Loose primer pockets

[nickster]

I have some .22-250 & .223 brass that have loose primer pockets. Is there any fixing these or just junk them? Also, is there any way to tell if they're loose, short of seating a primer. Like a gauge of some sort. I'm getting some cratering on the bolt face. Thanks.

STeve

 

[DickE]

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014/12/primer-pocket-gauge-cool-tool-checks-for-loose-pockets/

Go here for measuring primer pockets. I could have made these but they are so inexpensive and postage to cheap I ordered them and just love them.

As far as getting pockets back to tight... I'm afraid there is little to be done. I have a way that may save them for a firing or two. If you are interested PM me and I'll let you in on it

 

[nosualc]

I just use a set of pin gauges. Pin gauges are fairly cheap and handy for all sorts of things.

For me, once the pockets are beyond a certain point, they're trash.

-nosualc

 

[smoooth]

Have a look at this: http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3862744.msg36507252#msg36507252

Hope this helps!

 

[chkunz]

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014/12/primer-pocket-gauge-cool-tool-checks-for-loose-pockets/

Go here for measuring primer pockets. I could have made these but they are so inexpensive and postage to cheap I ordered them and just love them.

As far as getting pockets back to tight... I'm afraid there is little to be done. I have a way that may save them for a firing or two. If you are interested PM me and I'll let you in on it

I ordered a set and found a couple of other neat tools, thanks.

 

[Gabe22BR]

I have some .22-250 & .223 brass that have loose primer pockets. Is there any fixing these or just junk them? Also, is there any way to tell if they're loose, short of seating a primer. Like a gauge of some sort. I'm getting some cratering on the bolt face. Thanks.

STeve

Since it won't hold a primer , junk'm . No fix to them. Order some new brass. No need to buy gauges there, since they don't hold primers.

 

[jsthntn247]

I just use a set of pin gauges. Pin gauges are fairly cheap and handy for all sorts of things.

For me, once the pockets are beyond a certain point, they're trash.

-nosualc

What size pins do you use for telling when to trash them on large and small pockets?

 

[savagedasher]

I refuse to shoot with loose primer pockets. Reason being when the pressure goes by the primer it goes in the bolt face and your own. My eyes are worth more the a case.
The answer is not load them so hot. Larry

 

[jsthntn247]

I refuse to shoot with loose primer pockets. Reason being when the pressure goes by the primer it goes in the bolt face and your own. My eyes are worth more the a case.
The answer is not load them so hot. Larry

What do you use to tell when cases have gotten to that point. Its hard to tell with a mechanical primer when loose is too loose.

 

[jonbearman]

What kind of primers are you using? Wolf and tula are slightly bigger and can fit tighter .

 

[Road_Clam]

I've simply developed a good feel on my RCBS handle when a primer installs nice and snug. If it at all feels like it goes in too easy I scrap it. It's not worth gasses bleeding past the primer and blast etching your boltface. A $.020 casing is not worth trashing a $100+ bolt. FC brass is the worst junk as far as loose primer pockets , they are only good for about 3-5 reloads .

 

[nickster]

Thanks for all the great info on the primer pockets. Thanks to DickE for posting a link to the primer pocket gauges. I think I'll order a couple and use them on everything from now on. I have a severely cratered AR-15 bolt because of this and about 6-800 loaded rounds that I'm going to pull the bullets out of and start over. Someone had given me a bunch of brass, I suppose it was just range brass. I really didn't know the difference. It was loaded on a progressive press so there was no feel to the seating of the primers.

Thanks to smoooth for posting the link to the previously discussed topic. I read it all. I may order those tools, it depends on how many cases I want to save. I would like to salvage some of them for a prairie dog shoot. If I get one firing, I can just shoot it up in my AR and just leave it lay.


And Jonbearman, I'm using strictly Winchester primers because that was all that was available to us during the great component shortage. I now have some Federal and CCI. Are either of them larger than the Winchester primers?

Steve

 

[nickster]

I forgot to add that most of the brass in question was military brass. Some once fired, because I had to remove the crimp before reloading. Some of it was reconditioned from I assume Black Hills as the primer pockets were beveled to remove the crimp. Probably at least twice fired and too much brass removed. I have a lot of time and money wasted on this cheap brass. Live and learn I guess.

Steve

 

[savagedasher]

Best answer when you dealing with 40,000 psi A friend would of lose a eye if it wasn't for glasses
Larry

 

[nosualc]

I just use a set of pin gauges. Pin gauges are fairly cheap and handy for all sorts of things.

For me, once the pockets are beyond a certain point, they're trash.

-nosualc

What size pins do you use for telling when to trash them on large and small pockets?

SAAMI max for primer pockets is .2100 and .1745. I use a 211" and .175" pins respectively, akin to no-go gauges. If the pin fits, I toss it. My pins are "under" pins meaning they are -.0002.

I expect a guy might be able to push this a little more, but I do not wish to. Also, you might have a little more leeway if your primers run on the larger size of the spec.

-nosualc

 

[skiutah02]

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014/12/primer-pocket-gauge-cool-tool-checks-for-loose-pockets/

Go here for measuring primer pockets. I could have made these but they are so inexpensive and postage to cheap I ordered them and just love them.

As far as getting pockets back to tight... I'm afraid there is little to be done. I have a way that may save them for a firing or two. If you are interested PM me and I'll let you in on it

I ordered a set of these and they are worth the money! Great tool, great price! A+

 

[bigedp51]

I ordered the GO NO-GO at the link posted some time ago and found it worthless, the large end is the maximum diameter of the primer pocket and if it slides into the primer pocket the brass is junk anyway.

It is far better to have pin gauges that are a closer match to your primer size.

The pin gauge below is .0005 smaller than the fat end of the worthless store bought gauge above and this case is still junk.

If after seating a primer and I have any doubt I use a Lee depriming tool to test the primer. If I can move the primer with just finger pressure the case is junk.

The gauge below is like the story of Goldilocks And The Three Bears, one end is too small and one end is too large and my pin gauges are just right.

I reload for my firearms and also my two sons firearms and dad isn't going to be blamed for bolt faces that look like this.

If you have over sized primer pockets you either have soft brass or loaded too hot and exceeded the elastic limits of the brass.

Below is my scrap brass bucket and 95% of these .223/5.56 cases are factory loaded Federal cases with over sized primer pockets after just one firing.

 

[Ackman]

And Jonbearman, I'm using strictly Winchester primers because that was all that was available to us during the great component shortage. I now have some Federal and CCI. Are either of them larger than the Winchester primers?

Steve

Don't use Winchester small rifle primers in a high pressure round. They're soft, and what is happening to you will happen. Use a 7-1/2 or CCI.

 

[Old Tanker]

Just started reloading and hope I’m not too late on this thread. Didn’t want to start a new one when there are so many. After reading this post, I’m not sure I should keep my once fired FC brass. I have both FC gold medal and bulk FC FMJ. The GM was fired in my Rem 700 and the bulk FMJ was purchased for plinking with a mini 14. I’ve decapped, cleaned and removed crimps from 70 cases. I used a Lyman reamer and uniformer. Now, I’m concerned that the pockets may be too large. On some, before reading these posts, the bevel looks very deep. Using a caliper, I was making sure not to exceed .173 diameter. After reading several threads, I went back and measured an unfired Remington case. The pocket was .170 in diameter so I adjusted accordingly. I just got my remington bolt back from Greg Tannel and don’t want to destroy his work because of a loose primer.

 

[Webster]

I have some .22-250 & .223 brass that have loose primer pockets. Is there any fixing these or just junk them? Also, is there any way to tell if they're loose, short of seating a primer. Like a gauge of some sort. I'm getting some cratering on the bolt face. Thanks.

STeve

Don't understand why anyone would measure pockets with pins. If you know any in a batch are loose they are all bad since they were all shot many times with the same hot load. Back off on the loads and you won't have a problem. I have been reloading since about 1970 and never had a loose primer pocket. A new bolt and will cost more than new brass. Gas leakage is an eye risk. You are damaging your rifles bolt. 223 you can pick up once fired at the range by the bucket full for free. Buy new 22-250 and shoot reasonable loads and you should get at least 20 reloads. You may have to anneal to get a lot of reloads. A torch works fine.