Loosening Primer Pockets

[bigedp51]

ShootDots

Buy some pin gauges that range in size from the max SAAMI primer pocket diameter downward in .0005 increments to your smallest primer diameter and use them as GO- NO-GO gauges for your primer pockets.

The pin gauge below tells me its time to put this case in the scrap brass bucket, and it is a factory loaded once fired case that had a over size primer pocket after the very first firing.

Even after using the pin gauges nothing is written in stone, below I'm using a simple Lee depriming tool to test for loose primer pockets after seating what felt like a loose primer. If I can push the primer out of the primer pocket with just finger pressure the case goes into the scrap brass bucket. You will see many loose primer tests like tapping the case on the reloading bench etc. but I'm loading for my two sons AR15s and my own and "Dad " isn't going to be blamed for a leaking primer and a eroded bolt face.

NOTE: And a pin gauge can tell you the mouth of the primer pocket is tight and it can still be larger further down inside the primer pocket. (and the "why" of the push test)

My bolt faces look like this.

And Dad isn't going to take the blame for a bolt face like this.

Some of you may think my standards are too high, "BUT" a over gassed AR15 still has pressure in the barrel as the bolt starts moving to the rear. And many of you here have some very costly custom rifles.

 

[QuiggyB]

Most people shooting 180 hybrids out of 284s with 4350 or 4831SC do fine in the 2850-2880 range. With my powder that was at 54.6 grains of 4831SC. Running up to over 2900 will loosen up primer pockets fairly quickly. I have a 7 walker and 200 pieces of brass with 5 firings on it and 100 pieces with 8 firings running 2880 with 7828SSC and eveything is still plenty snug. Obviously the same smith you use too. I have run it up to 2975 with that powder without issue but its a slower burning powder.

Couple of things.
1) Yes the primer pockets will loosen up some initially and then even out assuming you arent pushing them too hard. It seems less so if you don't fire form with a full on charge.
2) I would make sure you are working with accurate data. Have you compared your chrono against something like an Ohler to make sure it isnt reading fast or slow on you. Bad data is worse than no data. If you havent we cant meet up at the range and verify it.
3) How fast do you think your loads are going? If it was stated elsewhere in the thread I didn't read through every page.
4) What is the freebore on your shehane reamer? I believe its .188 on my walker reamer.
5) If you want to use 4381SC your expectations should be at or under 2880fps. Sure someone may get more but they are probably really using a slower powder, or have a longer freebore combined with a touch looser bore, or a little bit longer barrel, etc.

 

[ShootDots]

biged51, I am going to get some of those pin gauges.. I think they will be very helpful! Thank You! I appreciate that very much... I can tell you at this juncture, you could NOT punch them out with a Lee De-Priming tool and finger force..

QuiggyB, I am running right at 2905. I have a .220freebore (now after 5-600 firings it's probably .250)...I have a PACT Professional chrono and although I hate it, it works well in overcast conditions>>>very repeatable like that..

Obviously you know Omar>>> do you belong to Bayou Rifles or PSC? Do I know you? I am not very good with names, especially framing them with a "Blog Handle"... LOL!!!

 

[QuiggyB]

This is Bryan. In my experience 2905 with 4831SC would have progressively loosened them up. My dad used to be around there and I want to say by the third firing they felt pretty loose and at 5-6 firings they were getting to the point where a primer or two would end up in the bottom of the ammo box. He just backed down to where I was and that stopped.

Let me know if you want to double check the speed on your chrono some time.

 

[ShootDots]

Well Quiggy! I am going to re-visit H1000... It was just barely too slow.. I was getting under 1" @ 300 yards and velocities in the 2930f.p.s. range. However, it was blowing E.S.'s to about 40f.p.s. I am wondering with the MUCH LONGER bearing surface of the Scenar, if it won't make H1000 a viable option.. I will find out as I just loaded 30 rounds.. However, at the next 1000 yard match, I have my 56.2 load of IMR 7828 loaded and ready... It shoots very well.. I was just waiting for the cooler weather to show as I believe the nicer weather will not ill-effect the 7828 like 98+ degrees most likely would..

 

[ShootDots]

Listen to this one! If you read the earlier posts on this thread, you know I ordered 5K of the Wolf L/R primers from Sinclair Int. I got a notice 1 day before I received my shipment that they cancelled my order because they were "out of stock".. Well I went to the web-site and saw they were still showing to be "in stock".. Well, I thought they have not updated their site... Tonight I went back on the site and BEHOLD they are still listed, not at $21.95, BUT $34.95! They were never out of stock they just priced, ON THEIR WEB-SITE a lower price than they were able to sell at EVEN THOUGH I BOUGHT IT AT THAT PRICE! So, I just ordered 3K of the "higher priced" Wolf L/R primers.. Now I am not bashing Sinclair, I use them A LOT! But they could have sent me a notice stating they made a mistake in pricing and can not sell me the 5K at the listed price as it was a typo.. But don't tell me "out of stock" when in fact they are not.. Oh well....It is what it is..

 

[QuiggyB]

Call them on the phone. Id be surprised if they didnt make it right.

 

[ShootDots]

I don't want to hold their feet to the fire because they made a mistake... What I wish they would have done was call me, tell me their position, and ask if I would consider paying the higher price, which I would have been glad to do.. That's all..