Rookie mistake

[DShortt]

I recently I read an article by a primer manufactured engineer. According to it primer/anvil crush is fake news. I clean primer pockets and flash holes just for consistency.

Interesting.

Which manufacturer and where?

 

[kenhwind]

Using a Dillon for handgun ammo you don't get to clean the primer pockets.
I check a couple, and it there is carbon build up I will deprime and clean.

I don't load or shoot enough rifle ammo these days so cleaning the primer pockets isn't that big of a deal.

 

[Webster]

Your suppose to clean them

Really!

 

[charlie b]

That's nothing; wait till you load about 10-15 rounds then you realize you forgot to put the primers in and I've been loading for over 50 years!!
In reloading there are those that have made an error and there are those that will make an error.

And sometimes quite a few

The 'best' are double charges. Gets your attention, if not a chunk of skin.

The most frustrating are on progressives, like when the primer supply runs out and you just cycled 10 cases through the machine, dropping powder all over the press guts. Or you don't realize a small primer case got mixed in. Trying to seat a large primer is difficult , or, it goes bang

 

[ELR LVR]

I clean to make sure the kernels from the tumbler are gone, otherwise I do not.

I screened my tumbler media to below the size of the flash hole
no longer have to check or pick at flash holes
none ever gets stuck anymore
---
yes I may have ended up with only 25% of the media I started out with but
the time savings is worth it

 

[ELR LVR]

In the late 60's Guns & Ammo did primer tests : cleaned primer pockets VS: Uncleaned, the Uncleaned shot the Tightest groups

I believe that, the carbon likely fills in the dead space and makes for a more efficient transfer

 

[True Grit]

I like clean brass and especially the primer pockets. Some of the best shooters don't clean brass or the primer pockets.

 

[spencerhenry]

I believe that, the carbon likely fills in the dead space and makes for a more efficient transfer

there is a difference between dirty, and plugged. I haven't seen the test, but I have encountered kernels from the tumbler that are wedged in there pretty tight.

 

[bozo699]

How does an online forum know the condition of the brass before you loaded them ?

???
Wayne

 

[ricco1949]

I screened my tumbler media to below the size of the flash hole
no longer have to check or pick at flash holes
none ever gets stuck anymore
---
yes I may have ended up with only 25% of the media I started out with but
the time savings is worth it

I usually tumble with corn if spent primers are still present and with walnut if removed.

Never had walnut stuck in flash hole to my knowledge.

However I recently tumbled a few thousand 223 in corn that has been decapped and trimmed in Dillon trimmer to remove lube.

I just adjusted the FL sizing die in the loading phase on 1050 to decap only to push out any corn stuck in the flash hole.

 

[Tangent]

I believe that, the carbon likely fills in the dead space and makes for a more efficient transfer

Not sure what you can get in the US, but I just ordered finer walnut shells from a sand blasting supplier. They had a number of different grades. It was much cheaper than shooting specific media.

 

[ebb]

This was the reloading spirits showing you that cleaning pockets is nonsense. Compare groups with dirty pockets and clean, pretty sure you will see no difference.

 

[ricco1949]

I've found it necessary to remove the lube before loading to avoid contaminating the bullet drop when loading with 1050 and 650 Dillons.

Powder sticks to the lube at the case mouth if lube is present and eventually the dropper needed to be cleaned.

Hence the need to tumble cases that have been deprimed.

 

[PhilC]

Dang - I've been using a paper clip..... my fingers will be happier now!

I've used many things over the years to pry out a piece of media. A jeweler's screwdriver with an awl insert is my go to choice because I have one but square shank toothpicks are just as effective.

 

[Doug Casner]

I clean primer pockets about like I wash my old pickup, not at all. Check the flash holes with a paper clip. Doug

 

[swd]

I have BRX brass with 20+ loadings that has never had the primer pockets cleaned and the outside only gets wiped off with alcohol and a paper towel. If you drop a point it wasn't the brass..

 

[bozo699]

I have BRX brass with 20+ loadings that has never had the primer pockets cleaned and the outside only gets wiped off with alcohol and a paper towel. If you drop a point it wasn't the brass..

^^^^^^^^
100%
Wayne

 

[JEFFPPC]

Interesting.

Which manufacturer and where?

I think it was CCI and it was one of the gun rags. When I read it I laughed because my first thought was...This would upset some applecarts.

 

[dwizum]

Maybe use this as a test. Clean the rest of the pockets, do everything else the same, and then see if there's a difference for you.

I clean cases in a wet tumbler with just soapy water, no other media, and the primer pockets come out clean and flash holes are clear. I don't touch pockets directly. The one exception to this is when I've picked up unknown range brass, then I will clean and uniform the pocket to know what I'm starting with. I think I'd rather gouge out an eye than deal with cleaning pockets and checking the flash hole on every piece of brass every time.

 

[Doom]

If I were to bet cleaning primer pockets probably goes back to the glory days of corrosive primers.

So I have a question on crush on a primer. Can someone show me a primer that has been crushed to seat lower with before and after measurements?