Case prep steps

[Mtnwalker]

Just wondering what other guy's case prep routine looks like when handloading precision hunting rounds. I use both a tumbler and a sonic cleaner, but always looking for ways to streamline the process

[Jason]

Here's what I do

1-tumble in corncob
2-size/de-prime (lubed cases only)
3-sonic clean
4-trim case length
5-chamfer/debure case mouth
6-debure flash hole and uniform primer pocket (skip this step if it was done in previous reloads)
7-tumble in corn cob
8-prime case
9-fill with powder dispensed from RCBS Charge Master
10-Press Accubond bullet with Rock Chucker
11-Check COAL length

[JimmyHoffa]

similar, but tumble again after depriming/sizing.  Depending on ammo, will sometimes anneal.

[BULLBLASTER]

1. Deprime
2. Clean in ss media
3. Anneal
4. Size
5. Trim if needed/ chamfer and deburr
6. Prime
7. Charge and seat bullet.

[CaNINE]

1.  Deprime
2.  Uniform Flash hole (everytime) with a sinclair tool
3.  Brush inside of neck (probably not needed but I do it anyway to break up any carbon in there)
4.  SS media tumble
5.  Anneal (every firing because I've found it makes that much of a difference)
6.  Full length resize without expander ball
7.  Expand neck with a turning mandrel so I have an even 0.002 neck tension
8.  Remove lube from inside of neck with an alcohol swab
9.  Trim, chamfer and debur if needed

depending upon the brass....virgin brass gets neck turned, pockets get uniformed, flash holes deburred, uniform trimming and weight sorted

[lamrith]

Comes down to equipment you have access too and what sort of volume or investment you are comfortable making..
I run a progressive press, for hunting rounds I am looking for consistent results, but not necessarily "precision" rounds.  I want consistent 1MOA, not looking .5moa bugholes @ 400yrds like some of he guys on here do where they hand-weigh brass, bullets and powder for ever round.

This is my typical program for necked rifle rounds.

• Tumble in Cob 1hr to knock dirt/debris off and protect sizing die
• Lube - I just switched to DIY Isopropyl and Liquid lanolin and it works great
• Size/deprime
• Tumble (corn media or for the ultimate new brass results use SS media, I will be upgrading to SS after seeing the results.)
• Trim/debur/chamf (buddy has a Giraud trimmer that does all 3 in one step, they are $ but after using his 2x now I will be buying one, it cuts labor by at least 2/3, trims off shoulder and is very consistent)
• Run thru Hornady LnL press to load.
  
  • Station 1 universal deprime die (not required, I use to make sure flash hole is clear)
  • Prime on downstroke
  • Station 2 - Uniflow powder drop with case activation kit and Micrometer charge adjuster
  • Station 3  -empty, I use to verify charge for each case, could use a powdercop to do this automatically
  • Station 4 - Bullet seat die
  • Station 5 - Factory crimp die if rounds that will go thru a semi auto

[Mtnwalker]

Don't shoot enough volume thru my hunting rifles to go progressive, usually load 20-40 rounds at a time. I am just using a rockchucker press with a chargemaster scale/dispenser. Do the rest of my case prep by hand except tumbler and cleaner, although I've been eyeballing something like the Lyman prep center.

[Mtnwalker]

Right now I

Sonic clean
De-prime/size
Tumble in walnut
Re sonic clean because walnut leaves a bunch of residue (sounds like I should try Cobb)
Trim/chamfer/Primer pocket with hand tools
Blow out with air chuck (idk why)

Just seems like I spend an unnecessary Amt of time cleaning..

[Eric M]

My brass prep is similiar except I'm not tumbling it right now, mostly because I don't have a tumbler.

[hogslayer]

I usually
FL Resize with dry neck lube and put wax on by hand.
Trim and debur
Tumble
Primer pocket and clean inside of brass with air
Then just started annealing.


I am open to input.  It seems to work good for me but I like reading the way everyone else does it.

[JimmyHoffa]

My brass prep is similiar except I'm not tumbling it right now, mostly because I don't have a tumbler.

Heard of some using the tin containers like coffee comes in.  Put brass and media in it, then tape it up tightly.  Finally, just toss in the dryer when you have some other stuff in there on laundry day.  Just don't get in trouble with wifey or gf (or both  ).

[Crunchy]

That Giraud power trimmer looks like it is well worth the money.  I might look into it this spring.

[Eric M]

My brass prep is similiar except I'm not tumbling it right now, mostly because I don't have a tumbler.

Heard of some using the tin containers like coffee comes in.  Put brass and media in it, then tape it up tightly.  Finally, just toss in the dryer when you have some other stuff in there on laundry day.  Just don't get in trouble with wifey or gf (or both  ).

Thanks for the tip! I've tumbled brass in the dryer before, but not on purpose!

[carpsniperg2]

sort by firings or brand
inspect/cull
size neck or FL
ss media
dry in a dehydrator
trim if needed
chamfer de burr
prime
charge "I weigh ever load that goes into my cases"
seat bullet
check coal
label and date and update firing count etc

[jasnt]

1. Deprime
2. Clean in ss media
3. Anneal
4. Size
5. Trim if needed/ chamfer and deburr
6. Prime
7. Charge and seat bullet.

i aneal before cleaning and I use a sonic cleaner. I also uniform primer pockets every loading, after the first time it normally only removes carbon

[yorketransport]

Wow, I feel like I'm cutting corners!

1) Wipe the dirt off of it after picking it up off the ground
2) Lube with either One Shot or a lanolin/alcohol mix
3) FL size


I'll tumble the cases when I feel like they're too dirty to run into a die (except for the AR, they get tumbled every time because that gun is filthy!) and I'll anneal them when the necks start to feel a little too hard when sizing them (3-4 firings most of the time). I honestly don't remember the last time I trimmed any of my brass. I never clean or uniform primer pockets. I'll outside neck turn the brass for 3 of the guns, but that's a one time thing.

I did a lot of tinkering with case prep when I shot BR and came to the conclusion that most of it was wasted time and effort. I'm much more particular about weighing powder charges and measuring base to ogive length. That's where I see the biggest impact on group size and consistency.

[Thehowler]

Yorketransport,
Where do you usually find the sweet spot to the rifling?

[yorketransport]

Yorketransport,
Where do you usually find the sweet spot to the rifling?

It's been different for every gun I've had even when chambered with the same reamer. With hunting guns I don't worry too much about it. If I can get .75 MOA or better from a hunting gun I call it quits and start practicing. With target guns I start .025" out from the lands and work my way in until I get groups that I like. Then I take that length and adjust the powder charge until I'm happy. It's been my experience that the gun's preferred bullet jump will stay consistent regardless of powder or charge weight. I just do this for every bullet I test until I find a load that I'm happy with.

I usually end up somewhere around .017" and .008" from the lands though.

[h20hunter]

Just a little tip to throw out there...if you arent already throw a dryer sheet in with your dry media. 

[yorketransport]

Just a little tip to throw out there...if you arent already throw a dryer sheet in with your dry media.

I do love when my brass smells like an ocean breeze.

[BULLBLASTER]

Just a little tip to throw out there...if you arent already throw a dryer sheet in with your dry media.

I do love when my brass smells like an ocean breeze.

But it just gets all soggy.... 

[Thehowler]

Good stuff guys, Thanks!

[HawkCreek]

Tumble (4 hours max, brass has always looked better than new)
Deprime/ clean primer pocket
Trim (when needed), chamfer and debur
then it's primed and the loading process begins

I'm not a high volume guy. 100 rounds is a lot for me to load up at a time but so far I haven't seen any reason to get a more expensive SS or sonic brass cleaner. My next purchase will be a faster way to trim and chamfer/debur the brass.

[jasnt]

Took me a while to find a copy of this article, it's was no longer where I first found it.  This helped me out a lot when I first started reloading for long range shooting.
http://www.scout.com/military/snipers-hide/forums/5532-reloading/13260384-hand-loading-for-long-range-1-brass-case-prep

I do not aneal like this but strongly advise learning to aneal.

[lamrith]

That Giraud power trimmer looks like it is well worth the money.  I might look into it this spring.

If you do any decent amount of reloading where you do trimming it is very very nice.  My friend and I tend to save up till we have a big batch of brass to process then do it all at once.  The more brass you do in a batch the better.  I have put somewhere around 3k thru my friends in the last 2 months (surprised he has not charged me rental fee!)  We put a box of ready to trim brass on each side of the trimmer and an empty box behind it, then start trimming alternating hands.  It really goes fast, maybe 2 seconds per brass once you get in a rythm.  He runs all of his necked brass thru the giraud every time, he has found it is faster to just run thru this giraud than actually sit there and just measure to see if it needs to be trimmed!

They are not cheap though and each caliber will require a caliber adapter as well.  You can reset the blade for caliber diameter, but my buddy spent the extra $ and has a couple blade sets, each set for a different caliber (.223, 6.5 and .30 I think)  He also bought some of the Hornady Sure-Loc locking die collars to replace the stock locking nut.  Once he sets the adapter to the length he wants he installs the locking collar and tightens it in place on the adapter using the setscrew.  next time he needs to trim, he just inserts the adapter till the collar bottoms out and he is ready to go.