PMC Bronze brass primer pocket. Primers do not fit??

[Rule3]

I was loading some 223 Rem of mixed brass. I kept getting some that the primer would not go in. I checked the brass and it is PMC Bronze. I have a whole bunch of it. Is there anyway to enlarge the primer hole so either CCI or Win primers will fit? It seems to have a extra ring or bevel inside the hole. How were these primed orginally?. It is not military brass. Its made in Korea.
Shown here in pictureMC on left, Rem on right

 

[TSQUARED]

It appears that the PMC case has a crimped primed pocket. Try removing the brass at the edge if that solves your problem then you will have to swage the primer pockets on the remainder.

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by TSQUARED:
It appears that the PMC case has a crimped primed pocket. Try removing the brass at the edge if that solves your problem then you will have to swage the primer pockets on the remainder.

How do I do that? Is there a special tool?

 

[Paul5388]

Just use the pointed end of your chamfering/deburring tool.

Stick it in the primer pocket and give it a twist or two and the crimp should be removed.

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by Paul5388:
Just use the pointed end of your chamfering/deburring tool.

Stick it in the primer pocket and give it a twist or two and the crimp should be removed.

I only have the little Lee pocket cleaner tool which I tried. I will order one. The Hornady looks OK, ya think?

Thanks

 

[Paul5388]

The Lee should work too. You may be using too light of a touch, so since the point will keep you from going too deep, try again and see if you get better results.

A lot of people chuck the tool up in a cordless drill and do it with less effort.

You should end up with a bevel, just like the commercial R-P brass has.

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by Paul5388:
The Lee should work too. You may be using too light of a touch, so since the point will keep you from going too deep, try again and see if you get better results.

A lot of people chuck the tool up in a cordless drill and do it with less effort.

You should end up with a bevel, just like the commercial R-P brass has.

Tried again. The Lee pocket cleaner only has a "blade" or edge on the bottom so it cleans fine on and around the flash hole. It is smooth on the sides in fits right in the crimped primed brass so will not remove any metal around the hole.It is not tapered like the picture you posted. What tool is that one?

Oh well no hurry , I will order the right tool for the job, almost like making another trip to Homer Depot or Sears.

 

[nicky4968]

You have been using the Lee primer pocket cleaning tool. Neat stuff. If you want to stay with Lee, use their chamfering tool, which is cheap and reliable, or use the Hornady, ditto.

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by nicky4968:
You have been using the Lee primer pocket cleaning tool. Neat stuff. If you want to stay with Lee, use their chamfering tool, which is cheap and reliable, or use the Hornady, ditto.

I also tried the chamfer tool but that seems to cut at a angle rather than just removing the extra crimp material, plus I do not know when or where to stop cutting. I just want to see that little extra ring gone. It ends up with a tapered primer pocket rather than straight. I am leary of having primers start popping out.

 

[JD 500]

Originally posted by OCD1:

Originally posted by nicky4968:
You have been using the Lee primer pocket cleaning tool. Neat stuff. If you want to stay with Lee, use their chamfering tool, which is cheap and reliable, or use the Hornady, ditto.

I also tried the chamfer tool but that seems to cut at a angle rather than just removing the extra crimp material, plus I do not know when or where to stop cutting. I just want to see that little extra ring gone. It ends up with a tapered primer pocket rather than straight. I am leary of having primers start popping out.

OCD1 - That primer crimp is also known as a military crimp. You will find it on any ammo labeled 5.56, and unfortunately with .223 it crops up a lot on ammo nowdays (I assume these companies may also supply the military and make thier ammo one way (To Nato spec)).
Using your chamfer tool ( Picture by Paul5388 above)is a way to use your brass by fixing with a tool you already own. All you need to do is remove the sharp corner at the top of the primer pocket just enough so new primers will fit in. (You are trying to make a little primer funnel) You don't need to remove the "extra ring". You want to bevel that sharp corner just a little bit.

This is all assuming you have a small lot of this brass. If you have a big lot ( 50+ ) or want the ability to use nato spec brass anytime. There is a tool called a "military crimp remover". Example

If I'm buying .223, I'll open the box and look for 1) That "extra ring" or 2) Nato symbol - circle with a + in it, and skip that purchase so I don't need to screw with removing the sharp corner to reload the brass. New brass will not have the sharp corner, it will be slightly radiused at the top of the primer pocket.

Hope that helps,

 

[Rule3]

Thanks JD, yes I have a case of it. The pic that Paul posted is not the Lee tool which I have.Thanks

I was thinking of this one by Hornady when and if it gets in stock.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=253550

 

[JD 500]

Originally posted by OCD1:
Thanks JD, yes I have a case of it. The pic that Paul posted is not the Lee tool which I have.Thanks

I was thinking of this one by Hornady when and if it gets in stock.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=253550

Ouch. Sorry to hear it's a case. Yep, that tool looks like a winner.

I'm pretty sure it is a very minimal amount of material that need be removed.

Do you not have a tool like in Paul's pic ?
You will probably want one if you will be reloading. After trimming brass to size "Trim to length", that chamfer / debur tool is used to clean up the case mouth which will be sharp and nasty inside and out after trimming.

 

[Rule3]

Yes i have a Lee primer pocket cleaner and a Lee chamfering tool for after triming casemouths in and out. They work well for that but not for removing a primer crimp. I will probably just get some more empty brass or one of the hand tools. I could spend $100 and get the Dillon:
http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25263/catid/8/Super_Swage_600

But I could get a lot of once fired for that and save the work.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

In a pinch a pocket knife will work too. Use a sharp keen blade to remove the crimp and form a bevel.

 

[H Richard]

If you have a lot of it to clean up, Dillon sells a primer pocket Swagger tool, and it makes the job fairly easy. It's not cheap, but worth it if you do a lot of Military. We bought one at our club, and everyone can check it out.

 

[walnutred]

I had some old 45 ACP brass that was looking like that. Turned out the problem was not a crimped in primer it was a stuck primer. The primer wall had bonded to the case to the point that the primer anvil and head popped off.

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by H Richard:
If you have a lot of it to clean up, Dillon sells a primer pocket Swagger tool, and it makes the job fairly easy. It's not cheap, but worth it if you do a lot of Military. We bought one at our club, and everyone can check it out.

Thanks
I looked that tool up on their site. That is pretty slick but as you said expensive. I am sure it is of course worth it for Dillion quality.
For $100 I can buy a a lot of once fired brass and save me the work. I'll save my case of loaded ammo for the "dark days" of no ammo ahead.

 

[jjones33]

Originally posted by OCD1:
Yes i have a Lee primer pocket cleaner and a Lee chamfering tool for after triming casemouths in and out. They work well for that but not for removing a primer crimp. I will probably just get some more empty brass or one of the hand tools. I could spend $100 and get the Dillon:
http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25263/catid/8/Super_Swage_600

But I could get a lot of once fired for that and save the work.

The little lee chamfer tool will work fine. Just give it two good twists in the primer pocket. It should created a slope from the pocket to the base of the case. They should fit fine after that. Some crimped pockets have a little bit of brass ever so slightly bulged into the primer pocket. Just put a little extra force after reaming the top of the pocket and see if it doesn't go right in. If the primer isn't flattened out then you're good to go.

RCBS makes a swage that is used on your press for a LOT less money than the dillon. Even when I use a primer pocket swage I still gun a reamer over the outside, but I'm retired and don't have anything else to do.

 

[Dale53]

I have swaged thousands of primer pockets with the RCBS primer pocket swager. It is reasonably quick and is not expensive. It should last near forever. It gives VERY consistent results.

Dale53

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by Dale53:
I have swaged thousands of primer pockets with the RCBS primer pocket swager. It is reasonably quick and is not expensive. It should last near forever. It gives VERY consistent results.

Dale53

This is the one that attaches to the press like a die? I have read that it works well and probably the one I will get. Will it fit any press make?