I am fairly new to reloading and was reloading some brass twice fired and all was going well until one of the primers I was handloading went into the shell with no effort. Unfortunately I loaded it with powder and bullet and mixed it in with several other cartridges. Since then, I was reading in my Leeman Reloading Manual that a loose fitting primer indicated a problem and the cartridge should be discarded. Before I pull the bullets out of the dozen or so cartridges, dump out the powder and run the brass through the die to remove the primers and then pay attention to resetting the primers, is it dangerous to fire the cartridge with the loose primer?
Loose primer, problem?
- Thread starter Jetjock
- Start date
- Location
- West Quebec
Just keep an eye out next time when primers seem to easy and cull right away
I would place an indicator mark on it with a magic marker, then fire it off and discard it. Usually loose primer pockets are caused by over-pressure loads, very soft brass or a combo of......it's a ll part of reloading, nothing to uncommon.
Shoot it.
Next time you prime cases, pay attention to how they feel. If it goes in with no resistance, toss case in garbage. If it goes in easier than most others, put it in a separate pile and mark them with a sharpie. I would not use these for any critical shooting because if a primer falls out, it can jam the gun.
Next time you prime cases, pay attention to how they feel. If it goes in with no resistance, toss case in garbage. If it goes in easier than most others, put it in a separate pile and mark them with a sharpie. I would not use these for any critical shooting because if a primer falls out, it can jam the gun.
That is a good point. Thanks for pointing that out.
Sometimes I felt the primer does goes in easier (I'm using a press to prime).
Sometimes I felt the primer does goes in easier (I'm using a press to prime).
If the loose primer leaks you will etch your bolt face and brass is a expandable item.
The person who posted the photo below in a AR15 forum said he didn't worry about loose primer pockets and would replace the bolt when it got bad enough.
When I feel a loose primer when seating I check it with a Lee depriming tool, and if the primer moves with just finger pressure the case is trashed.
And if that primer etches your bolt face you will wish you had thrown that case in the trash.
The real question is "WHY" the primer pocket was oversized after the second firing and if its bad brass or a hot load.
The person who posted the photo below in a AR15 forum said he didn't worry about loose primer pockets and would replace the bolt when it got bad enough.
When I feel a loose primer when seating I check it with a Lee depriming tool, and if the primer moves with just finger pressure the case is trashed.
And if that primer etches your bolt face you will wish you had thrown that case in the trash.
The real question is "WHY" the primer pocket was oversized after the second firing and if its bad brass or a hot load.
What I'm doing now on rare and expensive brass is using the
Rempel tool and tightening up the pockets again.
The tool has been around for awhile, and is Canadian made by Henry Rempel.
There is a bit of a learning process to the tool, and it works
In conjunction wit the RCBS Swage2 tool. A
primer pocket uniformer is a nice thing to have too, for
When you get them too tight.
Rempel tool and tightening up the pockets again.
The tool has been around for awhile, and is Canadian made by Henry Rempel.
There is a bit of a learning process to the tool, and it works
In conjunction wit the RCBS Swage2 tool. A
primer pocket uniformer is a nice thing to have too, for
When you get them too tight.
Yes. This is your primary gas seal and if you have gas leakage around the primer cup things can get dangerous. You will see gas cutting on the breech face around the primer edge and depending on the cartridge and firearm, you may experience hot gas to the face along with vaporized brass. This will do nothing for your complexion I assure you. Please, pull the bullet and crush that case in a vice before you discard it. Never use brass with loose primer pockets.
Better safe then sorry I guess. I will root out the bad one. It is mixed in with ten others so no doubt it will be the last one I take apart! Oh well, I wanted a hobby to occupy myself. Thanks to all but I will feel better discarding rather than fire.
