Blazer brass reloading problem

Oldshooter60 · February 19, 2015, 02:18 AM

I'm loading .45ACP and find that I cannot get my CCI large pistol primers to seat on any blazer brass. I use a Lee single stage press to seat the primers.

All other brass work just fine... Winchester, Remington, Aguila, etc etc

Just the blazer is the problem....

Thoughts?

Oldshooter60 · February 19, 2015, 02:22 AM

Oh... Blazer has small primer pocket...

Gravedigger56 · February 19, 2015, 05:24 AM

Ooops.

Is there any listings that show what size primers different manuf. brass require? Might save things like this from happening.

Snyper · February 19, 2015, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Is there any listings that show what size primers different manuf. brass require? Might save things like this from happening

Reloading manuals tell you, but just looking is usually good enough

overthere · February 19, 2015, 08:29 AM

Some headstamps, like Blazer and FC come in both small or large primer pocket so visual inspection is necessary

**Unclenick** · February 19, 2015, 08:48 AM

I believe it's the result of green ammo. The lead-free primers use DDNT instead of lead styphnate. DDNT has higher brissance, one consequence of which is it makes gas so fast it can pop a primer loose in a large pistol case. So, for large pistol they had to drill the primer pocket flash holes larger to vent the gas faster, and you can find some LP primer pocket cases labeled NT for non-toxic that have larger 1/8" flash holes to accommodate those primers. Then somebody realized that flash holes in small primer pockets are proportionally larger than the primer diameter already, so why not use small primer pockets for .45 Auto and then the cases don't have to have different flash holes for standard and NT primers. Voila, simplification and lower bulk primer costs for small standard primers in the first place.

It's a win-win for the ammo manufacturers, as long as everyone's firing pins are well enough centered. Only the handloader loses, as when the odd LP primer goes off against an SP case in his loading gear, and because he has to sort the two types of case.

TimSr · February 19, 2015, 08:59 AM

I'm trying to understand the OP. Are you trying to seat large pistol primers in brass that takes a small pistol primer?

Would small pistols primers not be the simple solution?

What am I missing in this thread?

**Unclenick** · February 19, 2015, 10:26 AM

He was probably priming mixed brass and kept finding the LP primers wouldn't go into those cases that had the Blazer headstamp. Then he looked closer and noted the small primer pocket and ceased trying to seat LP primers in them. Issue resolved.

mikld · February 19, 2015, 02:13 PM

The major "problem" with small primer 45 ACP is the lack of inspection by the reloader prior to primer stuffin'...

All the 45 ACP range pickups I bring home gets a quick inspection to remove steel cases then it goes into the tumbler (the only brass of mine to get polished is 45 ACP and 30-06 so I can find them in the dirt). Then I inspect for defects and headstamp (don't want any Amec brass) and while looking at the head, I glance at the primer. Small primers go into my "Later Bucket" and the other brass goes into the "Now Bucker" for reloading...

Oldshooter60 · February 19, 2015, 11:59 PM

Yep... Mixed brass... Never thought to consider there would be a primer size diff.... Should have figured it out sooner

**44 AMP** · February 20, 2015, 01:41 AM

small primer pockets in .45acp brass is a fairly recent thing. (fairly recent to me means in the last decade or two

)

On those rare occasions I get some, I toss them. I've got enough .45 brass I can do that and not worry. It simply doesn't wear out if you do things right. Well, almost. Inferior stuff (no matter who's headstamp) will crack eventually, but they seem to last forever.

I've got a couple cases headstamped RA 18 that I have loaded probably a couple dozen times since the 1970s. They're in my "plinker" brass, and every so often, they come up for reloading. Still working just fine as of their last cycle.

Does it get better than that?

No small pistol primer .45acps for me, thanks!

hartcreek · February 20, 2015, 01:48 AM

Same thing happens with 7.62x39.

February 19, 2015, 02:18 AM	#1
Oldshooter60 Member Join Date: February 9, 2015 Posts: 34	Blazer brass reloading problem I'm loading .45ACP and find that I cannot get my CCI large pistol primers to seat on any blazer brass. I use a Lee single stage press to seat the primers. All other brass work just fine... Winchester, Remington, Aguila, etc etc Just the blazer is the problem.... Thoughts?

February 19, 2015, 08:48 AM	#6
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	I believe it's the result of green ammo. The lead-free primers use DDNT instead of lead styphnate. DDNT has higher brissance, one consequence of which is it makes gas so fast it can pop a primer loose in a large pistol case. So, for large pistol they had to drill the primer pocket flash holes larger to vent the gas faster, and you can find some LP primer pocket cases labeled NT for non-toxic that have larger 1/8" flash holes to accommodate those primers. Then somebody realized that flash holes in small primer pockets are proportionally larger than the primer diameter already, so why not use small primer pockets for .45 Auto and then the cases don't have to have different flash holes for standard and NT primers. Voila, simplification and lower bulk primer costs for small standard primers in the first place. It's a win-win for the ammo manufacturers, as long as everyone's firing pins are well enough centered. Only the handloader loses, as when the odd LP primer goes off against an SP case in his loading gear, and because he has to sort the two types of case. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

February 19, 2015, 10:26 AM	#8
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	He was probably priming mixed brass and kept finding the LP primers wouldn't go into those cases that had the Blazer headstamp. Then he looked closer and noted the small primer pocket and ceased trying to seat LP primers in them. Issue resolved. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

February 19, 2015, 02:13 PM	#9
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	The major "problem" with small primer 45 ACP is the lack of inspection by the reloader prior to primer stuffin'... All the 45 ACP range pickups I bring home gets a quick inspection to remove steel cases then it goes into the tumbler (the only brass of mine to get polished is 45 ACP and 30-06 so I can find them in the dirt). Then I inspect for defects and headstamp (don't want any Amec brass) and while looking at the head, I glance at the primer. Small primers go into my "Later Bucket" and the other brass goes into the "Now Bucker" for reloading... __________________ My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees... Last edited by mikld; February 19, 2015 at 02:19 PM.

February 20, 2015, 01:41 AM	#11
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,839	small primer pockets in .45acp brass is a fairly recent thing. (fairly recent to me means in the last decade or two ) On those rare occasions I get some, I toss them. I've got enough .45 brass I can do that and not worry. It simply doesn't wear out if you do things right. Well, almost. Inferior stuff (no matter who's headstamp) will crack eventually, but they seem to last forever. I've got a couple cases headstamped RA 18 that I have loaded probably a couple dozen times since the 1970s. They're in my "plinker" brass, and every so often, they come up for reloading. Still working just fine as of their last cycle. Does it get better than that? No small pistol primer .45acps for me, thanks! __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

February 19, 2015, 02:22 AM	#2
Oldshooter60 Member Join Date: February 9, 2015 Posts: 34	Oh... Blazer has small primer pocket...

February 19, 2015, 05:24 AM	#3
Gravedigger56 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2015 Location: Indiana Posts: 125	Ooops. Is there any listings that show what size primers different manuf. brass require? Might save things like this from happening.

February 19, 2015, 08:29 AM	#5
overthere Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2012 Posts: 290	Some headstamps, like Blazer and FC come in both small or large primer pocket so visual inspection is necessary

February 19, 2015, 08:59 AM	#7
TimSr Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Rittman, Ohio Posts: 2,074	I'm trying to understand the OP. Are you trying to seat large pistol primers in brass that takes a small pistol primer? Would small pistols primers not be the simple solution? What am I missing in this thread?

February 19, 2015, 11:59 PM	#10
Oldshooter60 Member Join Date: February 9, 2015 Posts: 34	Yep... Mixed brass... Never thought to consider there would be a primer size diff.... Should have figured it out sooner

February 20, 2015, 01:48 AM	#12
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	Same thing happens with 7.62x39.