Topic: Primers pulling decapping pin

[ballardw]

I've been resizing some mixed lot .223 brass and have had the decapping pin pulled out of the die 4 times now by some Federal brass with commercial headstamp. The primers give way just a bit so that the firing pin strike is almost reversed and the anvil is deforming around the pin. Then as the case is withdrawing from the die it pulls the pin out of the stem. I've tried tightening the expanding ball as much as I dare without damaging the stem and switched the pin a couple times and the entire stem as well.

I'm using a standard RCBS .223 die set, it that makes any difference.
Anyone else ever seen this? Any other ideas on correcting this?

[fj40mojo]

Is this occurring because the primer is not being pushed clear of the primer pocket and the deformed anvil is holding the decapping pin, or are the flash holes tight? I've never had this happen with RCBS dies because of the way they are secured in the expander button (stepped pin), but maybe your dies are of a different design than mine. I have however had this happen with Hornady dies (collet type mechanism).

[TrooperBrian]

And what kind of brass is it? I've heard that AMERC 5.56 have off-center flash holes. I have a big pile of them I'm going to scrap.

[High Wall]

The way RCBS is, if you tell them you are having problems with the old style expander assembly, they might send you the newer style for nothing.

[J Mack]

I you need a die just to get through the crimped brass you got from me I will loan you a Dillon die when you drop off the primers.

You should be good to go on the second reload with your die.

[ballardw]

This is an older die set, circa mid 80's. I hadn't even realized that RCBS changed the design on the decapper. The primers were coming all the way out but I suspected the crimp on the pocket might be a bit tight. The brass doing this was all head-stamped FC 223 Rem. I was surprised 'cause I've done 1000's of military cases and never had this problem.

I planned on swaging the pockets.

[fj40mojo]

It's not Federal American Eagle brass is it? That stuff is crap, not worth reloading IMHO!

[ballardw]

It's not Federal American Eagle brass is it? That stuff is crap, not worth reloading IMHO!

If it's not on the head stamp I don't have any idea, this is from mixed lots of 'once fired' brass.

And why specifically is that brass not worth reloading?

[fj40mojo]

Thin webs.  Primer pockets expand easily. Far as I know they are just "FC" head stamps, so difficult to differentiate from other Federal brass. Google it. Sorry  about all that, 4 year old got crazy with the emoticons.

[J Mack]

Thin webs.  Primer pockets expand easily. Far as I know they are just "FC" head stamps, so difficult to differentiate from other Federal brass.

I have loaded 1000’s of rounds of FC as with LC and I can’t tell the deference other than case capacity.
I know years ago there was some FC with below minimum web thickness that started the internet rumor that FC brass was not reloadable but I have cross sectioned some in my mill and confirmed the webbing on the new stuff is good to go.

If you have any first hand information about thin webbing on new FC cases I would love to see it.

[fj40mojo]

My preffered rifle brass is Federal Premium, the only problems I've heard of is just the stuff they use for the American Eagle brand. No first hand knowledge, just thought it might be a potential source of ballardw's difficulties.

[High Wall]

I have loaded 1000’s of rounds of FC as with LC and I can’t tell the deference other than case capacity.
I know years ago there was some FC with below minimum web thickness that started the internet rumor that FC brass was not reloadable but I have cross sectioned some in my mill and confirmed the webbing on the new stuff is good to go.

If you have any first hand information about thin webbing on new FC cases I would love to see it.

That is my experience, too.  I saw some of the thin webbed stuff a few years back.  The easy way to detect the thin stuff is weigh them and compare the weights to known good brass.