Primer pocket/case question

NoShot

NoShot

New member
Yesterday was my first time prepping brass, so please bare with the new guy question.

As I was priming cases,(started with L.C. cases) but then switched to Federal cases(American Eagle), and am having a real hard time priming the pockets! (the L.C. and Hornady brass were quite easy to prime.)

Hard enough that I quit trying.

First picture is of a once fired Federal case. The pocket appears to not be "centered" (thicker area of the rim on the right side?)?
brass2.jpg


Is this why I am having such a hard time? Is there anything that can be done? I used a dental pick and there is not a lip on the inside..

A Hornady case for reference. looks centered to me..
brass1.jpg

My question is, looking at the different pockets, Are the Federal cases just throw away, or can you open them up to fit the small rifle primer?

Or am I just not doing something correctly here?
 
Originally Posted By: NoShotYesterday was my first time prepping brass, so please bare with the new guy question.

As I was priming cases,(started with L.C. cases) but then switched to Federal cases(American Eagle), and am having a real hard time priming the pockets! (the L.C. and Hornady brass were quite easy to prime.)

Hard enough that I quit trying.

First picture is of a once fired Federal case. The pocket appears to not be "centered" (thicker area of the rim on the right side?)?
brass2.jpg


Is this why I am having such a hard time? Is there anything that can be done? I used a dental pick and there is not a lip on the inside..

A Hornady case for reference. looks centered to me..
brass1.jpg

My question is, looking at the different pockets, Are the Federal cases just throw away, or can you open them up to fit the small rifle primer?

Or am I just not doing something correctly here?



The pocket is centered, it is the crimp that is not centered (which is common).

But... it appears that the crimp has not been removed, which is why you are having a lot of difficulty putting a new primer in.

Look at the picture of the Hornady case - see the shiny bevel at the edge of the primer pocket - that is where the crimp has been cut out.

Look at the FC case - see the sharp edge that overhands the pocket - you must remove that or the new primers won't go in.

you can do that with a chamfer / deburring tool - the same one that you use the take the edge off of the mouth.

One of these puppies:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/742818/hornady-chamfer-and-deburring-tool-17-to-45-caliber




 
If you try the deburring tool method just be sure not to remove too much material.One good twist should do.Start out slow and test how much you need to deburr to get the primers to seat.Thats what I did and still do.Good Luck!!
 
First of all. Good to see you are back Turtle. Looks like the prayers worked.
smile.gif


Yup looks like a crimp to me. A bit more work but the case is still usable. Not a throw away case at all.
 
Thank you for your replies and the help!

I have around 600 FC cases, thinking i'll start smaller lots and get a wrist wrap for all the twisting needed.. haha.

Thanks again!
 
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