Enlarging primer pockets on 45 ACP military brass

[Gene Pool]

Gentlemen,

I am looking for ideas regarding enlarging primer pockets on early WWII 45 ACP military brass.

I acquired about two thousand pieces of new military brass dated 1942. The brass is primed with military corrosive primers of the time. They are easily de-primed, but the primer pockets measure only .2005 inches--smaller than I have ever seen on any brass, commercial or military.

They need to be reamed to a size where they will accept a large pistol primer measuring .2095-.2105 inches. By my calculations, somewhere around .003 inches must be taken out all the way around.

I tried swaging the pockets but to no avail. Brass material must be removed from the sides of the pocket and a little from the bottom.

I tried a hand tool, but there is way too much material needing to be removed to hold the brass by hand.

So, does anyone have experience in such a task? If so, would you tell me how you did it?

Thank you in advance,
Gene Pool

[Snyper]

I'd make a jig to hold the cases, then use a drill press and an end mill, preferably with a pilot to fit the flash hole

Finding the correct sizes may be hard though

[skizzums]

I would personally just stick with the old corrosives and clean well. your going to have to ream each one of those individually, I don't think you can swage em that much.

if you have to use them with new primers, I would say the only way would be to set up a jig and find a drill bit the exact diameter needed, put it on the drill press. if all the brass is trimmed to same height, depth wouldn't be an issue. but regardless, it will be a lot of work for 120$ worth of brass.

maybe someone can steer you to a different primer. I assume you know your gun's enough not to mistake with a small primer. there are some new production that use PP, but I would doubt any old

Primer pocket dimensions and tolerances

Pocket Type/Depth Min/Depth Max/Dimeter Min/iameter Max
Small Rifle/Pistol 0.1170 0.1230 0.1730 0.1745
Large Rifle 0.1250 0.1320 0.2085 0.2100
Large Pistol 0.1170 0.1230 0.2085 0.2100

Primer dimensions and tolerances

Primer Type/ Height Min/Height Max/Diameter Min/Diameter Max
Small Rifle/Pistol 0.1150 0.1250 0.1745 0.1765
Large Rifle 0.1230 0.1330 0.2105 0.2130
Large Pistol 0.1150 0.1250 0.2100 0.2120

this is from jmes k. from a really old thread

That was not always done, though. I have some F.A. .45 M1909 rounds from 1913 that are loaded with small primers

http://thefiringline.com/forums/arch...?t-456795.html
link to thread^^

[jepp2]

If you wanted to send me a few, I will try my Sinclair primer pocket uniformer to see how well it cuts the sides.

[Snyper]

Sinclair primer pocket uniformer

That's the perfect sized end mill

[bbqncigars]

If that's like the Wilson uniformer, then it won't cut the pocket deeper. It will do a great job on the sides and rounding the edges though.

[T. O'Heir]

Colossal waste of your time. That brass is 72 years old. And black brass is corroded. Go buy some new brass.

[Jim Watson]

Frankford Arsenal used an odd sized primer to prevent any possibility of getting rifle primers in pistol ammo or pistol primers in rifle ammo. Once upon a time - 1950s - you could get their primers through the NRA along with a lot of other surplus.

They are listed as .204" diameter, neither standard small .175" or large .210".

If you have primed brass, you had just as well load them up and be prepared to wet clean your gun.

Reaming the primer pockets is going to be a tedious chore. I don't know if a primer pocket uniformer will do the job, mine cuts mainly on the bottom and does not have any entry taper to let it get started in a undersize pocket. Maybe with a rigid heavy drill press or milling machine and a good way to hold the cases...

[chris in va]

Sell for scrap brass, get/buy modern cases. Plenty of sellers on here.

[Gene Pool]

Gentlemen,

Thank you very much for your offers, suggestions, and comments. Even though the brass is beautiful (in the eyes of a reloader), it appears it is not worth the effort and expense to "fix." It also explains why I acquired it in it's original condition. The previous owner, who is now deceased, apparently went through the same motions and had come to the same conclusion. I am merely stepping in his footprints.

Fortunately, I have little invested in it, but it still would have been good to have resurrected it into reloadable condition.

Thanks again,
Gene