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one of us |
I was priming some cases last night for my .338 WM, and I threw quite a few away because the primer seemed to go into the pocket too easily. There was not the sliding resistance you can usually feel as it seats. However, they all seemed solid, and I don't know how to tell objectively what's a good case and what's junk when it comes to the primer pocket. Am I throwing away good cases? They are all polished up and trimmed, and thoroughly checked for obvious signs of wear. They just don't "feel" right when I seat the primer. By the way, I'm using an RCBS Rockchucker press and full-length sizing dies for all operations. kk | ||
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One of Us |
The .338 WM is a serious round and I'd want my primers "correctly" seated....not loose as you describe. I'd throw away cases that didn't correctly hold a primer. One of the causes of oversize primer pockets is excess pressure of your loads. I suggest you check to see if maybe pressures have escalated on you. I use a micrometer and carefully measure the belt diameter just foreward of the extractor groove. If after firing, the diameter is larger even by as much as .0003, the pressure is excessive and will grow the primer pockets. This works for me when I need to know what's going on inside the chamber instead of guessing by looking at flatness of primers. | |||
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| one of us |
If a primer seats without resistance, it's time to toss the case. However, most of us gauge resistance with a thumb-operated priming tool. I'm not sure how sensitive you can be with a compound leverage loading press when seating primers. I recommend you spend a few bucks for a handy little Lee priming tool (or RCBS if you prefer spending more money), then you can easily tell the difference in over-sized pockets and those that are still safe. | |||
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How many times have these cases been used? | |||
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| one of us |
kk, here's a question for you: Were the cases in question Federal by any chance? I've found that as a rule, Federal primer pockets are a bit softer and larger than other brands, and this is why I'm told Federal primers are slightly larger. That said, I find that Federal cases work fine for a number of loads, even with slightly looser primer pockets. But the primer pocket issue is one of my pet peeves with Federal brass. | |||
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Hi, Gatehouse: I can't say for sure. Maybe four or five. P-17: Yup. Federal brass. kk | |||
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one of us |
I allways find that Win primers seat a tad looser than the Fed ones. What P-17 says make sense. | |||
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| one of us |
4 or 5 times is probably about where primer pockets can POSSIBLY start to get loose with normal loads. However, double check your load for powder charge and make sure that you aren't experiencing any over pressure signs. Remember that nothing is exactly the same in the reloading world.. I've primed with a Rockchucker, and you shoudl also know that it is extrremely powerful, so primers might 'go in easy,' but if it feels different, it probably is... | |||
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| one of us |
I've just had this exact thing happen with my 257 Weatherby brass using CCI primers. Some went in with very little resistance. Just like kk said, I primed using the Rock Chucker and the cases showed no sign of fatigue. With that said, what can I expect to happen if I fire these? Will the primer back out? Blow back through the bolt? | |||
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| one of us |
quote:Hi, Savage: With all due respect, there is no question in the quote. Among many impied questions, I don't think the primers are "loose," but they may be. They don't wiggle or move under thumb pressure. SOME of them just went in too easy, and I threw them out. I have used many loads. I probably have about 150 cases, SOME of which were used to work up loads with 250 gr. Nosler Partitions, 250 gr. Sierra Game Kings and 225 gr. NPs. In working up a load, you add more powder to find out if you gain any accuracy. My best load so far is 64 gr. of IMR 4350 with 250 NPs, which is at the low end of the Nosler Manual's guide. I have also seated the bullets at different depths. I used a micrometer on some cases and got .532 on the belt, which is what it should be. My micrometer doesn't read 100-thousandths. I had some signs of overpressure when I had the bullets seated further forward than they are now, in that I got some cratering on the primer. I did not, however, throw those cases away. It seems to me that excess pressure inside the case would compress, not expand,the primer pocket, but hey! I'm a novice. FWIW, I am using Winchester WLRM primers. kk | |||
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| one of us |
Excessive pressure expands the case head and primer pocket. When primers start going in easier, it is generally an indication of case head expansion (unless you changed primer brand or did something else to change the situation), and the cases should be discarded. If that happens after 5 or so reloads, your pressure is about right for a maximum load in a modern, high intensity cartridge, in my opinion. For practice or target loads, you can back off a hair and easily double case life. Sometimes those slightly reduced loads will be more accurate, which means the rifle is trying to tell you something. | |||
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Hi, KLN: Thanks. I suspected as much. I am already using the lowest recommended load for the 250 gr. Nosler Partition @ 64 gr. of IMR 4350 and the gun is doing superbly for accuracy. While I would like to pump up the speed a bit, 2,510 fps muzzle velocity in a .338 cal. bullet weighing 250 gr. should take care of my rabbit and squirrel needs. Or bear. kk | |||
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I'd try switching to a different brand of brass first, before doing anything else. | |||
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| <JohnT> |
I find that Winchester primers in Winchester cases go in without much effort at all, feels loose util I noticed it was the same with new brass. No problems in practice even with maximum loads. I've noticed this in 22-250, 25-06 & .375 H&H. Especially noticeable on the H&H. If you use Fed 215 primers though on the same cases or even after more firings you find that it takes much more effort to seat. I use a Lee Auto Prime. So you have to get used to the effort required on your particular primer/brass combination. Suggest you start with new unprimed brass & go from there. Regards JohnT | ||
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| new member |
Kk, If you don't want to throw the cases away and you want to fix them, there is an inexpensive way to fix this loose primer pocket problem and you may never throw another case away because of loose primer pockets. ![[Wink]](images/icons/wink.gif){kind=icon} Ok, here is what you do, go to the store and buy some 00, 000 Steel wool. Tare you off a piece and roll it tight till it will fit snug in the primer pocket, press down and give it a few circular twist and try a primer. One warning here if you get over aggressive with this you will never get another primer in that pocket. It will knurl the primer pocket walls till it will be impossible to seat a primer without smoothing the pocket. Never do this if the pocket is not loose, Trust me!!!!!! All Brass has different properties some case lots will expand more than others after a few shots, hence after 3 are 4 shot's primer pockets will also expand on these lots. There is nothing wrong with the case and believe it or not, most of the time after firing several more times the brass will harden and case growth will become common with your other brass. Also pocket expansion will become nominal. Hope this helps.[ 08-27-2003, 03:16: Message edited by: FreeBird LAL ] | |||
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