[stev32k]

Is there any difference in reloaded cartridges if the case is deprimed before or after cleaning? The difference would be in the primer pocket and flash hole. So I decided to try both ways. Below is a picture of the difference. The cases deprimed before cleaning are the top row - the bottom row are cases that were deprimed after cleaning. There is a very noticeable difference.

Not sure if the improved cleanliness makes any difference in the finished cartridge, but I don't like any variation in the reloading process. So I will deprime all cases before cleaning.

 

[gdmoody]

That is why I always clean before sizing/depriming!

 

[Fast Forward]

After doing it both ways I clean first then deprime, it,s faster and I don,t have to worry about my Cleaning media being in the flash hole doesn,t happen much with large primers but I just got done priming 250 9mm and found i had to clean a lot of stuck Walnut

 

[todd51]

I clean before I size and deprime. I want to protect the die from what ever dirt that would be on an uncleaned case. Yea, my primer pockets are dirty and I just leave them that way unless I am loading up something special and then I will take a primer pocket cleaner to them. I use corn cob media most of the time and with an empty primer pocket I occasionally would get some media stuck in the primer pocket so I went to cleaning before sizing/depriming a long time ago. I don't know that I have ever had a problem with firing reloads that had those normal dirty primer pockets. The bulk of my reloads are for casual range plinking. Your brass is cleaner than mine ever was. Is mine good enough? I think so. But heck this is a hobby so do your thing your way.

 

[rcairflr]

I deprime before cleaning using the Lee universal depriming die.

 

[ozo]

Simply...shoot them....
when the brass appears to be dirty,
tumble in white rice....
load them, shoot them.....
repeat.
Don't make an issue out of it......
unnecessary steps, even if adopted when you first
begin, fall by the wayside.....eventually.

 

[Bud0505]

I clean before depriming. Easier on my dies and saves time.

 

[Rogeritall]

I'll add another vote for cleaning before de-capping/ de-priming. Because on bottle neck cartridges I re-size at the same time I de-prime. I use a primer pocket cleaning tool right before I prime the cases. If needed...

 

[Appliancedude]

I deprime first, with my universal deprimer. Just don't skip the depriming step after you clean. Now your just depriming the media out of the flash hole. To me its faster, I don't have to clean the primer pocket.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

I don't like scratching my dies, so I tumble-clean before sizing. And if I used a lube to size, I tumble a second time to remove the lube.

 

[stev32k]

Should have added that I use a universal decapping die. I also keep the pin in when resizing in case I missed any the first time. After wet cleaning and drying I give them (9mm & 40 cal.) a quick spray of Remington dry lube. That really helps with the resizing.

 

[howlnmad]

I, or I should say my grandson, deprimes mine before cleaning using a RCBS universal decapping die. I don't worry about media in the flash holes because every piece gets inspected and I keep a flash hole deburring tool handy to pick it out.

 

[m77user]

I'll add another vote for cleaning before de-capping/ de-priming. Because on bottle neck cartridges I re-size at the same time I de-prime. I use a primer pocket cleaning tool right before I prime the cases. If needed...

Same here.

 

[gdmoody]

I tumble a second time to remove the lube.

I tried this one time, maybe I didn't run the tumbler long enough, but all I got was a bunch of gunked up brass with the media glued to it.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Two hours will do it. If not, you need to switch lubes or cut back on how much you use.

 

[Guest]

I clean them lube and deprime/ resize. Then mine go back in to the tumbler for a second go round to clean all the lube off of them.

 

[bustedmp]

It all depends on if my cases where picked up from a shooting table or the ground. My range brass that never hits the ground gets a neck brushing, lubed, resized/deprimed, then into the tumbler. The stuff that hits the ground get a quick tumble, lubed, resized/deprimed, then back into the tumbler for a good cleaning. I never run my cases into my dies without at least a quick cleaning.

 

[al45lc]

I too, deprime without sizing and then clean.

 

[mikld]

What is the "very noticable" difference?

 

[stev32k]

What is the "very noticable" difference?

It's the black carbon ring in the primer pocket. Compare the top and bottom rows. Notice the clean looking brass primer pocket in the top row compared the black ring in the primer pocket around the flash hole in the second row.