Primer problems.

[onelastshot]

Reloading some brass that's been shot 2-3 times. During the process of priming brass, I noticed that some of the primers were going in without any effort. A few pieces were so easy to prime that I wondered if there was even a primer in the tool. My question is how loose is too loose?

I just don't want issues at the bench. The problem is the brass that were primed without any effort is mixed in with the rest of the brass. Do I shoot the brass or do I deprime 100 pieces and start all over again and trash the pieces that are loose.

 

[Sheldon N]

My personal standard for "too loose" on general purpose loads is if I can push the primer out using a handheld universal depriming die with normal effort then the case is garbage. Match grade loads you might hold to a higher standard. If I get a case that's low effort to prime but doesn't deprime by hand I'll mark it with a sharpie to keep track of it. Usually only get 1 more firing out of the case at that point.

Easy enough to go through the 100 cases and see which ones you can deprime by hand and toss those.

 

[Comrade Terry]

https://ballistictools.com/store/reloading-products/small-and-large-primer-pocket-gauges

 

[Richard Coody]

Reloading some brass that's been shot 2-3 times. During the process of priming brass, I noticed that some of the primers were going in without any effort. A few pieces were so easy to prime that I wondered if there was even a primer in the tool. My question is how loose is too loose?

I just don't want issues at the bench. The problem is the brass that were primed without any effort is mixed in with the rest of the brass. Do I shoot the brass or do I deprime 100 pieces and start all over again and trash the pieces that are loose.

what brand of brass? Unless you are using soft brass your charge could be a little hot. Loose primers are the sign of the end of the useful life of a case. This shouldn't be happening after 2 or 3 firings.

if they will stay in shoot them this time. problem is they may fall out on the next firing and where the primer goes in your action my cause problems

options are

there are primers that have larger diameter like the br4 or 450's. they may be tight in your expanded brass.

or chuck them and either back off the charge or buy better brass

 

[texasbilly]

If loads run on the "hot" side, you can expect that the life of the brass will be short. If you start seeing enlarged primer pockets, excessive case stretching, and internal erosion, then toss the brass. Safety first.

 

[onelastshot]

My personal standard for "too loose" on general purpose loads is if I can push the primer out using a handheld universal depriming die with normal effort then the case is garbage. Match grade loads you might hold to a higher standard. If I get a case that's low effort to prime but doesn't deprime by hand I'll mark it with a sharpie to keep track of it. Usually only get 1 more firing out of the case at that point.

Easy enough to go through the 100 cases and see which ones you can deprime by hand and toss those.

Used my 223 die decapping rod and found a half dozen primers that were loose enough to pop out by hand. Thanks for the advise.

 

[fyrewall]

I have a lot of Winchester Large Rifle standard primers that seat with almost no effort but CCI 200's feel real good in the same brass. I guess that pressures of over 61 K might open up a primer pocket. I have some 6.5X47 Lapua brass that appears to be pressure resistant. If in doubt, I take about 100 cases and randomly select 20 or so and test seat fired (used) primers in these cases. Should all go in with some resistance it would appear the pockets are OK. The fired primers are punched out with my Lee decap tool and new primers seated. The new, unfired, primers go in with much more resistance.

 

[Webster]

I have a lot of Winchester Large Rifle standard primers that seat with almost no effort but CCI 200's feel real good in the same brass. I guess that pressures of over 61 K might open up a primer pocket. I have some 6.5X47 Lapua brass that appears to be pressure resistant. If in doubt, I take about 100 cases and randomly select 20 or so and test seat fired (used) primers in these cases. Should all go in with some resistance it would appear the pockets are OK. The fired primers are punched out with my Lee decap tool and new primers seated. The new, unfired, primers go in with much more resistance.

Different primers brands don't have the same exact o.d. Very small difference. There should be dimension charts on this website. From memory I believe some primer cups are .020" and some .025" thick. Inserting primers is a tight fit so it must be deformed a little to get it in the pocket? The thicker cups should take a little more force to get them in.