Unexpected Surprise with Stainless Steel Pins tumbling media

[HAZORD]

I've been using a depriming die to remove fired primers before I tumble clean my cases for reloading, so that the media can clean the primer pockets. I have the older size media that just happens to stick in the flash holes every now and then, and up till now I have observed it in pairs or triples of them protruding into the primer pockets. It is fairly easy to grip with a pair of needle-nose pliars and pull out.

I normally uniform my primer pockets and flash holes, and deburr the inside flash holes in cases that I shoot for accuracy, but I have been reloading some 223 for whistle pigs recently using military brass so I didn't do all the normal primer hole prep. Luckily I found an unexpected dangerous surprise before a possible disaster. Out of 110 cases that I tumbled, I had two where the media were stuck in the flash hole on the inside of the case, where they weren't easily detectable. Had I loaded the cases, I hate to think what would have happened.

I'm thinking that if I had done the primer hole prep, it would have opened the holes enough to prevent the sticking.

So, word to the wise. If you use the SS media, check those holes!

 

[dddoo7]

I always check every case as I pull them out of the tumbler. You are right...this is a necessary step if you use stainless media.

On rounds I load progressively, I run a decapping pin through them in the first stage...either on the sizing die (pistol rounds) or in a lee universal decapping die (.223/300 blkout). I size with the dillon trimmer, so no need to size when loading.


--Daniel

 

[shurt]

Absolutely Hazord ..... you are right and those primer holes need to be checked. I have a Giraud trimmer and it gives me one more chance to check the primer pocket.