Universal decapping dies

[dh1633pm]

I have a Lee and an RCBS. The RCBS doesn't line up correctly all the time in my CO-AX so I use the Lee. It catches on the brass sometimes. The Lee like said earlier has to be tightened down by Bigfoot himself (or herself for that matter) to keep the decapping pin in place otherwise it slowly rises. I put the Lee in my vise using the two flat surfaces on the sides of the die top. I then use a socket wrench with a five sided socket. I can get the thing apart and back together as needed with no issues using this method. Even Bigfoot tightened ones. Mostly it relates to military brass and the occasional berdan that makes it way into the brass heap. I will have to take into consideration sanding the decapper to cause more friction to keep the pin in place better.

 

[444]

I am sure everybody already knows this, but the whole issue of the decapping pin in the Lee die is sold as a feature. Instead of breaking the pin, the whole thing will slide upwards.

I realize the people talking about it are having a hard time keeping it in place for normal operation. The only problem I have ever had is that it is very hard to adjust. I can keep it in place, but I always try to set my decapping pin so that it removes the primer and that's it. In other words, the minimum required to remove the primer. And with the Lee, it takes longer and is more frustrating to try to adjust that pin right where I want it: unlike something like the Redding sizing dies where you have a knob to adjust the depth of the decapping pin.
So my answer to that is to screw the whole Lee decapping die into the press just enough to remove the primer (rather than trying to finely adjust the whole decapping rod).

FWIW: I too have never broken the decapping pin in my Lee Universal Decapping Die. I have broken plenty of pins and bend rods in .223 full length sizing dies. Between off center primer flash holes, to Berdan primed cases, to military crimps.............I have had a number of "incidents" over the years.

Having that Universal Decapping Die comes in very handy for me. I have used it to remove tumbling media from flash holes, taking out primers that I accidently seated upside down...............I use those Hornady Lock & Load bushings on my single stage press, so I can pop out the die I am using and pop in something like the Universal decapping die without having to re-adjust the die I am using. So for example, if I am using a Ram Prime and accidently seat a primer upside down, I can easily and quickly switch dies and pop the primer back out and then go right back to priming.

 

[thomas15]

There are now two active threads on this extremely important topic, a total of 74 comments. I was curious to know if perhaps some small detail regarding universal decapping dies has been omitted? Here is a summary of the diverse uses of what I refer to as "Heaven for Fifteen Dollars".

For removing spent primers (including military crimped) from BRASS:

I have a Redding one that I've deprimed thousands of cases with including crimped primers and no issues.

Yes! A universal decapping die will remove those useless spent primers from your brass giving your resizing die a mini-vacation.

For removing spent primers from lot's of BRASS:

I have both the RCBS and Lee universal decapping dies. I have been using them for about a year. This allows me to decap all brass first in one batch.

Add an extra step to volume handloading for fun and profit.

For removing incorrectly installed primers and cleaning out tumbling media from BRASS:

Having that Universal Decapping Die comes in very handy for me. I have used it to remove tumbling media from flash holes, taking out primers that I accidently seated upside down...............

We have all done did it, installed a primer upside down. No worries, a universal decapping die will remove that pesky primer and save that piece of brass!

But wait!!! as a bonus, a universal decapping die will punch out that unwanted tumbler media stuck in your flash hole while allowing a primer pocket that is Spic and Span (mother will be so proud)!

Smart handloaders all agree, get a universal decapping die today!

Have I left something important out?

 

[444]

I bought the Lee Universal Deapping die and never looked back, it just works.

 

[someguy2800]

Have I left something important out?

Can be use to hold open a door or window, placed under a wheel it will keep things from rolling away, you can hammer nails with it, use as a fishing sinker, kill potato bugs, use the pin to clean gunk out from under your nails, secure your important paperwork, makes great stocking stuffers, throw them at people you do not like, keep dust out of the threads of your press while not in use, defense against angry bears, unjam your 22, center punch for drilling holes, break car window when you lock your keys inside, hammer it into the crack of a rock for an anchor while rock climbing, chip ice junks off a block for drinks at fancy parties, carving pumpkins, improvised toilet paper roll holder, opening the end of tubes of caulk.........

 

[thomas15]

^^^ genius! This gives me an idea. Market a device like a key fob that attaches to your belt. Always have a universal decapping die at the tip of your fingers!

 

[Dudedog]

Had some GFL brass that was terrible. Some flash holes were almost at the edge of the pocket. (mangled a pin because I got frustrated and overtightened the nut on my :Lee die, my fault)
I explained this to Lee and they sent me a pin anyway even though I said it was user error.

To get a pin from Lee open a ticket on their web site. You may have to pay shipping you may not, they sent me on for free.

GFL and Perfect both Fiocchi?

 

[Toprudder]

Have I left something important out?

If it doesn't feel right, don't force it.

 

[444]

If it doesn't feel right, don't force it.

When I have broken a decapping pin, this was always the issue for me. I had a bunch of brass I was processing and got in a groove and when one came along where something was wrong I wasn't taking my time and paying strict attention. Typically depriming cases isn't something you need to watch like a hawk after you get everything set up. Well..........you should.
I know that twice over a period of years, I bent a decapping rod because I was sizing range brass that I picked up (I no longer pick up range brass FWIW) and the case I was sizing had a smaller case inside of it. I know one time it was a .25 Auto case and it was jammed over my expander ball and I never got it apart. I gave up and bought a new rod.

It seems like a lot of the stuff you read about reloading is how to make it faster. I watch a YouTube channel where the guy tests some really interesting stuff, but he is absolutely obsessed with doing everything as fast as he possibly can. I can relate to this because there have been times in my life where my time was at such a premium that this was nessessary. However, going as fast as you can is one good way to get into trouble.

 

[TheDomFather]

When I have broken a decapping pin, this was always the issue for me. I had a bunch of brass I was processing and got in a groove and when one came along where something was wrong I wasn't taking my time and paying strict attention. Typically depriming cases isn't something you need to watch like a hawk after you get everything set up. Well..........you should.
I know that twice over a period of years, I bent a decapping rod because I was sizing range brass that I picked up (I no longer pick up range brass FWIW) and the case I was sizing had a smaller case inside of it. I know one time it was a .25 Auto case and it was jammed over my expander ball and I never got it apart. I gave up and bought a new rod.

It seems like a lot of the stuff you read about reloading is how to make it faster. I watch a YouTube channel where the guy tests some really interesting stuff, but he is absolutely obsessed with doing everything as fast as he possibly can. I can relate to this because there have been times in my life where my time was at such a premium that this was nessessary. However, going as fast as you can is one good way to get into trouble.

Totally agree all of this obsession about how many rounds per hour people can make! I can make 200-300 pistol rounds per hour and I know they wont blow up in my face if I tried for more I would likely screw a bunch of rounds up. Be methodical its not a race! There is no award for how fast you make rounds!

 

[Dudedog]

If it doesn't feel right, don't force it.

true, but some crimped primers can be really stubborn and require quite a bit more pressure to remove. (or to put it a different way, just a PITA to get out)
Once I have knocked the crimped primers out I can have the nut on the Lee die pretty loose with no issues.
I mark the base of the brass I have already removed the crimps on with a sharpie that way when I sort the pick ups from the range I can divide the brass into what I know was mine and what was someone else's brass.
Those I deprime with the sizer, unknown/crimped get the universal decap die.

(edit fixed last line)

 

[WaynePatrick]

Dom, Are you doing a video of the three decapping dies working?

 

[TheDomFather]

Dom, Are you doing a video of the three decapping dies working?

Wayne,
I will get one done this weekend after I shoot some ammo and get some more spent primers.
Dom

 

[WaynePatrick]

Looking forward to seeing

 

[Holderofthehorns]

I still use the lee universal decapping die. The only decapping pins I have had issues with were either because I was trying to decap military crimped brass or, on my old pro 1000, because the press wasn't indexing properly and needed adjustment.

I switched to these pins:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018V7L3C2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Haven't so much as had to touch the die since.

^^^ Those hardened pins will punch a Boxer hole in a Berdan brass. Ask me how I know.

 

[Schwing]

^^^ Those hardened pins will punch a Boxer hole in a Berdan brass. Ask me how I know.

If the timing is off on your press and you hit the side of almost any case, it will punch a hole through it... Or so I have been told.

 

[Jim Watson]

Hmm. Maybe I should get the Squirrel Daddy pins. I bent my Lee Universal pin against a Berdan case last week and have it wish listed at Midway until I need enough stuff to spread out the shipping.

 

[TheDomFather]

Mighty Armory is having a sale right now!

https://mightyarmory.com/collections/all