Cleaning primer pockets....

kodiakattack

kodiakattack

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I am told and read that you don't need to clean primer pockets , but I have a hard time going though the loading process with everything new and clean and leaving that dirty !!! Should I really be concerned about it ? Its an extra step to deprime before you clean , is it worth it ? Is performance any better ? If so I want a SS tumbler. I don't own a tumbler now.

Thanks.....
 
Its an extra step to deprime before you clean , is it worth it ?

It is a extra step to clean after DE -priming?
 
I don't bother cleaning the pockets specifically, They get cleaned while tumbling if previously deprimed, or not at all. Ive never had any problems yet.
 
I use a reamer on new & range brass one time for precision shooting after that I tumble with pins and just visual checks after..

I deprime before tumbling..
 
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I don't mind cleaning primer pockets. I have a J. Dewey pocket cleaner that works really well.
I still use my dad's 40+ year old rock tumbler to clean brass with corncob media. I haven't tried stainless yet.
 
I clean mine all the time as I once had issues with primers not seating properly. SS wet tumbler will solve all those problems without the primer pocket cleaning step, it does an amazing job.
 
I will do the rifle primers but not for pistol. Manually cleaning 60 primer pockets is one thing, cleaning 500 by hand is another. Also it might make a difference in accuracy at rifle ranges but for pistol it isn't an issue for me.
 
For plinking or hunting loads, I do not bother.....over the 5 decades I have reloaded ammo
I have realized I have better things to spend my time at.

However, for long range competition, I do clean them, since I want no variance in primer seating for those
purposes.

Just my opinion, of course. :) Dave.
 
Well no, the sizing die will do the decapping of course but what he is talking about is decapping his fired brass before tossing them in the tumbler vs. tossing them in with spent primers to be decapped during resizing. Its an extra step that eats up time. I just toss my brass that will be FL sized in the tumbler with primers in, then when sizing I keep a Lee pocket cleaner handy for cases with alot of crud in the pockets. I like to check each one before priming to ensure the primer fell out and that there is no obvious damage like primer leakage.

Crowca2 said:
Its an extra step to deprime before you clean , is it worth it ?

It is a extra step to clean after DE -priming?
Click to expand...
 
Yes, each and every one/time.
Take the gizmo and stick it in the cordless drill and zapp'im.
Then I look through the hole........round light coming thru passes inspection.
Don't need no media in there for surprises.
 
I do things a bit different,
First when I have a bunch of shot off brass I'll throw them into the vibratory tumble with walnut shells to clean them of any dirt, or debris before I run them through the sizing and decapping die.
Then I'll put the batch through the SS pins for a couple hours ideally changing out the water mid way.
This usually makes the brass look brand new with clean primer pockets and no sizing lube left over on the cases

The SS tumbler is the greatest thing ever if you like shinny new looking brass with the least amount of effort, and if your at all mechanically handy they are easy to build out of random parts so many of us like hoarding
A quick google search will give you ideas of how easily these things are made, then it's just ordering up some pins, getting lemonshine and your all set
 
supernova said:
Well no, the sizing die will do the decapping of course but what he is talking about is decapping his fired brass before tossing them in the tumbler vs. tossing them in with spent primers to be decapped during resizing. Its an extra step that eats up time. I just toss my brass that will be FL sized in the tumbler with primers in, then when sizing I keep a Lee pocket cleaner handy for cases with alot of crud in the pockets. I like to check each one before priming to ensure the primer fell out and that there is no obvious damage like primer leakage.
Click to expand...
Yes ,thank you.
 
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