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I can't remember which comes first, decapping or cleaning. I've been given some dirty brass that has has it's primer removed so I was suspecting that it's decap first. Doesn't that get the dies all mucky though?

I decap and then tumble mine so that the primer pocket gets a clean out. Additionally, the cleaned brass is kinder on the sizing die having had any dirt and grit removed.

Charlotte the flyer wrote:I can't remember which comes first, decapping or cleaning. I've been given some dirty brass that has has it's primer removed so I was suspecting that it's decap first. Doesn't that get the dies all mucky though?

Depends a bit, on how you clean and how you decap.

If you decap with a decapping die you can do this before cleaning, since the die doesn't touch the brass. If you clean by stainless tumbling you definitely want to decap first, so the pins can clean the primer pocket.

If you tumble in coarse dry media then cleaning before decapping reduces the chance of clogged flash holes. Whatever way you do it, cleaning before sizing prevents damage to the die or even the chamber in the case where grit is embedded in the surface of the case.

..

I clean then decap/resize. I don't like putting dirty brass near my dies, presses and bench, grit travels and abradant.

I then trim, clean and uniform the primer pocket, the trimming is mainly to ensure square mouths.

I don't feel that tumbling even with those awful steel pins gets the pockets clean enough. The uniforming stage does that nicely for me.

Thanks all,

I've got a single die that does decapping and resizing (Lee .303) so I guess that I need to buy just a decapper as well.

I guess I need one of these (no comments about the website!)

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/136543 ... apping-die

You don't need one of those, but they are handy indeed.

When I decap/resize after cleaning I just use the FL or neck resizer die and its decapping rod, I always remove any neck expander ball and throw in the bin.

As far as protecting the dies from dirt and grit goes, it doesn't matter when (using the universal de-capper that is) you de-cap and clean the pockets...

...but if you are using a 'expander ball' (I fully understand why Dromia doesn't like them, but I find them easier to use for my level of experience), then the inside of the neck needs cleaning properly too...

This might seem like over-kill, but I de-cap first with a lee universal de-capper - then gently clean the worst of the dirt from the pockets with a hand tool - then the inside of the neck with a bronze brush in a drill, and the outside of the neck with some fine scotch brite - then they get tumbled for a long time...I find the media finishes the pockets off nicely, and I just push any bits that get wedged in the flash holes out with a pin.

I find that this is the cleanest I can get them prior to re-sizing using corn-cob media...and am definitely considering stainless steel media in the future...

I use a ultrasonic cleaner, then size and decap. Clean the pocket with a rcbs cleaner tool and reclean in the sonic cleaner.

My routine is pretty much the same,

For loads used on the indoor 25m range
De-prime with the Lee die
Put into a sock and into the washing machine for 20mins at 20c
Check cases, warm oven to 140c then switch off, put cases onto a pizza tray and pop in oven to dry as it cools off
Lube and full length size
Trim to length, chamfer, de-burr and check primer pockets
5 min wash in warm water with de-greaser (Eco Lemon flavour cleaner)
Rinse in warm water with a drop of rinse aid
Dry in oven as above then load.

For heavily soiled cases (full load 308 outdoor range brass)
De-prime with the Lee die
Put into a sock and into the washing machine for 20mins at 20c
Check cases, Stainless Media tumble for 1 to 2 hours
Lube and full length size
Trim to length, chamfer, de-burr and check primer pockets
5 min wash in warm water with de-greaser (Eco Lemon flavour cleaner)
Rinse in warm water with a drop of rinse aid
Dry in oven as above then load.