Shout out to the Mighty Armory decapping die

[6Creed73]

Friendly reminder for those who tumble with SS pins...double check your cases. I was loading up a few hundred rounds of 5.56 for some plinking at a friend's land. When seating one of them I didn't like the feel, looking at the neck I could see the start of a very small split. So I broke it down to toss the case. As I was decapping, it was taking a lot of force, which made no sense since it primed just fine. Flipped the case upside down to look at the primer and this bent pin fell out. I'm grateful for that neck starting to split or I'd have sent a pin down the pipe.

Gotta hand it to the Mighty Armory decapping die, that thing is strong and is still in perfect shape!

I always look inside my cases to make sure there are no pins before loading, clearly I need a better way to see inside small cases. Went ahead and ordered some cheap pen lights like doctors use to check pupils...that should allow me to see inside much better.

Now, due to paranoia looks like I'm breaking down 275 rounds

 

[SeabeeKen]

Wayne makes some excellent dies but that decap die is tough as a tank.

 

[dantiff2]

Outstanding testament to the strength of that decapping pin! :O

 

[kujuak]

My wife calls me Wreck em Ralph because of my ability to break anything I touch. The Mighty Armory Decapper is GREAT, even I haven't been able to break it.

 

[ALK]

When checking cases after tumbling with ss pins, I lay cases flat on cotton towel and go over them with the strongest magnet I have.

 

[6Creed73]

When checking cases after tumbling with ss pins, I lay cases flat on cotton towel and go over them with the strongest magnet I have.

I have the Frankford Arsenal magnet. I may try that next time, not sure if it will be strong enough to stick pins that are inside cases, but I'll try it.

 

[Stumpy1]

Before you pull down that many cases, perhaps weighing them might help? If your empty case weights are close, your bullets, primers, and powder charge should be close too. Then, any complete cartridge should be heavier than the average by the weight of a pin (or God forbid) two.

Hope this is useful,

Frank

 

[6Creed73]

Before you pull down that many cases, perhaps weighing them might help? If your empty case weights are close, your bullets, primers, and powder charge should be close too. Then, any complete cartridge should be heavier than the average by the weight of a pin (or God forbid) two.

Hope this is useful,

Frank

These are just plinking rounds so I used mixed brass. The weight variations between the different brass and those pins being tiny...I doubt I'll be able to tell if any have a pin inside.

If these were same headstamp brass, I'd definitely try it. I'm not looking forward to pulling all these, but at least I have until Friday to get it done.

 

[Stumpy1]

Bummer.

 

[6Creed73]

Bummer.

I am going to run a magnet over them all though, as soon as @ALK mentioned the magnet, I'm wondering if it will be strong enough to pick up a case with a pin.

I'm going to load a dummy round with a pin inside and try it, just to see what it does.

 

[6Creed73]

Magnet trick worked! Checked all 275 and none of them had pins. So glad I didn't have to pull all those. Thanks for the idea @ALK

 

[RCE1]

A headlamp works great for seeing down into the cases to look for stray media. I switched over to the stainless chips as opposed to the pins. Less stickage that way. I also use the FA separator with the water bucket filled up. Water makes a huge difference in quickly separating the steel media.

 

[markm87]

Early in my SS media tumbling days, we had a pin hit my buddy's arm when the AR ejected. It was hot of course an he felt it bounce of his arm.

Since then I do a clean water rinse/agitation in a small tote and I've not had a problem.

 

[TommyD11730]

Rice tumbler here... worst I get is..

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Fried Rice.