Anyone Else Bending Depriming Pins

[RGPM1A]

Over the last year I seem to be bending a lot of depriming pins at my Dillon sizing/depriming die especially with 9mm. I have bent five in the last year and before that never bent any in 30+ years of reloading. Just the other day bent a 45 pin too. In each case where one bent the flash hole in the case seems to be off center.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Well, I just learned yesterday that some brass (9mm Lapua) has smaller primer pocket flash holes that can catch some "standard" sized pins...

There was a newer (boob-tube) video about this from Bolt Action Reloading just the other day with more technical info.

Cheers!

P.S. I do use dedicated depriming dies for almost all decapping prior to case cleaning, both the RCBS and LEE versions, which use totally different style "pins".

 

[CactusCapt]

I haven't noticed any offset primer flash holes. However, I use a Mighty Armory decapper in a separate depriming operation - it is *strong* and I have actually punched a hole in a Berdan case that slipped into some Boxer brass. The pin did not bend...

 

[ajgunner]

Just yesterday I was doing a batch of 1000 9mm on my 550. It was having problems pushing the primer clear of the pocket. Thought I might have been slightly out of adjustment so checked that first. When the problem continued maybe 1 every 20-30 cases, I pulled the pin. I don't know if it is warn or slightly peened on the end but definitely looks well used. I put a small piece of shim in behind the pin, and continued on with no problems. Guess it is time to break down and buy a new pin.

 

[GypsmJim]

View the other Lee Bashing thread. One thing about Lee is that you'll probably never break a pin, and if you do, replacement is easy.

 

[Miracle Man]

View the other Lee Bashing thread. One thing about Lee is that you'll probably never break a pin, and if you do, replacement is easy.

I've shoved a couple Lee die pins out of place with Berdan cases that slipped through without issue. Just threw case away and put decapping die back in order and went trucking on.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Just yesterday I was doing a batch of 1000 9mm on my 550. It was having problems pushing the primer clear of the pocket. Thought I might have been slightly out of adjustment so checked that first. When the problem continued maybe 1 every 20-30 cases, I pulled the pin. I don't know if it is warn or slightly peened on the end but definitely looks well used. I put a small piece of shim in behind the pin, and continued on with no problems. Guess it is time to break down and buy a new pin.

I just finished a batch of 500 9mm, about 1/5 cases the primer stuck to the pin and reseated. It was a brand new RCBS carbide die set in my Dillon 550. I called RCBS customer service and the tech said a common problem on CCI primers and now Winchester. They have a free spring kit to kick the stuck primer off the pin. But he told me to blunt/flatten the end of the decapping pin, I did and that fixed everything so I passed on the kicker. I used a 6" fine flat and fine file and it took 3 minutes without removing the die!

Ivan

 

[DWalt]

I have some surgical stainless steel external fixation rods which are exactly the correct diameter for rifle flash holes. I cut my own pins, extremely tough material and must be cut with a Dremel abrasive cutoff disc. And they will not bend. Wonder why the die makers don't use those? Probably too expensive.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I have some surgical stainless steel external fixation rods which are exactly the correct diameter for rifle flash holes. I cut my own pins, extremely tough material and must be cut with a Dremel abrasive cutoff disc. And they will not bend. Wonder why the die makers don't use those? Probably too expensive.

When I break one I make new ones out of finishing nails.........Cost is free.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Ditto on the finish nails. Long before the internet made finding parts quick and easy I used small finish nails to replace broken pins.

John

 

[Luke Duke]

Shouldn't go knocking on wood; but I've never broke a decapping pin. I've forgot how many thousands of hand loads I've done. Using Lee, RCBS and Lyman dies exclusively.
Probably break one tomorrow now

 

[minconrevo]

Recent Norma 9mm case flash holes are on the small size. Tend to stick on my Dillon dies. The factory Norma ammo shoots fine.

 

[H Richard]

Using an accumulation of various brands of cases over the past many years, (9mm), I find a fair amount of off center flash holes. A couple foreign brands, Blaser brand, Browning brand, Geco brand.