Best way to clean primer pockets??

[C.E.Smith043]

you could clean the brass in ss pins..that cleans the pockets

This ^^^^

 

[T-shooter]

I saw this tool last night after making this post. I was thinking that might not be a bad purchase. Where did you buy yours at and did you remember how much it cost? I know the RCBS wire brush is $13 and i was going to tey that, but then i saw that K&M tool and had thoughts about purchasing that.

I got mine several years ago. Right now they are $27.20 on K&M's site. Someone may have them for less. You should make sure anything you buy is carbide.

 

[Rsadams]

Rcbs tool , it's like a wire brush....

 

[eric n]

I saw this tool last night after making this post. I was thinking that might not be a bad purchase. Where did you buy yours at and did you remember how much it cost? I know the RCBS wire brush is $13 and i was going to tey that, but then i saw that K&M tool and had thoughts about purchasing that.

Those RCBS brushes don’t last too long for me. The K&M tool works great chucked up in a cordless.
I bought mine at Grafs. I would be money ahead if I bought the K&M originally.
https://www.grafs.com/

 

[searcher]

I buy the RCBS wire brush "refills" that screw into their hand tool. Only I chuck them into my drill and run on low speed. They do wear out after some of the wires bend the wrong way but last long enough to make them a great choice. Can easily clean thousands of pockets before one wears out. I only clean pockets about every other firing and on my varmint guns where I use Remington primers, I might never clean the pockets as the brass might wear out before there is an issue with carbon.

 

[Longtrain]

you could clean the brass in ss pins..that cleans the pockets

+1 ...1000+ cases? You will thank us, yes you will.

 

[mgdietrich]

Ha,its not like im a competitive shooter, I am just shooting for fun at the moment . No I dont think i could at least not make an effort to clean them out. You never noticed any difference shooting from whether they have been cleaned or not? I contemplated if it was even necessary to clean out primer pockets, to me it is the worst part of all the stages of reloading but I am not the type of person to cut corners on something as important and dangerous that this hobbie can be.

save your time, there is no accuracy difference. I haven't cleaned any in 20+ years, hasn't held me back.

 

[Ken]

Yep, I have read that it doesn't seem to make much difference. I have however used a little screwdriver and cleaned them when I was feeling reloaderly.

 

[ebb]

don't waste your time

 

[Uthink Uknow]

I use a whitetail primer pocket tool sold by RIP Dick Wright. I use one all the time. No power drive, just a quick twist between the thumb and forefinger. You aren’t trying to get down to virgin brass; you only need to clean out the primer crud. Don’t over think this step.

 

[mousegunner]

You "could" use a Crockagator". More hands/fingers on but it gets the job done. And SSS pins will get the pockets clean. At least does for me. Come out looking like new. But that has it's drawbacks too.

You can chuck it in a drill, save your fingers.
I've used a screwdriver, SS pins and brush. The brush works good enough and my across the course ammo doesnt shoot better or worse, it's sub moa.

 

[Terry O]

Another + for the Dewey Crockagator. Best I've found and used in over fifty years of reloading.

 

[billslatteryjr]

I used to clean my primer pockets with the Sinclair Primer Pocket Uniformer after every firing. After around 50 reloads and cleanings a pocket blew out on one of the 22BR cases that I gave to a friend that bought the rifle. Luckily he didn't get hurt. The Uniformer was making the pockets thinner and thinner till one finally blew. Now I uniform rarely and clean every other time with the Dewey.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I saw this tool last night after making this post. I was thinking that might not be a bad purchase. Where did you buy yours at and did you remember how much it cost? I know the RCBS wire brush is $13 and i was going to tey that, but then i saw that K&M tool and had thoughts about purchasing that.

https://kmshooting.com/product/small-pistol-rifle-primer-pocket-correction-tool/
https://kmshooting.com/product/large-rifle-primer-pocket-correction-tool/
https://kmshooting.com/product/power-adapter-handle/

Waaaaayyyy better than any wire brush...and worth every penny.

 

[338 dude]

Even cleaning SS pins won't always get every last scrap out stuff of the corners of primer pockets. However, they do a pretty good job. IMO - if you follow up tumbling with SS pins using a uniforming tool, the primer pockets should be about as clean as they're ever going to get. Certainly, they'll be "clean enough".

Stainless steel pins get mine about as clean as they will ever get

 

[hogpatrol]

Ultrasonic is another option. Depending on the primer, it gets them clean enough to reload.

 

[Longtrain]

As I posted, in volume there’s nothing easier then SS pins for cleaning, but for the a la carte cases, the Crockagator works well. Wouldn’t want to do 1000+ cases through, there will be no skin left on your thumb and index finger ;-(

Some don’t seem there’s a need to clean them. IMO it’s just part of making an excellent load, insuring that the base of the primer is snug against a solid brass head, therefore solid reliable ignition. Now how many FTF to we have with dirty pockets? Don’t know or really worry about it.

If you are a shooter and come to this forum for info and experience, worried about which primer to use; what powder, how much; which bullet, in the lands or jump, how much; concentricity or run out; shoulder bump, etc, etc, etc. then properly prepping your cases is part of the game. I admit some of us are a bit anal about our loading, some more then others, but if the round didn’t go into the X ring, what was the reason? Primer seating, although on the minor issue scale is still part of the equation.

 

[pertnear]

Best method, SS pin tumbling - gets them about as clean as you can get. You can make your own wire brushes out of coated cable. As the cable wears out, clip it off & start over.

 

[DaveTooley]

I've shot a lot of SR and LR comp's, 600 and 1K IBS-NBRSA stuff. Did some winning. I never cleaned primer pockets or the inside of necks. I don't understand this need for having sparkling shiny brass. Must some have sexual issue they're compensating for. That's a joke.
I wipe the outside of the neck with steel wool, FL size.
I've never had FTF from dirty pockets. It's either I didn't put any powder in or decades ago I learned not seating primers forcefully to the bottom of the primer pocket can cause problems.
Which leads to another self inflicted problem. Why on earth would anyone want to deepen primer pockets? Primers are a simple primitive device. Seat firmly to seat the anvil against the priming compound to sensitize it. Smack it with the firing pin. It goes off.

 

[DHuffman]

I've shot a lot of SR and LR comp's, 600 and 1K IBS-NBRSA stuff. Did some winning. I never cleaned primer pockets or the inside of necks. I don't understand this need for having sparkling shiny brass. Must some sexual issue they're compensating for. That's a joke.
I wipe the outside of the neck with steel wool, FL size.
I've never had FTF from dirty pockets. It's either I didn't put any powder in or decades ago I learned not seating primers forcefully to the bottom of the primer pocket can cause problems.

Once I realized there is no prize for shiniest brass I started giving the pockets a quick turn while doing the chamfer and debur on a Lyman brass tool then a quick wipe with a wet rag before and after sizing. This frees up a lot of time for things that seem to make a difference.