Thread: Best Universal decapping die for crimped primers

Originally Posted by Jhon

Just busted the pin on my cheap $28 Lee Universal Decapping die hitting a crimped 5.56 military primer. And of course they are out of stock. Mind you it has done a bit of work. It is meant to be rated for the job as according to Lee " it even does crimped primers". I suspect what happened is it has bent a little with use until it has struck the edge of the flash hole which bent it 90 degrees. Bugger! Possible I didn't have the case properly lined up too.

Anyway, all that aside, what do you like for the job?

The reason I use one is to speedily decap brass for storage without having to resize it at the same time. Avoiding primer pocket corrosion from fired seated primers if brass is stored for some time. Yes I could use a collet sizing die or just do the full job with an FL - but a Universal does not require mucking around with case lube etc

I use rcbs and have spare pins for them
You eventually break a few