universal depriming die

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I think it adds another step but they do the job.

I like the 1/8” NPT/collet on the Lee ones that I used it on my auto decap/sort machine.



If you set it right, you can go for a long time without breaking a pin, even if you do come across cases that had a pebble in them.
 
A few years ago my wife got into making craft items out of range brass. I bought a universal decap die so she could have a wide variety of brass to work with instead of buying full reloading dies sets for every caliber I found on the ground. In that regard, it is very useful. But for reloading a dedicated caliber that you are going to work with and fine tune? Not really.
 
I have one but mostly use it for breaking down QC failures and range pickups; not as part of a universal pre-progressive case preparation procedure.

Something got out of line and my Dillon repeatedly bent or broke the decapping pin in my Lee/EGW "U" sizing die. I robbed pins out of other Lee dies to get me by until I could get Squirrel Daddys.
 
RONALD MORPHEW said:
what do ya"ll think of the universal depriming die?

is it worth having? I already use the lyman and lee hand priming tools
Click to expand...

I started using one when I started wet tumbling. If the primer is removed wet tumbling will clean the primer pocket. And sometimes if the case gets wet the primmer will corrode and the center of the primer will punch out and leave the rim stuck in the primer pocket. But if you are not wet tumbling their use is probably an unnecessary step.

I have 2 of them. The first was a Lee that I paid $9.99 for from Midway. I've broken one decapping pin in thousands of cases. The other die is a Sinclair and was a gift. For 3 times the price of the Lee its much nicer looking and somewhat weaker.

The above comments are interesting. And so is Jmorris's machine!
 
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Zygodactyl said:
It's a must have if you deprime and wet tumble with SS pins. I put a Lyman Universal in my Lee APP and deprimed two large coffee cans full of 9mm in about an hour.
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Not just for wet. I dry tumble, twice. Always have but the UDD/APP changed up my processes. First tumble is in plain corn media, then decap with the Lee UDD on a Lee APP, then tumble in treated walnut before resizing. I used to dry tumble in corn, then resize/decap in one die/operation, then tumble again in walnut. I don't like getting my hands dirty. :)

Adding the separate decapping step before a final tumble seems to leave less residue in the primer pockets. Outside and inside of case is the same. I still check each pocket and run a cleaning jig in one if it doesn't look clean enough. I like to get up close and personal with my brass. :)
 
I have a Lee which I never use. I was duped into buying it. It’s simply unnecessary unless one is intent on adding an unnecessary additional step in their process. If you want to deprime before you tumble just resize too using a carbide resizing die.

In short, don’t waste time nor money with one of these.

The foregoing is intentionally sarcastic and provocative but also unassailable.
 
CQB45ACP said:
I have a Lee which I never use. I was duped into buying it. It’s simply unnecessary unless one is intent on adding an unnecessary additional step in their process. If you want to deprime before you tumble just resize too using a carbide resizing die.

In short, don’t waste time nor money with one of these.

The foregoing is intentionally sarcastic and provocative but also unassailable.
Click to expand...
I'll take it! :)
 
Yes, a large caliber one, and another one for smaller calibers.. Each one has a different range of calibers on it's spec. sheet. with some overlap.

My sizing die (pin) serves as a backup, and is normally backed off from decapping. I've got 6 calibers covered with reloading dies, and many more for decapping.
 
I like it, I have a process in reloading and it works well for me. I like just doing a repetitive task and then coming back later to do another.

So I'll....

Tumble
Lee depriming/decapping die
Lube/Size
Trim
Prime
Powder/Seat bullet

I like this because I can stop after each of those steps and mass produce brass in various states of completion. I like knowing I can just tumble a bunch of brass. Then decap them, waiting for those to be lubed/sized. Then waiting on those to be trimmed. Then i have usable brass that can either be primed en masse, and wait to be fully reloaded, or go in batches and throw powder and seat bullets for full rounds.

It gives me lots of options to spend a little time, or more time, getting things along in the process and well checked and ready for the next time I have time to spend.

I have a single stage press though, and I find the entire process relaxing and kind of zen-like. I take my time and slowly but surely make some solid, reliable reloads.
 
I just picked up the RCBS decapping dies, but it occurs to me that since they have specified caliber ranges for which they are intended, the term "universal" doesn't really apply, does it?

I used to decap with caliber-specific dies before wet tumbling, taking the expander button off and running the rod far enough down so the neck wasn't worked, essentially doing what the "universal" dies do. Midway had them on sale recently, so I sprung for both sizes and made my life a little easier.
 
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