Case Prep

[Magnus]

I got my Lee dies for .223 last night and I opened them up to test run a bit. I deprimed a few cases just to get a feel for it. I could feel the die scraping residue and dirt. I cleaned my dies and put them away. Looking through all the cases they all had some residue inside some had sand. What am I looking to do to prepare the cases for depriming?

 

[MilesTeg]

Are you just depriming or sizing also?

 

[dsdmmat]

If you are depriming before you clean your brass I recommend you use a universal decapping die. Otherwise you risk getting grit in your die and scratching your casings.


So to answer your question:
Before sizing I usually decap the brass then clean (water bath, tumble, sonic, or with SS Media it is your choice).
Then lube the case and graphite the inside of the neck. ( I use imperial wax)
Adjust the sizing die according to the instructions then check a sized case with a fired case to see how much the die is bumping back the shoulder. Adjust sizing die to the desired bump.
Run all the cases through the sizing die.
Check case length against the max/ trim size (trim as necessary)
Debur and chamfer the case mouth, uniform the flash hole and the primer pocket (remove the military crimp if necessary).

 

[Darth]

Yeah, don't put dirty cases in a sizing die.

Either clean them, or use a universal.

 

[SigSweet]

My case prep for 223 is as follows

I use the Harvey depriming tool to deprime Home Page

Remove any crimps

I then wet tumble and dry, then lube with a homemade lube

Size cases and retumble to remove lube

Trim if needed.

 

[MilesTeg]

I currently deprime and size before any cleaning. Just to be clear I'm talking about rifle reloading. I know I'm living on borrowed time by skipping cleaning before sizing. I hope to change my procedure soon though, picking up a cheap Harbor Freight vibratory just to knock off the dirt and grime. Then deprime and size. After that I will ultra sound clean the brass.

 

[Magnus]

I'm using the full length resizing die with the needle at the end that lets you stick in just the "tip". The instructions said it was a decapper as well.

Lee Ultimate 4-Die Set 223 Remington

I'm going to clean and tumble them this weekend, I just deprimed a few and felt the light scraping.

 

[Darth]

I currently deprime and size before any cleaning. Just to be clear I'm talking about rifle reloading. I know I'm living on borrowed time by skipping cleaning before sizing. I hope to change my procedure soon though, picking up a cheap Harbor Freight vibratory just to knock off the dirt and grime. Then deprime and size. After that I will ultra sound clean the brass.

Yes, but do you do it with the sizing die or a universal decapping die?

 

[MilesTeg]

Yes, but do you do it with the sizing die or a universal decapping die?

Sizing. I know need to change it but I just haven't yet.

 

[Darth]

I'm using the full length resizing die with the needle at the end that lets you stick in just the "tip". The instructions said it was a decapper as well.

Lee Ultimate 4-Die Set 223 Remington

I'm going to clean and tumble them this weekend, I just deprimed a few and felt the light scraping.

There's your problem.

All sizing dies decap.

The problem is, full length sizing dies obviously resize at the same time. That squeezes the case (And any dirt/other crap) back into precise shape. Grinding the crud into the precision sizing cavity of one of them is not good.

Universal decapping dies don't resize. They are just a hollow tube with a pin in the middle.

 

[Magnus]

There's your problem.

All sizing dies decap.

The problem is, full length sizing dies obviously resize at the same time. That squeezes the case (And any dirt/other crap) back into precise shape. Grinding the crud into the precision sizing cavity of one of them is not good.

Universal decapping dies don't resize. They are just a hollow tube with a pin in the middle.

I'm ordering one as we speak. If I were to clean the cases prior and lube, it'll be ok to size and deprime at the same time?

 

[MilesTeg]

yes

 

[dsdmmat]

I currently deprime and size before any cleaning. Just to be clear I'm talking about rifle reloading. I know I'm living on borrowed time by skipping cleaning before sizing. I hope to change my procedure soon though, picking up a cheap Harbor Freight vibratory just to knock off the dirt and grime. Then deprime and size. After that I will ultra sound clean the brass.

You can get away with that as long as your brass never touches anything but the rifle and the load box. Other than that you are as you say on borrowed time.

 

[Darth]

I'm ordering one as we speak. If I were to clean the cases prior and lube, it'll be ok to size and deprime at the same time?

Yes. Just need to get the crap off of the cases before you put them in the precision sizing dies.

I used to do it all in one step, but since I got a rotary tumbler, I decap first to clean the primer pockets when I tumble.

 

[ManrisFrack]

If you are depriming before you clean your brass I recommend you use a universal decapping die. Otherwise you risk getting grit in your die and scratching your casings.


So to answer your question:
Before sizing I usually decap the brass then clean (water bath, tumble, sonic, or with SS Media it is your choice).
Then lube the case and graphite the inside of the neck. ( I use imperial wax)
Adjust the sizing die according to the instructions then check a sized case with a fired case to see how much the die is bumping back the shoulder. Adjust sizing die to the desired bump.
Run all the cases through the sizing die.
Check case length against the max/ trim size (trim as necessary)
Debur and chamfer the case mouth, uniform the flash hole and the primer pocket (remove the military crimp if necessary).

This is my process almost to a T. Only difference is that I generally do primer pockets and flash holes before cleaning. Generally I want to clean after I perform a step that might introduce chips or lube the interior of the case. That is why I use graphite for the necks. Sizing can change the case enough to require a trim so you just can't trim before you size.

Universal decapping die is definitely worth the investment.

ETA: Man, you guys are quick this morning

 

[Magnus]

Yes. Just need to get the crap off of the cases before you put them in the precision sizing dies.

I used to do it all in one step, but since I got a rotary tumbler, I decap first to clean the primer pockets when I tumble.

That's what I wanted to do, but it sounds like I'm going to have to clean them twice.

 

[Darth]

That's what I wanted to do, but it sounds like I'm going to have to clean them twice.

Why twice?

 

[Magnus]

Why twice?

Once to get rid of the internal clutter and another for the pockets once the primer is out.

 

[dsdmmat]

That's what I wanted to do, but it sounds like I'm going to have to clean them twice.

Use imperial wax to lube your cases, then you only have to wipe them off with a cloth. You can use canned air to get rid of any chips if it bothers you.

 

[Magnus]

Use imperial wax to lube your cases, then you only have to wipe them off with a cloth. You can use canned air to get rid of any chips if it bothers you.

Will the chips cause any type of obstruction? If cleaning the primer pockets isn't going to give me any benefit it may not be worth doing then.

 

[Magnus]

Universal decapping die is definitely worth the investment.

That's what I'm seeing, and I can deprime my pistol cases too.

 

[dsdmmat]

Will the chips cause any type of obstruction? If cleaning the primer pockets isn't going to give me any benefit it may not be worth doing then.

cleaning the primer pockets isn't what produces chips. The uniforming of the primer pocket and flash hole is what does that. Unless you are shooting for group reductions in .001" cleaning the primer pockets will not benefit most shooters. most of the chips from uniforming the primer pockets will not be in the case anyway and the rest can be taken care of by a brush or a knock on the table.

 

[Magnus]

Ok, thanks for the info guys! Now I can start almost making some bullets.

 

[Phazer]

Ok, thanks for the info guys! Now I can start almost making some bullets cartridges.

FIFY.

But, if you are casting, I stand corrected.


[Yes...I've become a nasty, annoying, stickler for firearms terminology. Ummm...nah...I'm just an ass.]

 

[MilesTeg]

FIFY.

But, if you are casting, I stand corrected.


[Yes...I've become a nasty, annoying, stickler for firearms terminology.]

And some people call self made cast boolits. I don't like it but it's common terminology in the casting community.

 

[thegatman]

Clean and lube. 223 is a bear unless you adjust your dies for the shoulder. Deprime before you resize and stay away from dirty range brass.

 

[Magnus]

FIFY.

But, if you are casting, I stand corrected.


[Yes...I've become a nasty, annoying, stickler for firearms terminology. Ummm...nah...I'm just an ass.]

Did you just terminology check me? You Terminazi

 

[Magnus]

And some people call self made cast boolits. I don't like it but it's common terminology in the casting community.

I've heard that term before, don't like it either lol.

 

[thegatman]

This might interest you.Wts 223 bullets, brass, thermometer, range finder etc.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

For ALL casings I use a universal deprimer before wet tumbling. It's more to allow water to flow through the casings while tumbling than cleaning the primer pockets. It also makes drying faster. Then if its a type of casing that needs lube I resize them and then run them in a corncob tumbler to get the lube off. You could simply reload the lubed cases and then tumble the completed rounds but I never felt comfortable doing it that way. Besides, completed rounds are much heavier than casings and you can tumble many more empty casings at one time.