The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 13, 2007, 07:07 PM   #26
Anon
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 29, 2006
Posts: 209
.45 ACP. Never clean (or inspect) the primer pockets.

Tumble after firing, the old primer comes out only a second or two before the new primer goes in (progressive reloader).
Anon is offline  
Old January 26, 2007, 11:14 AM   #27
USN_JWS
Member
 
Join Date: January 9, 2007
Location: Pax River Md.
Posts: 37
I use the lee tool thing to clean primer pockets also. It is just part of the fun for me.
USN_JWS is offline  
Old January 26, 2007, 12:56 PM   #28
Edward429451
Junior member
 
Join Date: November 12, 2000
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 9,494
I clean primer pockets. I tried not to after hearing about testing guys have done...I couldn't not do it. Once something is ingrained in you and you try not to do it, it feels like you're leaving a job unfinished. Plus I don't like the possibility of high primers.

Obsessive/compulsive? C'mon, that's low. Us guys that do it could see you as having a half-a$$ed work ethic too Y'know.
Edward429451 is offline  
Old January 26, 2007, 01:03 PM   #29
cdoc42
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 13, 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,674
I have a RCBS electric device that allows you to clean the primer pockets and chamfer/deburr the case mouths. I forget the name of it and I'm not home right now. What I've noticed is crud AND brass comes out when the primer pockets are cleaned. I wonder if I'm actually thinning out the base of the primer pocket, but, then, the cutter is set to only go so deep. That makes me think that brass is flowing toward the base as well as the case mouth from resizing and what I'm doing is thinning out the excess brass. Any thoughts?

Another two cents: I only clean the pockets of rifle brass - I do not clean revolver/pistol brass
cdoc42 is offline  
Old January 26, 2007, 03:49 PM   #30
Oofty Goofty
Junior Member
 
Join Date: January 24, 2007
Posts: 2
Obsessive / Compulsive is a positive character trait in reloaders.
Oofty Goofty is offline  
Old January 26, 2007, 04:14 PM   #31
rickh
Member
 
Join Date: January 10, 2007
Posts: 47
Yes I Do

I clean em all on pistol/rifle, not on shotshell.
I too see crud and tiny amount of brass but thats using the cutting tool and then brush. After the 1000 rounds I have have been reloaded once, I do not think I will need to use the cutter tool, just the brush. I am just as conserend with slam fire from high seated brass as with it looking good.
Maybe its beacuse I am new, but I want my brass to look like new before I start to reload it. Loading for mostly semi autos and only one bolt action 30-06.
Rick H...
rickh is offline  
Old January 27, 2007, 06:54 AM   #32
wilson133
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 4, 2006
Posts: 194
Used to clean 'em, stopped doing it when my tests convinced me that it was pointless for me to do so. Anyone else can do what they please, it's a hobby not a job.
wilson133 is offline  
Old January 28, 2007, 04:39 PM   #33
44 AMP
Staff
 
Join Date: March 11, 2006
Location: Upper US
Posts: 28,677
I clean them

I suppose I don't have to, but I like fondling the brass!

I tumble before sizing, and again afterwards. I clean as I inspect each case for media in the flashole.

I used to use a progressive press, but put it away some years ago. I load in batches, and actually enjoy the process. Maybe I do a little more work than I have to, but I do it for fun.
__________________
All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.
44 AMP is online now  
Old January 29, 2007, 03:23 PM   #34
Peter M. Eick
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 3, 1999
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,991
Rifles? Every darn time. Just part of the regiment so to speak.

Pistols? almost never. (progressive press killed that option).
__________________
10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!
Peter M. Eick is offline  
Old January 29, 2007, 06:06 PM   #35
JustSteve
Member
 
Join Date: February 24, 2006
Location: N.E. Ohio
Posts: 58
I clean them also,definitley makes seating the new primer easier
JustSteve is offline  
Old January 29, 2007, 06:54 PM   #36
amamnn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 13, 2006
Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA
Posts: 1,323
I've always at least checked the primer pocket of every rifle, handgun, or shot shell I've handloaded. It can make a tiny difference in a long distance match grouping if you let the pocket just continue to build up soot. Eventually you get to the point where the primer does not seat right. Some powders and primers leave little gifts for you in there occasionally.

For casual shooters, the difference would probably never be seen. Those people who decap before tumbling should be looking in primer pockets and flash holes after cleaning and you need to inspect pockets of new brass for defects and burrs.

Certainly it will do no harm if you clean the primer pocket every time, and you may catch a problem before it starts.
__________________
"If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal
amamnn is offline  
Old February 2, 2007, 02:29 PM   #37
Williamr
Member
 
Join Date: January 23, 2007
Posts: 18
Cleaning Primer Pocket's

I clean my primer pockets after depriming and tumbleing them. After I ispect them, I clean out any contamination left in the primer pockst. I tumble them for a couple of hours at least befor I inspect them.
Williamr is offline  
Old February 5, 2007, 06:26 PM   #38
1tomcat
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 27, 2005
Posts: 147
I try to always clean them, it helps keep the pressure more consistent when seating new primers
1tomcat is offline  
Old February 13, 2007, 01:48 PM   #39
WestWorld
Member
 
Join Date: March 3, 2006
Location: Oregon
Posts: 48
I like using my RCBS handprime tool... it gives me a good feel for seating the primer. Since the brass is out in my hand after de-priming anyway... I'll mount the primer brush in a drill, clamp it into my bench vice, turn it on slow and clean 500 primer pockets in about 10-15 minutes.

The pile of black crud that comes out make me feel good ( kinda like itching your ear and finding that big chunk of wax on your finger ) and gives me another chance to inspect the brass before I load it.
WestWorld is offline  
Old February 13, 2007, 03:47 PM   #40
ECLIPSE45ACP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 9, 2007
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 177
I do only when working new loads for best accuracy.
ECLIPSE45ACP is offline  
Old February 13, 2007, 04:28 PM   #41
temmi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 13, 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 531
I start with "uniforming" primer pockets... and I clean the pockets each time after that... with steel wool and over RCBS Pocket cleaning tool....
I also use my Deburring tool to be sure the flash holes are clean…
I’m a sick one…. Did I leave my oven on?
temmi is offline  
Old February 13, 2007, 04:37 PM   #42
sasquatch
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 14, 2005
Location: Western WA
Posts: 1,347
I throw my brass away, both rifle and pistol, after being used 10 times. The primer pockets are usually ready for a cleaning by then, but I like my solution better.
__________________
Just my 2¢.
sasquatch is offline  
Old February 13, 2007, 05:23 PM   #43
azredhawk44
Junior member
 
Join Date: September 28, 2005
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 6,465
I clean my .308 primer pockets and also make sure that they are cut to depth to avoid high primers or slamfires.

My 30-30 I don't... it's my sloppy plinker cartridge good for minute-of-soda-can, but we never try for MOA with her. High primers aren't likely to be a problem here, either... each round is inspected for this possibility and it just hasn't been an issue.

None of my handgun ammo gets primer pockets cleaned either.
azredhawk44 is offline  
Old February 14, 2007, 05:06 PM   #44
tharmer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 26, 2006
Location: WA
Posts: 130
temmi, I'm with you. Even if it makes no difference in accuracy, it makes a difference in how I feel about my rounds. When I've done everything I can, I just feel good about the reloads--I trust them--and believe that there is no way I could have made them better.

I think you did leave the oven on...I smell something.
tharmer is offline  
Old February 15, 2007, 08:34 PM   #45
45Marlin carbine
Junior member
 
Join Date: January 26, 2007
Location: South-Western North Carolina
Posts: 1,124
I clean with a RCBS pocket brush my 'good' stuff, i.e. hunting and SHTF stuff with expensive slugs. my plinking/blasting rounds i don't but do check the pockets for excessive crud, have had to clean a few I suspected the primer might not seat right in or flash hole was cruddy.
45Marlin carbine is offline  
Old February 16, 2007, 07:57 PM   #46
G56
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 10, 2004
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 302
I shot PPC competitively in the Master Class, we shot 38 special revolvers out to 50 yards. To shoot in the Master Class you had to average 95% of your shots in the 10 ring out to 50 yards, I never cleaned a primer pocket the entire time I shot competitively, or since then either. I never met a man who was capable of shooting more accurately than his pistol, the shooter is always the weak link in the accuracy department.

I don't clean primer pockets on rifle cartridges either, but there is a little fudge factor in that, the cases are lubed, sized, then tumbled to remove the sizing lube, so they do get a bit of a cleaning in that they are tumbled after the primer is removed, so there is some cleaning going on, but it's less than if a person actually took the time to do it. The residue from the fired primer won't cause a problem seating the new primer, it is so fragile it falls apart when you seat the new primer, and it doesn't really affect anything.
__________________
John
G56 is offline  
Old February 18, 2007, 11:57 AM   #47
flintsghost
Member
 
Join Date: February 8, 2007
Location: Frostbite Falls
Posts: 17
I did that when I started reloading in the late 60's and still do on most of my ammunition. If it's .45acp practice ammo that I'm putting through a progressive then I just tumble it and call it good. If it's precision rifle ammo, I not only clean them but I deburr the flash holes and cut the primer pockets to uniform depth which also cleans them, if it's the first reload or load for virgin cases. On most of my other handguns, I always clean the primer pockets.
flintsghost is offline  
Old February 19, 2007, 09:45 AM   #48
qajaq59
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 15, 2005
Posts: 139
Tired of that "cheap shot"

Quote:
Obsessive / Compulsive is a positive character trait in reloaders.
That's the first time I've seen the phrase "Obsessive / Compulsive" used in a sensible way when it comes to reloading.

Every time the primer pocket subject comes up someone uses that phrase as a "cheap shot".

Soooooo.... If you don't clean the pockets that's fine with me. Have all the dirty pockets you like. But get off the compulsive/ obcessive routine, as it's just plain silly.
qajaq59 is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:37 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.11159 seconds with 10 queries