Reloading new brass ?

[trooperjd]

As many of you know I picked up a 257 Bob. I located 200 pcs of new Win 257 Bob +p brass. They were purchased from Midway few years back and are already primed. What should be done to them before loading them up? I've only used once fired brass before, never new. I've checked them for proper length and all are pretty close to trim length just a tad on short side. All necks are good none are cracked or real distorted. Any other info would help a new reloader.

[txfireguy2003]

Hmmm, maybe back the decapping pin out on your sizing die until it won't touch the primer, but will still form the neck inside diameter, then size them all?

[trooperjd]

Yeah I checked my manuals and they recommend the same. I also cleaned the necks up to remove the burs.

[mrc]

Myself I would let the kids have fun popping all the primers (since you don't know how they were stored they may have gotten oil or moisture in them) the trim and resize. Its cheaper to waste a primer then bullets and powder.

[hoythitman]

If the brass is still in sealed container / plastic bag just remove or back the depriming pin and make sure sized and trimmed properly. If not sealed I would decap them all because moisture can ruin them and you might end up with no fires or bad ignition.

[M16]

I'd load em and shoot em. That's what I do to new brass. If the necks are out of round do like Txfireguy says and run them in a sizing die just enough for the expander to go thru the neck.

[lbbf]

Question about primers and moisture. How would the primers in the brass be anymore prone to moisture than primers in the 100ct sleeve? I've thought about it before and I just can't see how putting them in the brass is worse than leaving them in the package.

[Mike D]

I never resize new brass. I fire form it to my chamber and then I trim, chamfer, deburr, uniform primer pockets and flash holes and neck size only until it will no longer chamber.

No need to work the brass any more than necessary.

[trooperjd]

The brass was stored in ziplock bags. But suggestions will all be considered. Thanks

[Mike D]

The brass was stored in ziplock bags. But suggestions will all be considered. Thanks

I meant to add, I would get a universal decamping die and punch out the old primers and put in new ones. You have no idea what kind they are and whether or not they may be contaminated.

[Mike D]

Question about primers and moisture. How would the primers in the brass be anymore prone to moisture than primers in the 100ct sleeve? I've thought about it before and I just can't see how putting them in the brass is worse than leaving them in the package.

If you don't know how they were stored, it doesn't matter whether they were installed or not.

[trooperjd]

I have a sinclair decapping die already. Just need to change out the decapping pin. I guess the consensus rules and ill decap and use sizing die on the neck. Good thing I have some rifle primers on hand. Thanks

[Tommyh]

you can soak a primer in oil for months, remove it let it dry then shoot it. the material used to detonate the powder will not absorb the liquid or moisture and will not harm the ignition sequence. youre good to go unless you need to use magnum primers for whatever reason.

[lbbf]

If you don't know how they were stored, it doesn't matter whether they were installed or not.

Agreed but if they are both put in the same room/garage what difference does it make. Not trying to be a smart donkey. I really don't know if it makes a difference. People buy primers all the time without knowing how they were stored as well.

[M16]

I have had primed cases in a zip loc bag for over 20 years. They all shot fine. If you are in doubt pop the primers on a couple of them. If you are using this ammo on the hunt of a lifetime I'd replace the primers.