An inexpensive quick way to clean primer pockets.

Hangtime

New member
After resizing, I tumble the cases in cobb to get rid of the lube. It's after they come out of the tumbler, that I inspect the brass closely, and toss the unacceptable cases in the recycle bucket. It's also at this point that I clean the primer pockets of any stuck media, but also get rid of the carbon / crud, etc. that has accumulated there, so the primers fit properly.

Not saying this is the best way to do this, but it is one way that is quick, and very inexpensive.

I use a Forster small rifle primer pocket cleaner, part number shown in the pic. You'll also need about a 6" length of hose available at the auto parts store.

img0381xu7.jpg



The hose will need to have in inside diameter that's snug enough to hold the Forster tool firmly.

img0383ha8.jpg



A closeup of the tool.

img0397fe5.jpg



After inspecting the brass, all it takes is 2-3 twists of the tool in the primer pocket, using the hose as a handle, and the primer pockets come out very clean. This tool cleans the entire pocket, and does especially well where the wall of the pocket meets the floor of the pocket, in that corner. Some of you may wonder why I don't chuck up the tool in a cordless screwdriver, etc. Well, as I'm inspecting the brass closely anyway, and it only takes a few twists to get the pocket clean it just doesn't seem worth it to me.

The top row shows cases where the primer pockets haven't been cleaned, and the bottom row after they have been cleaned. The quality of the pic isn't very good, and I apologize for that, however it was the best I could do. The cases in the top row are actually much dirtier than they appear in the pic, as I guess the flash more or less "visually" burned thru the crud in the pocket.

img0393uw9.jpg



Maybe some of you will find this helpful. I like a proper primer fit in the pocket, and this works well for me. As usual YMMV.
 
I took it a step further due to arthritus in my hands, that kinda tedious hand work is hard on me, so I chuck the primer pocket tool in a cordless drill, makes real quick work of the task, works with the RCBS brushes or the Lee tool, looks like it would work with the Forster too. It also works for the Lyman primer pocket uniformer and flash hole tool, and I trim cases with the Lee lock stud chucked in the drill as well. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top