Loose primer pockets - when is it too loose?

[lte82]

What signs do you all consider the final straw when determinjng when primer pockets are too loose? Gas seeping past the primer causing visible black marks? Primer just falls out on its own?

Ive got a batch of brass that hasnt leaked, or at least visibly leaked past the primer, but I can now seat a primer about 1/2 of the way with my fingers. Maybe I can get one more firing out of it?

 

[wvlapua]

A bench rest guy once told me its too loose when you tightly hold the neck of case between your index finger and thumb, and the primer backs out with a whipping motion. Kinda hard to describe, but like you are cracking a whip.

Leaking would definitely be a sign. You may also try different brand primers you will be surprised with the difference in size.

 

[armorpl8chikn]

Seat them only half way with finger pressure? Probably got one or two left in them. I would fire them one more time, collect them and put the pliers to the neck.

 

[rdinak]

try some wolf primers and see what you get

 

[HAZORD]

It's too loose when it says FC or Federal on the headstamp and it has been fired at least once. I consider them too loose if they don't resist a new primer being inserted.

 

[lte82]

This is all winchester 223 brass, going on its 5th loading. The primers definitely dont come out once pushed in, so I'll give them one more round for now and see what happens.

Ill also look into the wolf primers, thanks for the heads up on that.

 

[Bob 964]

If I don't "feel" any resistance when seating the primer, I consider it to be too loose.

 

[superde]

If they go in with no resistance, squish them in a little, mark with an X, and throw them away when you are done practicing with them. I had 100 pieces of Lapua 223AI brass that I had loaded stout on the second loading (after the original fire forming). The primers offered no resistance when going in, so I "crimped"/squished them in. I lost 2 primers under recoil in the mag out of the 100.

 

[mtrmn]

If I don't feel resistance, and/or the primer backs out when I hit the tilted case rim on my workbench-they get trashed. I'd rather not risk a plasma jet cutting a ring in my bolt face. Doesn't take very many rounds to do this.

 

[witchhunter]

I seat primers by hand to feel for loose primers. when they are easy to push in, like you say, half way in with your fingers, they are too loose. Use a sharpie to mark them and toss em after this firing. It's not worth it to put yourself in danger.

 

[Pinecone]

I think it was here, someone cut off a sizing die and pushed cases all the way through to size down including the rim. They were able to tighten the primer pocket with this.

 

[Unknown]

My primer pockets are fine..there is not much resistance so I seat them with a hammer and center punch.(yeah, I know, Darwin is gonna get me)

 

[TRAAV]

When I feel no resistance I bounce them on the bench at a 45* angle. If the primer backs out I put a dab of supper glue on it and push it all the way in and mark it to toss after that firing (I wouldnt do this match ammo just range work)

 

[turbo54]

When I feel no resistance I bounce them on the bench at a 45* angle. If the primer backs out I put a dab of supper glue on it and push it all the way in and mark it to toss after that firing (I wouldnt do this match ammo just range work)

Funny, those are the ones I *take* to matches where I'm likely to loose a lot of brass!

 

[BuzzBoss915]

I don't know how to explain a "feel" but when I have a primer slip in easily, I toss it and don't bother trying to recover the primer. It don't take too many miles on a washboard road to shake a primer loose, not withstanding rounds in the magazine, under recoil. Especially talking 223 brass. Maybe a big magnum case might be different for some people since they are a lot more expensive, but not me. A loose primer pocket gets tossed, regardless. BB

 

[918v]

What signs do you all consider the final straw when determinjng when primer pockets are too loose? Gas seeping past the primer causing visible black marks? Primer just falls out on its own?

Ive got a batch of brass that hasnt leaked, or at least visibly leaked past the primer, but I can now seat a primer about 1/2 of the way with my fingers. Maybe I can get one more firing out of it?

Toss them unless you want to replace the bolt due to erosion. Leaking primer means cases are done.

 

[sakobob]

It's too loose when it says FC or Federal on the headstamp and it has been fired at least once. I consider them too loose if they don't resist a new primer being inserted.

boy ain't that the truth!