Was reading the post on why military brass has crimped primers. There have many over the years. What I haven't seen discussed is how the heck do they do that. If it is done after the primer is inserted in the pocket it seems like it would be a little tricky to crimp it without possibly setting off the primer. Anybody know how it is actually done? Does anyone sell equipment to do it? (no, I'm not looking to do it myself)
How to crimp primers?
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ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
It has to be done after the primer is in place.
The primed brass goes into a machine that applies the crimp. It is not an impact process, just pressure.
The primed brass goes into a machine that applies the crimp. It is not an impact process, just pressure.
It is done after the primer is in place, with some very expensive, commercial, loading equipment. There is no real benefit, in ordinary use, to crimped in primers. There is considerable discussion that there is very little benefit even in military use, other than fully automatic weapons.
Big Cholla
Member
Slow even pressure to a primer will not set it off. Sharp impact will. ....
fredj338
Member
Exactly I have crushed primers flat sideways, no detonation.
I'm sure a special die is used that is fitted to the area surrounding the primer pocket so no pressure is put on the primers. I have HXP ammo with "staked" primer pockets; 3 small "punch pricks" surrounding the pocket, and NATO military stuff uses a circular crimp to evenly disrupt metal at the mouth of the pocket...
MichiganScott
Member
I bought a case of LC11 XM193 that has three rectangular punch marks around the pocket. The boxes are printed in both English and French. Probably a contract over-run.
Stake crimping is pretty common and prolly used before circular crimping (easier to make a stake crimping die than an annular crimp die). I've seen older ammo that used stake crimping to crimp bullets in place...
Primers typically have an anvil in the middle. Crimping around the edges cannot detonate the primer unless there is a severe alignment problem with your machines.
I'd be more concerned about breaking up the primer compound rendering the primer useless when crimping.
I'd be more concerned about breaking up the primer compound rendering the primer useless when crimping.
