Resize/deprime then Tumble....or Tumble then deprime

[Doglips]

Im sure this is probably a debate much like the 9mm vs 45acp with both sides haveing a religious view of the process

Im processing 1000 once fired 357 mag brass and tried both ways. I think I prefer to Tumble first....then deprime and resize. As opposed to the resize deprime then tumble. When I deprime first I end up with corn cob chunks in the primer pocket that realy slows down the reloading process.......and are a royal pain to get out.....but when I tumble first it seems to go quicker..and deprimeing catches and chunks left in the case.

So lets hear it....what is the correct way to do this....let the debate begin

[FEG]

From a safety perspective, the correct method is:

1) Deprime. Immediately throw the primers away into the outside trash.
2) Tumble.
3) Size.

Obviously, you need a dedicated depriming die for this method. Lee makes an excellent one for @$6. The cases can be very dirty, and this still won't hurt the depriming die.

Here's why this is desirable. The lead styphnate from primers is one of the leading causes of lead poisoning, according to several sources that I have read. The tumbler breaks down the lead styphnate residue left in the spent primer and primer pocket. Inhalation of the dust gets the lead into your system much more efficiently than absorption through the skin or inhaling vaporized lead. When you think about it, that makes perfect sense, as the styphnate residue actually collects in the lungs.

There are other benefits as well. The tumbling media lasts virtually forever using this method. The tumbler just doesn't have to work as hard or run as long. The cases also seem to get a bit cleaner. You have also eliminated the chance of scratching the carbide with debris, etc.

Since you are running the clean cases into the sizing die last, the decapping pin in the sizing dies clears the media 90% of the time. A rotary media separator also gets most of the media out of the cases.

[Bookman]

I agree with you, Doglips. I find that corn-cob will get stuck in about 10% of the cases if I deprime before tumbling. Annoying.

FEG - good point about the lead styphnate. Thanks.

[Dale]

I clean them by washing them in Birchwood Casey concentrated cleaner...air dry...tumble and then deprime.

I don't see a marked cleanliness of the primer pocket if you deprime first and I use a primer pocket brush afterwards.

There's little, if any, difference in cleaning meida toxic safety from leaving the primers in and what is already mixed in with the residue inside the cases.

Besides, it bugs the chit out of me to have to dig out cleaning media from the primer pocket and flash hole.

But the issue is a matter of personal preferrence.

From what I've seen the methods are pretty much split 50-50.

[jerry]

done it both ways, hate picking the corn cob from the flash hole too.

[Shaun]

even for my business the first thing that happens is that the brass is tumble cleaning then full inspection for length, thickness and cracks then load into the machines and punch out everything progressively

[FEG]

There's little, if any, difference in cleaning meida toxic safety from leaving the primers in and what is already mixed in with the residue inside the cases.

That's NOT what Lee and Speer claim. To me, their position seems logical. With the residue in the case, you're talking about a trace. A spent primer still has considerable lead styphnate in the cup.