Hi guys, I'm in the process of reloading a batch of .223/5.56 brass. I'm having a difficult time getting the small rifle primers into the primer pockets without maring or deforming them in some way. I've used a primer pocket tool attached to a rotery drill to ream all the pockets. I followed this up by opening the edge of the case just a bit with a counter sink, again on the drill. I'm still having problems seating the primes with my RCBS hand-held primer tool. It's as if the primer pocket just isn't large enough. Before I destroy a thousand pieces of brass, let me know what I'm doing wrong. I've loaded .223 before with no problems. Thank you.
Primer pocket problems
- Thread starter fstdraw
- Start date
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If you're using military brass you need to swadge the primer pocket first to remove the factory crimp. Not sure if that's your problem but military brass can be a real pain to seat primers if that crimp isn't removed first. Sometimes you find a full circular ring around the pocket and other times you will run into a three prong type crimp spaced at equal distances around the primer. Several reloading companies make a tool for this.
Get the primer pocket swage tool from Dillon if your going to do any amount of military cases!
Its the only way to go - IMO!
Its the only way to go - IMO!
NFrameFred
Member
Personally, I've always cut the crimp out. I've done several thousand that way and it works best for me.
A word of caution about the swagers, haven't used the Dillon, but RCBS made an apparatus for that and a friend of mine who wouldn't buy anything but RCBS bought one . . . and at least three or more out of every 100 wound up with primers backing out or actually falling out into the action - not a good thing.
A word of caution about the swagers, haven't used the Dillon, but RCBS made an apparatus for that and a friend of mine who wouldn't buy anything but RCBS bought one . . . and at least three or more out of every 100 wound up with primers backing out or actually falling out into the action - not a good thing.
Thanks for the advice guys. I'm finding that cutting them out is best for me. I may buy a kit to remove the crimp, but a 3/16ths drill bit and a countersink seems to be doing the job. The only draw back is knowing just when to stop removing material. So far, no problems.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
MrPhil
Member
Personally, I've had good luck with the RCBS swaging kit. No primers backing out. Used it for military 5.56, 7.62, and S&B 45ACP.
Gatofeo
Member
Most US military 5.56 ammo is made by Winchester.
Winchester cases prefer Winchester primers.
I almost always have difficult seating CCI primers in Winchester cases, especially when it comes to Large Pistol primer pockets.
For years it has been my practice to match Winchester primers to Winchester cases.
If your cases have WCC on the head, they're made by Winchester.
The above suggestions about removing the crimp from military cases are good, but sometimes it's not quite enough.
I reserve CCI primers for CCI, Remington or Federal cases. They work fine in those brands.
Apparently, Winchester primer pockets are just a tad smaller.
Winchester cases prefer Winchester primers.
I almost always have difficult seating CCI primers in Winchester cases, especially when it comes to Large Pistol primer pockets.
For years it has been my practice to match Winchester primers to Winchester cases.
If your cases have WCC on the head, they're made by Winchester.
The above suggestions about removing the crimp from military cases are good, but sometimes it's not quite enough.
I reserve CCI primers for CCI, Remington or Federal cases. They work fine in those brands.
Apparently, Winchester primer pockets are just a tad smaller.
Gatfeo makes an excellent point. There are minor differences in primer dimensions, and some seat easier than others. I have never loaded any metallic cartridge that CCI primers fit particularly well. That is one reason I use Remington primers almost exclusively. In fact in my experience any primer is better than CCI.
If interested I have one that is pracically brand new that I will sell for $80.00 shipped. I used it once to deprime some military brass and it has been sitting on the shelf since then. I can take some pics and send to your e-mail address.
That's why I stopped cutting out the crimp with a chamfer tool about 25 yrs ago and went to using an RCBS pocket swager. I prefer the RCBS or Dillon swager tools for more uniformity and consistency; it eliminates the guesswork. I've never had a loose primer pocket using swagers.
Noah
Thanks again gents. .223 is the only brass I've had troubles with, maybe a swagger in my future. Cutting seems to work well,except that some primers fit very easily, some not so easy. I'm obviously not getting a perfect primer pocket opening each case, but I don't think it's going to be a problem. All this reloaded ammo is for targets anyway.
