"corners" of primer pockets

[Kevin1990]

So I've been cleaning my primer pockets out with a Lyman multi tool. It dropped and the SRP pocket cleaner broke. I ordered a new one and it's not working well at all. It's leaving the "corners" of the primer pocket with a lot of carbon.

What is everyone using on here? I've read on past forums of a primer pocket uniformer and how people use them after every firing. Would that act as a 2 in 1 and clean them as well? Any suggestions would be appreciated!


Thanks fellas

 

[WayneShaw]

I can't tell you the maker of the two I have. One is a carbide SRP that is in my reloading box that I take to shoots. The other has a large and small cutter. To me, a pocket tool should cut a sharp corner. On new brass, once you get the corners down to the bottom, cleaning the pocket after each firing is quick and simple.

 

[rwj]

Primer Pocket Uniformer (Primer Pocket Uniformer: Primer Pocket Uniformer)

21stcenturyinnovation.com

 

[gero]

....K&M carbide....

 

[hpshooter]

Sinclair carbide run in a drill/driver

 

[memilanuk]

I'd have to go back and see what all I had before... probably the 'old' Sinclair and 'old' K&M tools... okay with stuff like .223 Rem, but they were giving me fits with the tighter pockets on stuff like Lapua Palma brass - bigger cases with SRP pockets. My hands hurt so bad from gripping the cases (and the tool) after using them. Somewhere along the line I'd seen a recommendation for the PMA Lapua small primer pocket uniformer, as being a little bit better fit for those kind of cases (plus BR, PPC, x47, etc.). They've got different versions, depending on how you want to use it, but I'll say that one of those, plus the K&M case holder, made a night and day difference in being able to hang onto the cases *and* get all the way down into the corners.

 

[Stumpy1]

As a small follow on to Monte's note above, nitrile coated grippy gloves make the job a LOT better/more comfortable. Makes trimming better too!
Being able to handle the cases is a good thing.

Hope this is useful,

Frank

 

[memilanuk]

Yah... used those for a while. On more than one occasion, the cutter I was using before would grab the case - and the gloves along with - and twist it up in a mess. With my fingers right in the middle of it all. Ouch. I really, really hated doing primer pockets on Lapua SRP brass. Thank goodness it was 12v cordless drill, not something with a bit more "oomph".

I do still use the coated grippy gloves with the K&M case holder - the knurling on it is pretty sharp. Still way, way better than before.

 

[jepp2]

What is everyone using on here?

I use the Sinclair solid carbide primer pocket uniformer for initial cutting the primer pockets to a uniform depth and after each fire to clean them. It works flawlessly.

 

[AlNyhus]

Kevin, most people use the uniforming tool as the cleaner. I like the K&M since you can use it on a power driver to uniform and then put it in the handle to clean with. The Sinclair is also a good one. -Al

 

[Clancy]

If I uniform, I use the uniformer. If I don’t, I use the hornady pocket cleaner that looks like a waffle iron.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Are the primers really that square on the outer edges anyway?

 

[JEFFPPC]

I believe in and clean pockets and flash holes. But if all the obsession with primers/ primer pockets was directed to flags and bench manners I believe most shooters would get a much greater benefit. However not much to sell there except flags to the many who have none.

 

[cem]

Agreed, more benefit on the range from reading the wind and this mostly means flags. I have 5 now discontinued Sinclair that are maybe a little less sensitive to small changes than the best of current production but my best groups are bigger than competitive so I'll go with what I have.

Long ago I used a primer pocket cleaner from IIRC then Lee. After the manner of a Yankee screwdriver or push drill, the handle down was in a hole in the bench top and putting the case on the tool and pressing down revolved the scraper. I did not go for last bit of clean as I tumbled after. The pre tumbling clean did mean the primer pockets were really clean with less tumbling time and wear and tear on the nut shell medium. I gave it up as I am not sure the residue is all carbon; I suspect of the residue some is lead and I began to worry about the dust scattered on the bench top and blowing in the wind.

I do use a primer pocket uniformer today. I don't know that it saves any lead exposure for me and it certainly puts more in the environment. I suspect but do not know that primer pockets may be peened shallow in some revolver magnum cartridges with the little extra space to build a good shove against the recoil plate.

I'll tumble with media or steel pins for large batches.
For small batches with hand priming I won't bother, seeing/feeling little difference.

 

[Kevin1990]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'm probably going to grab a K&M or 21st century and uniform them with my cordless drill. Then going forward, I'll clean them by hand. Anyone every have a problem with the depth that is pre set in the K&M?

 

[G Liles]

You mean, I am supposed to clean the primer pockets??

 

[ebb]

Anything that resembles a cutter that goes in a primer pocket will eventually due to misalignment remove some material and make the pockets looser. Most of the guys here won't use a bronze brush in a stainless barrel but think a hardened steel cutter in a soft piece of brass is OK. I have learned the hard way what the point blank BR shooters told me and I wouldn't listen. I haven't cleaned a primer pocket in years, and don't plan on starting. In all my years I've lost a few to a split neck but 10 times more due to loose primer pockets.

 

[Charlie-NY]

I have always used Sinclair's large and small pocket uniform cutters to keep the pockets clean. However, my new Alpha brass has pockets that are just a shade too tight to use the Sinclair tool. Primers seat fine but the Sinclair tool would have to be forced into the pocket which would likely gall the brass when spinning.

Has anyone else ever experienced this?

 

[Boilermaker]

I have always used Sinclair's large and small pocket uniform cutters to keep the pockets clean. However, my new Alpha brass has pockets that are just a shade too tight to use the Sinclair tool. Primers seat fine but the Sinclair tool would have to be forced into the pocket which would likely gall the brass when spinning.

Has anyone else ever experienced this?

Yes I had the same issue with my K&M tool on Alpha PPC brass. A quick call to Pat at PMA and I received a tool to correct the issue. He offered either his PMA uniformer that is not adjustable for depth or the Benchrite which is. I went with the Benchrite and couldn’t be happier.

 

[Bc'z]

I use a Lyman uniformer fixed depth to clean pockets and notice it cuts a lil every firing on Peterson and Hornady brass.
With lapua 6br brass I noticed the uniformer don't touch or cut the pockets, it's taken a lot for me to overcome but I haven't tumbled or dressed pockets in a couple cycles with no loss in X count percentage.