how do you case prep? with what equipment?

[trinydex]

i read a major thread on thr and it was a bit of a can of worms.

i posted another thread last week on case prep in relation to progressive presses. now i have a question about what equipment people use.

does everyone clean the primer pocket? and what do you use?

what do you use to trim and chamfer cases?

the coolest thing i've seen so far is this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=d81l62J1VmI

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JZGkWUtKz4k&feature=related

but he says that the cutting edges on the chamfer heads and the case trimmer get dull because they're not carbide (any carbide goodies that will fit on the case prep center?)

any difference in how much prep you guys do on pistol and rifle cases? on thr there were people that were more lax with their pistol cases. they would just go full progressive without doing a lot of the checks.

all these questions i have are because i'm considering reloading with the current price of ammo and the amount that i'd like to be able to afford to shoot.

is there something like this (something that resizes and deprimes in one step)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pM5xYokDAcE&feature=related

that is bench mountable? sadly enough all the descriptions on the lee site don't actually tell you what the press is capable of. probably because i'm a newb and don't already know the basics of which dies can fit and what motions can possibly do what.

i'd like to use this press (or something like it)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OKoye93KgnY&feature=related

because it segregates all the different steps so i don't confuse and mess stuff up.

since i want to segregate all the processes, that's why i asked what individual or batch tools people use for case prep, i'm not opposed to doing a batch of processes 1000 at a time or whatever.

[Crazyhorse]

I think it depends on the application and shooter. My hunting rifle rounds get a mild clean, decapped, tumbled, decapped, neck brushed, check length, deburred, and then loaded.

My crap range pistol ammo gets tumbled, decapped and reloaded.

But I'm not an expert, and I can't look at the videos right now so no comments on those.

[trinydex]

no one wants to answer my noob questions

[Builder]

I find it interesting in the first video linked that shows the fellow adjusting his case length based upon the length of the inside of the flash hole to the case neck. Others measure from the case base to the case neck. Which is more accurate?
My technique is sort brass and deprime. Full length size and adjust any case length by using a case guage. 25 minutes in an ultrasonic cleaner (detergent & brass cleaner). Dry brass. Insert primer. Load powder and finish with bullet.
Thanks,
Builder

[trinydex]

so no trimming?

i see that the ultrasonic would clean the primer pocket.

[Jicko]

Do your homework, here is the "whole 9 yards" of it:

http://www.6mmbr.com/jgcaseprep.html

Trim/Chamfer, BEST equipment out there is Giraud.... hands down... not cheap tho... (I can did 700 once-fired 308WIN cases in a couple of hours)

Summary:
1) clean/tumble
2) lube & full-length size (if it is not fire form in your firearm, or u fired it from a semi-auto)
3) trim/chamfer

(You can throw in some clean/tumbling after 2 to get the lube out; and you can throw in some clean/tumbling after 3 if ur trimmer marks the case, and you are anal about shiny cases.....)


You HAVE TO TRIM, if your case is out of spec'ed case length.

(IIRC)
For 223, max case length is 1.760", most people will trim it down to 1.750".
For 308, max case length is 2.015", most people will trim it down to 2.005".

[What Just Happened?]

I only reload my 9mm pistol. I don't trim / chamfer the cases. Only 1.5 - 2 hours of tumbling with walnut and Nu Finish and they're ready to go.

[Builder]

Hi JR,

You HAVE TO TRIM, if your case is out of spec'ed case length.
For 223, max case length is 1.760", most people will trim it down to 1.750".
For 308, max case length is 2.015", most people will trim it down to 2.005".

The guy in the video used an inside dimension while the 6mmbr used an outside dimension. Opinions?
Thanks,
Builder

[Jicko]

I only reload my 9mm pistol. I don't trim / chamfer the cases. Only 1.5 - 2 hours of tumbling with walnut and Nu Finish and they're ready to go.

I don't think you need to trim pistol cases. All those "case prep" can of worms issues are for reloading of rifle cartridges.

[What Just Happened?]

I don't think you need to trim pistol cases. All those "case prep" can of worms issues are for reloading of rifle cartridges.

Some people on the CZ forums encourage the trimming of pistol cases. Personally, I don't bother.

[Jicko]

Some people on the CZ forums encourage the trimming of pistol cases. Personally, I don't bother.

I had probably run thru 20-30k of them (or possibly more)... and I never bothered neither....

[rksimple]

Hi JR,
The guy in the video used an inside dimension while the 6mmbr used an outside dimension. Opinions?
Thanks,
Builder

Outside is better. Inside has worked OK for me in the past. The best is using the shoulder to reference length for trimming...like the Giraud, Gracey or possum hollow trimmers.

[Mac Attack]

I clean and polish my cases in a RCBS case tumbler with walnut media and polish. Then I size them with a set of calipers to make sure they have not stretched beyond the safe zone. If necessary I use a case trimmer to short them to a reasonable size. I don't measure them as often as I should but I think you should be able to get several loads out of them before you need to trim them. Hell, if you are shooting something common like 9mm, .40 cal, .38/357 or .45 ACP I wouldn't bother trimming your cases as you can pick up brand new brass at the range for a lot less hassle.

I use carbide dies so I don't lube the cases before loading.

[uscbigdawg]

Pistol Brass:

- Clean the crap from the range
- Roll size on my Case Pro
- Tumble again
- Spray with Hornady One Shot and load it
- Tumble again to remove lube residue

On Rifle brass:

- I'll add in the initial step of trimming the brass if it's not mine
- If it's 223/5.56, I'll remove military crimp on the primer pockets too
- Other than that, it's pretty much the same

Rich

[30Cal]

You might need to trim say 357mag. I've never personally trimmed a pistol case. I'd toss them first if it came to that. I've never met a person that I would consider to be sane or knowledgible that trims semi-auto pistol brass--9mm, 45ACP, etc.

I take pistol brass, tumble it, then crank it through my blue press without any further fuss.

I use a Lee trimmer for rifle (chucked in either a drill press or 1/2" chuck cordless). Get a trimmer that has a motor or can be spun with a drill. Handcranks are for people with too much time and low self-esteem.

I spin my chamfer/deburr tool with a drill.

I clean primer pockets on gasgun brass (semi-auto rifle) with a screwdriver ground sharp to fit. It spins in my drill.