Loose primer pockets

[46and2]

How loose is loose?

I've read about using a ball bearing & hammer, but never tried it.

I've noticed some older nickle plated primers in the closet fit a big snugger than the newer unplated variety.

If you can find some Ginex LR primers they may get you another firing or 2. At least the lot I bought in 2020 is large.

I started this thread back when I was a member of that forum. I still use this method today.

TIGHTEN PRIMER POCKETS, here's how.

First of all, this won't work on extremely over pressured brass! If your primer pockets are getting loose from multiple firings (general wear and tear) this will work. I have a 4H ( HARDENED ) hex head bolt of the appropriate length wrapped with tape at the cartrige neck area length, and...

www.longrangehunting.com

 

[Wottchitt]

I got bored one day, I chucked up the RCBS military crimp swaging tool and made it into a crimping tool. Used my old trusty Jet 1024

Operation is just like how you use the kit for swaging.

View attachment 1508638View attachment 1508639View attachment 1508640

Bamban,
Is that ring about 5/8 inch down from the head, a sign of incipient head separation?

 

[Bamban]

Bamban,
Is that ring about 5/8 inch down from the head, a sign of incipient head separation?

No idea, just a range pick up to play with.

 

[Tesoro]

I tried the ball bearing trick on my wife, it didnt work and I can't buy new. So I thought 'out of the box' and decided to enlarge the primer diameter instead.That didn't work either. So stuck with a loose pockets and occasional blow outs. Such is life.

 

[bozo699]

If I “culled” every piece of 6PPC brass that had loose primer pockets, I wouldn’t have any left.

It is something you learn to live with in Short Range Group.

Loose primer pockets do not seem to affect the agging capability Of the rifle.

^^^^^^^^ Exactly!….
Wayne

 

[bozo699]

Buying new brass is the only certain remedy for loose primer pockets. Come on people...I appreciate not wasting money as much as anyone, but continuing to use brass that has worn out primer pockets is ludicrous. Brass is an expendable reloading component.

Ned,
I don’t think for some it’s about money or being cheap but when you get 10 pieces of perfect brass that puts them all in the same hole you hate to get rid of them.
Wayne

 

[Bamban]

I tried the ball bearing trick on my wife, it didnt work and I can't buy new. So I thought 'out of the box' and decided to enlarge the primer diameter instead.That didn't work either. So stuck with a loose pockets and occasional blow outs. Such is life.

You are lucky your wife did not shoot you....lol

 

[Ned Ludd]

Ned,
I don’t think for some it’s about money or being cheap but when you get 10 pieces of perfect brass that puts them all in the same hole you hate to get rid of them.
Wayne

I totally get that mindset. Nonetheless, when the primer pockets are done, the waltz is over. In my opinion, the potential negatives are simply not worth trying to get another firing out of it. However, everyone is free to do as they wish.

 

[17cal Fan]

I'd like to try this, but can't seem to get a good description of it and the tools I need. Is it just a ball bearing slightly bigger than the pocket? Put the case in a shell holder - upside down in a vice and give it a wack??

This is a good video on this method.

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[jackieschmidt]

Jackie, when do they start cutting your bolt face?

I honestly can’t say. My most recent actions have none, some of those have at least 5000.

Here is my favorite Farley LV bolt face. This is the one I converted to a drop port years ago. Notice the Sako Extractor.

the primer cutting is not as bad as it looks. You can barley feel it with a fingernail.

But like I said, I have no idea how many rounds this thing has seen. 30,000 might be a good guess.

Yhis is one of the bolts that Farley made from S-7 Tool Steel. It is around 50 RC hardness. Notice that is has no firing pin hole wear at all after all these years.

 

[Elwood]

Henry Rempel “Nud”

It works, just make sure you don’t over do them otherwise you will be asking for a tool that opens up primer pockets.

Tired of loose pockets? I WAS but not no more!

After a little over 3 years and $6,600 worth of materials, counting the powder, bullets, primers, barrels, chamber jobs, brass to fire a little under 4400 rounds, my original 284 WIN brass primer pockets were so loose, it was time to do something. Over 100 cases would not keep a primer in. Ok, I...

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[dryhumor]

I believe transfer punches, squared off, might work better than a bolt… already hardened. Might could re profile the radius on the point to the flash hole diameter. It would be centered.

 

[dantiff2]

I believe transfer punches, squared off, might work better than a bolt… already hardened. Might could re profile the radius on the point to the flash hole diameter. It would be centered.

That's a great idea!!

 

[dryhumor]

 

[bozo699]

I totally get that mindset. Nonetheless, when the primer pockets are done, the waltz is over. In my opinion, the potential negatives are simply not worth trying to get another firing out of it. However, everyone is free to do as they wish.

Ned,
I have thought about your reply all day and I have to agree with you 100% I have scotch taped them in and reset my headspace and I have locktited them in with no ill effects. This was all in 6brx and Dasher when I was competing every match and I made them last the season. I never have or would hunting or general ammo but thinking about your reply got me thinking we have all level of shooters and reloaders out here on the web and shouldn’t advocate this sort of reloading practices there’s just too many things that could go wrong!…. Toss your wore out brass guys you wouldn’t reload with split necks or early signs of head separation and lose primer pockets are no exception.
Wayne

 

[Ned Ludd]

Ned,
I have thought about your reply all day and I have to agree with you 100% I have scotch taped them in and reset my headspace and I have locktited them in with no ill effects. This was all in 6brx and Dasher when I was competing every match and I made them last the season. I never have or would hunting or general ammo but thinking about your reply got me thinking we have all level of shooters and reloaders out here on the web and shouldn’t advocate this sort of reloading practices there’s just too many things that could go wrong!…. Toss your wore out brass guys you wouldn’t reload with split necks or early signs of head separation and lose primer pockets are no exception.
Wayne

My primary point in the original statement was predicated on my dislike for putting information out in the public domain that could potentially lead to safety issues, not to step on anyone's toes. Stating in a public shooting forum that it's not only acceptable to use brass with primer pockets that have expanded past their useful life, but to also imply that it may even be necessary is more than I could let pass without making a response. It's really none of my business what experienced shooters choose to do, but I don't like the idea of making generalized statements that might give the wrong idea to less experienced/beginning reloaders; for example, that it's "OK" to use brass long after the primer pockets are done. In my opinion, that isn't "OK", so I felt compelled to put an opposing viewpoint out there. Maybe someone that knows what they're doing can get away with that, but I wouldn't advocate it for anyone just learning the ropes of the reloading process.

 

[bozo699]

My primary point in the original statement was predicated on my dislike for putting information out in the public domain that could potentially lead to safety issues, not to step on anyone's toes. Stating in a public shooting forum that it's not only acceptable to use brass with primer pockets that have expanded past their useful life, but to also imply that it may even be necessary is more than I could let pass without making a response. It's really none of my business what experienced shooters choose to do, but I don't like the idea of making generalized statements that might give the wrong idea to less experienced/beginning reloaders; for example, that it's "OK" to use brass long after the primer pockets are done. In my opinion, that isn't "OK", so I felt compelled to put an opposing viewpoint out there. Maybe someone that knows what they're doing can get away with that, but I wouldn't advocate it for anyone just learning the ropes of the reloading process.

I totally agree with you
Wayne

 

[dryhumor]

Ned,
I have thought about your reply all day and I have to agree with you 100% I have scotch taped them in and reset my headspace and I have locktited them in with no ill effects. This was all in 6brx and Dasher when I was competing every match and I made them last the season. I never have or would hunting or general ammo but thinking about your reply got me thinking we have all level of shooters and reloaders out here on the web and shouldn’t advocate this sort of reloading practices there’s just too many things that could go wrong!…. Toss your wore out brass guys you wouldn’t reload with split necks or early signs of head separation and lose primer pockets are no exception.
Wayne

Well said.

I hate tossing cases for any reason. But when safety is a concern I do it in a heartbeat. Particularly when one has been fired hot.

 

[Murray Brook]

I believe there are only a few ways to fix enlarged primer pockets. One would be with a larger diameter primer or with a bushing inserted into the primer pocket. None of this is really available. I tried the ball bearing thing and felt that all it really done was make the primer pocket "feel" smaller. Beating on the base of a case with a ball bearing on one end and a bolt inserted in the case just doesn't feel right to me. JMO

 

[Webster]

Any way of tightening them up? Posts from 8-14 years ago suggested Hart's tool. Can't find it for sale anywhere, but it didn't seem to be built very durable.

I have 6br Lapua cases with about 20 reloads. The primers are still tight. What am I doing wrong? Pressure is the only thing that can ruin primer pockets.