Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

[wrhunter]

Anyone experience difficulty priming once fired Black Hills Match .308 brass. They are crimped cases that I used a Hornady large rifle crimp reamer on and an RCBS large rifle primer pocket uniformer.

After prepping the primer pockets they are still very tight and take a lot of force with a hand primer compared to once fired Hornady cases.

My only thought is perhaps my Hornady reamer is out of spec and not cutting enough material away.

Mark

 

[Vantastic]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

they crimp the pockets. I had the same problem. Needed a pocket reamer to make it easier to incert the primers. They still were hard to incert.

 

[turbo54]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Vantastic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">they crimp the pockets. I had the same problem. Needed a pocket reamer to make it easier to incert the primers. They still were hard to incert. </div></div>

Yep, they're crimped. I prefer swaging over any cutting method of removal, but one way or another, that crimp needs to be addressed.

OP: Got any pics of the carnage? Always fun to see!

 

[judgedelta]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

I have the same problem with a thousand I recently bought. Even after swaging the pockets on some of them are really tight. I was going to ask which primers have the smallest diameter. I believe Winchester makes this brass for Black Hills and perhaps they (Black Hills)use the Winchester primers. I have seen a post (or two) on here regarding primer sizes, but I'm not very good at using the search function, any help would be appreciated

 

[RL15]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

Ask around to see if any of your friends may have the Dillon swage tool. It is the best way by far to remove crimps.
I have one, and before that the RCBS tool and cutters were used.
As far as softer primmer cups, try the Federal primmers.

 

[wrhunter]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

I was using CCI br2's. I have some magtech that I might try.

 

[judgedelta]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

I hope that I don't ever have to swage any more cases. I didn't know these were crimped when I bought them. If I am gifted with some crimped cases, I'll try the Dillon tool, but otherwise, I'm retired from the swaging business.

 

[wrhunter]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

Tried Magtech and CCI 200's...

Same results

 

[judgedelta]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

From what I've read on the past posts (I figured out the search) most who have commented on "loose primer pockets" seem to feel that Winchester large rifle primers are smaller than others. I have some and will try tomorrow and report back. I noticed when swaging the brass that there was no consistancy in the pressure needed to do the operation. Some pockets were a lot tighter than others.... I have seated some CCI primers with no problem, even prior to swaging,but most would not go in at all.

 

[wrhunter]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

Mine were not consistent either after using the crimp reamer. Some went in with normal force and other were quite heavy or not at all. A few had to be thrown out because they were shaved or angled.

 

[targaflorio]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

Winchester crimps the primers for BHA at their request. BHA ammo is primed with Winchester primers. I spin a chamfer tool in the primer pocket, but they are still tight to prime with br2's. I'm going to try the Wilson reamer attachment to the Wilson trimmer.

 

[KAZ]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

I first ran into crimped primer pockets on commercial factory loaded ammo with a current batch of Federal GMM 223 when I went to reload them. I had to drag out my RCBS primer pocket swedge tool, problem solved. Regards

 

[wrhunter]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KAZ</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I first ran into crimped primer pockets on commercial factory loaded ammo with a current batch of Federal GMM 223 when I went to reload them. I had to drag out my RCBS primer pocket swedge tool, problem solved. Regards </div></div>

Yeah, I have had no problems using LC .556 brass with crimped pockets. The Hornady Small Rifle reamer works great on them and I have no trouble seating CCI or Federal primers.

The BHA stuff is the first time I have had any issues seating primers after removing the crimp.

I guess I will have to try a swage tool or see if the Winchester primers fit any better.

Thanks for the responses... At least I know others share my pain!

Mark

 

[mattlewis]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

swaging is by far the way to do. i've done a bunch of LC brass, and have no primer pocket issues.

i used the rcbs tool shown here:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/235832/rcbs-primer-pocket-swager-combo-2

*edit* you posted about also having luck the same way with LC brass while i was looking up the rcbs tool. maybe it won't help with the BH.

 

[judgedelta]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

Just tried the Winchester primers and they are the way to go. Some of the BH brass was a little sticky going in, but they all primed. Had a few Remington, Hornady and PPU mixed in and they all primed to easily that I couldn't feel it at all. The Win. primers are definitely smaller. Geed luck...

 

[wrhunter]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

I'll give the WLR's a try. If they don't work I'll look into a swaging tool.

Thanks

 

[wrhunter]

Re: Tight primer pockets on Black Hills Match .308

I picked up some WLR primers and they work great. I also picked up a 700 aac sd today. Gonna start with 178 amax using Varget and 8208 xbr.

Thanks for the help.