Question on case Prep. - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

McD · 04-14-2008, 07:40 AM

A couple things that have me confussed:
1. Do you need to clean the primer pocket, flashhole, etc.? If you do how do you do that in a progressive press?
2. Do you clean your brass with the spent priner in the case? This sort of relates back to #1.

I have reloaded for my rifles but this is my first attempt for my XD. I have a reamer/deburrer and want to know if I should get any other case prep. stuff (see #1).

Thanks in Advance!
McD

CharlieHo · 04-14-2008, 07:46 AM

I tumble/clean my brass with the spent primer still in the case.

Sizing/depriming does all the primer pocket/flash hole cleaning that I'm ever going to do.

Straightwalled pistol cases need no case prep at all.

I don't clean pockets, trim, de-burr, or any of that other stuff required with bottle-necked rifle cases.

Just check for cracks/splits and load 'em up

yochujr · 04-14-2008, 07:48 AM

I load my .45's on a Dillon 550 and don't generally clean the primer pockets. I've never really had any trouble. Before I got my Dillon, I was using a Lee Turret press without using the auto-index and then I would only clean them on occasion. Everyone has their own way, but I've just never really bothered for plinking rounds.

fredj338 · 04-14-2008, 07:49 AM

For service pistol rounds, I do nothing but tumble (spent primer inplace) size & load. For the magnum rounds, 357, 41, 44 & 45Colt, I will trim from time to time & then you need t deburr. I seldom ever ckean a handgun brass primer pocket. Rifle primers bunr abit hooet, leave abit more carbon behind.
If you feel the need to clean pockets every other reload, you can get a universal decapping die & decap all your brass on a single stage (the cheapest LEE will do) or change out a die station & do it on the progressive. Clean all the pockets & reload as normal.

tomfoolery · 04-14-2008, 07:57 AM

I have done both ways (tumble before removing primer and tumble after removing primer), i can tell you for sure that cleaning brass with the primer in place is much much easier (less material gets in the pocket forcing you to pick it all out).

i dont bother with cleaning anything past using the tumbler.

lbreevesii · 04-14-2008, 08:08 AM

I don't use a progressive, but here goes.

For me it generally depends on tumbler media. small grain corn cob or walnut hull will be fine to use with the brass deprimed, large grain corn cob, rice, etc all have issues with getting stuck in the primerpocket and/or flash hole.

Usually thought i don't tumble my pickup brass since its usually mixed and i don't want to run dirty brass through my dies. In that case, I do clean primer pockets before re-priming.

Also if I am using really dirty brass or i'm doing high quality loads I always clean the primer pocket.

highscore · 04-14-2008, 07:13 PM

I've never even considered cleaning a primer pocket or flash hole on pistol brass. Tumble them with primers intact and then run them through the reloading process. The decap pin will push out any cleaning media that may lodge in the flash hole. Accuracy will not be enhanced by performing these extra processes so why waste your time!

WyoXD · 04-20-2008, 05:44 AM

With pistol brass just clean, inspect, and load. On some magnum revolver cartridges I'll go to more trouble (such as trimming to get a more consistant roll crimp), but not with pistols.

If you buy once fired or pick up range brass make sure you sort out or cull any with crimped primer pockets while inspecting!

Centerfire · 04-20-2008, 07:01 AM

Thanks McD for asking the question(s), and all others for your responses. I've been wondering the same thing myself for quite a while.

Growing up I watched my dad load for rifle, and 44 mag. He was always spinning the cases on the primer cleaner, as well as triming and deburing them. He had a single stage press and trickle charge/measure, so it was always very slow going.

I recently got a Hornady Lock-N-Load and have been wondering how to incorporate all of the steps I remember watching him perform growing up. Have been holding off on tumbling the 4k cases I've acquired because I wasn't sure if I needed to de-prime them first, and if so, how I was going to do it. This kind of ties it all up, and I'm excited to get started!

Thanks!

~ Centerfire

04-14-2008, 07:46 AM	#2
CharlieHo XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairmont, WV Posts: 514	I tumble/clean my brass with the spent primer still in the case. Sizing/depriming does all the primer pocket/flash hole cleaning that I'm ever going to do. Straightwalled pistol cases need no case prep at all. I don't clean pockets, trim, de-burr, or any of that other stuff required with bottle-necked rifle cases. Just check for cracks/splits and load 'em up __________________ "The philosophy of gun control: Teenagers are roaring through town at 90 MPH, where the speed limit is 25. Your solution is to lower the speed limit to 20." - Sam Cohen, inventor of the Neutron Bomb

04-14-2008, 07:49 AM	#4
fredj338 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,224	For service pistol rounds, I do nothing but tumble (spent primer inplace) size & load. For the magnum rounds, 357, 41, 44 & 45Colt, I will trim from time to time & then you need t deburr. I seldom ever ckean a handgun brass primer pocket. Rifle primers bunr abit hooet, leave abit more carbon behind. If you feel the need to clean pockets every other reload, you can get a universal decapping die & decap all your brass on a single stage (the cheapest LEE will do) or change out a die station & do it on the progressive. Clean all the pockets & reload as normal. __________________ EVERY GOOD SHOOTER SHOULD BE A HANDLOADER! Last edited by fredj338; 04-14-2008 at 07:52 AM.

04-14-2008, 07:57 AM	#5
tomfoolery XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 4,563	I have done both ways (tumble before removing primer and tumble after removing primer), i can tell you for sure that cleaning brass with the primer in place is much much easier (less material gets in the pocket forcing you to pick it all out). i dont bother with cleaning anything past using the tumbler. __________________ "It is better to die on your feet than live on your knees." "One is none, two is one, and three is just a good time." Clint Smith, referring to the number of guns you carry daily.

04-14-2008, 07:13 PM	#7
highscore XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: CT Posts: 123	I've never even considered cleaning a primer pocket or flash hole on pistol brass. Tumble them with primers intact and then run them through the reloading process. The decap pin will push out any cleaning media that may lodge in the flash hole. Accuracy will not be enhanced by performing these extra processes so why waste your time! __________________ If you want me to try YOUR ammo, let me use Your gun! HS

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04-14-2008, 07:40 AM	#1
McD XDTalk Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 36	Question on case Prep. A couple things that have me confussed: 1. Do you need to clean the primer pocket, flashhole, etc.? If you do how do you do that in a progressive press? 2. Do you clean your brass with the spent priner in the case? This sort of relates back to #1. I have reloaded for my rifles but this is my first attempt for my XD. I have a reamer/deburrer and want to know if I should get any other case prep. stuff (see #1). Thanks in Advance! McD __________________ "Life is tough, It's even tougher when you're STUPID"! John M. Stryker USMC

04-14-2008, 07:48 AM	#3
yochujr XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 101	I load my .45's on a Dillon 550 and don't generally clean the primer pockets. I've never really had any trouble. Before I got my Dillon, I was using a Lee Turret press without using the auto-index and then I would only clean them on occasion. Everyone has their own way, but I've just never really bothered for plinking rounds.

04-14-2008, 08:08 AM	#6
lbreevesii XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boone, NC Posts: 118	I don't use a progressive, but here goes. For me it generally depends on tumbler media. small grain corn cob or walnut hull will be fine to use with the brass deprimed, large grain corn cob, rice, etc all have issues with getting stuck in the primerpocket and/or flash hole. Usually thought i don't tumble my pickup brass since its usually mixed and i don't want to run dirty brass through my dies. In that case, I do clean primer pockets before re-priming. Also if I am using really dirty brass or i'm doing high quality loads I always clean the primer pocket.

04-20-2008, 05:44 AM	#8
WyoXD XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Laramie, Wy Posts: 265	With pistol brass just clean, inspect, and load. On some magnum revolver cartridges I'll go to more trouble (such as trimming to get a more consistant roll crimp), but not with pistols. If you buy once fired or pick up range brass make sure you sort out or cull any with crimped primer pockets while inspecting!

04-20-2008, 07:01 AM	#9
Centerfire XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California Posts: 114	Thanks McD for asking the question(s), and all others for your responses. I've been wondering the same thing myself for quite a while. Growing up I watched my dad load for rifle, and 44 mag. He was always spinning the cases on the primer cleaner, as well as triming and deburing them. He had a single stage press and trickle charge/measure, so it was always very slow going. I recently got a Hornady Lock-N-Load and have been wondering how to incorporate all of the steps I remember watching him perform growing up. Have been holding off on tumbling the 4k cases I've acquired because I wasn't sure if I needed to de-prime them first, and if so, how I was going to do it. This kind of ties it all up, and I'm excited to get started! Thanks! ~ Centerfire