so I got ahead of myself and primed my brass before trimming it. I’m using a Lee case prep kit in a drill to trim. am I safe to trim it while it’s primed or should I pop out the primers and trim it? If I do pop out the primers, are they trash or can I reuse them?
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Rookie mistake fix?
- Thread starter Nooch13
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Is your length more than SAAMI max, ie more than 0.015" longer than the normal trim to length? If they aren't so long as to create a problem in your chamber I'd just fire them and trim the next time around.
If you're using the Lee trimmer with the little stud you can't trim with that while primers are in place, since the stud goes through the flash hole where the primer sits. No, I personally would not reuse primers after they'd been seated once, then deprimed.
If you're using the Lee trimmer with the little stud you can't trim with that while primers are in place, since the stud goes through the flash hole where the primer sits. No, I personally would not reuse primers after they'd been seated once, then deprimed.
Common trim-to length is 0.010 short of max (that's what Lee cutting studs that I've used in the past would trim to), and your cases that are 2.635 are 0.015 past max. I'd deprime and trim them all, likely you'll be taking 0.025" off some cases. Your call whether you want to reuse the primers to save $2.
If youre testing loads you might not want to use them just due to differences in ignition being a possibility but I wouldnt throw them away, just use them on foulers or range day if youre unsure. Or put it to the test and load 10 rounds that are identical in every way except for the primers of 5 being new and 5 being these reprimed ones. I bet so long as you didnt crush them on installation or in the depriming there wont be a discernible difference.
Looks like I'm too late and this isn't a very economical option, but if you had any desire to get a new trimmer there are plenty out there that you can trim after priming.
Hmmm.... Learn something new every time I visit this forum. I didnt even know you could deprime an unfired primer. I fired it would go off then the pin compressed the anvil trying to push it back out. I have either tossed the case if it was cheap brass or just fired the primed case and then deprimed as normal when I made such a mistake.
Nope, Ive done plenty with the lee decapping rod and a rubber mallet out of the old school lee loader. You also put them in with a hammer with that kit. It takes a sizeable amount of oomph to actually set them off. Just dont try and push them out into something solid as thats when you can crush them and pop them off. Remember, people put these in by hand all the time with little mechanical advantage. Takes more than a simple pressing on them to crunch. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","height":"345","width":"460","src":"https:\/\/media.midwayusa.com\/productimages\/880x660\/Primary\/661\/661033.jpg"}[/IMG2]
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Although I have knocked out live primers and even reinstalled them, this is not a situation that requires all that work.
Almost all of the trimmers I have reference off the shoulder and so can be used after priming.
Possum Hollow makes inexpensive trimmers that work well in this capacity.
Just make sure you get all the brass shavings out of the cases before charging/bullet seating.
Almost all of the trimmers I have reference off the shoulder and so can be used after priming.
Possum Hollow makes inexpensive trimmers that work well in this capacity.
Just make sure you get all the brass shavings out of the cases before charging/bullet seating.
I have a Lee universal decapping die and if I have to knock out a bunch of primers, I use it in a Coax press and take my time.
If I'm doing just a couple, I've been known to use the pin and mallet method like Spife, with restrained taps on the pin.
I have not had one go off yet using either method, and all told I've decapped maybe 100 live primers.
He has the lee pilot stud and drill mounted holder set up which requires the primer to be removed first. He has another thread about that which I remembered.
I will I'll be the first to say that while the lee kit is cheap you will soon come to appreciate the trimming abilities of some of the more costly methods. Even a little rcbs or Forster trimming lathe will save you an hour for every 50 rounds. I waited entirely too long before upgrading but after I did I vowed I would never go back. I actually make a new reloader trim a few pieces with that kit I let them borrow. Develops a keen understanding and respect for what's actually going on. Feeling the differences in the metal with every crank. And then leaving them amazed by the Giraud LOL!
Maybe I'll load up some hunting rounds this year that way, all manual lee loading kits and on a beam scale.
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