ocabj
Member
Does anyone know of an extra tough decapping/depriming die, device, or method? I broke 4 decapping pins last night when depriming some recently fired M2 Lake City surplus.
Depriming advice
- Thread starter ocabj
- Start date
- Status
WOW!! What dies are you using?
I have an RCBS universal decapping die that I use on military brass a lot. It works good, and if a pin breaks as they do occasionally they are less than two bucks for a 5 pack.
I don't think I have ever broken more than one pin in a couple hundred cases.....
I have an RCBS universal decapping die that I use on military brass a lot. It works good, and if a pin breaks as they do occasionally they are less than two bucks for a 5 pack.
I don't think I have ever broken more than one pin in a couple hundred cases.....
ocabj
Member
Last night I was using my RCBS Decapping die (.27-.45 cal). But I broke all my spare pins. So I ended up tumbling the lot of brass I had just shot and was going to take care of the rest of the primed brass when I resized them. Get this, I was resizing the brass and I broke a pin. Great. Two cases later, I snap the decapping rod and the expander ball is stuck in the neck of the case.
http://www.ocabj.net/images/rcbs_3006_xdiestem.jpg
RCBS has a new stem assembly on the way. I also just ordered a 50 pack of decapping pins from Midway for $9. Hopefully those will last me a few days.
http://www.ocabj.net/images/rcbs_3006_xdiestem.jpg
RCBS has a new stem assembly on the way. I also just ordered a 50 pack of decapping pins from Midway for $9. Hopefully those will last me a few days.
ocabj, i had the same problem with LC brass (never fired, chemicaly inert primer very corroded). breaking tons of pins. i bought a lee decaping die. they're cheap. have yet to break a pin in it.
that brass really hacks me off because i won't run through my dillon... :banghead:
that brass really hacks me off because i won't run through my dillon... :banghead:
You can buy a piece of drill rod in an appropriate soze and dice in into decapping pins with a dremel and a cut off wheel. I have about 24 inches of a 36 inch rod left after over 30 years.
A little polishing of the tip of the pin helps release the primers so they do not stick to the pin after being pushed out.
A little polishing of the tip of the pin helps release the primers so they do not stick to the pin after being pushed out.
Chawbaccer
Member
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2005
- Messages
- 1,865
A 3 penny finishing nail works for a replacement primer punch,I use one of these when I get a batch of really stuck primers.
Dave P
Member
Wilson makes nice cheap decapping punches. Use with a hammer.
bogie
Member
I'd go with the Lee decapper, or just get a Lee sizing die...
I have the Lee Universal Decapper, and it seems to work fine for crimped in primers.
I de-primed 1000 pcs of Lake City crimped-in .223, and the decapping pin only rode up twice (it is easily reset), and after resetting punched out the sticky primer. Lee also makes a real cheap base and decapper you use with a hammer, but the die has worked well for me..
I de-primed 1000 pcs of Lake City crimped-in .223, and the decapping pin only rode up twice (it is easily reset), and after resetting punched out the sticky primer. Lee also makes a real cheap base and decapper you use with a hammer, but the die has worked well for me..
caz223
Member
.223 is hard on those pins.
RCBS pins tend to break more frequently than, say, lee, or dillon.
Is your decapping assy. bent, even a tiny bit?
take it out, roll just the decap assy. on a flat surface and check to see if the pin wobbles.
If it does, it may need to be straightened.
RCBS pins tend to break more frequently than, say, lee, or dillon.
Is your decapping assy. bent, even a tiny bit?
take it out, roll just the decap assy. on a flat surface and check to see if the pin wobbles.
If it does, it may need to be straightened.
WayneConrad
Member
I found a piece of cast housing for someting about the size and shape of a coffee cup, drilled a hole large enough for a large rifle primer to easily fit through it center bottom, took three nuts, welded them to outside bottom over the hole, reamed them out so that the largest base cartridge I reload fits snugly in it but still had a support for the base of the cartridge(.303). For first time depriming I set the case in it and use punches I made out of old military cleaning rods, they are solid after the threaded portion is removed.
rk
rk
ocabj
Member
I knew there was a spring! I lost the spring a long time ago when I broke the decapping pin the first time with that die. I haven't used a spring since. Frankly, I think it's the lack of a spring that causes the pins to get bent because the pin is loose, and be out of alignment hitting the brass instead of the primer.
Lee Deprimer
The Lee deprimer works best in my experience. I've broken 2 RCBS universal deprimers and one "unbreakable" Lyman deprimer. I've never had a problem with the Lee. It has a collet top so the depriming pin just slides up if the primer is too tough (or if it's actually Berdan Primed! OOPS!).
The punch or Wilson deprimers work but too slow for me.
The Lee deprimer works best in my experience. I've broken 2 RCBS universal deprimers and one "unbreakable" Lyman deprimer. I've never had a problem with the Lee. It has a collet top so the depriming pin just slides up if the primer is too tough (or if it's actually Berdan Primed! OOPS!).
The punch or Wilson deprimers work but too slow for me.
WayneConrad
Member
ocabj, I have to admit I wondered how taking the spring out would improve it. Soon after I got it, I tried taking the pin out of my RCBS decapping die. Just as you did, I found that it made the pin flap around quite a bit and occasionally contact the case web.
ocabj
Member
Thanks for the recommendation. I just ordered a Lee decapping die from Midway. I'll give it a whirl.
Yup. That's exactly what's happening with mine. After I replaced the pin on my RCBS decapping die the first time, I was wondering why it was doing that. I thought there was some kind of spring in it, but I didn't see one fall out when I disassembled it. Oh well.
I've had the "Lee Decapper and Base" (they retail for $4 apiece in .22 and .30 cal.) for many years. They are advertised to be specifically for decapping military brass, and are certainly dirt simple. Every time I've run into military cases that break a pin in my RCBS decapping die, I finish out that lot with the Lee. It's not fast, but all you need is a hammer to make it work. So far, it hasn't missed a lick.
Kamicosmos
Member
Must be something about the moon cycle for breaking decap rods this week!
I just busted my .223 decapper in my Lee dies last night. Even though it has the collet thing in it, it snapped right off, and is now stuck in a case, and the case, of course, is stuck in the shell holder.
Sigh...I guess only the AK will make an appearence at the range this evening!
I just busted my .223 decapper in my Lee dies last night. Even though it has the collet thing in it, it snapped right off, and is now stuck in a case, and the case, of course, is stuck in the shell holder.
Sigh...I guess only the AK will make an appearence at the range this evening!
Kamicosmos:
That's is why I now only decap using the Lee Universal Decapper. Even if you do break the pin you do not have a stuck case. I know it is an extra step but to me it's worth it. I first decap my brass then tumble before I resize. That way only clean deprimed brass goes into my sizing dies. Less risk of stratching the dies. Less risk of stuck brass.
That's is why I now only decap using the Lee Universal Decapper. Even if you do break the pin you do not have a stuck case. I know it is an extra step but to me it's worth it. I first decap my brass then tumble before I resize. That way only clean deprimed brass goes into my sizing dies. Less risk of stratching the dies. Less risk of stuck brass.
Steve in PA
Member
I've been using RCBS stuff for years. I've used their de-capper dies for military .223 and .30/06, never broke anything.
ocabj
Member
FYI: I got my Lee depriming die last week and it's really hefty when dealing with the Lake City surplus I'm depriming. I like the stem design more than the RCBS die. I ended up taking the RCBS decapping die out of my T7 turret and replaced it with the Lee.
ClarkEMyers
Member
Punch and base lathe turned to center but.....
Punch and base lathe turned to center but I'm afraid it spreads lead. I like the Co-Ax (Bonanza/Forster) press for catching spent primers. I'd like something that did both even better.
Punch and base lathe turned to center but I'm afraid it spreads lead. I like the Co-Ax (Bonanza/Forster) press for catching spent primers. I'd like something that did both even better.
I have a Lee universal decapper...
Had a problem with it crumpling the case mouth on my 8mm brass if the pin was not exactly centered. Couldn't figure it out until I took the die off my press and discovered that an empty .22 shell had been stuck inside one of my cases, and the decapper had punched right through it. Should have taken a picture of that. It didn't break though!
Had a problem with it crumpling the case mouth on my 8mm brass if the pin was not exactly centered. Couldn't figure it out until I took the die off my press and discovered that an empty .22 shell had been stuck inside one of my cases, and the decapper had punched right through it. Should have taken a picture of that. It didn't break though!
- Status
