I've got plenty of the .047"x.255" and it works great on 5.56 and 7.62 but for 9mm, every once in awhile a pin will get lodged into the bottom of the case across the inside diameter.   If the pins were just a hair shorter, it almost certainly wouldn't be a problem.


I'm having a hard time finding any pins other than the standard .047 x .255 tho.

Any suggestions?

Great alternative - Chips
Chips
AmmoBrass

Nice, thank you!

Any pins I find like that I discard. Likewise with ones that get trapped in primer pockets.

For 9mm that's what I do also.

it doesn't get the insides sparkly clean but does a better job than dry media and you can clean more brass per job without pins.

I've been doing the same now with all handgun brass and have tried it a few times with rifle brass.  I'm pleased with the results and it sure is nice not having to chase those pins.  Just rinse, dry and load.

I tried that.   Over several batches of 1500 or so each, the rate of pins sticking never decreased.

Which tells me its at least as much about variability with the cases as it is with the pins.

I've never had issues with 9mm cases getting pins stuck inside.  Unfortunately, I can't remember where I got my pins, but they are all pretty uniform.  I've had a few jam into flash holes; they get recycled when I find them.  Interestingly, those PIA Norma overly small flash holes? I've never had a pin catch in them...

I'm a "just in case" guy.  I have three different sizes of surgical pick-ups on hand.  These make short work of getting rogue pins out of cases and flash holes.  And once I have 'em grabbed with the pick-up, I just drop them in my steel recycle container.  (It's amazing what you can accidentally pick up on a range, including zinc-plated steel cases, brass plated steel cases, etc.)

I use chips for two calibers: .30 Carbine and .32 Auto.  These little guys are small enough that normal pins will bridge inside the cases.  It's a huge hassle to get them out.  I'll bet that .25 Auto is too small for pins to get stuck inside these cases.

Chips are not as uniform as pins, but they're much smaller overall.  As long as your pins come to you clean, you won't have any problems with them.  But...  I use a combination of metal strainer and old tee shirt to separate the water from the pins and brass.  The tee shirt catches ALL the chips that get through the strainer.  A few pins get through it too, but a lot more chips do.  Be advised...

That's the weird thing too.  I've never had pins get stuck in the flash hole though I hear from others about it alot.

I use pins purchased from Guntap. They don't stick in flash holes. On two occasions I've had a 9mm case where 3 pins stuck inside the case walls in an "H" pattern. That's pretty cool.

I prefer longer pins. Mine are a half-inch long, and barely fit through a standard flash hole. I've been running them for almost 10 years now. The short ones are cheaper though.

ETA: when the hell did .255 become the standard length for stainless pins?
i just tried to find more half inch length pins and they're nowhere to be found.

.255 is too short. No wonder I see guys complaining about pins turning sideways in cases. Now I'm going to search for SS rod stock and probably have to make my own.

I had a supplier for them that I used to send everyone to for SS pins, Bullseye Reloading Supplies. They have totally vanished as well.

Slightly longer would work, too.

Let us know how it goes making your own if you go that route.    I guess if you could make up a fixture or something to strap a bunch together in a bundle and cut them at once it wouldn't be too bad.

My only concern would be sharp edges at the cuts.

ETA- FWIW, my pins measure .060x .505, that's a major difference from what's available now. .060= 1/16 in. or 1.5mm(ish) diameter, then select your length. This is roughly the same pin that was used in Hornadys decapping stems. I'm not certain about Hornadys length though.

Maybe vibratory tumble them afterwards with sandblast media or something?

Sand?

sand, oxide, ceramic beads, whatever you got.