Primer Pocket Uniformity - Worthwhile?

[mossyhorns]

Apologies if this is a repost. I did a search but couldn't find anything.

I've reloaded for years and have never done anything with my primer pockets other then clean them. So I'm in WSS today and I see a Lyman Large Rifle Primer Pocket Uniforming Tool. I tried it out on some brass (Norma, Federal, Winchester) and I was actually surprised how much brass came out of each primer pocket. The final product was clean and smooth.

I haven't loaded anything in them yet but I have to ask. Is it worth the effort. It was a pretty time consuming process.

 

[horseman2]

I do it once and also remove burrs from the flash hole. Once the primer pockets are uniform I don't bother cleaning on subsequent reloading.

 

[MetricMan]

I've tried with and without primer pocket uniforming. Can't say I can tell the difference accuracy wise. One problem I did have with my set up was taking too much material out form the primer pockets, causing the primers to be seated deeper than normal. I don't bother doing it anymore.

 

[mossyhorns]

That's something I was actually concerned about (taking out too much brass). The lyman is factory calibrated and claims to take out just the right amount. I'll seat some primers and see how flush they are (or are not) but with the Lyman it does appear that you cannot take out more then it was designed for.

I'd be afraid of a misfire with a weak firing pin strike if the primers were seated a tad deep.

 

[Freyr_255]

Only reason I own one is to convert large pistol to large rifle primer pockets. My 45 colt loads tend to blow holes in the primers....

 

[maynard]

I don't even clean primer pocket let alone uniform them.

 

[warrenb]

I tried not cleaning primer pockets once. But it preyed on my mind.

 

[Boomer]

I uniform my primer pockets and de-burr and uniform the flash holes. Does it make any difference? On its own, I'd be surprised, but when combined with a number of other things I do, I believe that my "system" results in slightly better ammo. Will it for you? That's something you'll have to answer for yourself. Right off the bat though, you might find that seating primers becomes more consistent, and you're less likely to observe high primers without becoming anal with the effort you put into priming. like the guys who insist on .002" below the case head. If uniforming primer pockets makes you feel better about the end product, continue doing it. Conversely, if you feel like its a waste of time, then it might be.

 

[horseman2]

I uniform my primer pockets and de-burr and uniform the flash holes. Does it make any difference? On its own, I'd be surprised, but when combined with a number of other things I do, I believe that my "system" results in slightly better ammo. Will it for you? That's something you'll have to answer for yourself. Right off the bat though, you might find that seating primers becomes more consistent, and you're less likely to observe high primers without becoming anal with the effort you put into priming. like the guys who insist on .002" below the case head. If uniforming primer pockets makes you feel better about the end product, continue doing it. Conversely, if you feel like its a waste of time, then it might be.

Nicely put.

If just one turn is made with my Sinclair, there is often a high (or low) spot in the pocket. That was the point that convinced be there was some necessity.

It may be a case of mind over matter . . . if you don't mind then it don't matter.

 

[acrashb]

Is it worth the effort. It was a pretty time consuming process.

I think so - it makes the primers sit at exactly the same depth every time, and squares-up the corners of the pocket, making finding that depth easier.

If you are going to clean the pockets, clean them with the uniformer and nail two birds with one stone.

Having said that, not worth it for blasting ammo, on which I don't even bother to clean the pockets.

 

[scout]

I think so - it makes the primers sit at exactly the same depth every time, and squares-up the corners of the pocket, making finding that depth easier.

If you are going to clean the pockets, clean them with the uniformer and nail two birds with one stone.

Having said that, not worth it for blasting ammo, on which I don't even bother to clean the pockets.

+1

Having a constant primer seating pressure is worth the effort to me. I'm using Winchester brass where the primer pockets are punched, not machined. They need a bit of effort to make the primer seating a bit more consistent and squaring up the corners is a big impact. Speeds up primer pocket cleaning as well ... but I reload for competition. Plinking rounds might not see an appreciable benefit. I find that pockets are best uniformed at once fired and touched up after during the primer pocket cleaning.