Reaming out 45 ACP small primer to large

[Muddydogs]

Has anyone used a large pistol primer pocket uniformer to turn small primer 45 brass into large primer?

I have a stash of old 45 brass that’s large primer but it appears that I must have picked up a few small primer cases and mixed them up. I am sure this happened a couple years ago when I got back into shooting and picking up some extra brass on the range before I realized that they switched 45 to small pistol. I don't shoot the 45 much and have enough brass to last me but I just can't stand having 20 or so pieces of brass seating around not used due to the primer pocket.

 

[beeenbag]

Buy some small pistol primers and ...... Ta da, brass is useable

 

[blarby]

I've done it using an RCBS trim mate.

Its a major PITA, but it can be done.

I've also reamed out LPP to accept LRP- much less PITA, but still a chore.

Just trade 'em, people want them. Mainly those who shoot other SPP ammunition.

 

[RandyP]

I agree with the idea of buying a 100 pack of SPP and reloading the brass - keep track and when you shoot them off.....leave them on the ground for someone else.

For a paltry 20 pieces of brass there is also the option of just throwing them in your scrap brass can, or the trash for that matter if you don't save your brass scrap.

 

[floydster]

How about soldering the large primer pockets shut, then redrilling for small primers--that's what I'm thinkin

 

[Muddydogs]

I've done it using an RCBS trim mate.

Its a major PITA, but it can be done.

I've also reamed out LPP to accept LRP- much less PITA, but still a chore.

Just trade 'em, people want them. Mainly those who shoot other SPP ammunition.

Ya I'm sure it’s a chore, probably about as bad as cutting a primer out of a 38 case that when resized the cup broke off leaving the rest in the pocket. Takes forever to cut them out with the trim mate and chucking the cutter in a drill is kind of hazardous to the fingers until enough is cut out that the tool sets in the primer pocket a ways. I only have about 30 cases with this problem so far.

I point is I don't want to load the 45 with SP and then have to keep track of them or mess with them. Probably just throw them in the just in case I get into swaging pistol bullets brass bucket, although I don't know what I would use 45 brass to make but you never know.

 

[Blue68f100]

Trade them like already said. I know of several reloaders that only use the SPP in 45. Since they shoot 9mm they do not have change the primer size in their press.

 

[TonyT]

You would have to have an awful lot of free time on your hand to convert the cases from small to large primers. I believe you would need a lathe and a custom reamer - it would be easier to either dispose of the brass or use it with small primers.

 

[rdhood]

Trade them. When I burn through my 3k large pistol primers, I am going to trade off ALL of my 45acp with large primer pockets for 45acp with small pockets. Then I will be able to stock only small pistol primers.

 

[Catpop]

rdhood, thats what happened to me, in reverse. I was all set ssp with 357 then got hooked on 45acp! In NC i've yet to see a 45acp with a ssp. Must be lucky I guess.

 

[ObsidianOne]

rdhood, thats what happened to me, in reverse. I was all set ssp with 357 then got hooked on 45acp! In NC i've yet to see a 45acp with a ssp. Must be lucky I guess.

Federal does it most out of any of the manufacturers I've seen. I haven't made a diligent effort to find out all who do it, but I know I have a lot from them.

 

[Otto]

.... but I just can't stand having 20 or so pieces of brass seating around not used due to the primer pocket.

Set them aside until you buy small primers and move on to your next big challenge.

 

[GLOOB]

With primers scarce as they are, I would keep both types of brass on hand. Heck. Maybe you can figure out how to ream some of your brass to accept a shot shell primer.

 

[Muddydogs]

Set them aside until you buy small primers and move on to your next big challenge.

Why do people assume I don't have primers, I was just asking because I don't want to deal with 20 SP brass. I would rather use LP because I have enough stuff to reload with my SP stash and have enough LP primers to cover my needs there.

I will probably mess around with a few as my winter reloading is about over but I am not ready to stop. Maybe I just need a new caliber or two.

 

[TexasShooter59]

With the current climate, that is the natural assumption. I'm watching for primers more closely than anything else.

 

[Muddydogs]

I've been able to restock my winter supply in the last couple weeks here in Utah. 1 box per size at a time and only 2 days a week but I have been getting them. Now 22 LR shells are a different story but I have a few of them so I am waiting it out.

 

[jcwit]

Are you really that short of 45 acp cases? Man alive I've got them by the thousands. All range pick-up, and only once fired, ya right.

 

[jim243]

Funny you should mention that, I just finished sorting 300 cases i picked up at the range on my last trip there, 50 of them were Federal (SPP) cases and the rest RP & Winchester.

I haven't had to check headstamps in years, but I guess with the shortages people are using anything they can get their hands on. If you are short on SPP just drop your charge by 0.2 grains and use SRP instead they are the same size.

Or just find SPP if you can.

Jim

 

[gamestalker]

Since I don't load 45 acp I use it to trade for my kinds of brass. I have yet to have anyone complain about the mixed primer sizes, and I'm always honest and up front. Just really doesn't seem to matter from what I can tell, so either use them, or don't.

GS

 

[jerkface11]

You don't want to deal with 20 small primer pocket brass? But you're willing to waste hours reaming them out?

 

[buck460XVR]

After going thru two episodes of primers being hard to get for months at a time, having the option to use either large or small primers in a caliber is a nice option to have. Not hard to tell them apart, so I just separate and load appropriately.

 

[wankerjake]

After going thru two episodes of primers being hard to get for months at a time, having the option to use either large or small primers in a caliber is a nice option to have. Not hard to tell them apart, so I just separate and load appropriately.

Agreed, I wish I had more. I have WAY more small pistol primers than large. Anybody want to trade thier small primer brass for my large?

 

[dragon813gt]

After going thru two episodes of primers being hard to get for months at a time, having the option to use either large or small primers in a caliber is a nice option to have. Not hard to tell them apart, so I just separate and load appropriately.

Agree completely. I had plans of getting rid of all my LPP brass after I used up all the primers. Now I'm glad I have them. It doesn't cut into shooting my 9mm or 357. I still don't like sticking primers for only one cartridge. But it's allowed me to keep shooting at the same volume as before. I'm actually shooting more 45 then usual.


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[BullfrogKen]

Set them aside, or give/trade them away.


20 pieces of brass isn't enough for me to even care about.

 

[Fishslayer]

After going thru two episodes of primers being hard to get for months at a time, having the option to use either large or small primers in a caliber is a nice option to have. Not hard to tell them apart, so I just separate and load appropriately.

^^^ This. I sort by headstamp anyway. No big deal. Last time around SRP were gettable and those would work as well. This time the SRP are gold because everybody's loading .223/5.56. Still nice to be flexible though.