No primer hole...how to?

[snert]

I have a pile of old Rem BR brass that comes with no flash hole. So...how does one drill a consistent hole and what size drill? Asking the guys who were around when the early BR cases were offered and used...

 

[jelenko]

Hi Snert.

Wait. No flash hole?
How were the rounds primed?

 

[snert]

The early "BR" cases were "308" with a primer pocket, no hole. Later they made 6mm or maybe it was 7MM BR the same way. It allowed the shooter to decide on the size of the primer hole. The cases were made so that the owner could wildcat them to what they wanted. This is NOS brass I picked up a while back.

 

[hoz53]

The early "BR" cases were "308" with a primer pocket, no hole. Later they made 6mm or maybe it was 7MM BR the same way. It allowed the shooter to decide on the size of the primer hole. The cases were made so that the owner could wildcat them to what they wanted. This is NOS brass I picked up a while back.

I didnt know that. this should be interesting. Id use a lathe- if a person doesnt have access to one not sure what id do. you could use a transfer punch that fits in the primer pocket very close to make a center mark. If you had to do it by hand Id put it backwards in a wilson trimmer and rig the drill bit in the handle part. But heck i wasnt there and i have no idea how they did it.

 

[JMayo]

Several threads below this one
"similar threads"

 

[Ray123]

Large primer pocket = .078" 5/64" drill
Small priner pocket =.0595" or # 53 drill...but you could get by with. 0625" a common 1/16" drill, on the small.

 

[snert]

So, when there is no pilot hole, how do you center it? I guess that is my biggest brain pain.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Easiest way to do it is get a wilson trimmer caseholder and do it in the lathe.

 

[GLO123]

I totally agree, a small lathe is the way to go. You will get centered holes every time. Be sure to de-bur the hole after drilling. You can use a pen making vice and lightly clamp the case. Then use a chuck with drill bit in the tail shaft. I drill all the time on a lathe and see no reason why you can’t do this.

 

[joshb]

So, when there is no pilot hole, how do you center it? I guess that is my biggest brain pain.

Can you put a die upside down in a vise on a drill press, center it up and have at it?
Use that blanked primer to center it!!

 

[hoz53]

So, when there is no pilot hole, how do you center it? I guess that is my biggest brain pain.

i told you in last post you can use a transfer punch for that.

if you can use a lathe shouldnt need one.

 

[Ray123]

Drill bushing made by your machinist friend...you can do it with a hand drill...for those who don't have machine tools....Or if you have a drill & say one inch piece of steel make it yourself. Lay out mark with a center gauge...center punch ...then drill with 15/32" drill .4688" is close to head size of 308 and drills cut oversize generally. Check for fit...you can polish or grind one cutting edge of the drill just a little..if ya have a drill press install the primer flash hole drlll & drill through this cup. Should be .2" thick and if you do it for real this drill should be one or two thousanths oversize to prevent binding on the bushing...but the primer pocket is a clearence area. You're done ..So flip the cup over on the case head of the 308 with the .062" or 0595" drill in your hand drill and drill away... the case head and bushing hole will hold it center if you did your job correctly...you should be able hold it with your fingers, cause that tiny drill doesn't have much torque. OR put in a vise with plastic or wood v block, leather belt? Whatever ya have laying around. And it always irritates me to see todays men wearing the blue gloves in the shop for everything, not just when it's required...grow a pair. Get some dirt under your nails...my son does it...

 

[cptjack]

VIX BIT a self centering drilling bit we use for hinges. smaller size of course

 

[Walt Krafft]

I have a pile of old Rem BR brass that comes with no flash hole. So...how does one drill a consistent hole and what size drill? Asking the guys who were around when the early BR cases were offered and used...

How big is your pile? Are we talking 50 pcs or 5000 pcs?

 

[ebb]

i have a little tool that I got from Ron Hoen that centers on the pock with a tight fit and has a tiny little bit that looks like a mill bit that uniforms flash holes. If you were persistent, it could be done with this tool or something like it.

 

[butchlambert]

I had 2 cases of the 6BR brass without flash holes from the estate of Red Cornelison. Randy Robinet has one case that I traded to him. I also have some in Federal 223 and some of those with a long neck.
I took a Wilson case holder and took a light cut on the OD between centers on my tool grinder. Put it in a collet in my lathe, center drilled and drilled with a 1/16th or .0625 drill and deburred.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

I'd give them to somebody that wanted them and buy new brass. Doesn't seem to worth the trouble to me.

 

[WSnyder]

I took a Wilson case holder and took a light cut on the OD between centers on my tool grinder. Put it in a collet in my lathe, center drilled and drilled with a 1/16th or .0625 drill and deburred.

This I is what I’d do or something very similar. When making Hornady case gauges I take a short piece of 1” aluminum bar and put it in the lathe. I drill and taper bore it to match the case I’m doing. Takes mby 5 minutes or so to make up the bushing.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I'd give them to somebody that wanted them and buy new brass. Doesn't seem to worth the trouble to me.

They dont fit a br norma chamber very well anyway. Youd have to find an antique reamer or have one ground just for the base on that brass

 

[liljoe]

Buy one of these and get a drill bit that fits, probably about 062" and drill some holes.
Joe