Lee rifle die question: Can you full length resize without the decapper?

[Mr. Wolf]

Yes I am a poor and new to reloading, so I am learning on a Lee single press and die sef.
I got a Frankfort Arsenal hand deprimer since it is easier to detect loose primer pockets and keeps my press cleaner.

If I remove the decapping pin/rod from the Lee full length sizing die, will it still function as a full length resizer?
Stated differently, does the decapping pin/rod perform any other function besides popping out the primer in the Lee resizer die?

Thank you in advance.

 

[DarinC]

Yes. With a catch. You will need to run them through a neck sizing mandrel after to size the inside of the neck the same way the expander ball does on the decapping pin pies on the way out of the brass.

Lots of us do it this way, FL size them follow with a mandrel.

 

[spife7980]

It has an expander ball in the rod that opens the neck back up. If you remove it you will find that your necks are left woefully undersized for smooth bullet seating.

 

[supercorndogs]

I think the expander recapping assembly is the best part of a Lee FL die.

 

[Mr. Wolf]

Thank you all, SH reloading forum rocks.
I suspected as much wth the conical top end serving some purpose.
I will probably still decap with the hand deprimer but keep the pin/rod in place.
The larger flash hole in the Alpha OCD brass is playing nice with the Frankfort hand deprimer... Not so much with the Lapua SRP brass.

 

[supercorndogs]

Lapua SRP take a small special smaller decapping pin I believe.

 

[Mr. Wolf]

Yes, found out the hard way.
At least it was tested it on range pick up Lapua SRP brass.

Lapua SRP take a small special smaller decapping pin I believe.