I bought several hundred 1-fired Hornaday 44magnum cases and finally got around to reloading them last week using a hand priming tool. I deprimed, tumbled clean and started to hand prime Fed LP primers and immediately started having problems getting them to seat. I had to use my large primer reamer to open up the primer pocket on 25% or so of the cases.

Is this normal?

I haven't ever ran in to a 44 mag case that needed reaming

Since some of these were factory loads, I wonder if they crimp the primers for weatherproofing?

The only ammo that I know to be crimped is Military.

quote:

Since some of these were factory loads, I wonder if they crimp the primers for weatherproofing

Visual inspection would show if they were. I have never seen anything but military with a crimp but there are plenty of ammo out there I haven't seen.

All my reloads in the Hornaday brass is stuck behind the snow drifts blocking the barn and my loading bench. I'll check for evidence of crimping once I can get to barn.

All I have for now is the anecdotal experience of ruining LP primers trying to force them into unreamed primer pockets. Since I finished reaming all my cases before I posted the first note in this thread, that may be all I'll ever know on the topic.

I suppose the other line of thought is that the primers may have been oversized. I had no problem fitting them into Starline brass, so that argues that they are in spec.

I had that problem with some .45 ACP brass, and had to ream them.

Large pistol and rifle pockets are difference in depth. Rifle being deeper. The diameter is the same. A search on google shows others have had problems with Hornady 44 mag brass. Claims that there appears to be a crimp type ring??