Reloading order of operations

Jarlath

Jarlath

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OK Gents. I have always reloaded in the following order (Mostly due to ritual learned from my uncle than any set of rules).
  1. Deprime cases with universal deprimer
  2. Tumble cases and wipe clean/blow out dust.
  3. Lube rifle cases with my RCBS lube pad
  4. Size
  5. Wipe off Lube (Only Rifle)
  6. Trim & Chamfering (Rifle & well used Handgun)
  7. Prime via Hand Primer
  8. Powder via either Measure or Scale
  9. Seat (Measure OAL prior to crimping)
  10. Crimp (Separate step from seating)
I load in batches of 50-200 rounds at a time. And yes it takes a fair bit of time since I don't combine any steps (Deprime/size, Seat/Crimp), etc etc...
Now I am just reading some of the older Threads about case lube and see that many people lube, size/deprime, then tumble... Doesn't the dirt/powder dust on the cases with lube make a mess of the dies since it is tumbled after? Doesn't your media get to be less effective way faster since you are adding lube into the mix?

Just deciding if I want to try doing the lube, size/deprime, then tumble/clean order.
 
I throw my fired cases into the tumbler to clean them then Lube, size/deprime, then back into the tumbler to clean before priming and loading. Extra tumbling time but I don't like wiping off lube especially since I lube the inside of the necks when sizing and it's one less trip through the press
 
Guess I mis-read, I only tumble at the beginning, I use a Lee Collett most of the time so no lube, when i do FL resize, just a wipe with a rag to remove lube. I wouldn't worry about wasting media, it's so cheap from the pet shop.
 
savagefan said:
As above, I hate picking out pieces of cob from the primer pocket.
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me too...but I love shiney brass :D and the media doesnt seem to get 'worn out'. as said, its cheap
 
So far I have found that the Hornady media seems to be the best for primer pocket issues. No pockets jammed full of media the way the RCBS stuff does and maybe one in six needs a little poke with a sharp popsickle stick to clear out the flash hole.
 
todbartell said:
me too...but I love shiney brass :D and the media doesnt seem to get 'worn out'. as said, its cheap
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I like the shiny brass too. Also if worried about the media then run two batches.

I know it might be overkill but I tumble my rifle brass three different times total. First one to initially clean before lube and sizing. Second time after sizing I use a fine corn cob media for 10-15 min to remove the lube. Third time removes sizing marks and gives the brass a really nice shine. Ammo looks better than factory when done.

Just remember to clean those primmer pockets out before priming or you could have some serious issues.
 
I tumble the brass prior to sizing so that I dont run any dirt or sand into the reloading dies.
Then tumble again after sizing to remove lube.

I used to tumble after loading, until I read that is a bad idea, as it could possibly break down the powder grains and change the burn rate.
 
sigh, not that old wives tale again? it's fine to tumble loaded rounds.
I tumble, then lube, deprime/resize (until my Redding dies get here, then it'll be a different story), trim, tumble again, prime, charge, seat bullets, and then if I have time, tumble again.
 
tootall said:
I tumble the brass prior to sizing so that I dont run any dirt or sand into the reloading dies.
Then tumble again after sizing to remove lube.
.
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This is what I do also, I use crushed walnut media, very clean and does not get caught in the primer pockets.
 
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