Decapping/sizing question

[Crazyhorse]

Yeah, I'm just a bit new to this and trying to get a setup going for like 2k+ handgun reloads a month. I have some experience with handloading for rifle hunting and in the past I have always decapped, brush primer pocket, toss in a tumbler, size, prime and powder, then crimp. The Dillon 550 says it sizes and decaps on the first stage. Is there a way to decap without sizing at the same time? A lot of my brass is dirty and I don't want it to get jammed. I think would rather decap, brush, and tumble with some polish to clean and lube them for sizing.

Thoughts?

Thanks a ton,
CH

[CSACANNONEER]

You could set up a decapping die on a separate head and just decap. I've loaded 100s of 1000s of pistol rounds and I have never cleaned or uniformed a primer pocket on pistol brass. I'd just tumble it and then run it through your new 550 using carbide dies (I like Dillon dies) without lubing the brass!

[Crazyhorse]

You could set up a decapping die on a separate head and just decap. I've loaded 100s of 1000s of pistol rounds and I have never cleaned or uniformed a primer pocket on pistol brass. I'd just tumble it and then run it through your new 550 using carbide dies (I like Dillon dies) without lubing the brass!

So you tumble with the primer in place?

Thanks for the response,
CH

[CSACANNONEER]

Yep, I tumble with spent primmer in place.

[ar15barrels]

My process from birth to death of a pistol cartridge:

Pickup brass off the range.
Sort into batches of same cartridge (9mm with 9mm, 40 with 40 etc.)
Tumble clean.
Place in casefeeder of appropriate Dillon press.
Place loaded rounds in appropriate ammo can.
Load mags from ammo can.
Empty mags with appropriate firearm.
Repeat from the top of the list.

[randy]

My process from birth to death of a pistol cartridge:


Tumble clean.
Place in casefeeder of appropriate Dillon press.
Place loaded rounds in appropriate ammo can.
Load mags from ammo can.
Empty mags with appropriate firearm.
Repeat from the top of the list.

I do what Randall does except the first two steps. I get once fired WinClean brass that doesn't always need to be tumbled. Otherwise listen to him.

[rksimple]

Tumble first. Don't worry about the primer pocket. And get a carbide die so you don't need lube (straight wall stuff).

[wildcard]

Tumble first. Don't worry about the primer pocket. And get a carbide die so you don't need lube (straight wall stuff).

You don't NEED lube.. but it sure as heck makes things smoother. But back to reloading.. I still use lube even with carbide dies

[Crazyhorse]

LoL..

Thanks a ton guys, I'm going to do some scouting for a 550 this weekend

[rksimple]

You don't NEED lube.. but it sure as heck makes things smoother. But back to reloading.. I still use lube even with carbide dies

After umpteen thousands of 45's, 9's and 38's through a dillon, I have never used case lube, and never had "smoothness" issues. Maybe I'm lucky.

[wildcard]

After umpteen thousands of 45's, 9's and 38's through a dillon, I have never used case lube, and never had "smoothness" issues. Maybe I'm lucky.

Hmm.. well I admittingly have only reloaded 44 magnum rounds for my revolver if that makes any difference. Its a pain to size those things on my single stage w/o lube.

[rksimple]

Hmm.. well I admittingly have only reloaded 44 magnum rounds for my revolver if that makes any difference. Its a pain to size those things on my single stage w/o lube.

Could make a difference, especially if they were some stout loads.

[wildcard]

Could make a difference, especially if they were some stout loads.

That they were. 24 grains of of H110 sitting behind a 240 grain bullet if I recall correctly.

[ar15barrels]

That they were. 24 grains of of H110 sitting behind a 240 grain bullet if I recall correctly.

That's a REALLY stout load.
I stop at 23.0
23.5gr was painful after a 40 round sillouette match.

[wildcard]

That's a REALLY stout load.
I stop at 23.0
23.5gr was painful after a 40 round sillouette match.

Yup.. it's my entertainment load.. but then again by barrel is Mag-Na-Ported so it's managable up to 50 rounds. If I want to plink but yet still feel the boom.. I go with 21 gr. Else 23.5 Is a nice load without pushing the limits of the Sierra manual