I was reloading some .223 last night and noticed that I really had to exert a lot of pressure to get the primer into the Federal Brass. I was using Remington Small Rifle Primers. This was the first time I used Federal Cases as I had shot off some factory rounds the previous day. I followed the same steps I always do, resized the cases, cleaned out the primer pocket and then tumbled them for approx 4 hours. Of course before priming I made sure there was no media left in the pocket or flash hole. All primers went in easy except into the Federal Cases, then it was time for the leather gloves and safety glasses as I really had to use some muscle. The primers seated as they should but what I want to know is:
-Has anyone else had similar problems
-And should the reloads be okay to use
I have reloaded a lot of Winchester and Remington Brass and never had this problem before.
Thanks gents, just checking as never used Federal Brass before in reloads. And I'm assuming that the primers will go in easier next time I use the case.
Hmm, I dont recall running into that with Federal cases but I dont recall having reloaded any of them for some time now. I usually use Remington and Winchester cases as I have the same accuracy with, and a greater abundance of, either.
I will have to try to keep that in mind for next reload session.
Make sure you uniform the primer pockets etc before you prime the cases. Lyman makes a pretty nifty little hand tool that does it. I wouldnt be too worried, if they were very loose when you seated them in, then I would be worried. When they get loose, discard that brass and get new tighter fitting brass.
I knew a man that never reamed military pockets out,just forced the primers in.They looked terrible but he said he never had one go off seating them,and I never saw him have a misfire.Presmashed primers.I never tried it myself.This was .223cal. sam.
That would make me nervous. Were they milsurp or store bought Federals? If milsurp, the primers are crimped in place. If storebought, I would not load them again. Better safe than sorry. Somethin' aint right.
Nope just normal Federal Factory Rounds .223 55 grain soft point. The only cases I use are from ammo I have shot off or Winchester Cases I buy at my local Gun Shop. I'll probably just get rid of the cases from the rest of the Federal Ammo when I use it.
Howdy: I am looking right now for a different primer pocket reamer. I have always had trouble with government .223 or 5.56 brass but never Federal. I have about four thousand to do and my normal reamer cuts my hands. I prefer a small hand reamer, got any suggestions.
Funny, I was just loading some FC cases today in .223. Some primer pockets were so tight, I had to go to my Lee Ramprime from my Lee Autoprimer handheld unit. Had to throw out about 6 cases from 150 empties because the rims got damaged from trying to prime them.
Some cases are crimped, and almost all the military are. Crimps can be removed with RCBS decrimping tool. Remington primers are a bit harder than most of the other brands and do not compress as easily to fit the pocket. Keep in mind that when installing primers to go SLOW. No quick movements.
Some cases are crimped, and almost all the military are. Crimps can be removed with RCBS decrimping tool. Remington primers are a bit harder than most of the other brands and do not compress as easily to fit the pocket. Keep in mind that when installing primers to go SLOW. No quick movements.
I did think about that. But the primer pockets did not look crimped and I did run a Lee pocket primer cleaner through them all first.
I was reloading 9mm recently and had the same problem of tight primer pockets in 9mm brass marked F C which I assume is Federal Cartridge and also cases marked with the nato crosshairs symbol, these were winchester small pistol primers.
I was reloading 9mm recently and had the same problem of tight primer pockets in 9mm brass marked F C which I assume is Federal Cartridge and also cases marked with the nato crosshairs symbol, these were winchester small pistol primers.
If they were nato marked, that means they were almost definitely crimped in primers.
