Loose primer pockets

[long40shot]

Hello all,

I bought some 6.5x284 brass some a fellow. He said that they had been fired around 4-5 times. I have noticed that some of the primer pockets are very loose, very little, if any tension when I seat the primer. Should I segregate these cases from the ones that feel normal? If I don't, would accuracy suffer because of it (flyers)?

Thanks,
matt

 

[RonRouse]

Sounds like those cases need to be pitched as they're worn out. Probably shot with warm loads. That certainly will do it.

 

[TonyR]

The primer pockets on the 284 case can get a little on the loose side but I've never seen any loss of accuracy with my 284 Shehane. I use the RCBS hand priming tool and they seem to go in preety easy after they have been fired a few times at 2900 fps. But they don't fall out and accuracy does not appear to be hurt.

 

[watercam]

I used to use cases with loose primer pockets as long as there was SOME tension when seating. Recently had one of those leak around the primer and cut the bolt face so no more. If there is no significant tension, primed already or not, out they go.

 

[long40shot]

I was thinking that the really loose ones should go. I shot some groups today and for no reason I would get a bad flyer, not to say it wasn't me(probably was ). Some are very loose, no tension at all, some have a little tension, then some feel normal. Think I will keep the three separate, throwing away the super loose ones. Could these loose ones cause some velocity spreads?

Thanks,
matt

 

[pwdrbrn]

try different primer, they vary in size. after 12-15 loads in 22-250 the pockets would loosen up and if the winlrp didn't fit, it was time for alcans.(does that date me?) they were thrown out if alcans were loose. has anyone tried the roller sizer for pistol cases yet? that may tighten pockets. good luck,tom

 

[FroggyOne2]

Does that R.W. Hart primer pocket tool that he makes really work on tightening the primer pocket back up.. also have heard that using a RCBS primer pocket swager will also work..

 

[Joe O]

Federal primers are slightly larger than other manufactures.If they go in too easy,chuck the case.
I have removed the priners by carefully decapping in a decapping die.Go slow,with steady pressure and even sell seated ones come out without a problem.Unseated many that were seated upside down.Always wear safety glasses.Never have had a discharge,and did reuse the inverted primers.Your conditions may vary.How ever you dispose of the case,I like to crunch the side with a pair of pliers.

 

[750k2]

My bud says Wolf seat harder also?
As long as I can feel them go in I've used them - never had any blow by - yet.

 

[Thorbird]

Wolf are the largest diameter primer that I have used, larger than fed. Use them until they get loose on those primers, and then they are truly done.

 

[Kenny474]

Like Watercam, I stopped using any brass with loose primer pockets after I had a few leak and cut up my bolt face. It's just not worth the risk for a few dollars worth of brass.

I also never use second hand brass unless it's guaranteed once fired. Head separation is too easy to miss, and too easily caused by someone shooting very hot loads and sizing too much between reloads.

Chuck anything that doesn't seat tight unless you have first hand experience on how it has been cared for. You face or rifle isn't worth some free brass.

 

[cfvickers]

Like most of the above, 4-5 shots with warm to hot loads is all you get, even with Lapua. You can get really hot loads that show no outward pressure signs and your case life might be two, more likely it will not hold a primer after being fired with a really hot load. I tend to load mine warm and as soon as a pocket gets loose i pitch it. Also like others said, take it as a lesson learned and try not to buy used 6.5-284 brass. pressures have to be light to get more than about 5 shots from them.

 

[long40shot]

Thanks for all the great info fellas. I might just get some new cases, but for now I will try to use just the cases that have tight primer pockets.

Thanks,
matt