New brass........

stovepipe · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:21 pm Post subject: New brass........

Just got 200 new Remington cases. (.44 mag.) FINALLY. Confused

I read somewhere they should be tumbled first to soot or smudge them so they don't stick in carbide dies?

I'm wondering if there is any special prep steps I need to take to avoid issues in the press....or just measure, trim (if nec) and load?

I've always used once fired or range dropping's so.... this is new (get it?) ground for me. I plan on using these for my bench-rest/taget loads only...

Thought's, suggestions, cirtique (PADRE Razz

) ?

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 2:14 pm Post subject: Re: New brass........

I always size new brass in my dies so I know that I'll be at the same "starting point" as my reloads will be later. I've never had to clean them first, using carbide or Ti nitride dies. Then trim all to the same length.

stovepipe · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 2:26 pm Post subject: Re: New brass........

Interesting.

I was curious if I should size first, trim then load, fire etc.

Or just check for lentgh, trim if nec., load, fire etc...

Maybe I'm over thinking it, don't wanna mess up my new brass, took long enough to get them.... Confused

Vince · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:08 am Post subject: Re: New brass........

Stoves wrote:

Maybe I'm over thinking it, don't wanna mess up my new brass, took long enough to get them.... :confused:

No Stoves...you ain't over thinkin' it mate....just bein' careful...nothing wrong with that...quite the opposite.

Like Punkin, I have never cleaned cases before sizing them....but it behoves you to check them just to make sure there is no grit, crap or corruption etc on them that will mark them during the sizing process. Will also give you the opportunity to check the flash holes for uniformity etc as well.

Cheers, Vince

gelandangan · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:32 am Post subject: Re: New brass........

Chamfer the neck before first use and after every trimming.

Grumulkin · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:00 am Post subject: Re: New brass........

stovepipe wrote:

Just got 200 new Remington cases. (.44 mag.) FINALLY. Confused

I read somewhere they should be tumbled first to soot or smudge them so they don't stick in carbide dies?

I'm wondering if there is any special prep steps I need to take to avoid issues in the press....or just measure, trim (if nec) and load?

I've always used once fired or range dropping's so.... this is new (get it?) ground for me. I plan on using these for my bench-rest/taget loads only...

Thought's, suggestions, cirtique (PADRE Razz

) ?

When you shoot them, they'll be smudged; not that they'll stick if they not smudged. If they're new, why are you running them into your die anyway?

Since I started reloading in the 1960s, I've NEVER resized or trimmed new brass with one exception. That exception was for a 460 S&W Magnum revolver because the recoil was such that it needed a heavy crimp and the case mouths had to be tight or the bullets would move out of the cases. Since you're making "bench-rest/target loads" I would assume you're shooting a single shot 44 Mag. I don't crimp for single shots.

I just finished reloading over 100 45 Colt cartridges with cast bullets and new brass. Guess what? I didn't resize, I didn't chamfer, I didn't bell case mouths or anything. I just primed and loaded. I will admit though that chamfering depends on the brass and the bullet; quite a bit of new brass needs to be chamfered to ease bullet seating.

SingleShotLover · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:14 am Post subject: Re: New brass........

I've always made it a habit to size new brass in any caliber. Bulk brass often gets banged around a little and the case mouths sometimes aren't quite true.

chambered221 · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:00 am Post subject: Re: New brass........

stovepipe wrote:

I read somewhere they should be tumbled first to soot or smudge them so they don't stick in carbide dies?

Never heard or read this one !!!

Quote::

I was curious if I should size first, trim then load, fire etc.

Always size before trimming, cases have a tendency to grow when sized, especially rifle cartridges.

stovepipe · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:52 am Post subject: Re: New brass........

Vince: copy and thanks mate. I don't like leaving things to chance when rolling my own!

Glenn: good advice on chamfering new brass. Got a Forster tool for trimmed brass. I should also check for square too....

Gruml: my charge die has a flaring insert. These will also be run through a new LEE Factory Cimp die and get a heavy crimp. Same post-sizes them etc... Using them in a Ruger SBH. It's a heavy beast and my hold sucks as I shake a lot, and, for ranges over 50y I rest the gun or I can't hit anything. Good notes and thanks!

SS: thanks!

221: I can't remember where I read this so....who know's, the mind plays tricks etc. Copy on the post size triming. Thank you sir!

*

I really enjoy this forum. There's a lot of good knowladge and POV's here and it's nice to be able to tap into it. I'm never above learning something new.

Thanks for your input, gentlemen, very much! Cool

-kevin.

chambered221 · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:17 am Post subject: Re: New brass........

I know this may start an argument because of my past posting on the subject but..............
If your looking for the utmost accuracy I’m not so sure you want to run a Lee FCD !!!
My reasoning for using them in my autos differ greatly to my believes.
Because of their ability to post size, possibly altering the bullets shape I believe it to possibly have an negative affect to the outcome.
My suggestion is to experiment with it and with a regular roll crimp (especially when using lead) and see who wins !!!

stovepipe · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:59 am Post subject: Re: New brass........

I think the post-sizer prevents buckling and 'smooths' the case to a degree...if it was tight enough to alter the bullet it would buckle during insertion, no? I've yet to try mine so.....

But I'll make sure and measure/verify and get back to ya....I don't plan on using it on my lead rounds, just jacketed.

P/s- This aint no slide-gun. Confused

:lol:...this is for a revolver, and, I need a heavy ROLL crimp for the full power stuff.... the seat/crimp die put a nice little roll on it, but, it aint enough for full power stuff as the die is not shouldered and does not support the case enough to really getta heavy crimp.

chambered221 · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:22 am Post subject: Re: New brass........

If everything is set-up and done correctly you will not get any buckling.

With cases trimmed to the same length set your seating die to cover most of the cannulure without crimping, then in a separate stage start laying the crimp in to your desired amount. Buckling will start when you try to crimp past the cannulure.

stovepipe · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:13 am Post subject: Re: New brass........

chambered221 wrote:

If everything is set-up and done correctly you will not get any buckling.

With cases trimmed to the same length set your seating die to cover most of the cannulure without crimping, then in a separate stage start laying the crimp in to your desired amount. Buckling will start when you try to crimp past the cannulure.

Yeh, yeh yeh.... I know. Laughing

I've buckled a couple odd-lentgh ones doing mixed brass on my Pro 1000 trying to get too heavy a crimp.

I like crimping HP's in a seperate step w/o the seating die. Plated bullets one a one step deal, no HP to go squish.

I've never treid the LFCD so I thought I'd give it a whirl on my single-stage stuff. Just comparing it to the standard 3rd seat/crimp die it is a whole different deal. If it works as advertised great, if not, eh- no big.

Can't learn or try out enough stuff with reloading IMHO. It's a very interesting activity for me. Cool

wiersy111 · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: New brass........

I have always trimmed new cases, and de-bured them after trimming.This ensures all the cases are the same length and all the necks are in good shape. If there are any cases that were damaged in shipping you will see them. The uniform lengths help with accuracy. Maybe it isn't necessary but I have never had any problems with new brass.

stovepipe · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:33 am Post subject: Re: New brass........

Sat down Saturday and started inspecting one of the bags.

Approx 20 or so were short on one side a couple or 3 thou. so they'll need to be trimmed to square up the mouth.

The rest were pretty close but it looks like I'll have 2 sets of new brass to start with. Oh well.

Also found two mouth's slightly "D'd" from getting mushed. They're probably saveable with a trip through the flare die so...

Big ol bags of new brass is cool..... Cool