Wallered Pockets??

Point Blank · August 23, 2001, 01:42 PM

Finally got the chance to use my Lee auto prime (handheld) last week. After getting home from the range yesterday i decided to deprime my shells.For some reason they only took a very light tap for them to come out. They were seated properly and all below the rim both before and after shooting.They never came out this easy using a mallet and the rod method (Lee Loadall kit).The brass has been used 4 times now,has the brass gave up the ghost,or am i doing something wrong seating the primers?? When seating using the primer tool i squeeze the handle fully closed and they all "seem" fully seated below the rim. Thanks for any replies...BTW...these are 30-06 shells loaded below max. with no excessive pressure signs to primer or brass.

kurt IA. · August 23, 2001, 02:01 PM

If the brass is only 4 reloads, and not hot loads, it should be a long way from shot. I have worn out hafe a doezen lee primering tools and never had any trouble. Do you clean the primer pockets? This could lead to loseing, as could a change in primers, or it could be that the force of your deprimer is so much greater that it just feels lose. If the force to seat the primer feels good to you, and there not backing out on fireing, I would not wory. I always prime till I feel the primer just touch bottom of the pocket you don,t want to cursh it.

Point Blank · August 23, 2001, 06:57 PM

Yes, i "sorta" clean my brass.I take a small screwdriver and gently scrape the pocket then boil the brass in some dishwashing detergent,then Q-tip the pockets again for any residue.

Peter M. Eick · August 23, 2001, 07:49 PM

Maybe a soft lot of brass????

Have you tried a different manufacturer of brass?

Have you cross checked your load with another manual?

Have you calibrated your reloading scale??

For starters.

kurt IA. · August 23, 2001, 09:51 PM

Point Blank, I would use a pocket clearner, like one of the wire brush ones or a carbied uni former type to clean. The screwdriver could be shaveing the sides. I don't think I would boil them. To aneal brass you heat it, in a dark place, till it just turns red then quinch, wile keeping the head cool, wile I don't think 212deg will soften them, it just mite. And as Peter said could just be soft brass.

Point Blank · August 23, 2001, 10:14 PM

I am not to the point where i seperate my brass yet so they are a mixed bag of good 30-06 brass. My scale is dead on,i calibrate it with items of known weight each time i reload. Guess i will stop boiling it to clean it.Funny thing is this problem started after using the auto prime.Using Lee's depriming tool and a mallet these that were primed with the "auto prime" take a couple of very light taps when before it took several stiff taps before they came out. Last thing,what little accuracy i was getting went to the dogs this last trip to the range.I am going to take my caliper to every square inch of that shot brass before i reload it again(even the pocket).Thanks for the advice though!!! I will start looking for a "pocket tool" also.

Big Bunny · August 23, 2001, 10:15 PM

PB...I would go for harder/different brand - not undersized primers- being part of the problem.

But if you are now using a proper press after the LEE LOADER...welcome to canny mechanical leverage not sheer brute mass!
It makes a hell of difference!
But I still love my LEE LOADERS for emergencies and 'insurance' loading....and my LEE AUTO PRIME - of course!

If not hot- loaded(are you sure ?-how are you sure?) primer pocket cleaning damage also can contribute to cases wearing out.

Primers are best "bottomed" to 'arm' them, anything less is unreliable IMHO. Marking and crushing is bad, they should look the same on top loaded as they were in the packet/tray.

BB

kurt IA. · August 24, 2001, 08:15 AM

After re reading your first post, you say you squeze the handle close. I think you may be crushing the primer. Try to seat till you feel the primer bottom out, and no more. Give it a try, and let us know what you find.

August 23, 2001, 01:42 PM	#1
Point Blank Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2000 Location: Armpit of the South...Atlanta Posts: 516	Wallered Pockets?? Finally got the chance to use my Lee auto prime (handheld) last week. After getting home from the range yesterday i decided to deprime my shells.For some reason they only took a very light tap for them to come out. They were seated properly and all below the rim both before and after shooting.They never came out this easy using a mallet and the rod method (Lee Loadall kit).The brass has been used 4 times now,has the brass gave up the ghost,or am i doing something wrong seating the primers?? When seating using the primer tool i squeeze the handle fully closed and they all "seem" fully seated below the rim. Thanks for any replies...BTW...these are 30-06 shells loaded below max. with no excessive pressure signs to primer or brass.

August 23, 2001, 07:49 PM	#4
Peter M. Eick Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 1999 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,991	Maybe a soft lot of brass???? Have you tried a different manufacturer of brass? Have you cross checked your load with another manual? Have you calibrated your reloading scale?? For starters. __________________ 10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!

August 23, 2001, 10:15 PM	#7
Big Bunny Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 1999 Location: New South Wales - Australia Posts: 605	PB...I would go for harder/different brand - not undersized primers- being part of the problem. But if you are now using a proper press after the LEE LOADER...welcome to canny mechanical leverage not sheer brute mass! It makes a hell of difference! But I still love my LEE LOADERS for emergencies and 'insurance' loading....and my LEE AUTO PRIME - of course! If not hot- loaded(are you sure ?-how are you sure?) primer pocket cleaning damage also can contribute to cases wearing out. Primers are best "bottomed" to 'arm' them, anything less is unreliable IMHO. Marking and crushing is bad, they should look the same on top loaded as they were in the packet/tray. BB __________________ Bad boys, bad boys...watcha goin' to do - watcha goin' to do when they come for YOU ?!

August 23, 2001, 02:01 PM	#2
kurt IA. Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2001 Location: Iowa Posts: 141	If the brass is only 4 reloads, and not hot loads, it should be a long way from shot. I have worn out hafe a doezen lee primering tools and never had any trouble. Do you clean the primer pockets? This could lead to loseing, as could a change in primers, or it could be that the force of your deprimer is so much greater that it just feels lose. If the force to seat the primer feels good to you, and there not backing out on fireing, I would not wory. I always prime till I feel the primer just touch bottom of the pocket you don,t want to cursh it.

August 23, 2001, 06:57 PM	#3
Point Blank Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2000 Location: Armpit of the South...Atlanta Posts: 516	Yes, i "sorta" clean my brass.I take a small screwdriver and gently scrape the pocket then boil the brass in some dishwashing detergent,then Q-tip the pockets again for any residue.

August 23, 2001, 09:51 PM	#5
kurt IA. Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2001 Location: Iowa Posts: 141	Point Blank, I would use a pocket clearner, like one of the wire brush ones or a carbied uni former type to clean. The screwdriver could be shaveing the sides. I don't think I would boil them. To aneal brass you heat it, in a dark place, till it just turns red then quinch, wile keeping the head cool, wile I don't think 212deg will soften them, it just mite. And as Peter said could just be soft brass.

August 23, 2001, 10:14 PM	#6
Point Blank Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2000 Location: Armpit of the South...Atlanta Posts: 516	I am not to the point where i seperate my brass yet so they are a mixed bag of good 30-06 brass. My scale is dead on,i calibrate it with items of known weight each time i reload. Guess i will stop boiling it to clean it.Funny thing is this problem started after using the auto prime.Using Lee's depriming tool and a mallet these that were primed with the "auto prime" take a couple of very light taps when before it took several stiff taps before they came out. Last thing,what little accuracy i was getting went to the dogs this last trip to the range.I am going to take my caliper to every square inch of that shot brass before i reload it again(even the pocket).Thanks for the advice though!!! I will start looking for a "pocket tool" also.

August 24, 2001, 08:15 AM	#8
kurt IA. Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2001 Location: Iowa Posts: 141	After re reading your first post, you say you squeze the handle close. I think you may be crushing the primer. Try to seat till you feel the primer bottom out, and no more. Give it a try, and let us know what you find.