Tight primer pockets....help.....Update 11/28/22

[Geronimo Jim]

Got new Alpha 6bra brass and primer pockets very tight.
Sinclair primer pocket tool to clean pockets will not go
in. Anyone make a tool to uniform pockets?

 

[Clancy]

Got new Alpha 6bra brass and primer pockets very tight.
Sinclair primer pocket tool to clean pockets will not go
in. Anyone make a tool to uniform pockets?

Don’t uniform them until they have a firing on them. Then, use the PMA Lapua small primer pocket uniformer.

When the primer first makes contact with the pocket, give the case a little twist to square it up and then seat it.

Alpha is really good stuff.

 

[M-61]

Got new Alpha 6bra brass and primer pockets very tight.
Sinclair primer pocket tool to clean pockets will not go
in. Anyone make a tool to uniform pockets?

Missing piece might be sharing what make and type primers are they?

 

[ARK]

Which primers are you shooting? There are different sizes/tolerances in primers form different manufacturers so you may consider switching primers.

 

[nmkid]

I've had Peterson cases in the past that were really tight. I like to uniform all primer pockets. However, I waited until after the first firing in the Peterson cases.

 

[Skedaddle Shooter]

Got new Alpha 6bra brass and primer pockets very tight.
Sinclair primer pocket tool to clean pockets will not go
in. Anyone make a tool to uniform pockets?

I had the same problem. I read a thread on the site that suggested a PMA uniformer and it works fine. My Sinclair was way too tight. Search for the thread and there is a link to the PMA site.

 

[BlueWater]

Don’t uniform them until they have a firing on them.

Is there a specific reason why pocket uniforming prior to the first firing would be inferior to awaiting the first firing? Would the brass move that much in one firing, in and around the pocket area?

 

[Ray123]

Or just use Remington 7 1/2 primers, as I do, works great just like normal seating...really! They are available now at Midway...if ya hurry ...problem solved. The Remington primers have a slight champher or angle to aid in entry, the others are just square side perpendicular cups..

 

[Clancy]

Is there a specific reason why pocket uniforming prior to the first firing would be inferior to awaiting the first firing? Would the brass move that much in one firing, in and around the pocket area?

Yes

 

[Steel Mover]

Hum, been reloading since 62, match shooting since 64, never heard about not uniforming brass before you shoot it, before now. Be interested in this theory of magic.

 

[jelenko]

Hum, been reloading since 62, match shooting since 64, never heard about not uniforming brass before you shoot it, before now. Be interested in this theory of magic.

+1
And, if the brass moves after the first firing, why doesn't it also move after each firing?

 

[Geronimo Jim]

My issue is I don't think I can get primers into the pockets when I finish
turning necks.

 

[jelenko]

My issue is I don't think I can get primers into the pockets when I finish
turning necks.

Wait. What does turning the necks have to do with getting primers into the pockets?

 

[alf]

A little trick I learned was to take a small piece of foam, squirt a little WD or Rem oil in it, stick the uniformer in the foam, and commence to uniforming.

 

[INTJ]

Hum, been reloading since 62, match shooting since 64, never heard about not uniforming brass before you shoot it, before now. Be interested in this theory of magic.

You also perhaps haven't heard of 3-5" 10-shot groups and 1-2" 5-shot groups at 1000 yds. The magic includes things like: uniforming primer pockets before every loading, weighing and sorting primers, measuring powder to the kernel, measuring each case after sizing, measuring every bullet after seating, and then testing powder charge increments as fine as .1 grains.......along with reading the wind and being extremely in consistent in how you hold and pull the trigger.

While it's not worth it for most shooting competitions, there are a couple where all that does matter.........

 

[Geronimo Jim]

After I finish turning the necks, I will then prime, powder, and seat bullet.

 

[BJ44BJ]

I had the same experience with Peterson 6br brass. Every time I buy used brass or something other than Lapua I kick myself...but I thought Alpha was really good stuff.....good luck...guess all you can do is push a 205 in it and see what it's like after you fireform or I guess you could call Alpha and see what they say.

 

[LVLAaron]

Alpha will acknowledge that they are tight and to use a good tool to seat.


Please don’t ream out the pockets on alpha brass. I assure you it’s not needed. That brass will last 50 firings if you leave it alone. I have 308 brass fired 50 times and the pockets still don’t pass a go gauge.

Get a good primer seater and seat them. Yes it will be hard. Yes they need to go in perfectly straight.

The original .308 small primer brass they produced was almost impossible to prime, but we wanted it tight to last a long time. So I got 21st century seaters and problem solved.

 

[Clancy]

+1
And, if the brass moves after the first firing, why doesn't it also move after each firing?

It does… just not as much.

 

[LVLAaron]

It work hardens a lot on the first firing.