Nucrunner 75 Posted September 21, 2018 sequence of steps for a beginning reloader...loading 38 Special on a RCBS single stage. de-prime and size my brass, then clean it (vibratory), prime, powder, crimp....? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carl_g 568 Posted September 21, 2018 29 minutes ago, Nucrunner said: sequence of steps for a beginning reloader...loading 38 Special on a RCBS single stage. de-prime and size my brass, then clean it (vibratory), prime, powder, crimp....? If you are not wet tumbling your brass then no need to deprime pistol brass before cleaning. Do your cleaning first then do the rest. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
revenger 473 Posted September 21, 2018 1 hour ago, Nucrunner said: sequence of steps for a beginning reloader...loading 38 Special on a RCBS single stage. de-prime and size my brass, then clean it (vibratory), prime, powder, crimp....? you pretty much got it, The one thing I do for most of the calibers I load for is to use a separate crimp die on the last step. prime, powder, seat than crimp. I find it extremely hard to get consistent repetitive loads trying to seat and crimp in the same step.and if your crimp starts before your fully seated you will shave off some lead. I've been using same brass for many years no sizing or anything just shoot load shoot load. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeteF 1,044 Posted September 21, 2018 On 9/20/2018 at 10:56 PM, revenger said: I've been using same brass for many years no sizing or anything just shoot load shoot load. You rarely (never) need to trim pistol brass. You need to resize every time. A bullet will slide right in (and out) of a fired piece of brass. 1. Tumble / Inspect 2. Size and deprime 3. Prime Edit: (thanks heavyopp i forgot a step) 3a. Slightly expand mouth 4. Charge 5. Seat 6. Crimp 5 and 6 can be combined depending on your needs 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heavyopp 167 Posted September 21, 2018 My order is a little different... 1 - deprime using a universal decapping die -- do not size 2 - clean using a wet tumbler and stainless pins -- I like clean primer pockets 3 - prime and inspect using a Lee hand primer 4 - lube 9mm only -- 9mm sticks in the dies 5 - size -- remove decapping pin from sizer dies 6 - expand case mouth -- lyman M die if I'm using the hornady press - dillon press expansion gets done with charge 7 - charge 8 - seat 9 - crimp 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nucrunner 75 Posted September 21, 2018 Thanks for the great responses. ‘This is all new to me, I’ve got some hesitations but your responses build up my confidence. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CAL. .30 M1 2,101 Posted September 21, 2018 14 hours ago, Nucrunner said: sequence of steps for a beginning reloader...loading 38 Special on a RCBS single stage. de-prime and size my brass, then clean it (vibratory), prime, powder, crimp....? Lee Universal deprime.... Wet Tumble brass Size with carbide die Prime Powder Bullet Crimp And it seems I was late to the game - 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RichP 115 Posted September 21, 2018 To add to what everyone else has here, I always run through a case gauge each and every round after reloading. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
revenger 473 Posted September 22, 2018 I meant to say I never trim to length on my pistol brass, sorry. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CAL. .30 M1 2,101 Posted September 22, 2018 21 hours ago, RichP said: To add to what everyone else has here, I always run through a case gauge each and every round after reloading. Sage advise... My whole reloading experience changed when I bought guages for all the rounds I load... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackDaWack 2,895 Posted September 22, 2018 The only die I would ever run dirty brass through is a depriming. For pistol, I clean my brass first. Then deprime/resize, primer, powder with thru expand, seat bullet, crimp. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heavyopp 167 Posted September 22, 2018 23 hours ago, Nucrunner said: Thanks for the great responses. ‘This is all new to me, I’ve got some hesitations but your responses build up my confidence. What bullets are you using? -- if it's lead HBWC you'll need to be fairly heavy with the expansion die 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC_68Westy 1,024 Posted September 22, 2018 I believe the whole purpose of cleaning brass is to not damage or introduce grit into the dies. It would not make sense to me to size prior to cleaning the brass. I use standard dry tumble with corncob or walnut media. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SW9racer 262 Posted September 22, 2018 When I reloaded 357 lead swc for my revolver, I did not separately clean the brass. Used it as is from the resizing die. Thousands of rounds never a problem. All on a lee single stage press. Maybe they stayed clean as the brass never touched the ground? Bucket to cylinder to bucket. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackDaWack 2,895 Posted September 23, 2018 22 hours ago, SW9racer said: When I reloaded 357 lead swc for my revolver, I did not separately clean the brass. Used it as is from the resizing die. Thousands of rounds never a problem. All on a lee single stage press. Maybe they stayed clean as the brass never touched the ground? Bucket to cylinder to bucket. I've heard of plenty of people reload strait walled cases without cleaning. I just don't see the point of introducing carbon soot and possibly unburnt powder into the dies. There is also the factor of lead, but if your already handling it you would take precautions. Most my casings get swept up from the floor, so I just clean as a matter of caution for my dies and final product. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nucrunner 75 Posted September 23, 2018 I’ve been able to keep my Ammo cost down by buying in bulk, but for all the regular reasons I want to learn the reloading game. I’ve been looking forward to getting into reloading for the past year or so. I have 3 Homer buckets of brass to get started. ‘Someone mentioned not cleaning revolver brass, sounds reasonable seeing most reloads are over a surface, and a lot of times the brass never touches the ground. Even with the brass looking clean I’d be concerned with the burnt and unburnt residue inside of the brass. My plan is to start (and learn) with .38 on the single stage, next step will be 3006 Springfield, after that I’ll look into a progressive press. I do appreciate to tips and comments I’ve been getting on this forum. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
revenger 473 Posted September 23, 2018 .38 is a great starter for beginners, 30-06 more steps involved like annealing the cases and trimming if needed. i load 5.56 and 30-06 for bottle neck cartridges I started back in the early 80's with .38 spl using old tong tools and a scoop for powder, it did the job. I tried a progressive press back in the late 80's and never liked it, spent more time clearing cases , maybe they have gotten better since than. I use the Redding T-7 turret and a few O frames and Frankford priming tool . hand held priming tool is good as I can Prime all my cases at work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
124gr9mm 859 Posted October 9, 2018 I've been reloading for about a year and my process for pistol ammo is: Case prep: - Clean (wet tumble with ss pins) - Air dry (I do batches in advance so to have a surplus, so they dry for several days at least) Load: - Deprime/size - Expand - Charge - Seat/crimp I use a Hornady Lock n Load progressive. I use a case gauge and caliper to measure a few rounds out of each 100 I load. Once the press/dies are setup it's very consistent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carl_g 568 Posted October 9, 2018 47 minutes ago, 124gr9mm said: I've been reloading for about a year and my process for pistol ammo is: Case prep: - Clean (wet tumble with ss pins) - Air dry (I do batches in advance so to have a surplus, so they dry for several days at least) Load: - Deprime/size - Expand - Charge - Seat/crimp I use a Hornady Lock n Load progressive. I use a case gauge and caliper to measure a few rounds out of each 100 I load. Once the press/dies are setup it's very consistent. If you are wet tumbling, try getting a universal de-priming/de-capping die and de-prime prior to tumbling. Your primer pockets will be squeaky clean. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites