Primer pocket uniforming- when and why?

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GunNewb

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Im reloading for my chinese m14- read somewhere once that I should uniform the pocket on the first case prep to ensure the primer doesnt stick out. I wouldnt mind doing this- is this necessary for commercial brass?



Aso- what tools does a guy need?
 
GunNewb said:
Im reloading for my chinese m14- read somewhere once that I should uniform the pocket on the first case prep to ensure the primer doesnt stick out. I wouldnt mind doing this- is this necessary for commercial brass?



Aso- what tools does a guy need?
Click to expand...


Probably crimp removal.
 
I only use my primer pocket uniformer after i've used a countersink bit to remove a crimp other then that I personaly think it's a waist of time.
 
Primer pocket uniforming only cuts the primer pocket to a square uniform depth, it is not designed or efficient at removing primer pocket crimps. Once you have uniformed pockets on a lot of brass a quick pass on it for later loadings cleans the pocket. If you had some brass that had shallow pockets you could use this tool to cut them to the proper depth. It is usally used for making match ammo and some M14 and M1 loaders use them too to ensure primers seat to below flush easily. Most peoples reloading would not require the use of a pocket uniformer.

Uniformer cuts pockets deep and even.
Cleaner cleans pockets
Swage widens pocket mouth to remove crimp
Reamer Cuts away material at pocket mouth to remove crimp

If you want to uniform pockets I would buy a one piece large rifle primer pocket uniformer from Sinclair International or K&M. The Lyman has a pinned collar that can come loose and then the depth is no longer set. You then put the uniformer in a standard reloading hand tool handle and spin it into the primer pocket untill it bottoms out and leaves the pocket cut square and shiny. You now realize this sucks and stick the uniformer in a drill or drill press and do the rest of your cases this way. Canadian Tire drill press on sale is under $100 and more powerful and versatile than the power reloading prep stations the major brands sell.
 
Probably the reason for recommending a primer pocket uniformer is to prevent the user of an M-14 or clone thereof from becoming another statistic for Fulton Armoury's vehement advice against re-loading for such an arm.

Yup, I know lots of us have and do, but making certain you are using military primers and none of them are proud will go a long way to preventing slamfires.
 
The current lyman uniformer tool cannot be adjusted for depth (I just bought one, because I will be loading for a norc soon).

....don't go real crazy with it. I tested it out on my 30-30 stuff, since that's what I was loading when I bought the tool. Several of my cases ended up with pockets so loose that the primers fell out just during handling.. So... A few slow and deliberate twists, I'm guessing, is key here. (and I am indeed talking about the uniformer and not the crimp remover reamer).

And maybe seat a few primers to verify your technique before you do a hundred-odd cases....
 
I have only uniformed the pockets of lakecity brass after (swaging the pocket to remove the crimp). This brass, at lease the stuff I had, has rather shallow pockets and the primer protrudes.
 
completely uneccessary step for a gas gun.

it is a variable that psycho-obsessive benchrest shooters try to control. Flash-hole de-burring and uniforming has a more tangible effect.
 
Mark-II:

If the primer pocket uniforming tool causes loose primer pockets like you experienced, then the tool is way out of spec! Or your doing somethimg very wrong.

The tool is designed to cut only on the end of the tool, to cut the pocket to a flat square, specific depth.

Get yourself a Sinclair International uniformer.
 
I have never done anything to the primer pockets of my brass beyond reaming out the crimp, if present.
 
Normally I never did. I tried it on a couple of different make brass, and you wouldn't beleive the inconsistant shape of the pockets. Some showed no cleaning marks at all and some really cleaned up. Does it make a difference, I really don't know, but since I reload to relax and spend some qaulity time by myself, I now do every step possible and have made it a habit. Hell, it can't hurt !
 
dthunter said:
Mark-II:

If the primer pocket uniforming tool causes loose primer pockets like you experienced, then the tool is way out of spec! Or your doing somethimg very wrong.

The tool is designed to cut only on the end of the tool, to cut the pocket to a flat square, specific depth.

Get yourself a Sinclair International uniformer.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing I did something wrong - LOL

I was going at it fairly aggressively, like you might with a chamfer tool on the case mouths. I was MUCH more careful with a batch of .308 brass in regards to keeping the tool square and giving it only enough turns to cut what it needs to cut. If I've ruined a significant number of those THEN I can blame the tool!

Thanks for the tip on the Sinclair. I can be a tool junky, so will probably not be able to resist buying one.

Paperslayer: I thought this step was supposed to be MANDATORY for a gas gun in order to help prevent slam fires due to the free floating firing pin? That and the use of military spec primers for added safety factor. I'll take a bit of extra time and spend an insignificant amount of money if it reduces the chance of blowing myself up....
 
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