Primer Pocket Size?

[amlevin]

They require a heavier setting on most pocket reaming devices. I went over them again with a slight chamfer to further knock off the four protrusions caused during staking the primer.

The "staked" primer pockets don't require any different setting on my Dillon Super swage. The "staking" disappears or is removed enough that the primers seat smooth and firm.

I find that "reamin" can often damage the sidewalls of the primer pocket and also takes a lot more effort than just "swaging". With swaging, the hole never gets larger than that of the "punch". If it's correctly sized then your primer pockets will be fine.

 

[bigedp51]

Smart, informed, good looking and modest reloaders 8) use the RCBS primer pocket reamer that only removes the crimp and does not touch the sidewalls of the primer pocket. This reamer has a positive stop when the base of the case hits the face of the reamer. This is the reamer used on the RCBS prep station and works very well when just chucked in a hand drill.

 

[searcher]

Chamferring off a small amount - just to break the rise of the four "nubs" in no way affects the holding of the primer - as the cut is above the radius of the top of the primer. Those who chamfer as a way to avoid reaming alltogether will most likely get decorative bolt faces. Anyone who had ill effects from the chamfer went too far.

 

[asauer]

False. I guarantee my primer pockets are tighter than any that have been done by any other process, unless you have a means to recrimp after primer insertion.

As I said above, I clean them up barely enough to get a primer in and there is more firmness to seating with military brass than brand new brass of most makes.

 

[searcher]

You may be unaware that some reaming tools (like the RCBS model that fits on a press) will actually tighten primer pockets. It also makes them all uniform - which makes for much more reliable seating. Tell me more abut your guarantee.

 

[bigedp51]

You may be unaware that some reaming tools (like the RCBS model that fits on a press) will actually tighten primer pockets. It also makes them all uniform - which makes for much more reliable seating. Tell me more abut your guarantee.

I have the same RCBS model, its call the smusher because it pushes the brass "into" the primer pocket.

 

[asauer]

Sorry about that- I stand corrected! May have to look into this then. It's a definite art to getting just the right touch with a burring tool.

 

[Thumb]

bigedp51, where do you get that smusher tool at? I looked all over and couldn't find anything that looked like that.

 

[expiper]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/235832/rcbs-primer-pocket-swager-combo-2

 

[Thumb]

Thanks

 

[bigedp51]

Thumb

Below on the left is the same swage as pictured above from the mid 1970s the one one the right is the new RCBS Combo-2 I bought well over a year ago. I wish I had something to chuck the older one in to polish the rough surface that grabs the brass and smears it into the primer pocket. The new one one the right is too large in diameter and makes the primer pockets oversized. As the saying goes if it were not for bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all.

The diameter tip of the new Combo-2 is too large and makes any primer pocket oversized. Its a shame the old unit is the right diameter but rough, and the new one is smooth but too large in diameter.

The bigest mistake I made was trying to save money and trying all the cheaper methods of swaging and reaming the primer pockets and not buying the Dillon Super Swage from the start. When your doing large quantities of cases with hand reamers you will get sore fingers and hands. And the dillon unit takes the strain out of swaging primer pockets.

 

[Thumb]

Thanks bigedp51, I do have the dillon swager which works fine for me unless of course I come across pockets that are too big which was the main reason for me starting this thread.

 

[liliana]

nice info
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[Thumb]

Well, I just got the Ballistic gauges and guess what, I measured them with 4 different calipers and got .171/.173 on 3 of them and .173/.175 on the other one.

So I tested the gauge on some of my cases and the ones that felt good when swagging them with the Dillon super swager the larger end of the gauge would not go into the pocket. The cases that were in question the larger end would go into the pocket on some of them.

Not knowing the exact measurement using my calipers that have not been calibrated for years I will do one thing for sure and that is take the cases with the larger pockets that the gauge goes into and scrap them or at least try that RCBS smoosher and see if it will make them good again.