22BR flash hole problem

[Reload1]

Ok I am sort of new to precision reloading. Bought about 500 6mm BR cases wanting to convert them to 22 BR. Trying to do everything I can so I went to deburr the flash hole using a Lyman tool. The diameter of the tip that goes up into the flash hole is too large to go all of the way. This means the deburring part is not really touching the base of the cartridge. It looks like I have 3 choices. Not bother deburring the flash holes, they are Norma cases. I can force the tool into the flash hole which would increase the diameter of the flash hole. Or I can try to find a tool with a narrower tip.

My question is whether it matters. Is the size of the flash hole critical. If so I will leave them alone. If not then drilling them out would be easier because I hate to buy yet another tool. Any comments would be appreciated.

Finally is there a decent place to buy 22BR brass. I didn't realize how long it was going to take to resize, deburr, uniform the primer hole, trim the neck, etc.

Thanks, Reload1

 

[Preacher]

No real need to do the deburring with a bigger cutter, it has been proven that it will cause a negative effect on accuracy if you open them up to much.
K&M for one, offers the right sized tool for the job.

I always figured that prepping brass for the intended purpose is part of the fun of loading.

 

[50TNT]

Hello Reloader1
Here's a method I used when I was converting Lapua 6mmBR brass into .22 Dasher brass. My gunsmith sent me converted dies, with the std. stem and decapping pins. Which of course you can't use with the smaller diameter flash holes in the Lapua brass.
Take a small pc. of wood, app. 4-6" long, app. 2" wide, 1/2" + thick. Size of wood realy doesn't matter, its just what ever size is comfortable to hold onto.
The following works best/easiest with a table top drill press, but you can use a hand drill.
Chuck up a 1/4" drill bit and drill in 3/8" deep or thru the wood. Next, use a 3/8" dia. drill bit and drill into the 1/4" hole, down about 1/4" ~ 3/8". The depression from the 3/8" bit will cradle the shoulder of the brass and the neck will go into the 1/4" hole.
Take a 5/64 drill bit, and simply drill into the small Lapua primer flash hole, one pass in and out. This will completely deburr the flash hole, but it will, also enlarge the flash hole,not as wide a std. dia. small rifle flash hole), but large enought to pass a std. dia. decapping pin., without sticking.

Hope this help's

50 TNT

 

[Forum Boss]

The spec on Lapua flash holes for 6BR and 220 Russian brass is 1.5mm or roughly 0.059" .

Most of the "BR" flash hole deburring tools are too large--or at best are inconsistently made, so what you get is luck of the draw. That goes for the K&M tool, the Haydon tool, and some of the Sinclair tools.

The K&M tool uses a 1/16th-spec countersunk bit. So does the Haydon tool. That specs at 0.0625" which should be fine. But we've measured examples and the cutter can be as big as 0.067.

You can ask Ken at K&M to hand-select a bit that it 0.0625, or turn down bit diameter yourself.

I'm not sure it's been proven that bigger holes degrade accuracy, but I have observed that cases will pressure up sooner if you ream to holes much bigger than 0.063".

Another inexpensive option is using a Pin Vise with an .0595" drill bit.

See: http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/brppc-flash-hole-deburring-tips/

This will not flare the inside of the flash hole, but that's not necessary. What you want are round, consistently-sized flash holes with no burrs.

 

[Reload1]

Thanks for the responses. One more question. The reason for deburring the flash hole is to remove any pieces of brass left from punching out the flash hole. So if you drill the flash hole out even a little then this material will be removed? If this is so I may make a wooden jig as described above and just drill the flash hole 0.0595",

thanks again,

Bill R.

 

[anyrange]

Reload1,
I just finished making 200 22BR Norma cases. Sinclair has a flash hole reamer which is just the ticket. The reamer makes the flash hole .0625 so the primer de-capping pins on dies will fit and straighted the holes. Some of my holes were not very straight.

Larry