finally got a universal decapper - The Firearms Forum

soundguy · 07-07-2012, 06:55 PM

went to a show today and the wifey bought me a lee uni decapper. been wanting one.

many times I've wanted to decap before tumble.. and with a sizer / decapper.. well...

I also like the colleted pin... no more worrying about accidental berdan anymore!

gdmoody · 07-07-2012, 08:24 PM

I have never used a universal decapper die. Someone gave me one a while back and I ended up giving it away to someone here on TFF.

I always clean my brass before I resize/deprime them.

soundguy · 07-07-2012, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdmoody

I have never used a universal decapper die. Someone gave me one a while back and I ended up giving it away to someone here on TFF.

I always clean my brass before I resize/deprime them.

i clean my brass before resizing too.. I would sometimes, for small lots.. like to deap before cleaning though

gdmoody · 07-07-2012, 08:46 PM

Do you use the sonic cleaner that uses a liquid? I have thought about trying some of that but I guess you really can't teach an old dog those new tricks.

I use corncob media and it sticks in the flash hole if I decap first.

soundguy · 07-07-2012, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdmoody

Do you use the sonic cleaner that uses a liquid? I have thought about trying some of that but I guess you really can't teach an old dog those new tricks.

I use corncob media and it sticks in the flash hole if I decap first.

i have been using lyman treated cc media mixed with white rice and fine untreated 'litter' style cob media.

up untill a week ago that was all I had.. that in a vibro tumbler. then I found my FIL's old kettle style heated ultra sonic cleaner ( deceased now.. but he was a watch and jewlry maker.. .. this US cleaner is probably from the 70's but big and nice and HD.. ) so now I vibro clean and then US clean.

I ocasionally have a bit of media that fids a flash hole.. but when I resize, the decap pin takes care of that.. plus my luman case prep center has primer pocket tools including a flash hole cleaner. so not too big an issue.

Reason i wanted to decap first is I see some nasty carbon in them primer pockets depending on where I get my brass. if it is range pickup.. sometiems it's dark and has been out there weeks and i guess the primer pocket corodes up a bit?

aa1911 · 07-08-2012, 02:23 AM

my .458 win mag cruds it's primer pockets pretty bad, much more than anything else I reload, usually every third load at least ya gotta scrape 'em clean but I just use a primer pocket reamer to remove the carbon junk.

howlnmad · 07-08-2012, 07:38 AM

I haven't tried the Lee decapper, I have the RCBS and always decap before cleaning. I go through them all with a flash-hole deburring tool so I don't worry about media being stuck.

soundguy · 07-09-2012, 07:13 AM

yeah.. flash hole celaner or the decapper will get em..

cpttango30 · 07-10-2012, 02:46 PM

If I wanted to deprime before cleaning I just ran the mandrel down lower than it should be by about 1/4" and it took care of it for me.

I normally just size and deprime then clean prime and load. I had a Lee decapping tool it lasted 5 minutes before the mandrel broke so I just tossed it in the trash. No I didn't hit a berdan primed case either. These were all my brass that I purchased. The hole for the mandrel was bored at an angle and I forgot to align it just so and SNAP.

soundguy · 07-10-2012, 05:01 PM

wow.. i'm surprised it snapped.. the decapper is colelt held and should have given in..

i thought about running my decapper lower in my rcbs dies.. but didn't want to constantlyt readjust them..

gdmoody · 07-10-2012, 05:50 PM

If it were less than 2 years old, a quick phone call to Lee and you would have had a new one in the mail in a few days!!

Gibill · 08-20-2012, 04:04 PM

Found that to be the better way for sure..tumbling with primer in.......too much media gets into the primer pocket and takes more time picking it out if you tumble after depriming

Deacon_Man · 08-20-2012, 04:49 PM

I use walnut hull in my tumbler. I like to resize and decap before I tumble, and yes I get the walnut in the primer hole. I use my compresser set on 150 lbs of air pressure. I have a hand held air nozzle and I blow out each case. That cleans out the primer hole and any tumbler dust inside the case. Just my way of doing things.

soundguy · 08-20-2012, 06:19 PM

the US cleaning phase gets it out for me.. dust too..

garydude · 08-20-2012, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon_Man

I use walnut hull in my tumbler. I like to resize and decap before I tumble, and yes I get the walnut in the primer hole. I use my compresser set on 150 lbs of air pressure. I have a hand held air nozzle and I blow out each case. That cleans out the primer hole and any tumbler dust inside the case. Just my way of doing things.

A very good idea Deacon Man!

07-07-2012, 06:55 PM	#1
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,411	finally got a universal decapper went to a show today and the wifey bought me a lee uni decapper. been wanting one. many times I've wanted to decap before tumble.. and with a sizer / decapper.. well... I also like the colleted pin... no more worrying about accidental berdan anymore! -->

07-07-2012, 08:24 PM	#2
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,310	Re: finally got a universal decapper I have never used a universal decapper die. Someone gave me one a while back and I ended up giving it away to someone here on TFF. I always clean my brass before I resize/deprime them. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

07-07-2012, 08:46 PM	#4
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,310	Re: finally got a universal decapper Do you use the sonic cleaner that uses a liquid? I have thought about trying some of that but I guess you really can't teach an old dog those new tricks. I use corncob media and it sticks in the flash hole if I decap first. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

07-08-2012, 02:23 AM	#6
aa1911 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 3,112	Re: finally got a universal decapper my .458 win mag cruds it's primer pockets pretty bad, much more than anything else I reload, usually every third load at least ya gotta scrape 'em clean but I just use a primer pocket reamer to remove the carbon junk. __________________ "Loud noises don't end gunfights.... well placed shots do."

07-08-2012, 07:38 AM	#7
howlnmad Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Harriman, Tn Contributor Posts: 2,565	Re: finally got a universal decapper I haven't tried the Lee decapper, I have the RCBS and always decap before cleaning. I go through them all with a flash-hole deburring tool so I don't worry about media being stuck. __________________

07-09-2012, 07:13 AM	#8
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,411	Re: finally got a universal decapper yeah.. flash hole celaner or the decapper will get em..

07-10-2012, 02:46 PM	#9
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Re: finally got a universal decapper If I wanted to deprime before cleaning I just ran the mandrel down lower than it should be by about 1/4" and it took care of it for me. I normally just size and deprime then clean prime and load. I had a Lee decapping tool it lasted 5 minutes before the mandrel broke so I just tossed it in the trash. No I didn't hit a berdan primed case either. These were all my brass that I purchased. The hole for the mandrel was bored at an angle and I forgot to align it just so and SNAP.

07-10-2012, 05:01 PM	#10
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,411	Re: finally got a universal decapper wow.. i'm surprised it snapped.. the decapper is colelt held and should have given in.. i thought about running my decapper lower in my rcbs dies.. but didn't want to constantlyt readjust them..

07-10-2012, 05:50 PM	#11
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,310	Re: finally got a universal decapper If it were less than 2 years old, a quick phone call to Lee and you would have had a new one in the mail in a few days!! __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

08-20-2012, 04:04 PM	#12
Gibill Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 24	Re: finally got a universal decapper Found that to be the better way for sure..tumbling with primer in.......too much media gets into the primer pocket and takes more time picking it out if you tumble after depriming

08-20-2012, 04:49 PM	#13
Deacon_Man V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Weatherford Texas Posts: 452	Re: finally got a universal decapper I use walnut hull in my tumbler. I like to resize and decap before I tumble, and yes I get the walnut in the primer hole. I use my compresser set on 150 lbs of air pressure. I have a hand held air nozzle and I blow out each case. That cleans out the primer hole and any tumbler dust inside the case. Just my way of doing things.

08-20-2012, 06:19 PM	#14
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,411	Re: finally got a universal decapper the US cleaning phase gets it out for me.. dust too..