To uniform pocket or not, that is my question

[PJ1]

New to this forum so here is the question. I have watched a lot of yt videos and one of the more respected f class shooters was saying not to uniform primer pockets.

I have Lapua, Peterson, Alpha, Hornady, LC, and Winchester brass, so I'm trying to tighten up my groups and wonder if it is worth the effort?

I primarily shoot 6.5C, 300WM, and 338 LM. Thanks for any assistance.

 

[Bc'z]

I'm betting this individual also uses a $600 priming tool to control amount of crush, and has a video praising it to boot.
Personally I use a uniformer to clean my pockets as part of my prep.
You'd be surprised at the variation in depth even with new Lapua and Peterson.
Some cut more some less but at least your getting a more consistent depth on seated primers.
Case expansion happens in all directions including case head, otherwise we wouldn't suffer loose primer pockets.

The choice is yours to uniform or not, but remember your load starts with ignition and being as consistent in the beginning help with consistency in the end.

 

[tsyarnall]

You will get a mixture of answers on whether it is worth your time to uniform primer pockets and much of it will depend on what type of shooting you are doing. While I think there are many things that need attention and some may give you more noticeable results, EVERYTHING is on the table. If you are looking to do whatever is needed to improve your groups, I would try it and see what your results are. If it helps, then keep doing it. If it doesn’t, then focus your energies in other areas. The one thing I would caution you on is to not get carried away with it and go too deep.
I, personally, believe it helps to give you a more consistent round of ammunition. To me, consistency is one of the main driving forces that a shooter needs to focus on. If you do a search in the Accurate Shooter archives you’ll find a ton of information and opinions on the subject. Good reading……..

 

[quest450]

Good timing as I’m about to uniform primer pockets in new batch of Lapua brass fireformed 2x (Dasher)
If you can live with 5-6 thou than I would not waste my time, does it make difference on paper ? Dunno but I’m not wasting my time and components testing so yes I’m definitely going to do it, it’s a mental game and I DO weigh primers too……Lol

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

This is the second time lately where I have seen advise to not cut primer pockets too deep. My pocket uniformers all have a stop. My Whitetails are one piece, none adjustable. I have one Sinclair, it's stop is adjustable with a set screw. Came factory set correctly.After testing depth, I tightened the setscrew as tight as it would go.

You do have to remember that a LP primer is not the same size depthwise as a LR . Buddy used his LR uniformer to do some 44 Mag brass. Click, click click bang. Only did 50. Had to use a LR primer in them til they wore out!

Frank

 

[6bra1k]

it depends on your version/accuracy rewuirement. f class targets are LARGE when compared to BENCHREST TARGETS (600/1000 yards)
what works in f class may not work in benchrest.
again you have to decide what works for you.
i UNIFORM pockets in long range brass

 

[Liven The Dream]

I do and have done for years . I have loaded some very good Ammo ,Shot some Great Scores !
Why not ?

Good Luck

 

[Ccrider]

I usually do. Alpha 6bra pockets were super tight. Since I am getting good es, I have not touched them. I consider single digit 5 shot es good.

FYI:

Alpha 6BRA brass

I guess this is what J.ohara and many others do, leave no stone unturned looking for perfection. ;} I guess many would call anal, but if primer pocket depth didn't matter I wouldn't be worried about it... The ones that are deeper should cure themselves after firing. ...... jim

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Its hard to hit a point if that point keeps moving. Look at the pictures quest450 posted above. You have to have a solid consistent spot if you ever expect to hit it. Its just like a goalpost and a govt program trying to hit it.

 

[jepp2]

I have Lapua, Peterson, Alpha, Hornady, LC, and Winchester brass,

Generally I find on Lapua and Peterson they are reasonable uniform and square. I don''t shoot Alpha but on the other 3 I find a significant amount of inconsistencies. I use the Sinclair/Brownells solid carbide uniformers that are NOT adjustable. You only have to do them once and you benefit the remainder of the firings.

 

[Fuj]

All my new brass after the first fire forming gets uniformed.

 

[Chiquita]

I am not F class or any class so I don't have any results with uniforming or without. However, I have set my uniformer to basically clean the built up of carbon and barely takes of brass. At least this way I know I have uniformed pockets. FWIW, I use the Century 21 primer seater and .... I don't know what else to tell you.

I think if you are not a Fclass or a BR shooter it may not matter, then again I am talking from my own experience which is not much.

ETA, I uniform after every firing.

 

[jepp2]

ETA, I uniform after every firing.

I do too. Mainly because it is the best primer pocket cleaner going. Here is what one looks like after uniforming.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Good timing as I’m about to uniform primer pockets in new batch of Lapua brass fireformed 2x (Dasher)
If you can live with 5-6 thou than I would not waste my time, does it make difference on paper ? Dunno but I’m not wasting my time and components testing so yes I’m definitely going to do it, it’s a mental game and I DO weigh primers too……Lol

View attachment 1306386View attachment 1306387

Using the same tool, I've seen that kind of difference in primer pocket depths, but not so much in my Lapua or Peterson brass. However, I do often find outliers with significant differences with this brass. So, I do uniform the pockets in all my brass and like Bc's, I use my uniformer to clean the pockets which I do after every firing keeping them uniform.

 

[RegionRat]

Once or twice I got into a hurry to come home and get some ammo ready to jump into a match after being away on business. I skipped a few inspections and just ran with some virgin brass.

I did okay, but wasn't happy or sure why I was loosing points here and there when I couldn't see a condition or call a bad shot.

Later, when life slowed down and I had time, there was leftover ammo from those matches and I checked the primer depths. You can guess where this is going...

I took the fired brass and found that the primer pocket depths looked like @quest450 photos. It was a mistake I had made once or twice before, but I had often gotten away with it too.

That says the answer is really "it depends". If your shooting/reloading/gun can not show it, you probably think you get away with it. If your brass batch happens to be good, you get away with it. If you are not shooting far, you get away with it.... etc.. But then if you keep going, you don't....

What I always recommend to those starting out, is to make up a test of your own when you are ready. Clearly there are things in the total system that have to be balanced in equal priority in order to be where you even need to worry about this, but eventually you will.

I have known about this issue since I was a young man. It was demonstrated to me and then I repeated the testing for my own use several times, and I should have not allowed myself to get complacent. Back in those days, you didn't have a choice but to sort and prep brass to get anywhere, so it was an old mistake. These days, there are many times when you find virgin brass is so good you don't need to touch it, but you should always check it.

As a suggestion, I will recommend you get the tools to take control of your process. Get a primer depth gage that is easy to run and at least start checking your brass. I use the same one as above because it is the easiest one I know of. I admit I have not tried Greg's new inspection tool because it is fairly new to market. For now, he is selling it with the mechanical gage, but he mentioned he would rig one with the electronic version if you could tolerate the cost. For now I use the one I have. YMMV

https://bullettipping.com/products/precision-primer-gauge/

 

[bline]

I have been reloading since about 1964 and other than swaging military brass primer pockets I have never had to "uniform" primer pockets until about a week ago when I bought some Norma brass. It was just a bump in the road, but I had learned a long time ago (gosh - longer than I care to remember) never to say NEVER.
Full disclosure. I haven't fired any of them yet so there's that bit of reality that needs to be addressed....

 

[marchx]

How much difference does it make at 300m if I uniform a primer pocket in Lapua 6BR brass?In the video below it was showed that group size of primer uniformed vs. not uniformed does not differ in a statistically significant way.

 

[quest450]

Just did 200 pieces in about an hour and half taking frequent breaks
The adjustable 21st Century cutter is very accurate, checked every single piece of brass and they all are within 0.0005”
I’m gonna deburr flash holes next, gotta give my left hand a little break

 

[Dub]

I do too. Mainly because it is the best primer pocket cleaner going. Here is what one looks like after uniforming.
View attachment 1306435

What tool did you use?

 

[jimmymac]

Love my K&M primer pocket tool. Works great.