I was loading some 44 Mag yesterday and I had the sides of two old primers that were left in the brass while the bottoms were punched out. I guess the brass is ruined as I don’t know how I can ever get the rest of the primers out.

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Yep, it happens every once in awhile.. I just throw it in the scrap brass box and forget about it..

How long has it been since those rounds were fired? They look like range brass that has been sitting around long enough for corrosion to set in.

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Your guess would be just as good as mine.

I've been reloading since 1964 and have seen 8 or 9 of these over the years. Several of them were from one lot of W-W nickeled .38 S&W brass. I'm still using that lot of brass and it's been years since this has happened. Probably loaded 10-12 times without problems.

I've had this happen but only in .38 Special brass.

This is not uncommon with range brass left out in the elements too long. Once the primer pockets get wet, nothing good is gonna happen.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I've never personally had that happen. Thanks for posting it up for us to see.

None of mine was range brass pickup. I'm pretty sure it was Winchester .38 Special brass I bought new. I won't complain as some of the cases may have been loaded fifteen to twenty times or more. I've probably seen no more than ten cases so damaged. I would guess it's a faulty primer cup, but seems no one knows for sure.

I'm new to metallic reloading. Isn't there a tool called a "Pocket Reamer"? Can it be used for this problem? Or, is it only for 'uniforming' the brass case primer pocket?

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Mike Maher #283

Some are for removing the primer crimp from military brass; some are for uniforming the primer pocket.

Just out of curiosity.... What kind of depriming tool were you using?
(I don't see how the first example would have been removable from a standard shell holder....???)

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Pretty sure thesame thingcan happen if you wet cleaned & did t dry the pockets before priming.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I have had primers Seat sideways, you can wiggle them out f most shell holders/plates.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

My depriming tool is a Lee carbide 44 sizing die mounted in a Hornady LNL progressive press. Undo one bolt and the shellplate lifts out freeing everything.

I don't wet clean; couldn't imagine going to such trouble to clean brass.

Midway used to sell a tool for that problem, It would remove the sides of the primer left in the shell. Most people don't bother with it and they just toss the case in the trash.

Moisture in the primer pocket causes the corrosion which does that.
A warning to all who pick up range brass from the grass and those who tumble with water and pins....get the pockets dry , really dry, before priming . Range pick up brass exposed to dew or rain will also do this, decap them ASAP . If the primers stick it's best to trash or use to make dummy round.
Gary

It happens seldom enough it itn't cost effective to bother with it. For those of you that "just won't give up", try an appropriate sized drill bit in your drill press paying particular care with the alignment. Be sure the brass is secure in a drill vice.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I agree with the consises above, sh!* happens. I've been reloading over 30 years and can only remember one or two "ringers". Being a lifelong "perfectionist" machinist/mechanic with a touch of OCD, I'd first try a hook, like a dentist's pick, and pull the remaining primer parts out. Or use an appropriate size tap to wedge into the ring and pull it out. But my suggestion to a "normal" reloader is to toss them as 44 Magnum brass is plentiful and it can be a lot of work to save just two cases...

Brass may be more expensive than ever, but it's still quite reasonable when you consider the number of times it can be loaded. Throw away troublesome cases; hardly worth the effort to make them right.

Primers are soft in comparison to the brass.. take a small scribe or screwdriver and pick them out..

Interesting, I have been reloading since the mid 70s and never have seen that occur.

I found it most often in older military cases.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Give it up! Throw the brass in the trash. You can toss it early or 4 hours later when you can't get the primers out.

I happily threw out 7 WW cases just like yours 3 weeks ago. It isn't worth the effort.

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S&WHF 366

The right size bottom tap might give you enough bite on them to pull them out. But, only if you have a tap and nothing better to do.

Personally I'd toss them. Never found a piece of brass I felt that close to. Seems like a lot of work.

I remember just one "ringer" on a 44 Magnum case that was a range pick up. No idea how old the case was or how long it had been sitting out in the weather. I do remember a few "punctured" primers on military brass ( decapping pin punches through the bottom of the primer cup.). I believe I just tossed them...

I've had this occur on rare occasions, but I don't recall how I resolved the problem. My normal tendency is to drop everything and work on it. If I ruin the brass then it's OK to throw it away.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

I have had this issue with .38 Special brass that got wet in the rain at a PPC match. It sure slows down a progressive reloader. I throw it away.

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