work.

When wet tumbling in SS media in a Thumler'sTumbler for my LR match ammo, I decap first using the Harvey tool mentioned above - and the cases come out nice and clean, inside and out, including the primer pocket.

 

[Taildrag15X]

That looks sweet Monte, I've used a Lee hand decapper for years, just might have to add one of these to the Christmas list for this year.

Thanks for the link!

 

[spclark]

If you don't already have a separate decapping die or just want to keep the spent primer grit away from your press... this is a handy little tool:

http://harveydeprimer.com/

Neat! Just like Sinclair's primer tool. Do they have an option for 0.060" flash holes? Most of the brass I'm using now won't work with a fatter decapping pin.