couple of stupid questions

[bluebayou]

Okay, two probably stupid questions:

1.  Would you put primed, loaded ammo into a tumbler?

2.  Would you trim a primed case?

[jimann]

Hi
I had a friend that put pistol rounds in the tumbler, all the time and never had a problem. I would be a little nervous with rifle ammo with pointed bullets. I have trimmed primed brass. Just was careful to get all the brass trimmings out of the case. I have a Forrester trimmer.
jim

[Redhawk1]

No too both.

[Lone Star]

The biggest problem putting loaded ammo in a tumble for more than a few minutes is degradation of the powder.  Some powders - particularly tubulars like IMR powders - have grains that could break apart - this would increase the burning rate and result in high pressure - perhaps unsafe - loads.   Don't do it.

Trimming primed cases - with what?  A Lee trimmer requres the trimmer pilot to enter the primer hole, so that wouldn't work.  A Lyman, etc. would be lkay, except that you could get tiny brass shavings inot the primer hole - again, that's not a good thing.

[KN]

Trimming primed cases, I have done it but prefer not to.
Tumbling primed cases, NO, You run the risk of contaminating the primer itself and also cloging the flash hole.   KN

[williek]

1. There are no stupid questions.
2. Asking questions is how we learn.
3. The only stupid thing you can do is to not ask questions.
Lifetime Educator
williek

[Robert357]

tumble a loaded case......I wouldn't, but some folks do.  As was pointed out above my principle concern would be that the powder would grind against itself inside the sealed case and come out much finer than it started.

trim a primed case....I wouldn't.  A primer really has a lot of energy it can release.  Just think about what might happen if it were to go off.  Why not just snap it in your firearm and then deprime it in your press.  Primers are usually about $14 per thousand, so you aren't talking a lot of money compared to the risk.

Some things are really risk versus reward questions.  If I load up say 50 rounds of ammo and it has something wrong with it.  I will use an impact hammer to pull all 50 rounds so as to save the bullets, powder, and cases.
Actually I will pull whatever I am concerned about shooting as to me the risk of being hurt is just not worth the time it takes to either check, redo, or fix a cartridge problem.

[Graybeard]

Can't speak to how all trimmers work but the two I have (Forster and RCBS) would pose no danger in trimming a primed case. After priming is NOT the correct sequence of events but at least with the trimmers I use isn't a dangerous operation either.

Correct sequence is inspect, clean, deprime, clean flash hole, trim, deburr inside and outside, inspect, prime, charge and load. Along the way on cases that must be lubed you have to remove the lube. I do this in a tumbler with corn cob media.

Tumbling powder is bad but really for reasons not yet mentioned more so than changing the size of powder grains. All powders have a burn deterent coating on them to give them the correct and desired burn rate. If in tumbling you remove the coating and you usually will then you've totally changed the burn rate of the powder. And ALWAYS to make it faster not slower burning. That is DANGEROUS.

[bluebayou]

Thanks for all of the input and for no one busting my chops in the process.

I am using the RCBS trimmer and I don't see how it would detonate a primer, but as Robert says, why risk it.  

I have been following a process with the reloads but the 44's which had not grown in case length with 2 reloadings, suddenly were a wee too long.  I didn't notice till after priming.

My main mistake was a cosmetic problem.  After sizing and loading, I did not wipe down the 7-08 rounds last time.  They are all discolored from the lube drying.  Not a big deal, but it was nagging at me and the first batch that I reloaded was not tumbled.  That batch of brass has stayed discolored and funky looking.  Again, not a real problem, but a "pride of ownership" kind of thing.

I appreciate it.

[Graybeard]

I've been loading the .44 Magnum for at least 30 years. I think I'm still using some of those first cases I bought. I've never trimmed one yet. In fact I've never trimmed ANY straight wall pistol case in a reloading career over 40 years long. Never needed to.

[beemanbeme]

Yes to both questions.  I don't make a practice of tumbling loaded rounds but I have done it.  I also understand that the big manufacturers, Rem and Win and Fed, tumble their finished cartridges before packaging.

Considering that our powder moves via rail and truck over long distances, the slight amount of "rubbing" it would get by being in a tumbler for a short while is insignificant.  

I have had my case trimmer so long I'd have to go out to the shed to find out what brand it is, but I don't think there's anyway a primer could be popped by it.  Right, right, I know, we could be hit by a meteor at any time.   GB maybe has the better sequence but I been doing it my way for so long that if I tried to change, I 'd probably forget to put the powder in or something.

[bluebayou]

Maybe it is from using the Lee Loader for the 44.  It was just a couple of thousandths.  Of course I didn't measure them new.  Don't know.

Anyway, I will stick to the plan from now on.