Case prep questions

[pterrell]

Just wondering what you guys use for case prep/trimming on rifle cartriges.

Here are my thoughts, educate me or validate me.

I'm going to media tumble with a tumbler from harbor fake and whatever media they have there. I'm sure that there are "good" and "bad" types of media for brass. What do I stay away from to keep from giving them a nasty tarnish or anything crazy?

For trimming I'm thinking of getting a single stage off ebay and running the Lee trimmer tool on it. My question here is if I'm better off getting one of the specific trimming tools from RCBS or whoever as opposed to the single stage setup. My second question here is if the Lee trimming tool (that installs on a press) will work on a progressive. I'm pretty sure I know the answer but I can't confirm it without having both in my hands.

The final question I have is what station do you use? I will be reloading mil-surp so there will be a factory crimp on the primer pocket so I need to be able to remove that.

Thanks all! Can't wait to start!

[chknlyps2]

I use crushed walnut shells from Petsmart to tumble, some people use corn cob. I think corn cob will make the brass more shiny but takes longer.

I have not used the lee trimmer, it has a crank handle right? Not sure if it would hit other dies or if it is taller. You could decap/size and then trim on your lee 1000 but then you would have to chamfer/debur and then chamfer or swage primer pockets in a different step. Probably by hand with a chamfer tool if you are just getting all your stuff together. Then change your press over to prime, charge and seat.

[seasnake]

I use hand tools to repair the primer pockets in the brass it`s a pain but you only have to do it once . Get a hand priming tool much easier to use . I love my RCBS trimming tool it has spring loaded universal shell holder and is very easy to adjust to get the correct length .

[waxer]

Prepping military brass can be a chore and if you're like me, I prefer to knock out chores in stages.

I usually do 100 of them at a time and place into labeled containers at each stage of processing, so if I get called away or distracted in any way, I know what stage of processing they are left in.

1) I will polish with crushed walnut media.
2) Then I FL size/decap on the press.
3) Since I use synthetic oil for lube, I then polish again in the walnut media.
4) Then I swage all pieces.
5) I check the length prepare for the fun stuff.
6) I chuck up my Lee trimming tool on my drill press and go to town. I've adjusted that thing to where it'll trim them equally so I can move along without having to check every one. I usually pull the 10th one and double check the length.
7) Then it's debur and chamfer each piece.
8) One more bath in the walnut media.

Time to reload!!

With 3 baths in the walnut media, I also keep my media separate in different stages as well. There is the 1st stage that is used for range pick ups. Then there is the 2nd stage where I clean off all lube. Then a final stage that is the cleanest where it's used just prior to loading.

[waxer]

Just wondering what you guys use for case prep/trimming on rifle cartriges.

Here are my thoughts, educate me or validate me.

I'm going to media tumble with a tumbler from harbor fake and whatever media they have there. I'm sure that there are "good" and "bad" types of media for brass. What do I stay away from to keep from giving them a nasty tarnish or anything crazy?

For trimming I'm thinking of getting a single stage off ebay and running the Lee trimmer tool on it. My question here is if I'm better off getting one of the specific trimming tools from RCBS or whoever as opposed to the single stage setup. My second question here is if the Lee trimming tool (that installs on a press) will work on a progressive. I'm pretty sure I know the answer but I can't confirm it without having both in my hands.

The final question I have is what station do you use? I will be reloading mil-surp so there will be a factory crimp on the primer pocket so I need to be able to remove that.

Thanks all! Can't wait to start!

To answer some of your questions.....

Walnut media is great. Corn cleans good too, but it gets stuck in the flash hole of the primer pockets and can be a pain to clean out.

For .223/5.56 I've always used the Lee tool here.

http://leeprecision.com/gage-holder-223-rem.html

I recently purchased this for trimming .308 though and man what a world of difference this makes over the Lee. It's the little crow gunworks trimmer.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/119117/little-crow-gunworks-worlds-finest-trimmer-243-winchester-260-remington-7mm-08-remington-308-winchester

I'm not familiar with any trimming tool that installs on the press, whether it be a single stage or progressive. All case prep is done off the press as to avoid brass shavings from getting all over the moving components of the press.

Swagging the primer pockets is definitely done on the press and I have the RCBS die for that....

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/235832/rcbs-primer-pocket-swager-combo-2

I swage on my single stage press so I can "feel" that the primer pocket was done correctly as I pull the brass off.

[Davisje011]

Get rid of that Harbor Fake tumbler, they are too small and fall apart easy. Even with a warranty they are more hassle than they should be.

The Lyman 2500 is only around $75 and can tumble up to 1000 .223 at a time. (and it can run for days without burning up like the HFake)

http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/514805/lyman-turbo-2500-pro-magnum-case-tumbler-110-volt

As for media, I do the following;

1.Cleaning: Walnut w/Dillon polish for 1-4 hours depending on how carbony the brass is.
2. lube, resize, trim, etc.
3. 2nd Cleaning (to get lube off) Walnut w/Dillon polish for 1 hour
I can either load it or if I wanna make uber pretty brass...
4. Corncob w/ Dillon polish for 4 hours - whenever I remember to turn off the tumbler.

Then I load.

If you want a trimmer on-press, then the Dillon Trimmer is the one you want. It cuts extremely clean, even cleaner than the "worlds finest trimmer" I don't even chamfer and deburr when using it because it is so clean.

[Germz]

Just wondering what you guys use for case prep/trimming on rifle cartriges.

Here are my thoughts, educate me or validate me.

I'm going to media tumble with a tumbler from harbor fake and whatever media they have there. I'm sure that there are "good" and "bad" types of media for brass. What do I stay away from to keep from giving them a nasty tarnish or anything crazy?

For trimming I'm thinking of getting a single stage off ebay and running the Lee trimmer tool on it. My question here is if I'm better off getting one of the specific trimming tools from RCBS or whoever as opposed to the single stage setup. My second question here is if the Lee trimming tool (that installs on a press) will work on a progressive. I'm pretty sure I know the answer but I can't confirm it without having both in my hands.

The final question I have is what station do you use? I will be reloading mil-surp so there will be a factory crimp on the primer pocket so I need to be able to remove that.

Thanks all! Can't wait to start!

1.theres a difference between vibratory and rotary tumblers. if you get a HF rotary tumbler, get some stainless steel media from Stilly. If you get a vibratory tumbler, anyone will work fine. I use Frankford Arsenal and Lyman green corn cob.DO NOT USE AMMONIA BASED ADDITIVES. it will make your brass brittle. If you add anything, add NU FINISH car wax.

2. I have the lee drill attachment. It sucks and your fingers will feel it. I have all but given up on rifle cartridges until my Giraud trimer/chamfer/debur tool comes in, however that my be out of your price range.

3. for removing military crimps I have a Dillon super swager.

[Divernhunter]

For mil brass
I tumble in a midway vib tumbler using walnut or corncob from lyman. The trick is to take an old anti-stactic dryer sheet and cut it into 1/4's. Put it in with the brass and the media will last many times longer. Replace dryer sheet each time.
I use the lee punch tool with a hammer to remove the primer
I use a Dillon Super Swager for the crimp. Best unit hands down. I have an RCBS unit I used once and would sell if someone wants it.
I resize with RCBS Pump Spray lube. Just put the brass in an metal baking dish and spray. Rock them back and forth and spray again. Then size. Then toss them on an old towel. Fold the towel over the brass and rub back and forth. The lube is off. This is the best lube I have used and easy to remove. I use it for 204 to 50bmg.
If it is a hunting load I will debur the inside of the flash hole.
Then I trim as needed with an RCBS powered trimmer. I quite the lee stuff many years ago for trimming.
Then I chamfer the necks inside and out with a lyman case prep center. I may also uniform the primer pocket and/or clean it. Actually the cleaning is not usually needed for good ammo or the pocket uniformer.
I prefer to hand prime my rifle brass. ALL my hunting loads are hand primed. I do just use the Dillon 650 for loading some non hunting ammo. But the primer pockets are done on mil brass before going into the hopper when using the dillon.
ALL hunting ammo is loaded on single stage presses. I use the RCBS rockchucker for sizing and an old RCBS Jr for seating the bullets since I have more feel with it.

[krzgoat]

I use the Lyman 2500 - has held up great so far for tumbling. Out lasted the FA one I got first.

I use the fine walnut media from Harbor Freight - 25 bucks for 25 lbs. Add some Nu-Finish and mineral spirits - tumble that without brass for about 30 minutes and then 2-4 hours with brass in the tumbler.

I use the Lyman trimmer that comes with manual and drill power adapter for hunting and precision rounds.

Use the Giraud trimmer for bulk ammo trimming for plasting.

I like to keep all trimming for the most part away from my presses.

Dillon Super Swager for crimped brass.

Single stage for precision and hunting rounds and progressive for pistol and bulk 223 loading for blasting rounds.

Hand prime precision and hunting rounds and i just bought a bench primer from RCBS to try out.

I resize with homemade lube made from lanolin and Heet. Best stuff I have used so far. Tumble the lube off after resizing,, swaging and trimming.

[TMangram]

Best Case Trimmer Out There

For a case trimmer, the best and most cost effective option is the Trim-It from ACT Tactical, it's under $100, connects to any drill or drill press, has a micrometer built onto the unit, and has interchangeable caliber dies. You can buy them at www.eztrimit.com