AR reloading

[hundy]

Went shooting last Monday. Have about 400, 223 and 5.56 brass to reload.
I have been reloading for awhile. But never 223 or 5.56. I have the RCBS AR Series reload dies.
I need help. On my 20th casing give or take a few, I broke my decapping pin. I ran to my LGS and they do not have it. I found it on Midway. Before I order 2 more, just curious if this is common, or what can I do to prevent this from happening.
Second issue is, I am having a tough time getting the primers to seat. I have never had that problem until now, at least not on this scale.

Thanks

Jay

[edrex]

If the primers were crimped you need to swage them before you reload. What kind of brass?
Also, you might be able to get a new decapping pin under warranty. Check with RCBS and see if they will replace it before you order one.

[mark501w]

Some cases are crimped can be tough on your equipment. Once you get the primers out you have to remove the crimp you can swedge or cut the crimp out.

[bsumoba]

de-crimp. use a crimp trimmer or something like a Dillon SuperSwage. Make sure if you use a trimmer to not trim too much. you may create loose pocket primers.

[ar15robert]

You may have had a berdan primed brass.Thats the only way i have broken the decaper pins.It does happen when you pick up brass you might get someones left over mixed in with you regular primed brass.Always keep spares.

As far as crimped primer pockets i have been using the reamer tool that comes with the rcbs kits to remove the crimp been doing this for 15-16 years this way.Never been a problem.

[hundy]

Thank you

I called RCBS and they are sending me a replacement piece. After talking to them I probably set the pin to low. So I have a better understanding on how to set up the pin.
I have some mil-spec ammo I have not yet fired, and those are obviously crimped. I did not think the ones we shot were crimped, but on second inspection they may be. Real hard to tell. So I will see if I can find a tool to remove those.

Thanks again for the help

Jay

[edrex]

Post pics of the primer pockets on the brass you are working with if you can.

[ocabj]

Get the Lee Universal Decapping Die. After I broke a dozen RCBS pins, including pins in the RCBS universal decapping die, I got the Lee and have been using the same pin/stem in the Lee ever since 2004.

[jetman624]

I use a Lee Universal decapping tool and wet tumble my brass before it goes into any of the other dies.

[hemiguy55]

^^^^ +1.

[ZRen]

There's several ways to remove the crimp on 223/5.56 primer pockets. Military brass will always have a crimped primer pocket, which will always need to be removed before the brass can be reloaded.

You can get something like this LE Wilson chamfer tool


Or you can go fancier and buy a motorized case prep device. Really up to you, your budget and your needs.

Here's a good image to help you identify crimped vs non-crimped brass.
The one on top is crimped. The bottom one is not.

[the86d]

......

You can put the round portion in your DeWalt... I used to use a step-bit for this function.

I have since moved to Primer Pocket Swaging, but used to use these Primer pocket reamers-mostly:

http://www.adorama.com/LY7777784.html?gclid=CMTljtmpj7wCFcQ9QgodBS8AFA

...and these tips also fit the DeWalt, on the screw-side, and worked WELL.

[sl0re10]

Get the Lee Universal Decapping Die. After I broke a dozen RCBS pins, including pins in the RCBS universal decapping die, I got the Lee and have been using the same pin/stem in the Lee ever since 2004.

I also use this:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/297408/lee-decapper-and-base-22-caliber

When you have some really tightly crimped primers you can switch to this and use with a hammer to knock them out. Geco takes 3 or four whacks...

[3RDGEARGRNDRR]

Buy a LEE deprimer/decapper, and if it breaks, oh well,

[wild_weasel]

I use the RCBS AR 223/5.56 dies as well and have had no issues like yours with a variety of brass from the range. If you call RCBS directly they will send you replacement pins at no charge. I once bought used RCBS 22 Hornet dies and they repalce the entire expander/decapper stem at no charge even after I told them the dies were used.