tumbling after sizing

[sdnative13]

Ok so I've reloaded shotshells for year and am just getting into rifle/pistol reloading. I have always heard that you need to retumble after sizing for rifle but does the same apply for pistol. I did a quick search on the net and found the opinions split. Even the videos on YouTube are split 50/50. If using one shot do I need to tumble after resizing pistol brass? If so is this done before or after opening the case mouth?

[Divernhunter]

If you use carbide dies for straight walled pistol brass which most people do you do not need to lube the brass. If you do not lube the brass then there is no need to do anything to remove it.
Short answer is not needed if not lubed.
Rifle or bottlenecked brass need lubed. The lube should be removed. You can tumble and then you need to punch out the media stuck in the primer pocket/flash holes. You can also wipe each cartridge to remove it.

Ditch the one-shot and get some RCBS Case Slick Spray lube. Toss rifle brass into a metal baking dish, give them a couple squirts, shake, squirt again and start resizing. I try to get some lube into the case mouth to lube the expander ball. I then tumble again to remove lube in and out of the case.

[dwalker]

With one-shot I never bother to tumble, but it does tend to give you stuck cases a bit more often.

I use Unique case lube now and have not even come close to a stuck case. It takes a bit longer as I lube each case by hand, but not having to stop to remove a stuck case is where its at.

My process for rifle is

Tumble
lube
size/deprime
decrimp is needed
trim
charge, I charge using a powder thrower off the press
Seat bullet
tumble to remove lube

Done.

[Divernhunter]

dwalker--How well do those work without a new primer??

[fguffey]

I lube then size, after sizing I tumble. I want nothing between the case and chamber but air. When it comes to air I do not want a lot of it.

F. Guffey

[bigbossman]

For pistol cases (being reloaded on a progressive press), I tumble spent cases as-is and then reload - no lube necessary with carbide dies.

With rifle, I use a single stage press. I first inspect the cases and cull any defective ones. Then I lube, resize & de-prime (one operation), trim, tumble clean, clear the flash hole if necessary, re-prime and then load.

I know that the "correct" order would be tumble them clean before resizing/depriming, but my dies have been in service for at least a decade and show no wear from sizing and decapping "dirty" brass. The fact is, my fired rifle brass really isn't that dirty. It goes into the rifle clean and shiny, comes out after firing, and goes directly back into the ammo box.

The only exception for rifle is 30-30 - I have a die that neck sizes only, so I can resize the neck and de-cap without lubing the case first.

As an aside, I typically process a quantity of the various brass that I use and store it in labeled bins for future use. That way, if I get caught by surprise on Friday about a match on Saturday, I can just grab the appropriate bin (30-06 for example) and load - since the brass is processed and primed, all I have to do is charge the case with the powder and then seat a bullet.

[Bill Steele]

I use One Shot for pistol, I don't remove before using the ammo.

For rifle, I use Imperial Sizing Wax and wipe it off the case after sizing (I only load rifle for bolt guns).

If I was doing volume rifle reloading (for auto loaders), I would use the RCBS or Dillon Spray lube (a 1:9 liquid lanolin to 99% ISO Alcohol works the same) then tumble clean after sizing, then rerun with a decap die to clear the primer pockets.

[dwalker]

dwalker--How well do those work without a new primer??

AHA! You caught me, I prime off the press in pretty large batches after trimming.

[robert101]

Since I recently acquired a progressive press, I don't re-tumble after sizing now. I too use the lanolin type spray and just tumble after completed round is finished to remove the lube from the cases.

[sdnative13]

Robert101: So just so I understand. You tumble live rounds?

[Divernhunter]

dwalker---I also seat primers off the press in batches. I use a lee hand primer and I hate the new design ones. I do like the larger square tray.

[dwalker]

Robert101: So just so I understand. You tumble live rounds?

I tumble live rounds as well. About to throw 200 .223's in the tumbler now.

[Bill Steele]

Robert101: So just so I understand. You tumble live rounds?

Many commercial manufacturers do it as well.

[robert101]

Yes I do tumble live rounds. Never had a problem with them firing or any other issues regarding this. OH, I'm on my 23rd Lyman tumbler - just kidding.

[bigbossman]

I tumble live rounds as well. About to throw 200 .223's in the tumbler now.

So do I, sometimes. No reason not to.