Help with crimped primers.

kam582

kam582

New member
I recently got my hands on about 400 rounds of once fired Lake City range brass. Most, if not all, has crimped primers. After posting here and doing a little research I bought a Hornady primer pocket reamer. I went with that because I already had the 3 head case prep tool from Hornady. It came yesterday so I tried to do a few cases. I then tried to seat some primers with my RCBS hand tool, which I have used to seat thousands of primers with no issues. This was the result in about half of what I did:

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It looks to me like there is not enough room for the primer so I tried using more pressure on the bit, with no luck. It seems that it is not reaming out the primer pocket at all. I thought maybe it was an issue with the RCBS tool so I grabbed a couple of cases that I know aren't crimped and I had no issues seating the primer. I probably should have went with the Dillon tool, but I didn't think 400 cases was worth the $160. Any suggestions?

After posting this I looked at the cases closer. It almost looks to me like the primer is in there sideways. I have never had that happen before. What am I doing wrong?
 
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Looks like you still have to much crimp left there. Go to your local hardware store buy a 3/8 counter bore for $5 and clean them up. Just a quick touch to the crimp with it.
 
The chamfer tool for your case mouths will work just fine, just a quick twist should bevel the edge enough for the primers to seat just fine.
 
The chamfer tool for your case mouths will work just fine, just a quick twist should bevel the edge enough for the primers to seat just fine.
 
RCBS primer pocket swaging tool. Probably the best $30 you will ever spend... and it comes with both sizes, for small or large primer pockets.
 
Originally Posted By: DoublessRCBS primer pocket swaging tool. Probably the best $30 you will ever spend... and it comes with both sizes, for small or large primer pockets.

Yep...a great tool for the job.

Otherwise, a couple turns of the chamfer tool usually does the job.
 
Originally Posted By: deaddogwalkinYep not enough material taken out yet. You can also use your chamfer tool to take some more material out.

This^^^ no need to buy something you already have on your bench. I've done about 1500 cases with nine never had an issue just make sure you dont remove too much material
 
Quote:I bought a Hornady primer pocket reamer. I went with that because I already had the 3 head case prep tool from Hornady. It came yesterday so I tried to do a few cases.

The two cases shown have not had any crimp removed by the looks of them.

While you can use your chamfering tool to remove crimp, as has been stated, you must be careful not to remove too much OR too little.

I'd bet that if you look at your Hornady tool, you will notice an enlarged step just the depth of a primer from the end of the reamer. I'd also bet that if you push harder on the handle as you turn the reamer you will see it start to cut when the enlarged portion of the tool reaches the crimp. It should quit cutting when the end of the reamer bottoms out in the primer pocket giving you a proper sized primer pocket. IOW, the smaller diameter cuts the inside radius of the crimp and the enlarged portion bevels the pocket for easy starting primers.

Regards,
hm
 
Originally Posted By: deaddogwalkinYep not enough material taken out yet. You can also use your chamfer tool to take some more material out. +1 on this
 
Quote:RCBS primer pocket swaging tool. Probably the best $30 you will ever spend....For the number of cases that you have to deal with, the RCBS would be your best bet...I'd be hard pressed to get rid of mine...
 
Pull the cutter bit out of the Hornady pocket reamer and chuck it up in a drill. Don't worry about the thread, just chuck it up. Spin it up and push the case on until the bit bottoms out in the primer pocket. The crimp will be removed and you will be good to go. I have done a couple thousand this way.
 
Originally Posted By: dwayPull the cutter bit out of the Hornady pocket reamer and chuck it up in a drill. Don't worry about the thread, just chuck it up. Spin it up and push the case on until the bit bottoms out in the primer pocket. The crimp will be removed and you will be good to go. I have done a couple thousand this way.



You just need to go a little deeper until the beveled part of the Hornady reamer cuts a chamfer to enable primer to enter straight. The end of the reamer will bottom out in primer pocket to prevent over cutting.

Regards,
hm
 
I've got the RCBS swager tool it works great, only issue I had was the rod that goes inside of the case, trying to stab the case up into it while your bringing up the press I managed to ruin a couple cases then I just took it to the grinder and chamfered the end its all good now.
 
Don't know where you would find the RCBS swaging tool for $30.00 bucks as I was at Cabelas yesterday and they were asking $93.00 dollars for one but they are always high. I like the chamfer tool idea.
 
Had the RCBS swagging die for many years. Took care of crimped primer pockets easily. Both large and small. If you don't like it you can always sell it. Believe you will like it though.
 
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