Wet tumbling decap first ??

[mycrstuff]

I just bought a wet tumbler after having used a vibrator tumbler for the last 20 years. Do you have to decap first before tumbling? I did some searches last night and some people do and some don't, but if you don't you can get water trapped in the primer pockets. I can see getting corrosion from not decapping. I have washed some cases previously and they corroded on the inside. Let me know you experiences.

PS if you say to put them in the oven I can't do that.

[3006Daddy]

For pistol I don't decap first. When it sunny I'll do a few thousand then set them out on a tray in the sun for a few hours

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[mikeyr]

I only deprime because I want the primer pocket cleaned. If you don't deprime, the primer pocket won't get cleaned. Not sure that makes any difference, I reloaded for 30+ years without ever cleaning a primer pocket, but when wet tumbling, I deprime first. I also would not worry about corrosion, the water will dry and not cause any issues, especially for me, I wet tumble and reload within a few days so no water left.

[ar15robert]

I just began tumbling range brass in soap/lemonshine to clean up then spray lube resize decap then ill tumble in pins to get them all clean and shiny.

Pistol brass ill tumble in pins then go to press and thats it

['ol shooter]

I decap first, using a Harvey tool while sitting and watching TV or listening to music, no press required.


The cartridge guides from the RCBS flash hole cutter fit the Harvey perfectly allowing quick indexing of the case, I reduce the O.D. slightly so the case slides on easily.

Not good for swaged brass though, have to knock them out with the Rock Chucker.

[geekeye]

i've heard of people tumbling first because they don't want to get their hands dirty decapping dirty brass, but there are gloves and/or soap for that, so i decap first because i don't want to have to clean the primer pockets in a separate step.

[JackEllis]

For rifle cases, I always decap and then wash, because the cases will dry faster when moisture can evaporate from both the mouth and primer pocket.

I don't load pistol cases but I wash quite a few before selling them. Those do not get decapped and they will dry just fine with the primers still in them. If I did load pistol cases, I'd decap them first but I'm not sure it really matters.

[mycrstuff]

How many pins are you guys using? I just loaded the drum with all the pins it came with an I think it is too heavy. The drum doesn't always rotate with that much weight it gets stalled about ever 15 seconds or so.

[Cpl_T-Pot]

[Donny1]

For range ammo I don't decap first because it's an extra step for me. For rifle, more precision or SD ammo I decap first.

[jmpgnr24k]

You don’t have to decap. Though one of the main reasons for wet SS pin cleaning is to clean out primer pockets.

My process for great looking bullets is
1. Quick tumble to get rid of dirt and debris
2. Decap AND size
3. Wet tumble
4. After drying, trim and debur if needed.

The rounds come out looking better than factory.

It seems like a lot of work but if you’re into it the results are well worth it.

[Revoman]

Yeah, decap first without using the sizing die, only the decapping pin. You don't wanna create a mark/scratch on the die from dirt/debris because every case there after will have a line/mark on it.
After rinsing I put all of the brass in a large towel and 'hammock' it using my right and left hands and dropping one end back and forth. Gets most of the moisture out, Then I layout that same towel on my bench and spread all of the brass out so they're not touching and let em dry overnight, which has always been long enough.
Works for me.

[WartHog]

How many pins are you guys using? I just loaded the drum with all the pins it came with an I think it is too heavy. The drum doesn't always rotate with that much weight it gets stalled about ever 15 seconds or so.

What brand/model wet tumbler do you have? It should say in the instruction manual what the recommended maximum weight rating is. I have the larger Frankford Arsenal Platinum tumbler and the maximum weight rating for it is 30lbs total. I try to keep my batches around 22lbs to not overstress the motor. That's basically a gallon of water @ 8lbs, SS Pins @ 5lbs, tumbler vessel @ 3lbs, and 6lbs of brass. I use a Frankford Hand Deprimer and deprime everything before tumbling. I use a Nesco/American Harvest Food Dehydrator that I bought used off Craigslist to dry my brass after tumbling.

[67Cuda]

I have a Harvey decapper, but I prefer the Forrester press because it's cleaner.

[baih777]

How many pins are you guys using? I just loaded the drum with all the pins it came with an I think it is too heavy. The drum doesn't always rotate with that much weight it gets stalled about ever 15 seconds or so.

make sure the rollers are dry.
make sure the drum is dry where the rollers contact the drum.

what brand do you have ?