Primer pocket uniforming...how important?

[lpreddick]

I think I learned a very important lesson. My new build is a modified .222 using lapua's brass. My reamer design pushes the shoulder forward .018, reduces body taper by .010 and changes shoulder angle to 30°. This brass has the tightest primer pockets i'v encountered and uniformity them by hand was impossible. I seated cci 450s as deep as I could using a bench mounted RCBS priming tool..the feeling was "mushy"...not the sensation I get with others when I sense the anvil bottoming out, then seating. Shooting these cases was terrible. Groups were erratic and I could hear variation in noise...some boom, some click/boom, others BOOM. I put the RCBS reamer head in a drill and oiled primer pockets and cut them all flush...previously fired and new. I used cci450s and BR4s and reloaded. What a difference! Everybody went BOOM and one hole groups (.109")with the 450s and BR4s were achieved with several 52 gr bullets. I am happy.

 

[ireload2]

What is the purpose of the tiny changes to the .222 cases design?

 

[jepp2]

When I encounter primer pockets that are excessively tight, I run them through my primer pocket swage. Seems to form the pocket easier than using the PP uniformer in a way it wasn't designed (widening the pocket vs. cutting the bottom of the pocket to the correct depth and flat).

As I do uniform PP's, I find a great deal of variation in the shape and depth of the pocket. Some are very rounded in the bottom with the center being the deepest. This can result in variable primer ignition due to the anvil not being seated properly compressing the priming compound. I like the consistent feel of primers being seated case after case. Uniforming makes this possible. And you certainly experienced first hand the result of primers not being seated uniformly.

So what name does your cartridge go by? I shoot a 20 Bobcat (222 Rem necked down to a 20 cal, and the cartridge blown out like an Ackley). I really enjoy mine. Photo shows 222 Rem on left, and 20 Bobcat on the right.

[URL=http://s860.photobucket.com/user/jepp2/media/222%20vs%2020%20Bobcat_zps71pfldwj.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[dkhunt14]

I think I learned a very important lesson. My new build is a modified .222 using lapua's brass. My reamer design pushes the shoulder forward .018, reduces body taper by .010 and changes shoulder angle to 30°. This brass has the tightest primer pockets i'v encountered and uniformity them by hand was impossible. I seated cci 450s as deep as I could using a bench mounted RCBS priming tool..the feeling was "mushy"...not the sensation I get with others when I sense the anvil bottoming out, then seating. Shooting these cases was terrible. Groups were erratic and I could hear variation in noise...some boom, some click/boom, others BOOM. I put the RCBS reamer head in a drill and oiled primer pockets and cut them all flush...previously fired and new. I used cci450s and BR4s and reloaded. What a difference! Everybody went BOOM and one hole groups (.109")with the 450s and BR4s were achieved with several 52 gr bullets. I am happy.

I belive the click boom was because of short headspace cased by forming the cases. It then caused erratic ignition which hurt groups. Also the cups of CCI BR4 and 450 primers have thicker cups which didn't help the ignition. It didn't hurt nothing to ream the pockets to same depth. Matt

 

[lpreddick]

What is the purpose of the tiny changes to the .222 cases design?

The .222 rem's neck is, in my opinion, too long for the 52 gr bullets it was designed to shoot. Why not use that space for more powder. My passion is extremely accuracy and varmint hunting, esp ghogs. In my area wind is a given, therefore I prefer to shoot accurate guns and fast bullets. A small increase in powder can make a big difference in small cases...the .223 Ackley, for example. Current very accurate cases have a 30° shoulder, so this might help the .222 although it is already a very accurate case. Taking .010 out of the case taper and pushing the shoulder forward, with the 30° shoulder allows an additional 1.8 gr powder. 4198 (imr and hodgden) are known great powders for the parent. 222, so I am working up loads to hopefully get a MV of 3500 fps. Current speeds are 3450 with no pressure signs, so I will slowly increase charges. LT 30 is showing promise and being a small granule, it will probably peak before filling case to neck. Why do all this? Same reason people climb Mt Everest.

 

[lpreddick]

When I encounter primer pockets that are excessively tight, I run them through my primer pocket swage. Seems to form the pocket easier than using the PP uniformer in a way it wasn't designed (widening the pocket vs. cutting the bottom of the pocket to the correct depth and flat).

As I do uniform PP's, I find a great deal of variation in the shape and depth of the pocket. Some are very rounded in the bottom with the center being the deepest. This can result in variable primer ignition due to the anvil not being seated properly compressing the priming compound. I like the consistent feel of primers being seated case after case. Uniforming makes this possible. And you certainly experienced first hand the result of primers not being seated uniformly.

So what name does your cartridge go by? I shoot a 20 Bobcat (222 Rem necked down to a 20 cal, and the cartridge blown out like an Ackley). I really enjoy mine. Photo shows 222 Rem on left, and 20 Bobcat on the right.

I did not know this, but if you order a reamer from JGS and alter an existing case design, they put your name on it. At first I felt honored, but I believe this is a liability issue. Blow my face off...my name is on the reamer. They printed it as a .222 REDDICK.

 

[ireload2]

If a few thousandths meant anything everyone would modify the .222 Rem Mag instead of the .223.
For sure a few degrees over the length of the shoulder is nearly meaningless.

Why do all this? Same reason people climb Mt Everest.

 

['Freak]

If a few thousandths meant anything everyone would modify the .222 Rem Mag instead of the .223.
For sure a few degrees over the length of the shoulder is nearly meaningless.

PR&T calls precisely such a critter the .224-204, commercial 204 Ruger brass necked to accept .224” bullets.

 

[lpreddick]

What is the purpose of the tiny changes to the .222 cases design?

Today I shot three 52 gr Knight's over 23 gr of H4198 at 3500 fps into a single hole measuring .056". Bolt lift was easy and primer was good. The accuracy of the parent .222 Rem is maintained and the increased muzzle velocity was achieved. The small changes increased the .222 Rem case by 1.8 gr.

 

['Freak]

Hmmm, me like… What’s an approximate of the fully fire formed 222 REDDICK case’s neck length?

 

[lpreddick]

Hmmm, me like… What’s an approximate of the fully fire formed 222 REDDICK case’s neck length?

This case did not completely fireform till third firing...I was increasing charge by .2 gr. The neck length is .256". The custom 52 gr bullets seat half down neck loaded .020 into the lands. 55 gr Berger varmint bullets, however, seat almost to bottom of neck.

 

[dedogs]

a few thousandths meant anything everyone would modify the .222 Rem Mag instead of the .223.
For sure a few degrees over the length of the shoulder is nearly meaningless.

If lpreddick can in fact achieve his goal of 3600fps and still maintain accuracy he will have a cartridge that is more efficient (in terms of powder) than a 22BR. With less fooling around. He has already gained a 10% increase in velocity. PO Ackley said this is worth doing if accuracy is maintained.
Why do you critcize a man for pursuing a dream? We are here (most of us) to learn and experiment.. and share our results. What's wrong with that? dedogs

 

[dedogs]

I believe this is a liability issue

If you own the reamer this should not be a problem if you don't loan it out. dedogs

 

[lpreddick]

When I encounter primer pockets that are excessively tight, I run them through my primer pocket swage. Seems to form the pocket easier than using the PP uniformer in a way it wasn't designed (widening the pocket vs. cutting the bottom of the pocket to the correct depth and flat).

As I do uniform PP's, I find a great deal of variation in the shape and depth of the pocket. Some are very rounded in the bottom with the center being the deepest. This can result in variable primer ignition due to the anvil not being seated properly compressing the priming compound. I like the consistent feel of primers being seated case after case. Uniforming makes this possible. And you certainly experienced first hand the result of primers not being seated uniformly.

So what name does your cartridge go by? I shoot a 20 Bobcat (222 Rem necked down to a 20 cal, and the cartridge blown out like an Ackley). I really enjoy mine. Photo shows 222 Rem on left, and 20 Bobcat on the right.

Here is my case

When I encounter primer pockets that are excessively tight, I run them through my primer pocket swage. Seems to form the pocket easier than using the PP uniformer in a way it wasn't designed (widening the pocket vs. cutting the bottom of the pocket to the correct depth and flat).

As I do uniform PP's, I find a great deal of variation in the shape and depth of the pocket. Some are very rounded in the bottom with the center being the deepest. This can result in variable primer ignition due to the anvil not being seated properly compressing the priming compound. I like the consistent feel of primers being seated case after case. Uniforming makes this possible. And you certainly experienced first hand the result of primers not being seated uniformly.

So what name does your cartridge go by? I shoot a 20 Bobcat (222 Rem necked down to a 20 cal, and the cartridge blown out like an Ackley). I really enjoy mine. Photo shows 222 Rem on left, and 20 Bobcat on the right.

My case and parent.

 

[dedogs]

My case and parent

I for one think this is a great idea, nice wildcat of a proven accurate cartridge. dedogs