Removing Primers - before or after???

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CoKE

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I am almost ready to start reloading my ammo. I purchased a Lee Pro 1000 from the EE, and have it set up. I have started reading the Lee Reloading Manual 2nd Edition, and checking this corner of the forum. But I can't find an answer to my question - should I de-prime my casings before I clean/roll them, or after (when reloading on the press)??? I plan to use a tumbler and walnut shells, if that makes a difference. What is the better way to go? I am interested to hear your views, and why, from the people that have the experience. Thanks in advance. Cheers...
 
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It really depends on how much work you want to give yourself. The only benefit in depriming before tumbling is that in theory you might clean out some of the primer pocket with the crushed media. Then again you just might get some walnut stuck there also. I don't bother and loaded the same cases dozens of times without a need to clean the primer pockets(maybe someday).

Maybe someone else can chime in and give you a better reason to do so.
 
I've just stared on my first load reloading as well.

I tumbled everything first - with old primers in - to clean up the cases before running them through my dies.

Then I tumbled everything again after I de-primed, re-sized, trimmed, flash hole uniformed/deburr to remove any residual lube and other debris that may have snuck in.

I like them clean - but it did take a few extra minutes to clean out all of the flash holes again. I thought compressed air would do the job but they are really crammed in there so I had to jab them out.

Heck - I may tumble them again after they are all put together.
 
I tried both, even left them in overnight in the tumbler, and found that deprimed brass doesnt get the primer pockets clean by tumbling, just gets them plugged up tight. even with them deprimed I still had to clean the primer pockets with a pocket cleaner brush.

so now I leave the spent primers in, then decap later. its much easier.
 
Cleaning your cases in advance of sizing helps keep your dies from being scratched by grit on dirty cases.
I usually clean mine again, just before primer seating. Gets rid of any remaining lube etc. Makes me clean the primer pockets to get the cob, or walnut out, and by doing so, a second chance to examine the cases before priming.
 
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Clean before resizing to save on the dies and brass. If you want to deprime first use a deprime die only. If you want clean primer pockets you'll need something besides a vibratory tumbler. I just got an ultrasonic cleaner and hope to get around to trying it soon. The pictures I have seen are impressive.
 
Bulk tumble all brass after shooting. As mentioned helps save wear on the dies and cleans the case up. For rifle, I also resize after I have full or neck sized, trimed and chamfered. That gets rid of the lube from resizing and has the bullet ready to be loaded. All depends on what and how you reload.

Pistol I just tumble and have at er. Lubing every 10th or so only for 9mm.
 
You mentioned you will use walnut media to clean - why? In my experience it is suitable for VERY tough cleaning jobs only. Plain or green corncob media works better for regular brass tumbling and is less messy IMHO. Like most said before, I tumble with spent primers still in.
And with regards to tumbling loaded rounds - DON'T. If you tumble loaded rounds, the powder will abrade and break down, so the longer you tumble the more you make "dust" of the powder in the case. Powder granulation is one of the determining factors in burning rate. Faster burning = more pressure. More pressure can = blown up gun. Someone on this forum will likely tell you they tumble loaded rounds all the time, but it's not a good idea. Common sense really.
 
Normally for rifles I'll tumble after sizing to get the lube off. Just use a media that doesn't plug the flash-holes. On a turret press or progressive I clean first, but probably have carbide dies in place.
Oh, the ammo factories and commercial reloaders tumble loaded ammo all the time. How did you think they got that finish, and or lube off? I don't, but don't have to.
 
Longwalker said:
You mentioned you will use walnut media to clean - why? In my experience it is suitable for VERY tough cleaning jobs only. Plain or green corncob media works better for regular brass tumbling and is less messy IMHO.
Click to expand...

While doing the search to tumble with spent primers in or out, I did come across a bunch of postings about the different media to tumble with. After quite a bit of reading, it seemed that more people used the walnut media. The reasons I read were that it lasted longer,and/or cleaned better, and/or was easier to clean up, and/or easier to get (local petsmart store) and cheaper. Now I know this is all preference on the part of the people posting, and I'm sure we could touch off a great debate about it (which I don't want to).
 
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