primer does not fit

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Gabrile

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Using Horandy brass FOR 308.

Putting a primer is just impossible. It is TOO tight. I managed to force 4 cartridges. But are they normally that tight? Should i try to make the primer hole bigger.

Iam using large rifle fedral primer.

What should i do ?
 
Shouldn't normally happen and you shouldn't have to ream any primer pockets bigger. What are you using to prime with? hand primers usually give a pretty good feel for what's going on, but some presses are horrible to try to prime with.

Now one issue I've had before is with ultrasonic cleaned small primer brass, sometimes primers would try to gall up and require lots of pressure to seat in, just too clean, but fixed that...
 
Gabrile said:
Using Horandy brass FOR 308.

Putting a primer is just impossible. It is TOO tight. I managed to force 4 cartridges. But are they normally that tight? Should i try to make the primer hole bigger.

Iam using large rifle fedral primer.

What should i do ?
Click to expand...

Lapua make a special 308 brass cartridge that uses a smaller flash hole and takes the small primer instead of the large. Any chance it is Lapua 308 Palma brass? Hornady makes a special Match version of the 308 but I don't see any information to suggest they have gone with the small primer and flash hole.

I would not try to force primers into the pocket. There are primer pocket reamers that might open up the pocket enough to use the brass. Or of course the other option is to return and replace the brass.
 
I actually had the same issue with 308 Hornady Match Brass - I would say about 20% of the primers would not go in (I made them go in and then they went in the trash).

This brass was also once fired brass from factory loads.

The solution - buy lapua brass. I am pretty sure the cost difference is small and it makes life soooo much better.
 
Hornady match 308 brass is definitely crimped primers, and the ones I have are a real bugger too. You have to either swage or ream the crimp out of the primer pocket before you can seat a new primer.
Lapua has 308 Palma brass that takes a small rifle primer.
 
Buy a Hornady primer pocket reamer for crimped primer pockets, if you have a crimped primer pocket the reamer will not fit in the primer pocket without reaming.

You can use the reamer as a simple GO, NO-GO gauge instead of trying to cram a primer into a crimped primer pocket.

I also use pin gauges to check for oversized primer pockets. Its the loose primer pockets that are the biggest problem, crimped primer pockets can be fixed by reaming or swaging.

Hornady Primer Pocket Reamer Tool Large
http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/176759/hornady-primer-pocket-reamer-tool-large

Primer Pocket Gauge — Cool Tool Checks for Loose Pockets (the gauge will not fit in a crimped primer)
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014/12/primer-pocket-gauge-cool-tool-checks-for-loose-pockets/
 
I use a round deburing bit in my cordless drill and ream the entry of the primer pocket . Even after swaging mil brass and hornady . Just a little bevel and the primers will start and fit
 
I assumed you were using new brass, if crimped factory stuff... probably better off to spend a few extra dollars and buy some good Lapua brass.
 
Gabrile. From one of your other posts I wondered if you even owned a firearm. It appears that you do but don't have any knowledgeable mentors.

The name of the brass you mention is HORN A DY. Hornady match brass has a "crimped" primer pocket. Maybe their other types of loaded ammunition are the same.

You will have to use a countersink bit to take off the lip left behind by the crimp around the primer pocket. I assume you are using reclaimed brass?

I suspect you are very new to the whole process but have jumped right in and trying to do it all right away but without doing enough due diligence. If you persist on doing things this way, you WILL damage your equipment and maybe yourself.

Find a mentor. Dawson Creek is full of people that will help you out. Great people up there as well as a good sporting goods store with knowledgeable people.

Many folks need hands on experience and don't readily comprehend written instructions in manuals or from the internet.

Get some help. Usually your local clubs will have some pretty good people willing to help. Be constrained though and don't approach them by telling them what you think should happen. Just tell them what you have and that you need help from the ground up.
 
bigedp51 said:
Buy a Hornady primer pocket reamer for crimped primer pockets, if you have a crimped primer pocket the reamer will not fit in the primer pocket without reaming.

You can use the reamer as a simple GO, NO-GO gauge instead of trying to cram a primer into a crimped primer pocket.

I also use pin gauges to check for oversized primer pockets. Its the loose primer pockets that are the biggest problem, crimped primer pockets can be fixed by reaming or swaging.

Hornady Primer Pocket Reamer Tool Large
http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/176759/hornady-primer-pocket-reamer-tool-large

Primer Pocket Gauge — Cool Tool Checks for Loose Pockets (the gauge will not fit in a crimped primer)
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014/12/primer-pocket-gauge-cool-tool-checks-for-loose-pockets/
Click to expand...

Thanks, i went to a local gun shop and bought one.....it worked.


So should i throw the ones that were squeezed in ? i feel they are like under pressure. Would that make a difference?
 
bearhunter said:
Gabrile. From one of your other posts I wondered if you even owned a firearm. It appears that you do but don't have any knowledgeable mentors.

The name of the brass you mention is HORN A DY. Hornady match brass has a "crimped" primer pocket. Maybe their other types of loaded ammunition are the same.

You will have to use a countersink bit to take off the lip left behind by the crimp around the primer pocket. I assume you are using reclaimed brass?

I suspect you are very new to the whole process but have jumped right in and trying to do it all right away but without doing enough due diligence. If you persist on doing things this way, you WILL damage your equipment and maybe yourself.

Find a mentor. Dawson Creek is full of people that will help you out. Great people up there as well as a good sporting goods store with knowledgeable people.

Many folks need hands on experience and don't readily comprehend written instructions in manuals or from the internet.

Get some help. Usually your local clubs will have some pretty good people willing to help. Be constrained though and don't approach them by telling them what you think should happen. Just tell them what you have and that you need help from the ground up.
Click to expand...

Bear thank you for the advice. I am a responsible adult, do not worry, won't kill myself.

When there is trouble shooting or a problem. I ask first to see the right thing.

Cheers,
 
bsand said:
FYI lapua factory ammo is also crimped. I got like 20-30 pick ups from the range that are lapua with crimped primers.
Click to expand...

I only buy new brass, and never pick up range brass to reload.

Although thinking of it a friend had given me 4-5 factory 155gr lapua rounds when I was short of my stuff for a relay a few years ago, pretty sure I deprimed them with the rest of my regular reloads and don't remember those few being crimped or any issue, pretty sure they just got reloaded with the rest.
 
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laker415 said:
Was the original primer crimped in? I have hornady match brass that needed to be swaged to accept a new primer
Click to expand...

In my experience Hornady .308 match is crimped.

OP, to remove the crimp, if you have a small amount of brass you can use a primer pocket reamer, Lyman makes a good one that is inexpensive. For doing larger volumes, a swager tool is a big help. Additionally, if you don't have one, I'm a big fan of the Lee Quick trim tools.
 
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