Worn out primer pocket

[IMR4320]

So I seem to be accumulating Hornady 308 win cases that have been serving me well for some time and are otherwise perfectly good but the primer pockets are getting bigger and it got to the point the primers no longer stay in. I measured them and other brand brass, healthy pockets have .208" resulting in very good primer fit but Hornadys wore out to .210". Is there any way I could salvage the brass or is it all now junk ? The brass was not subjected to any unusually high pressures. Thanks for any input.

 

[laker415]

No way to salvage a worn out pocket. Hornady brass is soft in my experience. I had some hornady factory 7mm rem mag that couldn’t be reloaded after the first firing from the factory.

 

[theshootist]

Yep I'm afraid once they have loose fitting pockets they are pooched. I like the Lee hand primer because it tells me when primers go in too easily. Once they get too loose I toss them out. It is my primary cause if case rejection.

 

[Eagleye]

If you avoid "soft" brass like Hornady and particularly FC, your primer pockets will stay tight longer. Dave.

 

[Buckmastr]

Henry Rempel makes a custom tool to tighten primer pockets. So does RW Hart, called a case saver.
I haven't used either but apparently they work. For a 308, brass is plentiful enough that it really isn't worth it.

 

[IMR4320]

Ok guys, thanks for your input, kind of what I thought but before it goes into scrap bucket I thought I'd ask. Funny, my other brand I use is Federal and they have been holding up on amazingly.

 

[Neilm]

I used Federal brass when you could buy it as a reloading component. They stood up OK. If you buy their ammo now and try to use the brass you may be SOL

 

[big cal]

to loose ok but juste a little bit loose I use bleu locktite work fine for me ps. locktite after the primer in pocket

 

[Dogleg]

I use the Rempel tool on expensive and hard to find brass. I wouldn't bother on .308.

 

[buji88]

Once the primer pocket is loose get some new brass, Wasp Munitions usually has some decent deals on once fired!

 

[manitou210]

Lapua Pama 308 ends your problems nothing made is even close to Lapua

 

[bigedp51]

The photo below was posted in a AR15 forum and the person who posted the photo said he didn't worry about loose primer pockets.
And he would just buy a new bolt when his got bad enough.

Brass is a expendable item and your bolt face isn't.

And soft brass will expand more "BUT" the flash hole web thickness adds strength to the base of the case. And why I buy once fired Lake City 5.56 and 7.62 cases, because these cases have harder brass and thicker flash hole webs. And the primer pockets last much longer because of the case design and brass hardness.

 

[maynard]

If you can get your hands on some Russian made Wolf primers the are a thou or two bigger. You will get another 4-5 loadings out of your brass with the loose primer pockets.