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Posted: 6/29/2008 11:24:16 PM EDT
| Here's what I am wanting to do: I have a friend who has a reloading setup. Only problem is that he lives 3 hours away. So when I go to reload I am wanting to make the most of the time there. I have access to unlimited once fired 223 brass. I am wanting to clean it and get it deprimed before I go to his place to reload it. What would you guys suggest I get to do this. And I know someones gonna say get a de-primer. I'm wondering which one you'd recommend b/c I dont know crap about this. A link would be great. Thanks in advance. |
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The cheap and easy way to de-prime, though it takes a while, is to get a block of hardwood and drill a hole a bit larger than the primer---7/32" If you can, make a shallow counterbore on the top side---3/8" for .223, and a deeper and larger counterbore on the back side of the block. This is where your primers will collect. Next, you will need to find a pin punch that is long-enough to punch out the primers and which will fit inside the neck. The punch tip needs to be 1/16". Put the punch into the case and feel for the tip to go into the flash-hole. Place the case base down in the shallow counterbore, or centered on the hole. Then use a small hammer to drive the primer out. You do not want to hit real hard, but light taps take too long. You will get a feel for how much force to use to punch the primer with one or two blows. To make clean-up a bit faster, place the decapping block on a paper towel. This will collect the debris and primers. After punching the primers, you can then take a small flathead screwdriver and clean out the primer cup of the carbon deposit. For cleaning, I wash my cases. Obtain an empty plastic jug---one gallon is more than big enough. A quart will do small batches up to 100 .223 cases. Fill the jug 3/4 the way full with hot water. Add 2-3 table spoons of Cascade Dishwashing Detergent (powdered stuff). Shake the jug vigorously for a few seconds to allow the detergent to mostly dissolve. Add cases and fill the rest of the way with hot water. Now shake, tumble, and roll the jug for about 5 minutes. Let soak for another 5 then agitate again. Drain the water, but keep the cases in the jug. Add more hot water for a rinse. A minute is long enough for agitation. Drain and rinse again, one more rinse does not hurt either. Remove the cases and place them on a cookie sheet lined with paper towels. Place in the oven turned on to warm or ~180 degrees F for an hour or so. The cases will be dry and ready to lube and size. |
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Use the LEE DECAPPING TOOL This has the punch AND a metal 'anvil' that is drilled out to the proper diameters! |
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Get a tumbler to clean everything. Then get a Lee Hand Press and Decap & resize while watching spongebob  My .02 |
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Keep in mind that you can deprime at the exact same time you size the case, so that by itself isn’t saving you much time at your friend’s house. That said, if I wanted to do that I’d start with an el cheapo Lee Press --> www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=480380&t=11082005. If you don’t have a place to permanently mount it, maybe attach it to a piece of 2X6 wood and c-clamp it a fairly sturdy table when needed. That press probably wouldn’t handle sizing .223’s too well, but should be fine for depriming. Also get a Lee decapping die as already described for use on this press. Plus you’ll need a .223 shellholder. That should give you a fast, easy to use depriming setup. If any of the cases will need decrimping, an appropriate hand tool will also let you get that done at home. And if you want to occasionally clean primer pockets, that’s also easy to do at home with the appropriate hand tool. And you certainly could lube the cases at home in preparation for being sized. Since you have an unlimited (gasp!) supply of .223 cases, you might also take a batch to your friend’s house for partial processing. That is, take some deprimed, decrimped, and lubed cases to his house and simply size them. Then take those cases home, clean the lub off, trim/deburr (if needed), and prime the cases using a Lee Hand Priming tool. Next time you visit your friend, finish up those cases. If you can spring for your own tumbler, that would also make things easier. |
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I fhe lives 3 hours away, that's 6 hours round trip. Assuming you drive a leisurely 55mpg, that's 330 miles. Let's say you get a pretty good 22mpg. That means it takes 15 gallons of gas to get there. At $4/gal that's $60 per trip. That number goes up quickly if you drive a gas pig. Toll roads, vehicle wear and tear, etc., can also raise the cost. I can reload about 175 rounds per hour with my Lee Turret if I have everything setup, have no problems, and have prepped brass. I'm not sure what setup your buddy has, but you may be reloading slower or faster than that. That $60/trip can eat up your savings from reloading depending on the ammo you're loading. I'd consider getting your own gear. |
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Thanks for the advice guys, I agree with the evryones opinion on the gas issue, but I live in Corpus and there isn't shit to do in south texas. My wife and I have friends and fam in Houston(where my friend lives w/ a reloader) and we go there pretty often for her to go shopping or to visit. So I figured next time she's shopping, I'll go and reload. And I'm used to spending money on gas, I drive 78 miles one way to work a day- 5 days a week--It sucks. As far as a press is concerned, I don't know anything right now about reloading. I plan on getting into it, and I dont mind spending the money on quality gear rather than cheap stuff --buy nice, buy once. What would a good press that I could eventually use on 223 and 308 be. Anyone have one that they'd suggest or even sell? As far as a deprimming and decapping die, would this be a good one, it says universal? Someone mentioned buying a decrimping tool and a 223 shell holder--whats that do? |
IMO, you're better off reloading at home and shooting with your buddy when you go to visit.  Which press? That's a can of worms. If you're a low to mid volume shooter, a Lee Classic Turret should be a good way to start. Do a search on Google to see what else you'll need (and check the stickies here too!). I can reload about 175 rounds per hour (assuming brass is prepped) on my Lee Turret. If you shoot 1000 rounds a week every week, the Lee might be a bit slow. If you need something faster, look at the Dillon 550 and 650 and the Hornady Lock N Load AP. The die you linked will work fine for removing primers, I have one myself. You'll need a press to put it in and the shellholder does just that: it holds the shell in the press. Lee die sets include them, individual dies do not. The decrimping tool (either a reamer or a swager) removes the military crimp that is prevalent on .223 brass. If you reload .223, you'll need it, especially if you want to use common LC, WCC, or other military headstamps. |
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