I tumble first. If you remove the primer first you stand a chance of the flash hole getting plugged with media. If the polishing media does get in the flash hole it will be pushed out when you remove the spent primer.
This is a discussion on Deprimeing prior to tumbler?? within the Handgun Ammunition and Reloading forums, part of the Handguns category; I own a dillion square deal b for 9mm. I don't own a separate deprimeing tool. I tumble brass with ...
I own a dillion square deal b for 9mm. I don't own a separate deprimeing tool. I tumble brass with spent primers still in them. Should I be concerned about the primer opening never being cleaned in the tumbler?
I tumble first. If you remove the primer first you stand a chance of the flash hole getting plugged with media. If the polishing media does get in the flash hole it will be pushed out when you remove the spent primer.
I use a primer pocket cleaning tool. The media doesn't ever get it clean enough to suit me anyway. Also I don't like running dirty brass through my sizing dies. Just my 2 cents.
Been reloading for over 40 years and always leave the primers in the fired shell's. I have never seen a shell primer pocket get so dirty that it was made worthless by primer powder build up in the flash hole. I load more then 100,000 rds. each year, both revolver ammo semi auto in several calibers and several diffrent rifle calibers.
Bill
Leave the primers in the shell.
I actually polish twice. Once in a basic corn cob media prior to any sizing operations. After resizing and depriming I use walunt media. I do get media in some of the primer pockets but it is easily knocked out with a small allen key. Having to check the primer pockets also gives me a second chance to inspect my cases for cracks and other defects.
"A gun is a tool. No better or no worse than the man using it." – Shane
Thanks for the info
Definitely polish first. Getting extra dirt/junk in your dies can cause extra wear over time or facilitate a stuck case. The media doesn't really clean the pocket that well anyway.