Reloading prep
 

So I don't yet have any reloading equip, but I have quite a bit of spent brass once fired by me. .380, 9mm, .45, and 5.56. Have sorted it out and wondering what the next step is. Should I take the spent primers out before cleaning? Or tumble first then remove the primers? Going slow waiting for components to come back to reasonable levels and prices.

Thanks.

you wanna tumble first. if you deprime first before tumble then you will make your first mistake. thanks cleaning the flash hole out from media. lol

If you are vibratory tumbling with corn or walnut media then you don't want to deprime prior to tumbling. You would be picking out media from the primer pockets and flash hole. The only way to clean primer pockets while tumbling is to tumble with stainless steel media in a wet tumbler. See the sticky thread at the top of the reloading forum to see the one I built.

Read the threads for mistakes some of us have made..then avoid them :D

Thanks. I thought I had read somewhere about that but couldn't remember. Wouldn't be much of a head start on the brass if I had to go back and clean 'em after tumbling. I'll wait for the tumbler.

Query, how can you deprime if you don't have any Reloading Equipment?

I was looking at either the Harvey deprimer or a Lee hand press. IDK.

I have the lee, it works well!

I started reloading on Lee equipment - and was very happy with it. They have great customer service and a great warranty. It's an inexpensive way to get started with reloading and learn the process. In fact I still use my Lee for SD loads.

Lane

Hammer. Long finishing nail. Block of wood with a hole drilled in it to set the case on. Yes, yes I did way back when :D

I run them through a decapping die first, then tumble, then size. It adds an extra step, but since it's not prone to errors (like overcharging etc.), I use a hand press to decap while watching TV and sometimes even while reading the board.

The sole function of the decapping rod in the sizing die is to knock out the media.

pig

I like the sound of the hammer and nail method; I have those already. Can I get away with that without damaging the brass? Any technique tips?

You've got to be careful not to screw up the flash hole. You don't want to make a practice of expanding that.

I was usually stoned or drunk. I also smoked while charging cases with a scoop. There's your hint about using this method...I wouldn't

OK then...anyone else? Bueller?

I wouldn't recommend the hammer and nail method......buy a cheap single stage press kit if money is an issue.

Thanks, Titan; I got that. Issue is availability of equip and deciding what I want. Just need to learn more. Thanks.