Use a progressive press to deprime only? - The Firearms Forum

techiej · 07-03-2012, 02:05 PM

Don't want to start any discussions over brand X vs Y or progressive vs turret vs single stage presses.

Instead what I am interested in knowing if there is any downside to using a progressive press to deprime only. I am wanting to batch process (9, 45 & 30-06) ammo that is once fired factory and from what I understand it would better to make sure that the primer pockets were thoroughly cleaned and reamed (if necessary) as well as the cases trimmed (for the 30-06) the first time that they are reloaded. After the first reloading I was going to just check case lengths on the 30-06 and run everything through in a normal progressive set-up.

FWIW, I am looking to get an LNL AP and unless there was a downside to just using one station to deprime only for a few batches would take this approach rather than a seperate singel stage press for this operation.

Thoughts? Opinions? Comments? Reccomendations?

aa1911 · 07-03-2012, 02:24 PM

depending on what press you are using, I don't see any problem with it; just remove all of the dies except for the sizing die/decapping pin and don't put any powder or primers in it; feed cases in and just pull the handle until they're done. Seems like it would be faster than a single stage and accomplishes the same thing.

techiej · 07-03-2012, 03:06 PM

That's what I had thought but wanted to make sure that I wasn't making any bad assumptions/poor decisions with regard to using the press in this way.

X Ring · 07-03-2012, 03:10 PM

I use my XL 650 for that all the time, No dies in it except a universal decaping, it makes short work out of 1k 9mm cases.

76Highboy · 07-03-2012, 05:27 PM

I use my LNL AP for depriming quite a bit.

V509 · 07-03-2012, 05:46 PM

I use a Hornady progressive press as well. It is easy to use as a single stage press, just remove the retaining spring and insert cases one at a time then remove before inserting another. You could also keep the spring on and have a die in only one station and let the cases ride around the shell plate

76Highboy · 07-03-2012, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V509

I use a Hornady progressive press as well. It is easy to use as a single stage press, just remove the retaining spring and insert cases one at a time then remove before inserting another. You could also keep the spring on and have a die in only one station and let the cases ride around the shell plate

You have a Hornady LNL AP? You see, there's a brilliant man.

LDBennett · 07-04-2012, 08:36 AM

On my Dillon RL550B I size and de-prime only all the time. I do it most often on rifle cases as a lot that I pre-determined would need trimming. I don't even remove the other dies but I do not install the primer bar or the case buttons. I insert the case to be sized in station one, pull the handle, advance the table once, remove the case from station two while I insert a different case in station one. It is faster to do than on a single stage press because you can use both hands to load and unload the press.

I see no reason to do anything with the once fired pistol cartridges other than reload them progressively. I have thousands of pistol cases that have been reload many, many times over perhaps 20 years and never had the primer pockets cleaned or the cases trimmed. Rifle cases, on the other hand, must be kept in the range of trim lengths listed in the manual and trimming MUST be done after sizing.

LDBennett

312shooter · 07-04-2012, 05:58 PM

Works really well on the LNL AP. Using the auto advance shellplate and allowing the EZject to dump into your acrobin saves large amounts of time compared to the single stage process. I love the LNL AP and recommend the press. It has been said that single stage operation is difficult on the auto advance style progressives, well on the contrary, using a single station and using the EZject operation on the LNL AP is most efficient.

BlackEagle · 07-04-2012, 06:19 PM

First, welcome to the forum techiej. This is a great place with lots of good people who enjoy shooting and talking about a variety of subjects.

I use my progressive RCBS to deprime and size cases all the time also; following pretty much the same practice LDBennett uses. I clean the primer pockets on all my cases, but progressively reload my .357's.

The .223's get a little more attention in the case prep and powder load. I put the weighed powder in the primed, sized case, put it on the press and pull the handle once. Next case gets it's powder, goes in the next slot and so on; when the cases come around to the seating die I put the head on and seat the bullet and out pops a completed round, with each pull of the handle. The reloading goes fairly fast that way.

RockinRiley · 07-04-2012, 07:29 PM

I do it with my pro 1000. I just bought a 2nd turret and the universal deprimer.

I inspect all primer pockets because I use an ultrasonic cleaner and I have found a couple enlarged primer holes but if I had not caught I do not think it would have mattered. They must not have been square in the case holder. The universal deprimer does not size so it does not move the case if they are not square. (it may not happen if you go slow enough, but when you are just depriming it is easy for me to just start cranking!) I do use the universal deprimer for all my cases though. Good luck!

Waldog · 07-05-2012, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 312shooter

Works really well on the LNL AP. Using the auto advance shellplate and allowing the EZject to dump into your acrobin saves large amounts of time compared to the single stage process. I love the LNL AP and recommend the press. It has been said that single stage operation is difficult on the auto advance style progressives, well on the contrary, using a single station and using the EZject operation on the LNL AP is most efficient.

"Ditto" +1

techiej · 07-05-2012, 09:30 AM

Quick follow-up question w/regards to rifle (ie 30-06). After depriming/resizing & trimming, do you run progressively without the deprime/resize die in place?

312shooter · 07-05-2012, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techiej

Quick follow-up question w/regards to rifle (ie 30-06). After depriming/resizing & trimming, do you run progressively without the deprime/resize die in place?

Yes, with the die bushing system that is used, all of your dies pop in and out with a 1/4 turn. The way I set this up is to leave station 1 and 2 empty, 3 is the powder drop, 4 is the seating die, station 5 is the crimping die. I also choose to handprime first but thats personal preference.

BlackEagle · 07-05-2012, 07:25 PM

Yes. After I finish depriming/sizing, I prime the cases, remove the depriming/sizing die and install any other dies I need to finish the round. On my RCBS press.

soundguy · 07-05-2012, 08:01 PM

since I run a mix of milsurp and comercial, and different aged brass.. I pretty much always deprime and resize, and then run thru a trimmer to get a uniform length before going any further. makes a huge difference on crimp.. and different cases i've found grow differently. ie.. different age and origin ... some don't grow much at all.. so grow every time... thus I just trim em all uniform and go.

I also like to hand prime..

07-03-2012, 02:05 PM	#1
techiej Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 7	Use a progressive press to deprime only? Don't want to start any discussions over brand X vs Y or progressive vs turret vs single stage presses. Instead what I am interested in knowing if there is any downside to using a progressive press to deprime only. I am wanting to batch process (9, 45 & 30-06) ammo that is once fired factory and from what I understand it would better to make sure that the primer pockets were thoroughly cleaned and reamed (if necessary) as well as the cases trimmed (for the 30-06) the first time that they are reloaded. After the first reloading I was going to just check case lengths on the 30-06 and run everything through in a normal progressive set-up. FWIW, I am looking to get an LNL AP and unless there was a downside to just using one station to deprime only for a few batches would take this approach rather than a seperate singel stage press for this operation. Thoughts? Opinions? Comments? Reccomendations? __________________ http://rvschooner.com --> Last edited by techiej; 07-03-2012 at 02:07 PM..

07-03-2012, 02:24 PM	#2
aa1911 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 3,115	Re: Use a progressive press to deprime only? depending on what press you are using, I don't see any problem with it; just remove all of the dies except for the sizing die/decapping pin and don't put any powder or primers in it; feed cases in and just pull the handle until they're done. Seems like it would be faster than a single stage and accomplishes the same thing. __________________ "Loud noises don't end gunfights.... well placed shots do."

07-03-2012, 03:06 PM	#3
techiej Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 7	Re: Use a progressive press to deprime only? That's what I had thought but wanted to make sure that I wasn't making any bad assumptions/poor decisions with regard to using the press in this way. __________________ http://rvschooner.com

07-03-2012, 03:10 PM	#4
X Ring V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 190	Re: Use a progressive press to deprime only? I use my XL 650 for that all the time, No dies in it except a universal decaping, it makes short work out of 1k 9mm cases. __________________ Load More = Shoot More http://s1096.photobucket.com/albums/g327/Wynn3/

07-03-2012, 05:27 PM	#5
76Highboy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Meridian, Idaho Contributor Posts: 6,969	Re: Use a progressive press to deprime only? I use my LNL AP for depriming quite a bit.

07-03-2012, 05:46 PM	#6
V509 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Buckeye State Posts: 189	Re: Use a progressive press to deprime only? I use a Hornady progressive press as well. It is easy to use as a single stage press, just remove the retaining spring and insert cases one at a time then remove before inserting another. You could also keep the spring on and have a die in only one station and let the cases ride around the shell plate

07-04-2012, 08:36 AM	#8
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,719	Re: Use a progressive press to deprime only? On my Dillon RL550B I size and de-prime only all the time. I do it most often on rifle cases as a lot that I pre-determined would need trimming. I don't even remove the other dies but I do not install the primer bar or the case buttons. I insert the case to be sized in station one, pull the handle, advance the table once, remove the case from station two while I insert a different case in station one. It is faster to do than on a single stage press because you can use both hands to load and unload the press. I see no reason to do anything with the once fired pistol cartridges other than reload them progressively. I have thousands of pistol cases that have been reload many, many times over perhaps 20 years and never had the primer pockets cleaned or the cases trimmed. Rifle cases, on the other hand, must be kept in the range of trim lengths listed in the manual and trimming MUST be done after sizing. LDBennett

07-04-2012, 05:58 PM	#9
312shooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 1,148	Re: Use a progressive press to deprime only? Works really well on the LNL AP. Using the auto advance shellplate and allowing the EZject to dump into your acrobin saves large amounts of time compared to the single stage process. I love the LNL AP and recommend the press. It has been said that single stage operation is difficult on the auto advance style progressives, well on the contrary, using a single station and using the EZject operation on the LNL AP is most efficient. __________________ "Democracy is based on citizenship- perhaps the greatest gift the United States has given to the world- Power is vested in the people themselves, and government flows from the people" James M Henslin

07-04-2012, 06:19 PM	#10
BlackEagle Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK Posts: 3,179	Re: Use a progressive press to deprime only? First, welcome to the forum techiej. This is a great place with lots of good people who enjoy shooting and talking about a variety of subjects. I use my progressive RCBS to deprime and size cases all the time also; following pretty much the same practice LDBennett uses. I clean the primer pockets on all my cases, but progressively reload my .357's. The .223's get a little more attention in the case prep and powder load. I put the weighed powder in the primed, sized case, put it on the press and pull the handle once. Next case gets it's powder, goes in the next slot and so on; when the cases come around to the seating die I put the head on and seat the bullet and out pops a completed round, with each pull of the handle. The reloading goes fairly fast that way. Last edited by BlackEagle; 07-04-2012 at 06:21 PM..

07-04-2012, 07:29 PM	#11
RockinRiley V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 140	Re: Use a progressive press to deprime only? I do it with my pro 1000. I just bought a 2nd turret and the universal deprimer. I inspect all primer pockets because I use an ultrasonic cleaner and I have found a couple enlarged primer holes but if I had not caught I do not think it would have mattered. They must not have been square in the case holder. The universal deprimer does not size so it does not move the case if they are not square. (it may not happen if you go slow enough, but when you are just depriming it is easy for me to just start cranking!) I do use the universal deprimer for all my cases though. Good luck!

07-05-2012, 09:30 AM	#13
techiej Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 7	Re: Use a progressive press to deprime only? Quick follow-up question w/regards to rifle (ie 30-06). After depriming/resizing & trimming, do you run progressively without the deprime/resize die in place? __________________ http://rvschooner.com

07-05-2012, 07:25 PM	#15
BlackEagle Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK Posts: 3,179	Re: Use a progressive press to deprime only? Yes. After I finish depriming/sizing, I prime the cases, remove the depriming/sizing die and install any other dies I need to finish the round. On my RCBS press.

07-05-2012, 08:01 PM	#16
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,474	Re: Use a progressive press to deprime only? since I run a mix of milsurp and comercial, and different aged brass.. I pretty much always deprime and resize, and then run thru a trimmer to get a uniform length before going any further. makes a huge difference on crimp.. and different cases i've found grow differently. ie.. different age and origin ... some don't grow much at all.. so grow every time... thus I just trim em all uniform and go. I also like to hand prime..