I recently bought 50 .223 Hornady Match Cases and 50 .308's. I took the brand new cases and started exactly like they were once fired. I ran them through corn cob media in my vibrating tumbler, run them through resizing die etc, etc, the whole nine yards. When I tried to to prime my .223 the brass wouldn't fit the the shell holder, it's too wide. Then last night, I'm trying to prime my .308 and using both Fed Match Primer and CCI Large Rifle I had to use soooo much force to get the primer seated it was ridiculous. Anyone ever have similar problems with this brass?
Hornady Match Brass
- Thread starter Roooster_11
- Start date
What is the headstamp on these cases? 5.56.....223
7.62.......308????
They had to fit in your shell holder for the resizing.
The primer size problem is odd. Large rifle primers ( Mag or not are one size).
If the brass were used military a swage seat is the problem. But TOO much force is a sign to STOP. Headstamp interests me.
7.62.......308????
They had to fit in your shell holder for the resizing.
The primer size problem is odd. Large rifle primers ( Mag or not are one size).
If the brass were used military a swage seat is the problem. But TOO much force is a sign to STOP. Headstamp interests me.
Minesweeper3433
45B/91F
I shoot hornady a bunch and save the brass. The 308 and 7.62 ammo they make is the same primer pocket on the brass I have. I am using the brass in an M1A and it shoots fine.
Oh yeah, I definitely STOPPED!! Stamps were .223 and .308. And yes it fit fine were resizing but I could even thing about fitting in the priming shell holder. I've reloaded 3x's fired LC brass and Fed with no problems, but this is brand new brass and I'm stumped. 
Stumped!
Just take one other make .223 and one .308 brass that you have on hand.
Repeat the process you did on the new Hornady brass on each one, not tumbling, just the resize and then see if the primer shell holder accepts them.
I assume from the calibers that both are for AR platforms and thus you are full length resizing. (possibly Small Base). This would not change anything on the head nor rim but I'm just trying to get a complete picture.
Primers are really cut and dry so I also am stumped with the hard fit. By the way does a large rifle primer pocket cleaner fit easily?
Just take one other make .223 and one .308 brass that you have on hand.
Repeat the process you did on the new Hornady brass on each one, not tumbling, just the resize and then see if the primer shell holder accepts them.
I assume from the calibers that both are for AR platforms and thus you are full length resizing. (possibly Small Base). This would not change anything on the head nor rim but I'm just trying to get a complete picture.
Primers are really cut and dry so I also am stumped with the hard fit. By the way does a large rifle primer pocket cleaner fit easily?
Both caliber are for bolt guns, FL resizing because I'm very new to reloading and that is what I bought when starting up.
A large primer pocket cleaner fits with no problem at all, I did a complete and thorough inspection of my Lee Auto Primer and evryting looks good, I just don't understand it at all. I have had zero trouble with any other brass, and I'm probably in the 200-300 round count now (I know that's not alot, but again...very new to this)
A large primer pocket cleaner fits with no problem at all, I did a complete and thorough inspection of my Lee Auto Primer and evryting looks good, I just don't understand it at all. I have had zero trouble with any other brass, and I'm probably in the 200-300 round count now (I know that's not alot, but again...very new to this)
KMart
Gold $$ Contributor
A couple of years ago I had some once fired Hornaday brass in 204 that had similar problems seating small rifle primers using a Lee hand held priming tool. I broke the thumb arm on the unit.. Also had some trouble on the same brass with uniforming the primer pocket with a Sinclair tool. It kept binding up. If it is any consolation, I had the same seating problems on some new Winghester 308 brass. It cleared up on the third loading.
After the problem with the Hornady brass I promised myself that I wouldn't buy any more of it.
After the problem with the Hornady brass I promised myself that I wouldn't buy any more of it.
Looks like KMART had similar situation. Sorry I made the assumption they were AR platforms but that's what I see all over the range ....I too am a bolt action fan...
Welcome to the world of reloading....this problem you are having is odd thats for sure but in no way get discouraged.....it will be enjoyable and I have been at this since 1964, and not every question has an answer. ( or at least one thats easily found)I am not a user of Hornady brass but looks like KMART has had bad luck with Hornady too. The Lee shell holder MAY be the problem with that brass. The tight primer pockets....well if you have a decent venier caliper you can compare sizes and see what you get. It is difficult to get an accurate reading (round verses flat blades on the caliper) but you may pick up a difference of a few thousandths and that could cause the problem.Take a couple of different manufacturers cases, measure the pockets and see what size you get from the Hornadys.
Does the press you use have a priming feature?
Welcome to the world of reloading....this problem you are having is odd thats for sure but in no way get discouraged.....it will be enjoyable and I have been at this since 1964, and not every question has an answer. ( or at least one thats easily found)I am not a user of Hornady brass but looks like KMART has had bad luck with Hornady too. The Lee shell holder MAY be the problem with that brass. The tight primer pockets....well if you have a decent venier caliper you can compare sizes and see what you get. It is difficult to get an accurate reading (round verses flat blades on the caliper) but you may pick up a difference of a few thousandths and that could cause the problem.Take a couple of different manufacturers cases, measure the pockets and see what size you get from the Hornadys.
Does the press you use have a priming feature?
OK , now try to figure this one out. Last night I wen the the reloading shed and scratched my head for awhile trying to figure out the problem. I then took a Fed case to see if the trouble might be with my Lee Auto Primer....the primer slid right in, no problem. So, I said to myself, "lets try a Hornady".....primer slid right in, the next one, slid right in. I primed 60 pieces of brass with no problems at all. So, obviously, I was doing something wrong....but I still don't know what.
As you reload more and more you will find that you will follow a system that works for YOU! Sometimes walking away for a bit helps as you come back to the problem with a clear head and a new look at things. Glad it worked out or you worked it out.
I would like to mention that over the years I've had great success using Norma brass. I've recently purchased Lapua to give it a try but the verdict is still out but my reloading requires neck turning on any brass for my 222 so the advantage of Lapua being more concentric is somewhat negated.
I would like to mention that over the years I've had great success using Norma brass. I've recently purchased Lapua to give it a try but the verdict is still out but my reloading requires neck turning on any brass for my 222 so the advantage of Lapua being more concentric is somewhat negated.
Flouncer
What the heck it works for me !!
Check the clearance between the web and the case rim. My brand new Rem in 8x57IS will not fit my Lee shell holder, but once fired Federal does easily. Sloppy product on Rem's part. So I switched to my #3 shell holder for 6.5x55 Swede which is just a little different and they fit righteous and away we go.
Is/Was your brass new or ????????????
I had a similar problem w/Hornady & another brand. Some of it once fired FACTORY loaded ammo. Turns out the primer pocket needed a bit of a chamfer to load. Once I did that (used a Lee neck chamfering tool. No problem. BTW, I only had to do that operation ONCE, try it and see if that helps.
Thanks, if it happens again, I'll try that.
I bought 100 emptys of Hornady Match in .223 and found them to be on par with Lapua in every way I measured them. No problems sliding them into RCBS and Lee shell holders, primer seating was no problem and seating effort was very consistent. Perhaps a small piece of walnut media became lodged in the recess of the shell holder causing misaligned primer to primer pocket relationship?
I know I know you wasn't sticking your tunge out to the right no left side of your mouth.no jjust had to say that it just seemed right to do.sorry if it mad you mad.
like others have said haven't really used Hornady brass or had this to happen.but it seems to me you must have been holding the brass in the shell holder wronge.may have been watching tv and really not paying attention to what was going on.I do that from time to time when prepping brass,but not when chageing the loads.and just as another said sometimes the grove is smaller or bigger than others in different brands of brass.just need to find the one brand that works really goof for you and stick with it.
good luck and welcome to the world of reloading.
like others have said haven't really used Hornady brass or had this to happen.but it seems to me you must have been holding the brass in the shell holder wronge.may have been watching tv and really not paying attention to what was going on.I do that from time to time when prepping brass,but not when chageing the loads.and just as another said sometimes the grove is smaller or bigger than others in different brands of brass.just need to find the one brand that works really goof for you and stick with it.
good luck and welcome to the world of reloading.
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