decapping 308 (762-51)

flbadger

Wondering why all of sudden my (Lee) decapper won't decap anything anymore - I know if I force it the pin will break. -
This Die from Lee apparently will not allow you to change pin.
_ any ideas ??
-
Flbadger
in Floor-Dee-Daa

perry shooter

Hello if this is military ammo the primer is most likely CRIMPED IN If and when you deprime the case you will either need to ream the primer pocket or swage it with a swage die. I may be mistaken but I think LEE will replace any broken decapping pin that breaks .

Cubslover

I know the newer Lee deprimer dies have a mechanism that will keep you from breaking the pin. I've noticed if you apply too much pressure it will pop out, and needs reset.

dfletcher

Much of the inexpensive FMJ 308 ammo is nonreloadable. I bought alot of Australian 308 and could not reload it - two flash holes, not one.

Cubslover

quote:Originally posted by dfletcher
Much of the inexpensive FMJ 308 ammo is nonreloadable. I bought alot of Australian 308 and could not reload it - two flash holes, not one.


+1, some may be boxer primed, some berdan primed.

v35

Unless it's US manufacture, inspect all brass for one or two holes
before attempting to deprime. Also, if primers are crimped and sealed,
pushing primers out will be a little more difficult.

awinds

I discard all mil and foreign brass. The trouble just isn't worth
the few pennies saved.

buddyb

I use a Lee manual decapper for military brass.You set the case in a base,and use a small hammer and tap the primer out with a decaping pin.I use a Lee chamfering tool to cut the primer crimp out.Both tools together cost less than 10 bucks.

dfletcher

If you do have crimped military brass that is otherwise good & can be reloaded, the Dillon primer pocket swager is absolutely the best & easiest way to remove the crimp. Nothing else comes even close. I had about 500 30-06 cases ($25.00) & knocked them out in no time flat.

v35

Dont waste money on a RCBS primer pocket swager. It doesnt reform the swaged area enough to eliminate the crimp and primers often hang up.
Cutting the crimp worked better for me than the RCBS tool.

Iconoclast

Welcome aboard, flbadger!

If you are breaking the decapping pins routinely, I'd bet a large sum of money the brass is from a foreign source and the primers Berdan. I've broken more than a few over the years for various reasons (mostly operator error!), but the one sure way to break them is on Berdan-primed brass. It *is* possible to remove the Berdan primer with hydrolic / hydraulic action or by prying them out with a special tool, but it is not worth the effort on anything common like 7.62x51. As someone else suggested - shine a strong line down the case and if the flash hole(s) are offset from center, you have Berdan-primed brass. You can use this to make seating dummies if you have such a need; otherwise its highest & best use is selling to scrap metal dealers.