Is it safe to tumble primed brass?

[Will Learn]

I primed some brass that has some lube(hornady one shot) still in the case. Should I tumble the brass again or wait over night for the lube to dry? When I was weighing charges(from the powder measurer) using a primed case some of the powder stuck in the case(from the lube). Help please.

 

[Walkalong]

You put it IN the case? What caliber?

 

[Will Learn]

.308 I was making sure the measurer was throwing consistent charges by weighing a few of them. I dump each charge I'm testing from a primed case.

 

[sargenv]

I would say no since the fine grit of your tumbling media may lodge itself in the flash hole possibly causing a misfire. If you are using one shot, don't worry about it, it will be dry to touch and will not effect the powder at all. I used it when loading 40 S&W on a progressive. I don't even tumble the ammo when it come sout since one shot is not sticky. Once you load the ammo, if you want to tumble them to get the lube off, that's pretty harmless.

 

[tasco 74]

i wouldn't tumble primed brass either as i always have media in the flash holes of the cases i tumble after depriming.. that's the reason i always try to tumble my brass before i start any reloading procedures...

 

[evan price]

You will clog your flash hole with media crumbs if you do, and how will you clean it out without depriming?

 

[Sport45]

I don't tumble primed, empty brass. But if I did I don't think I'd worry too much about a kernel of ground walnut or cob causing a misfire. Seems to me the primer would easily blow it out on its way to igniting the powder.

You will also be dumping a few kernels of media back into your powder when you dump the charged cases to weigh. Again, it wouldn't be a huge concern to me, but I suppose the dirty media could scratch the bore on its way out.

The above was written with my plinking rounds for rifle or handgun in mind. For hunting, competition, or self-defense I wouldn't stray from published procedure in a reputable reloading manual.

 

[goon]

I have tumbled pull-down brass that I pulled from loaded "questionable" rounds that were given to me. Some of them still had primers in them and I didn't have any problems because of that.

So I doubt that it would be unsafe, but you would still end up getting tumbling media in the flash hole.
My solution would be:
1. tumble them
2. pop the primers
3. Go through the whole loading process and start over.

You would probably not have any problems if you didn't, but it just isn't worth it to take chances with reloading.

 

[BAT1]

I tumble spent brass with the spent primers and loaded rounds to shine them up. They're so shiney...

 

[rcmodel]

Or just leave the media in the flash holes and load them.

While not aesthetic, I seriously doubt a speck of walnut hull is going to stand a chance when that primer goes off!

I have never ever seen any evidence in print in 45+ years of reloading that it will raise pressure, affect accuracy, or anything else to just leave it in there.


rcmodel