Thread: ORDER OF ACTIONS IN RE LOADING to be considered.

Following remedying the insertion of incorrect primers, the Stupid Boy sat back and started looking at some procedures to avoid another "Duh." I have prepared an order but wonder if:

3 and 4 are correct or should they be swapped around
5 should become number 2

1.De- prime.
2.Case anneal? Full or just neck? Decide and complete or skip.
3.Case size. Full or just neck? Decide and complete or skip.
4.Case trim? Decide and complete or skip.
5.Tumble clean.
6.Prime.
7.Load powder.
8.Seat projectile.
9.Crimp projectile? Decide and complete or skip.

Corrections / opinions would be welcomed
Thank You.

5.5 Check that correct primers are at hand.

Originally Posted by Kiwi Sapper

Following remedying the insertion of incorrect primers, the Stupid Boy sat back and started looking at some procedures to avoid another "Duh." I have prepared an order but wonder if:

3 and 4 are correct or should they be swapped around
5 should become number 2

1.De- prime.
2.Case anneal? Full or just neck? Decide and complete or skip.
3.Case size. Full or just neck? Decide and complete or skip.
4.Case trim? Decide and complete or skip.
5.Tumble clean.
6.Prime.
7.Load powder.
8.Seat projectile.
9.Crimp projectile? Decide and complete or skip.

Corrections / opinions would be welcomed
Thank You.

Greetings Kiwi Sapper,
I think that you have 3 and 4 correct as a lot of the case stretching happens when full length resizing. Also agree that 5 should become 2 as you don't want cruddy cases in your dies. I don't have a tumbler so after depriming with a Lee punch and base set, clean the carbon of the necks with steel wool or a scotch brite pad and give the case a spiff up with an old Chux cloth. This is all that is needed as long as you don't leave the cases in the foot well of your ute for a few weeks after firing. The cases do look nicer after a tumble though. Perhaps check correct load and components could be inserted as 6. I also complete my loading records at this point.
Regards Grandpamac.

Yes, 3 and 4 are correct order, fired cases that are within specs are often overlength after sizing.
My step 1 (after inspecting cases) is tumbling, but I neck size with collet dies so no lube to clean off after sizing, so I figure clean the cases before going through the die (I'm also depriming and sizing at the same time).
For one rifle I full length resize, so those cases get tumbled again after sizing.

The "right" sequence can vary depending on the equipment one uses. If your depriming as you FL size (i.e. useing the die), then annealing comes before as you don't want to be working hardened brass.
If your using a tumbler with corn cob media to clean your cases, do this before you deprime or the primer holes become clogged with the media.

This is my current process for rifle reloading. I do go a bit overboard but I only reload 50 or 100 at a batch so time spent isn’t much of an issue. I just added expand necks as I’m going to go down the expanding mandrel route and remove my expander stem in my sizing die. I anneal after every firing as it only adds 5-10min per batch and the pros out weigh the cons for me. I also use gloves to keep oily fingers off the cases/projectiles keeping them nice and shiny through storage.

I do mine in stages so will do all of 1.X then then when time next allows (a few days later) I do 2.X and so on. I usually do the four sessions over about 1.5 weeks.

1.1 - Deprime cases
1.2 - Uniform primer pockets
1.3 - *Ream crimped primer pockets
1.4 - Tumble, rinse and dry cases

2.1 - Anneal cases
2.2 - Lube cases
2.3 - Size cases to spec (0.002” shoulder setback from fired)
2.4 - Expand case necks
N.B. Use gloves when handling cases from step 2.5 onwards
2.5 - Tumble (30min), rinse and dry cases

3.1 - Trim cases to spec (0.010” less than SAAMI max)
3.2 - *Uniform/deburr flash holes (excl. 1.5mm flash holes)
3.3 - Chamfer inside of case necks
3.4 - Deburr outside of case necks

4.1 - Prime cases
4.2 - Dispense powder to target charge weight
4.3 - Charge cases
4.4 - Lube projectiles
4.5 - Seat projectiles to target CBTO/COAL
4.6 - Label box
4.7 - Record in applicable Reloading Log Book
*Only required once, on initial reload of brass

Originally Posted by Kiwi Sapper

Following remedying the insertion of incorrect primers, the Stupid Boy sat back and started looking at some procedures to avoid another "Duh." I have prepared an order but wonder if:

3 and 4 are correct or should they be swapped around
5 should become number 2

1.De- prime.
2.Case anneal? Full or just neck? Decide and complete or skip.
3.Case size. Full or just neck? Decide and complete or skip.
4.Case trim? Decide and complete or skip.
5.Tumble clean.
6.Prime.
7.Load powder.
8.Seat projectile.
9.Crimp projectile? Decide and complete or skip.

Corrections / opinions would be welcomed
Thank You.

I full length resize (after waxing necks), then ultrasonic clean, dry usually on the same day.
Sometime later I prime, load propellant, seat projectile generally on the same day.
Sometime later I shot the reload, not always on the same day.

1 & 2 as one step followed by 5 ultrasonic clean and oven dry.

6, 7, 8 as second step.

10 shoot them as 3rd step.

Been target shooting 308s for 5 seasons and haven't trimmed or annealed yet.
.
Full length size as the cases can be used in one of three similar but not identical rifles

Cases that have been shot 13x are indicating that they need trimming.
Lapua don't recommend annealing for their cases.

It's really personal choice, find a system that works for you and your rifle(s).

Originally Posted by DavidGunn

5.5 Check that correct primers are at hand.

Very droll........:>)

Originally Posted by Cigar

.................I neck size with collet dies so no lube to clean off after sizing.....................................

Another Duh that the Stupid Boy discovered when wondering why not all the powder was coming out of cases I was spot checking for powder variation weights. :>(

Originally Posted by Dicko

The "right" sequence can vary depending on the equipment one uses. If your depriming as you FL size (i.e. useing the die), then annealing comes before as you don't want to be working hardened brass.
If your using a tumbler with corn cob media to clean your cases, do this before you deprime or the primer holes become clogged with the media.

Agreed. I was trying to keep the steps short and simple and will settled on the "Decide and complete or skip." to make me think, hopefully.

I wet tumble so that is a problem I dodged bullet on..

Originally Posted by Oli1102

This is my current process for rifle reloading. I do go a bit overboard but I only reload 50 or 100 at a batch so time spent isn’t much of an issue............

Well done. I didn't want to put too much into mine and give anybody the impression I was trying to "teach them to blow eggs"
There are a number of your points I will now pad mine out with.
Thank you

Originally Posted by Cyclops

I full length resize (after waxing neckslaoding),.....................Been target shooting 308s for 5 seasons and haven't trimmed or annealed yet. ........Lapua don't recommend annealing for their cases.
.
Full length size as the cases can be used in one of three similar but not identical rifles Cases that have been shot 13x are indicating that they need trimming.
Lapua don't recommend annealing for their cases. It's really personal choice, find a system that works for you and your rifle(s).

As this reloading "session" is just for one 308 rifle I find your comments re annealing interesting. All of my current batch is Winchester and in clearly two quite different coloured brass. both fired once only. Cursory checks so far show that one colour is well over the max whilst the other is mostly spot on..............curious.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings Kiwi Sapper,................ Perhaps check correct load and components could be inserted as 6. I also complete my loading records at this point. Regards Grandpamac.

This Stupid Boy "has taken the point"...........a mixture of good luck and incompetence throughout so far but have to improve the good / bad ratio as I can't rely on the good luck to continue to meander in my direction. :>)

I couldn't see anywhere where there was mention of wearing safety glasses particularly during priming or is that just a given and everyone does?

Originally Posted by zimmer

I couldn't see anywhere where there was mention of wearing safety glasses particularly during priming or is that just a given and everyone does?

I know I should wear safety glasses when priming, but I usually forget.
I do point the case neck away from me.

Touch wood I've never had a primer detonate when priming cases.

Using an Arbor Press I've even unseated a primer that was in the wrong way - then re-seated the primer the right way round.