ZQI / MKE Brass Super Tight Primer Pockets

[fancygunz]

I have a large number of once fired ZQI .308 brass with MKE headstamps. They have crimped primers, so I used to ream them with my Lyman hand tool, but this left the pockets VERY tight to the point where they would crunch primers about 75% of the time on my Hornady LNL press. I bought a Hornady primer pocket reamer and chucked it into an electric drill and reamed all the pockets, but they're still super tight. I mean tight to the point where I can't get primers to seat.

I have zero issues with other brass, it's only this brand. I want to be able to use this brass...what else can I do to it? Why is reaming with two different tools not working?

I also uniformed the pockets with the Hornady uniformer on the same electric drill, the tool seemed to fit with no issues.

 

[918v]

Because you are using pos tools.

I like the RCBS pp reamer.

 

[fancygunz]

Because you are using pos tools.

I like the RCBS pp reamer.

I find it difficult to believe that it could be the tool quality. I'm using two different manufacturers' reamers, how can they both be off so much? The Lyman is ~$15, the Hornady is ~$25, and the RCBS you suggested is ~15... they're all in similar price ranges.

I was thinking it could also be a primer pocket alignment issue. Do you think a swager would help?

 

[spife7980]

Doesn’t a reamer just chamfer the crimp off of the edge? I don’t see how it could touch the pocket sidewalls if they are too tight. I think a uniformer would be more appropriate but even I think even those don’t touch the side, just the bottom of the pocket.

A swage might work. Or find a smaller primer brand.

 

[918v]

The RCBS reamer makes a compound angle cut. It gets the edge and the side wall.

 

[918v]

RCBS TM Military Crimp Remover SM (Redesign)

UPC: 76683903860

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