Should I clean after I remove Primer?
- Thread starter gregb
- Start date
I look at it this way.... If I thought it would gain me 1 point in a match, I would do it. However I don't think it would so I never do it. I seated 900 primers today into dirty primer pockets, only 600 more to go.
- Location
- Winnipeg,Man.
I make sure the flash hole is clear and stuff another primer in. never had one come back out nor misfire. have loaded hundreds of .223, amongst the other cals i reload.
You mean you have to change your oil, all these years I have just been adding to it
Seriously John I would not BS you on this. I never clean my primer pockets other than pushing out the corn cob media that gets stuck in the flash holes. I can't see where it would make any difference when shooting with irons and a sling and don't think it would gain me a point or a V, so I just don't bother.
DirtyOldSix
Regular
- Location
- Durbanville, South Africa
It all depends what you are re-loading for. If its a 1000 rounds of handgun ammo for plinking and point shooting, dont bother. If you are trying to shoot 1/2 MOA groups with your new hunting rifle, well of course and while youre at it use the primer pocket uniformer and the flash hole deburring tool too.
I have an RCBS power case prep center, so the primer pocket cleaning process takes but a few minutes. I always do clean them, but feel that for casual plinking and probably most hunting loads, it is not absolutely necessary. For competition, I would never leave out this step. Regards, Eagleye.
For rifle, yes, for pistol, no.
Scores are no better or worse at 300-1000 yards with cleaned or dirty primer pockets. Rifle shoots 1/2-3/4 MOA elevation (I'm shooting irons with a sling, not rested). I have done lots of testing, cleaned Vs dirty primer pocket and or brass. Dirty brass shoots just as well as shiney brass and dirty primer pockets shoot just as well a clean ones.
I know guys that are anal enough to weigh and sort primers. Does that really matter? To them it does. I weigh and sort my brass into 1 gr lots, to me that matters. Some guys use .5 gr lots, to them it matters. I guess it all depends on the game you are making the ammo for and what you think really matters. It is all part of the mental game. If you think is matters that the primer pockets are clean, do it.
I know guys that are anal enough to weigh and sort primers. Does that really matter? To them it does. I weigh and sort my brass into 1 gr lots, to me that matters. Some guys use .5 gr lots, to them it matters. I guess it all depends on the game you are making the ammo for and what you think really matters. It is all part of the mental game. If you think is matters that the primer pockets are clean, do it.
Terry Perkins
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Bruce County
Like Maynard I shoot long ranges. Lotsa reloading. I have done a few small tests of my own regarding clean or dirty primer pockets. Couldn't tell the difference. So I have been shooting with dirty primer pockets.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Shotgun, never. Rifle, always. Just one part of the case-prep procedure.
If you don't care, don't.
If you don't care, don't.
After many uses a case can get a loose or out of round primer pocket. The 'dirt' can actually help hold the primer in. So cleaning pistol case primer pockets may not be a good idea. But sooner or later the primer pocket will need to be reworked when it gets too loose(if the case lasts this long).
If the urge is really strong, I can ship you out my last 600 .308 cases so you can clean them to get it out of your system (900 are already primed into dirty primer pockets). Then ship them back. I will pay shipping both ways of course.
