Separating Primers During Case Prep

[Curmudgeon]

The title probably isn't very clear. At the range today I was talking to a new shooter with a Savage Palma rifle. He was telling me that when he was decapping his brass, unspecified Hornady production ammo, he was pushing the back out of the primer and leaving a ring in the case primer pocket. This was happening to the Hornady brass only. Some other shooters were there and they hadn't heard of this before. We thought peened primers, small decapping pin or sealed primer pockets . I just had a thought the Superformance ammo might be the problem but we don't know. Has anyone run across this situation before? The shooter is going to bring some examples but I won't see them till next Wednesday. Thanks in advance if anyone replys.

 

[67rschev]

I use new Hornady match brass for my 308 loading . I recently purchased 300 once fired cases from a local fellow I shoot with , that was Hornady factory match stuff for practice . Upon inspection , around half had fully crimped in primers . I think I read somewhere that Hornady is going to be crimping all their factory loaded ammunition . Don't Know if this was the case for him , But I have punched holes several primers with the decapping rod on some LC crimped cases in the past .

 

[Curmudgeon]

Thanks for that response, sounds like a good lead. When I see the brass I will give the pocket a good look.

 

[markm87]

Are you saying that the cup's side wall it sticking in the brass? And the anvil and bottom of the cup are punching out?

I've heard of this situation where spent brass got wet, sat in the elements, and the primer walls got stuck in the pocket. But not on regular old crimped ammo.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Yes, that's correct. The ammunition is new but I don't know if it sat in the elements. I will ask. I got a return from a note to Hornady and was told .223 and .308 is being staked, because of more AR platforms, but the Tech had not heard of this reloading problem. The question will simmer while I wait to see the cases next Wednesday. The note from Hornady might serve those shooting new ammo to reload. Get a primer pocket reamer. Thanks for the reply.

 

[markm87]

I've never had this happen to me... even on cold desert brass picked up that has definitely seen a little rain.

That must be one heck of a crimp... or a thin primer cup... or both.

I'd guess the primer pocket reamer would get it out of there, but then you have to pull the cup wall off the reamer and go back after the crimp. I'd probably just scrap the brass.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Had a final thought before I see the brass. The shooter is actually decapping with success but he doesn't actually see the primer he punched out. Then when he tries to put a primer in and he can't he thinks primer wall is still in cup. I think he might not recognize a crimped primer pocket and thinks primer came apart. But won't know till next week. Thanks to all

 

[dan06]

I have seen this with PMC pistol brass in 9mm. I went to a friends house to help him with a priming problem with a new Dillion square deal and discovered it wasn't a problem with the press but the back of the primer on about 1 out of 10 was pushing out and leaving the rest of the primer stuck inside the pocket......Looking everything over I couldn't give him a reason as I had never had this happen to me. We decided to chuck those 2-300 PMC emptys.....

 

[Lesloan]

I have seen this with PMC pistol brass in 9mm. I went to a friends house to help him with a priming problem with a new Dillion square deal and discovered it wasn't a problem with the press but the back of the primer on about 1 out of 10 was pushing out and leaving the rest of the primer stuck inside the pocket......Looking everything over I couldn't give him a reason as I had never had this happen to me. We decided to chuck those 2-300 PMC emptys.....

Bingo! I've decapped a lotta GI brass, crimped primers, and never had a problem. But the crimp is still visible, and could be mistaken for primer walls, I guess.