223 case prep reloading question

[Leadingall]

I'm fairly new to reloading and I've loaded quite a bit of pistol ammo. I'm stocked up on used brass for 223 and I'm about to start reloading for that caliber. Here is the order I anticipate I'll use for case prep...
1) deprime
2) tumble
3) trim (and measure)
4) deburr
6) swage
5) lube
7) reload (resize --> prime --> charge --> seat --> crimp)
8) case gage, inspect

Am I missing anything? Do I have to resize before I trim? I'm using both a worlds finest case trimmer and/or a lymans universal.

[thegreatcow]

I'm fairly new to reloading and I've loaded quite a bit of pistol ammo. I'm stocked up on used brass for 223 and I'm about to start reloading for that caliber. Here is the order I anticipate I'll use for case prep...
1) deprime
2) tumble
3) trim (and measure)
4) deburr
6) swage
5) lube
7) reload (resize --> prime --> charge --> seat --> crimp)
8) case gage, inspect

Am I missing anything? Do I have to resize before I trim? I'm using both a worlds finest case trimmer and/or a lymans universal.

Personally I would do the resize step before the trimming. The resize process stretches the metal a little and I'd rather do the trimming afterwards to ensure I'm not going to be moving things around. Also a lot of FL resizing dies will deprime the brass anyway so you might as well combine those two steps in one shot. Other than that, that process looks good.

[roc_my_tims]

I tumble first.
1) so i dont have to get media out of primer pocket individually

2) because im going to clean the pocket when i deburr

I also end up running it in the tumbler a 2nd time anyway to get case lube off.

I guess in my head the first timber is to keep my dies free of dirt and to be able to easily inspect the brass. But ofcourse you dont have to clean before depriming.

*My opinion is worth what it cost

[Leadingall]

that's what I figured...I use a universal decapper before I tumble and my 223 resizing die decaps too. I was just hoping I could use the same set up to continue decapping my pistol and rifle brass and resize during the reloading process (versus the case prep process). So if I resize and deprime during case prep, then all I have to do on the reloading press is prime, charge, seat and crimp?

[lpspinner]

My way is a little long, but I can get anal about how my brass looks....

1) Decap with a Lee Universal decapping die

2) If new once fired military brass, then I swage the primer pocket

3) Throw it all into the tumbler for a quick clean. Just enough to get the dirt off the brass. (I hate resizing with dirty brass)

4) Lube and Full length resize.

5) Throw it back in the tumbler for a full polish. (also to remove the lube)

6) Trim, chamfer and deburr if needed

7) On my Dillon....
......* 1st station - Universal decapping die.
.........(Just to punch out any cleaning media) Prime on the downstroke
......* 2nd Station - powder dispensing
......* 3rd station - Bullet seating
......* 4th station - Optional -Lee Factory crimp die.
8) Go shoot your ammo and repeat from step 1.

[reckoner]

As others have said, trim AFTER sizing.

[Psychbiker]

I universal deprime
Stainless tumble
Size
Trim
Tumble (corn cob)
Hand prime (so far)
Charge
Seat
Done.

Using rcbs xdie so I shouldn't have to trim again for a bit. Problem is I lose my brass and pick up others. Gotta start using a brass catcher.

[Leadingall]

got it, thanks guys

[Jon Road King]

Here's my set up (for once-fired brass)...

1. Tumble
2. Lube / Re-size/De-prime on my LnL
3. Swage Primer Pocket
4. Size Primer Pocket
5. Clean Primer Pocket
6. Tumble (to clean off lube)
7. Trim/Chamfer/De-Burr
8. Drop every piece in a case gage (had a bad experience with a CH4D Swager ruining case rims... now I am paranoid)
9. Load

(Skip steps 3 and 4 on Twice and up fired brass...)

Set up on my LnL for loading...

1st station - Lee decapping die (only use this to push out any stray cleaning media that ends up in the flash hole)
1 1/2 Station (upstroke) - Prime
2nd Station - Empty
3rd Station - Powder Drop
4th Station - Bullet Seat / Very light crimp
5th Station - Empty

[stphnman20]

This is what I do:

Tumble
lube and resize/deprime
Tumble
Trim/deburr/chamfer and clean primer pocket
Load

Simple and easy.

[popeye4]

that's what I figured...I use a universal decapper before I tumble and my 223 resizing die decaps too. I was just hoping I could use the same set up to continue decapping my pistol and rifle brass and resize during the reloading process (versus the case prep process). So if I resize and deprime during case prep, then all I have to do on the reloading press is prime, charge, seat and crimp?

Resizing IS part of the case prep process. Tumble your brass before resizing, as dirt can scratch both your case and your die. Trim after resizing, as the resizing is what makes the case "grow".

And yes, once you've done the case prep, all you have to do is prime, charge, and seat (crimp if you desire). This is why getting a progressive press for bottleneck rifle cartridges doesn't really save much time. The time consuming case prep process takes place mostly away from the press.

[Leadingall]

This is what I do:

Tumble
lube and resize/deprime
Tumble
Trim/deburr/chamfer and clean primer pocket
Load

Simple and easy.

This is super clear and easy, thanks

Resizing IS part of the case prep process. Tumble your brass before resizing, as dirt can scratch both your case and your die. Trim after resizing, as the resizing is what makes the case "grow".

And yes, once you've done the case prep, all you have to do is prime, charge, and seat (crimp if you desire). This is why getting a progressive press for bottleneck rifle cartridges doesn't really save much time. The time consuming case prep process takes place mostly away from the press.

I get that resizing is part of case prep, but with pistol its always been done on my reloading progressive during the actual remanufacturing of the cartridge. For my rifle case stuff I want to stick with a single stage for case prep so I think I'll move my resize and deprime to the single stage and run the reloading press as prime, charge, seat, and crimp. Thanks man.

[TimRB]

What is that #6 step, "swage" all about? I don't do anything like that.

Tim

[foxtrotuniformlima]

What is that #6 step, "swage" all about? I don't do anything like that.

Tim

It makes the primer pocket uniform. Needed if you are using military brass that had a crimped primer. Not so important if using commercial brass.

[foxtrotuniformlima]

As for my prep, here is my order:

1. Tumble for about 20 min to clean
2. Lube / Re-size/De-prime
3. Tumble (to clean off lube) again, about 20 min
4. Trim/Chamfer/De-Burr on Gracey Trimmer
5. Tumble for about 4 hours - bright and shinny and remove any brass shavings
6. Load