.303 British Primers won't seat

M

Matrix

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I'm hoping someone can help with this strange issue.
I was able to get my hands on about 100 rounds of once fired S&B brass. It is once fired and is in excellent shape.
The brass went through the sizing/decapping die just fine and is trimmed to length.
The problem is that Federal Large Primers will not seat in the primer pocket.
I have cleaned the primer pockets and run the brass through a Lyman primer pocket reamer. Doesn't seem to help.
Does anyone have any ideas how to get past this?
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
 
Do you mean the primers are to large in diameter to fit into the holes or that the holes aren't deep enough so that the primers aren't proud when seated????
 
A primer pocket uniforming tool or Dillon Swager would likely do the trick, but don't know that it would be worth buying one for only 100 cases.
 
just tap them in with a hammer and nail set. Works 60% of the time, every time.

But really, don't do that. some of the surplus ammo was varnished to prevent corrosion, and can lead to issues with seating primers, this might be the case with your brass.
 
S+B brass is known for poor QC with various primer pocket inconsistency common hence the deal.Harold
 
Thank you all of the comments.
I was very surprised to have this type of problem with S&B brass but to be honest I did find it to be a bit soft when resizing.
The S&B ammo was shot at a club event and was brand new. I think I have just picked up some "less than optimum" product.
I did ream the brass with a uniforming tool aggressively but that didn't help. Primers were still very hard to insert and would not insert fully.
Given the small amount of brass in question, I think I will just dump it rather than spend additional cash on a swagger.
 
All S&B cases (both rifle & pistol) have a very square shoulder on the primer pockets leading to primer insertion issues when reloading. Hornady brass seems to have the same problem...

Throw them in your scrap bucket and sell them to a wrecking yard or scrap metal merchant for a couple of bucks per pound when you have enough to make it worthwhile.
 
I personally do not like s and b brass. I found I had a lot of issues with split necks and I decided to turf that brand of brass instead of reloading it
 
S&B is not the best, especially for .303, tends to only last a few times reloading. A hand swaging/decrimping tool (cheap investment) is the best bet if you want to use this type of brass or any military brass. Try to find Privi, or Hornady brass, I have had good luck with both and neck size separately for each of my Lee Enfields.
 
I use S&B brass. I've had several easily fixable issues. The most irritating is inconsistent rim thickness. Primer pockets have been to small in diameter and not deep enough to accept CCI primers on occasion.

Now, I use the DOMINION brand primers from CanadaAmmo, a banner sponsor.

As far as the brass being soft, IMHO that is a good thing. S&B brass stands up to a lot of reloads if it's only neck resized with a few thou shoulder set back and used in the same rifle. Darn good metallurgy there. Better than Winchester brand.

OP, that brass would cost you close to $65+ tax to replace. Twenty minutes of your time will fix your issues. If you have a battery operated drill and bit, with some due diligence you can chamfer the edges of the pocket so that your primers will swage into the pockets. We're only talking a few thou here and this isn't rocket science.

If you can't see yourself doing this, give it to someone that will.
 
Had nothing but issues with S&B in 308. Many wouldn't fit in my Loadmaster plate due to inconsistent rim/base dimensions, so needed to reload them in a turret press. As mentioned, need to chamfer the primer pockets in order to reprise. Basically a pain in the butt.
 
Fargone4sure said:
Had nothing but issues with S&B in 308. Many wouldn't fit in my Loadmaster plate due to inconsistent rim/base dimensions, so needed to reload them in a turret press. As mentioned, need to chamfer the primer pockets in order to reprise. Basically a pain in the butt.
Click to expand...

had the same problem with S&B 8mm Mauser,however I have several hundred S&B 9mm rounds that just keep going without issues.
 
S&B, in my experience, makes good ammo, but I don't reload their brass. Particularly in 9 x 19, I've had precisely the same problem you described. I suspect their pockets are just a fraction smaller than NA primers. Suggestions, if you really want to use it, as above.
 
I have to agree that S&B really is very poor brass.
I picked up a Lyman Large Primer Reamer, insert brass into my drill and reamed the primer pockets. I had to be really careful as too little swaging and the primer wouldn't fit, too much and the primer would fall out of the pocket.
I managed to get about 50 decent pieces that I have loaded but the message is really clear. "DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS GARBAGE". The primer pockets are definitely smaller than normal and the brass itself is soft and will buckle easily. Lesson learned!
I will look for either Remington or Winchester for my friend's .303.
 
I had the same issues, rim thickness, neck thinning, base thinning and tight primer pockets. S&b brass will do in a pinch if you know it's limitations. As for tight primers I give primer pocket a little ream/chamfer with an xacto knife. Fire round, pick up and scrap.
 
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