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View Poll Results: Decapping as a separate operation

Voters
410. You may not vote on this poll
  • Never

    80 19.51%
  • Not when using a progressive press

    29 7.07%
  • Only for rifle

    62 15.12%
  • Always

    242 59.02%
Multiple Choice Poll.
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Results 81 to 100 of 170

Thread: Do you decap as a separate operation?

  1. #81
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Posts
    4,612
    Talking about an internet time waster. You can certainly save a lot of time by buying all your ammo. If time is the only thing of value why reload at all?
    I was reloading long before there was an internet or digital electronics or zoomy presses. You certainly cannot feel crud in all presses and you sure are not going to do much about it if you do. If you don't shoot at targets with clean primer pockets you would never know the difference would you?

    Who says I don't load with an arbor press? How did you reach the conclusion that what I said excluded an arbor press. I use all types of equipment but I also like clean primer pockets. The guys at the accurate shooter forum would argue that they can load just accurately with a press and dies as you can with Wilson dies and an arbor press. But I don't remember any that promote dirty primer pockets. My grandfather never bothered with firearms except to execute a raccoon or skunk but he did provide me with a ranch to shoot hunt and shoot on.

    Quote Originally Posted by dragon813gt View Post
    When did I mention progressive and rifle ammo in my post? And you can certainly feel "crud" in a primer pocket on a press. That's one of those misnomers that's repeated over and over. It doesn't change the fact that having sparkling clean primer pockets and brass has no positive effect on target. If you're after the most accurate round possible you would be loading w/ arbor dies, not a reloading press.

    Everyone is free to load rounds however they want to. The internet has brought about a whole bunch of time wasters. I remember when my grandfather simply wiped a case off w/ a rag. The only cleanliness he cared about was keeping debris out of his dies. Wish I could load and shoot half as well as he could.
    EDG

  2. #82
    Boolit Grand Master

    dragon813gt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Somewhere in SE PA
    Posts
    9,989

    Do you decap as a separate operation?

    I have shot w/ clean primer pockets. Then I shot w/ dirty primer pockets. It made no difference on target. My Grandfather told me not to waste my time cleaning them. I tried to prove him wrong but in the end he was right. I'm not a benchrest shooter so cleaning them is a waste of time.

  3. #83
    Boolit Mold patrick_ford's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    23
    I dry tumble then size and decap. Any media that gets caught in the primer hole gets removed upon case inspection.
    “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations – we fall to the level of our training” - Archilochus

  4. #84
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Posts
    466
    If I'm going to clean, I'm cleaning all of it. Primer hole included. I just like clean brass.

    Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

  5. #85
    Banned
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Casa Grande, AZ
    Posts
    5,526
    Use lizard litter and nothing gets stuck in the primer pocket.

  6. #86
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    South Central PA
    Posts
    760
    I decap my 357 magnum and rifle brass to clean the primer pockets, all the others just get loaded as normal.

  7. #87
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Posts
    71
    I decap to wet tumble with SS media

  8. #88
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    3
    I tumble first......... fl resize, decap & prime all in the same stroke, powder w/preset dispenser, insert bullet........done in three pulls. Most of my reloading is for MGs, not interested in taking any more time to reload than is actually needed. I hate length sizing & mil. crimp primer pockets.

    PJH

  9. #89
    Boolit Buddy
    1911cherry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    a dirt road in Mississippi
    Posts
    157
    I decap separately but not because I have to ,I just got a universal decapper in some stuff I bought and hey why not use it. I wet tumble and then process the brass ,size ,trim ,swage ,reform whatever. Shiny brass never helped me hit the bullseye ,but I like it. Old stained brass that wont cleanup gets moved to the cast boolit only bin and loaded up too.
    AR15 goes bang, AK47 goes bang, Mosin goes boom...

  10. #90
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    NEPA
    Posts
    392
    One pull of the press handle, one loaded round.
    More time to dry fire, higher scores.
    NEVER wast time priming off the press.

    Dave C.
    Last edited by Dave C.; 12-13-2016 at 08:35 PM.
    Distinguished, Master,2600 club, President 100 badge holder.

  11. #91
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Middle of the Mitten
    Posts
    1,330

  12. #92
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Posts
    235
    Only for Berdan LR. Hydro or puncture and pry methods.

  13. #93
    Boolit Bub


    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Booger County, Texas
    Posts
    38
    I do decap first, using a "universal" decapping die. I care about it mostly for brass I haven't reloaded before, as it does remind me to do some flash-hole and pocket touch up. The sizing die has no problem knocking out any cob in the hole if I happen to miss it, as it still has its rod. I agree with the fellow who didn't like to run dirty brass through his dies and some of what I get second-hand is, shall we say, "well seasoned" by wind, rain, and cow poo. I don't think it's anything critical, but I developed the habit a long time ago and it doesn't interfere with me today so why not?

  14. #94
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    1,222
    ALMOST never decap separate from everything else. If I'm someplace away from my pres and I am using a Lee Loader, I'll decap separately. Not because I think it helps anything, but because I have to, under those circumstances.
    For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:18
    He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool become servant to the wise of heart. Proverbs 11:29
    ...Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40


    Carpe SCOTCH!

  15. #95
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Eagle River, AK
    Posts
    62
    I found that decapping and reloading in one step was a recipe for spoiling a primer for me due to the use of a wet tumbler. I am now decapping after a basic cleaning, followed up by a full cleaning before reloading

  16. #96
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Eagle River, AK
    Posts
    62
    This lets me clean the primer pocket too

  17. #97
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Posts
    466
    I tumble first in Franklin Arsenal #5 corn. Decap and size and then just started to wet tumble with SS pins. Brass might as be new the way it looks.
    I really like clean brass. Also makes it much easier to find on the ground.

    Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

  18. #98
    Boolit Man
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    92
    I push the pressures on some rifle cases. I like a double system on determining if the pockets are getting loose. The Neil Jones de capping tool is excellent in giving you "feel" of the primer pocket, and has proven a more sensitive method than a hand priming tool from Lee or RCBS. Using both the Neil Jones decapping tool, and a hand priming tool gives you excellent quality control in culling out loose primer pockets.

    I shoot a lot of 2 oz triggers on my Varmint and bench guns. If you blow the primer on a small rifle case with a 2 oz trigger, the gas blow back forces the firing pin to the rear with such force that it almost always breaks the third lever in the 2 oz trigger. Also, catching those loose primer pockets in large primer cases stops rings from getting burnt around the firing pin hole on the bolt face.

  19. #99
    Boolit Buddy Tmaloy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    159
    I decap them with a Lee decap die then wet tumble with SS pins. Size separately on my RCII and if loading boolits I expand the necks. Move them to my progressive install the decap die in the sizing station to make sure there are no obstructions in the case then just load them.

  20. #100
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Houston TX
    Posts
    761
    De-Prime with a Lee punch and small hammer, clean with the stainless pins, polish in walnut with New Finish and the am ready to reload. With brass that is new to me the flash holes are de-bured and prime pockets checked for depth and bore.
    All of the brass is cleaned with the stainless pins with the primers removed.
    Most everyone has their own procedures all work.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check