Primers excessively tight in pockets

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IMR4320

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Hey guys,
I ran into this problem. I got a batch of Hornady once fired 308 win brass so I got it tumbled, cleaned, resized and length trimmed, all to specs and then when started priming, a bunch of them have really tight primer pockets. Some take a lot of force on the press to put the primers in, others are just impossible to put in. Anyway, this is not a good situation when you have to use excessive force to put the primer in so I stopped doing it. I reamed a handful of pockets to give that primer better fit in but others still wouldn't go in and I don't like this reaming practice anyway, it cannot be the right way of doing it, aside of the fact, after the shot, it flattens all the way around and creates a symptom of excessive pressure while it actually is not but when for other reasons it develops high pressure, it goes undetected so it is not even safe to do this never mind the aesthetic factor. Is there a tool on the market to enlarge or trim the diameter of those primer pockets ? I'm using Federal primers that are soft enough already but for the most part they still don't want to go in properly.
Thanks for any hints or info.
 
You likely want to pick up a primer pock uniforming tool in the correct (large for .308 Win) primer pocket size. Cleans and adjusts the size of the primer pocket.

Your brass is unlikely to have a military crimp but if it does, you also may want to pick up a military crimp remover as well.

UniqueTek in the US also sells a primer pocket gauge which gives a great go/no-go indication of primer pocket condition - I love mine.

Never ever force primers, particularly if priming on a press with lots of leverage available. Always wear safety glasses in case a primer goes off.
 
The problem you discribed was the exact reason I stop using hornady brass. Even with the proper rcbs primer pock uniforming tool I counldn't get some primers to go in. Just resently I ordered a box of 308 Lapua Palma brass ( small rifle primer ), never had a problem with them before. But this time my rcbs uniforming tool got stuck in the primer pock so I had to distroy the brass to get the tool out.
 
Ron AKA said:
You may find this article of interest.
Click to expand...
A good write up , thanks Ron , although the squib article did not work . I've went through all the cautions and have had primers partially in so could not get the shell out . I close my eyes and force it in destroying the brass . So I have taken up reaming primer pocket mouth after swaging on the military brass .

Edit - Again good link thanks Ron , the link below shows the rcbs that I use but I still find I have to ream the mouths to get trouble free primer loading
 
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I have found that wet tumbling with Stainless Steel pins cleans the brass so we'll that priming is noticeably more difficult.

Try chamfering the primer pockets with an RCBS or similar chamfering tool - that might help.
 
Federal primers into (of all the brass, it had to be...) Hornady brass. I chamfer Hornady primer pockets as that area of the head was not thought out well and seems to be crimped. Having done that, I have primed the brass with Federal primers using my Lee auto-primer with more effort required than usual. Maybe I have stronger hands than most?

Maybe someday, Hornady will remedy the situation: They have lots of good ideas in other products, and I really like their bullets but they don't shine so well with their brass (primer pockets). ;)
 
Same problem with my lot of Hornady 308 brass, seems like there is a slight crimp on the primer pocket. I took an Exacto knife and made a slight chamfer around the edge and no more problem
 
Apparently Hornady contracts with different case makers to make their brass cases for them. I once had Hornady stamped brass that I was 95% sure was Norma brass and the primers were considerabley tighter fitting than other brands.
I cheered, because that meant I would get good pressure from them without the primers loosening, plus, likely more loadings from them.
 
A primer pocket uniforming tool alone may not be sufficient to allow seating of primers, as it only reams the pocket to a consistent diameter without chamfering the edge. Either swage the pockets, use the appropriate reamer, or use a chamfer tool on the ones you have already uniformed.
 
Below is the crimp remover I use the most with small batches of cases. It is made for the RCBS case prep station and made for old folks who drink too much coffee. Meaning even if the case is not held straight the reamer will not touch the side wall of the primer pocket. When chucked in a hand drill it is the most forgiving if the case is not held perfectly straight.

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Below is the Hornady crimp removal tool and I think the best of its type crimp removers. "BUT" if you drink too much coffee and it is not held straight it will touch the side walls of the primer pocket and remove brass. It is also the sharpest and fastest of the hand tool crimp removers, so make sure it is held straight when reaming.

bYmJ0TM.jpg


In my opinion these two reamers above are the best of the less costly crimp removers. "BUT" if you do large batches of cases your hands and fingers will get sore. Meaning large batches are best done with the Dillon primer pocket swager and not have sore fingers from gripping the cases.

I wish I had the Dillon swager for doing large batches of crimped once fired military cases, and I have every type reamer and swager except the Dillon. (subliminal suggestion)

I do have the Hornady trio tool below, in the rear of the photo is a VLD deburing tool to speed up brass removal. The case is then used in the top RCBS crimp remover. In the front is a Lyman crimp remover and it is just used as a GO NO-GO gauge to see if enough of the crimp has been removed.
The Dillon unit would be faster for large batches of cases. (subliminal suggestion, hint, hint)

UgwdAeC.jpg



I got smart and lazy, I now buy preprocessed Lake City brass for my AR15 rifles.

.223/5.56 - Cleaned, Deprimed & Swaged - LC Only - 500 Pieces $59.00 Free Shipping
http://www.brassbombers.com/223-556-Cleaned-Deprimed-Swaged-LC-Only-500-Pieces-2LC-S0050.htm
 
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H4831 said:
Apparently Hornady contracts with different case makers to make their brass cases for them. I once had Hornady stamped brass that I was 95% sure was Norma brass and the primers were considerabley tighter fitting than other brands.
I cheered, because that meant I would get good pressure from them without the primers loosening, plus, likely more loadings from them.
Click to expand...

All indications are that Hornady has been making their own brass since 1984.

"The ammunition line was beginning to progress, and the ability to feed the plant with outsourced component cartridge cases became increasingly difficult. Inevitably these sourcing issues led to the decision in 1984 to start making cartridge cases "in-house". From very humble beginnings of only a select handful of products, we now produce a comprehensive line of cartridge cases that run the gamut from pistol brass up to the very largest dangerous game offerings that we load in our factory ammunition and sell as component products for reloaders. Our brass is all built to the highest tolerances in the industry, and is a preferred component product for match shooters and hunters alike."
 
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