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How clean does your primer pocket need to be

I've been using my K&M primer pocket correction tool to clean my small rifle primer pockets lately. The tool is still factory set at .122 depth. This includes Lapua .223, 6BR and 6PPC (220 Russian) brass. On most the brass it leaves a little carbon behind, right around the flash hole. At first I would use my RCBS primer pocket cleaning tool to get the rest of the carbon out, but have since quit as it seems just a little too anal, even for me.

What does everyone else do? How clean do they need to be?
 
I use a Dewey crocogator on all my small rifle primer pockets especially lapua brass. It gets them pretty clean, then tumble and you should be good to go. I don't think they have to be 100% clean like as new. Last year I built my first rifle based around lapua brass and after all the years of uniforming primer pockets with the Sinclair attachment, I decided i did not want to alter the lapua brass primer pockets and after searching on here bought the crocogator which has worked for me.

Frank
 
I take a turn with a Lyman pocket cleaner(basically a screwdriver blade).
Then i tumble.
My desire from it is consistent seated primer crush.
 
I've experienced the same condition with large rifle brass, some residue remaining after cleaning the primer pockets. I don't like it but it hasn't seen to affect performance of my reloads. I too try not to be too "anal" about this but I can't help it.

Pockets that have been uniformed with a Sinclair tool exhibit significant less residue, if any, upon subsequent cleanings with a standard pocket clearing tool. I think the reason is that uniformed pockets have a flatter surface thus allowing full contact with the tool so it cleans more effectively.
 
If you look at the bottom of the primer anvil, you will see that the area that you have described does not touch the primer. Translation: Don't sweat it. Warren Page wrote that he went a whole benchrest competition season without cleaning a primer pocket or case neck. (If you don't know who that is, you need to do some research and read his book.)
 
I use the correction tool once, when the brass is new.
Then use the RCBS brush after that.
I guess I don't want to continue removing brass from the pocket, the brush cleans it well enough for me ? ???
 
Thanks Boyd. That was the answer I was hoping for. I know who Warren Page is but have not read is book. It is now on my list.

Necchi - I was doing the same thing you were doing, but the RCBS tool did not clean the outside edge of the primer pocket very well. It cleaned the center really well, but as Boyd pointed out, the primer contacts the outside of the pocket but not the center.

When I clean with my correction tool, I rarely cut any additional brass out. It will only go so deep, so I don't worry about it taking out any more brass, and it doesn't cut the sides so I don't worry about it enlarging the hole. It cleans the outside edge of the pocket very well, but leaves some carbon near the flash hole. Sounds like that doesn't matter.
 
I can relate to what Boyd referred to about Warren Page. I've purposely not cleaned them off an on the last 3 years, and not seen any difference on paper, score or group compared to cleaned pockets.
 
I've done the same as Flybuster and the findings have been the same. Looking for a new primer pocket cleaning tool. Decided on the Crocogator.
 
Otter,
I try and get my primer pockets as clean and "uniform" as possible because I am into precision shooting. Any build-up in the primer pocket can change the depth seating of primers and thereby affect the consistency of the ignition of the round. So what I use and works for me is I have a series of "Forster Chamfer and Deburring Tool Bases" (Forster#DB2000 - Midway USA - $26.99) attached to the face of my reloading bench. These bases have a nice hand crank that allow for a small (or large) SInclair Primer Pocket Uniformer (Sinclair International) to slide into the base and be locked in. Only takes seconds to change the bits (uniformers) and makes for very consistent, efficient and easy way to clean primer pockets each time. These uniformers are stainless steel and also allows the reloader to uniformly size the primer pockets on brand new brass that with many brass makers, is all over the place on sizing. I even use my uniformers on virgin Lapua brass which is all I use anymore because opf the consistency of the brass casings.
 
Very interesting that some of you get consistent results whether you clean them or not. Beings it only take a few minutes to use the primer pocket correction tool to clean them, I will probably continue to do so in my target rifles, but won't be using the RCBS cleaning tool on them any more. I'm going to skip the entire process on my varmint rounds next time and see what happens. Thanks for all the info.
 
It has been a year since I dropped the deliberate primer pocket cleaning step from my routine. After noticing that much residue comes out with the old primer when decapping, that brush or blade style cleaning tools are not entirely effective on removing what is left in the pocket, that eyeballing the primer pocket and flash hole before inserting a new primer will usually turn up any 'stubborn fouling' that needs attention, it seemed reasonable to expect that dropping the deliberate pocket cleaning operation would do no harm.
It nevertheless seemed like a good idea to place the cases neck down in the loading block after hand priming to see if any additional residue falls through the flash hole. It does.
There has been no accumulation of fouling in the primer pocket. The BR4 primer flash is possibly violent enough to prevent accumulation. There has been no noticeable impact on accuracy. Based on my own findings and objectives, a deliberate primer pocket cleaning step is no longer part of my routine.
 
Get an ultrasonic cleaner. I had been debating about getting one and one day my wife was telling me how great her ring always looks when she gets it cleaned at the jewelry store. Got one and we are both happy! Cleans all the carbon inside and out of the case and primer pocket. There are a lot of different sizes and options availible out there in all different price ranges . If anyone is considering one just don't limit your search to the couple that are at most firearms/reloading suppliers. Not that those won't do the job but there are a lot more size, depth, shape, temp and timer options on other machines.
 
Otter said:
I've been using my K&M primer pocket correction tool to clean my small rifle primer pockets lately. On most the brass it leaves a little carbon behind, right around the flash hole. How clean do they need to be?

That's clean enough. That little carbon won't hurt a thing.
 
moparman said:
Get an ultrasonic cleaner. I had been debating about getting one and one day my wife was telling me how great her ring always looks when she gets it cleaned at the jewelry store. Got one and we are both happy! Cleans all the carbon inside and out of the case and primer pocket. There are a lot of different sizes and options availible out there in all different price ranges . If anyone is considering one just don't limit your search to the couple that are at most firearms/reloading suppliers. Not that those won't do the job but there are a lot more size, depth, shape, temp and timer options on other machines.

Have you checked out the steel medial tumblers? I haven't bought one yet, but I know someone who did, it works very well. I tried the ultra-sonic, which is good, but I had to do very small batches because of the size of my machine. This steel media makes the insides really bright and shiny, as well as the primer pockets.
 
Flybuster, I do like the results of the ss media tumblers but I have a vibratory cleaner and an ultrasonic so I really can't justify another cleaner as of now. My ultrasonic has a decent capacity and is more than large enough for my sorted rifle brass. I don't currently put pistol or semi auto brass in it only my "critical" prepped cases. Let us know how you like your ss media tumbler.
 
Then use the RCBS brush. I guess I don't want to continue removing brass from the pocket, the brush cleans it well enough for me ?

One little touch with the brush, and 90% of the carbon is gone! Works for me!
 

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