reloading LC 5.56 brass

rebs · September 23, 2013, 06:30 PM

I bought some processed LC brass in 5.56 and I found some still had part of the primer crimp in them and had to be reamed. Some others the primer seated hard, some seated normal and some seated very easy. Does this sound like once fired brass or maybe a mix of once fired and some more than once fired ?

Kimber84 · September 23, 2013, 06:58 PM

Depends on how systematic you were on reaming? I've strayed from reaming and now use a swaging tool, I feel they are much more uniform as compared to my reaming technique ( it was very primitive). I've noticed since I've begun using the RCBS swaging tool that primer seating pressure feels much more uniform.

rebs · September 24, 2013, 06:43 AM

I am thinking you are right that it depends on how uniform the primer pockets were swagged or reamed. This is all LC 5.56 but different year stamp so I guess that figures into the equation also, unless you sorted by year and adjusted the swag for each year group, right ?

zcrenna · September 25, 2013, 11:53 PM

I had a big batch of LC brass. Supposed to have all been once fired. Which I believe it was.
Reamed the crimp by hand and had the exact same experience. It's all about uniformity

snuffy · September 26, 2013, 12:01 AM

Reamed? How? With one of these;?
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/253...ter-head-small

If you meant you were using a case mouth chamfer tool, it's very hard to be consistent with one of those. Some even use a pocket knife or a big drill bit. The above Hornady tool works great for getting rid of the primer crimp, AND it can't ream too deep.

m&p45acp10+1 · September 26, 2013, 04:04 PM

I always start with the primer pocket cleaner, not to clean, rather to check the size of the primer poclekt. If the cleaner will go it then no reaming is needed. If it does not fit then I use the manual Lyman small primer pocket reamer in a cordless screwdriver. It goes slow so I do not have to worry about over reaming.

rebs · September 26, 2013, 05:17 PM

the ones I asked about were swagged with a dillon swagger. Maybe because its all LC but different year dates ?

Marco Califo · September 26, 2013, 05:40 PM

I do not think the variance from year to year is an issue. Much more likely explanation is how uniformly they were processed: how much force was used. That is why I prefer to get LC from GIBrass.com which has a machine that does it (not the Dillion tool, which is a good one).

Jimro · September 27, 2013, 02:39 AM

Even if you get processed brass from gibrass.com you'll still feel a variance in primer seating pressure. It is just the nature of buying once fired brass with mixed years and manufacturers. It is good brass though.

Jimro

September 23, 2013, 06:30 PM	#1
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	reloading LC 5.56 brass I bought some processed LC brass in 5.56 and I found some still had part of the primer crimp in them and had to be reamed. Some others the primer seated hard, some seated normal and some seated very easy. Does this sound like once fired brass or maybe a mix of once fired and some more than once fired ?

September 23, 2013, 06:58 PM	#2
Kimber84 Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2013 Location: US Posts: 455	reloading LC 5.56 brass Depends on how systematic you were on reaming? I've strayed from reaming and now use a swaging tool, I feel they are much more uniform as compared to my reaming technique ( it was very primitive). I've noticed since I've begun using the RCBS swaging tool that primer seating pressure feels much more uniform.

September 26, 2013, 12:01 AM	#5
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	Reamed? How? With one of these;? http://www.midwayusa.com/product/253...ter-head-small If you meant you were using a case mouth chamfer tool, it's very hard to be consistent with one of those. Some even use a pocket knife or a big drill bit. The above Hornady tool works great for getting rid of the primer crimp, AND it can't ream too deep. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

September 26, 2013, 04:04 PM	#6
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	I always start with the primer pocket cleaner, not to clean, rather to check the size of the primer poclekt. If the cleaner will go it then no reaming is needed. If it does not fit then I use the manual Lyman small primer pocket reamer in a cordless screwdriver. It goes slow so I do not have to worry about over reaming. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

September 26, 2013, 05:40 PM	#8
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,598	I do not think the variance from year to year is an issue. Much more likely explanation is how uniformly they were processed: how much force was used. That is why I prefer to get LC from GIBrass.com which has a machine that does it (not the Dillion tool, which is a good one). __________________ ............

September 24, 2013, 06:43 AM	#3
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	I am thinking you are right that it depends on how uniform the primer pockets were swagged or reamed. This is all LC 5.56 but different year stamp so I guess that figures into the equation also, unless you sorted by year and adjusted the swag for each year group, right ?

September 25, 2013, 11:53 PM	#4
zcrenna Member Join Date: February 3, 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 60	I had a big batch of LC brass. Supposed to have all been once fired. Which I believe it was. Reamed the crimp by hand and had the exact same experience. It's all about uniformity

September 26, 2013, 05:17 PM	#7
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	the ones I asked about were swagged with a dillon swagger. Maybe because its all LC but different year dates ?

September 27, 2013, 02:39 AM	#9
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	Even if you get processed brass from gibrass.com you'll still feel a variance in primer seating pressure. It is just the nature of buying once fired brass with mixed years and manufacturers. It is good brass though. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.