Hornady vs. Federal brass (primer pocket)

[quikcolin]

Hey gang,

New to reloading. I have reloaded 100 Hornady 223 cartridges. Everything went smoothly and using a hand held primer tool, the primers went in like butter.

Last night I reloaded 10 rounds of federal 223 brass and the primers almost didn’t fit into the primer pockets. They went in, but I had to push the heck out of them. So much so that the edge of the primer would curl off a little material (primer material) on a few rounds ?.

Both with CCI 450 primers.

Should I put some lube in the primer pocket? Will this help the primers go into Federal?

I’ve read that federal primer pockets are “loose” but mine are the complete opposite!

 

[Snuby642]

No lube.

 

[CBeck]

Are the primer pockets crimped?

 

[padom]

Hornady is soft. Doesnt last as long as others. Federal also.

Get some LC and make sure they are swagged

 

[Snuby642]

Research primer pocket swager.
Many styles to choose from.

Inexpensive reamer style and a drill motor work for 100 lots of brass or less.
If you do more you will want somethin better soon.

Brass stamped rem 223 may not be crimped, far as I know all 5.56 nato brass is.

 

[eightyeight mag]

I prefer tight primer pockets to loose ones myself

 

[quikcolin]

They were so tight that one of them couldn’t seat fully and the cartridge rim was bent in the shell holder.

I’ll snap a photo

 

[quikcolin]

 

[Snuby642]

Round ring, around pocket is a crimp.

 

[Snuby642]

Head stamp 223 may or may not be crimped.
Fc is

 

[Snuby642]

Look up some swage removal tools vidios.

 

[quikcolin]

Look up some swage removal tools vidios.

I see they have them for large auto machines, is there a handheld option?

 

[padom]

I see they have them for large auto machines, is there a handheld option?

Yes, I have this one as an attachment on my case prep station.

Amazon.com : RCBS 90386 TM Military Crimp Remover, 2 Small : Gunsmithing Tools And Accessories : Gateway

Amazon.com : RCBS 90386 TM Military Crimp Remover, 2 Small : Gunsmithing Tools And Accessories : Gateway

www.amazon.com

 

[Snuby642]

Inexpensive works well and you can chuck the reamers in a drill.

Lyman Case Prep Multi Tool

The Lyman Case Prep Multi-Tool is a unique case prep tool that provides the reloader with all the essential case prep accessories in one compact,...

www.midwayusa.com

Also a vidio.

 

[quikcolin]

Thank you so much guys! My local gun shop has the Lyman. I have 300 of these crimped cases, so might as well bite the bullet and buy the thing . Thanks again!

 

[spife7980]

Tools are great but I’d rather just get brass with no crimps than to decrimp.

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[XLR308]

The one padom suggested works good and there is no set up or fiddling with adjustments.
I bought that one first and then the RCBS swagging kit for large and small primers.