45acp Case Longevity Test Update--33rd Firing

C

CQB45ACP

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Due to magazine/pistol malfunction I only shot eight magazines worth (62 rounds). Recovered all.

As shown in picture, eleven rounds had loose primers. So loose in fact, I watched as primers flew out of ejection port. Don't think that's distracting? No misfires or such however.

You may recall in the past all primer pockets were tightening with some too tight for the go gauge. Well, what happened? Don't know but as shown in picture the no go gauge still doesn't fit. Could be the primers (I think Federal) but I doubt it.

I'm benching these cases for now. Not yet decided to retire them fully because I haven't shot entire batch yet. Ten or so of remainder I had already marked as perhaps having loose primers.

Again if you recall, the Florida reloading article guy said his primer pockets were becoming too shallow at 31st firing.

Overall for certain this test is nearing its end. No, the cases haven't split, but they are short .883ish" (well below SAAMI's .888") with increasingly undependable primer pockets. I'll wager I extended their life my uniforming the pockets.

In other words gentlemen, I'm about to claim victory. I've worn out these cases.

And, Inasmuch as I reload to shoot, not test, and I'm not having enough fun at the range as I should be, this test is more distraction than anything.

How many times can I reload 45 ACP brass? – Florida Reloading

www.floridareloading.com www.floridareloading.com

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IMG_4864.jpeg
 
Short of too much pressure, I have never seen primers flying out of untouched primer pockets upon firing, regardless of times fired.

.45 ACP pressure levels should never enlarge primer pockets to the point primers won't stay in, unless they have been enlarged by
a uniformer or excessive cleaning with a tool that takes material off the sides.

CQB45ACP said:
I'll wager I extended their life my uniforming the pockets
Click to expand...
I'll wager that's the issue.
 
Walkalong said:
Short of too much pressure, I have never seen primers flying out of untouched primer pockets upon firing, regardless of times fired.

.45 ACP pressure levels should never enlarge primer pockets to the point primers won't stay in, unless they have been enlarged by
a uniformer or excessive cleaning with a tool that takes material off the sides.


I'll wager that's the issue.
Click to expand...
I agree. Nor have I. As for pressure, I load mid-low published data.

Id say damage was done a few firings ago and I thought about/against doing it but did so anyway.

BUT, I must also repeat, the gauge fits similarly in these as others including new Starline. I say similarly, but the "feel" is still different. Hard to explain.
 
Ah, you shouldn't need it but its nice when you play with smg's. I was just pointing out I have rarely made holes smaller by removing material from inside them, without displacing the metal, like with a knurl and I've never done that with a primer pocket.
 
CQB45ACP said:
Hitch it to back of your Cobra
Click to expand...
That is just so wrong in so many ways!!!

CQB45ACP said:
In other words gentlemen, I'm about to claim victory. I've worn out these cases.
Click to expand...
I'd have to agree that you've won. Time to retire that batch and do the test again with a different head stamp.;)

CQB45ACP said:
Due to magazine/pistol malfunction I only shot eight magazines worth (62 rounds).
Click to expand...
If I may ask, what was the malfunction? And do you think the malfunction may have contributed to the primers coming out of the brass?

chris
 
jmorris said:
Ah, you shouldn't need it but its nice when you play with smg's. I was just pointing out I have rarely made holes smaller by removing material from inside them, without displacing the metal, like with a knurl and I've never done that with a primer pocket.
Click to expand...
I got it. But I’m done.

AND they were TOO small when I did it
 
Last edited:
ballman6711 said:
That is just so wrong in so many ways!!!


I'd have to agree that you've won. Time to retire that batch and do the test again with a different head stamp.;)


If I may ask, what was the malfunction? And do you think the malfunction may have contributed to the primers coming out of the brass?

chris
Click to expand...
I tried a number of things this AM and for some reason several mags wouldn’t fully engage including in a Wilson. Took a round out of them and they worked fine.

I don’t go through a diagnostic at the range, ever, and that’s why I typically bring another pistol.

And, no, don’t believe there’s a relationship.
 
Walkalong said:
Doubtful…..…IMHO……and besides, primers will squeeze down to fit tight pockets, but won’t expand to fit loose ones.
Click to expand...
We all know what we know.

Here’s what I know based on experience (and I posted a number of evidentiary photos to show) the GO side of the gauge would not GO in case after case after case.

And quite a number were fine width/diameter wise but too shallow. Again documented.

Using a K&M uniformer doesn’t widen the pocket.

I agree with primers squeezing down width-wise. Until they don’t.
 
CQB45ACP said:
Here’s what I know based on experience (and I posted a number of evidentiary photos to show) the GO side of the gauge would not GO in case after case after case.

And quite a number were fine width/diameter wise but too shallow. Again documented.

Using a K&M uniformer doesn’t widen the pocket.
Click to expand...
It's just a gauge made on automated equipment, with tolerances. Measure it with a micrometer? And besides, going form inside to outside diameters is tough, as any machinist who makes stuff that fits tight like bearings in an endbell of an electric motor, etc. I have two K&M primer pocket uniformers, and they can indeed take
material off the sides if one isn't very careful.

If you had left the primer pockets alone and the cases let primers fly out on ejection on the 33rd firing, now that would get my attention.
 
Walkalong said:
It's just a gauge made on automated equipment, with tolerances. Measure it with a micrometer? And besides, going form inside to outside diameters is tough, as any machinist who makes stuff that fits tight like bearings in an endbell of an electric motor, etc. I have two K&M primer pocket uniformers, and they can indeed take
material off the sides if one isn't very careful.

If you had left the primer pockets alone and the cases let primers fly out on ejection on the 33rd firing, now that would get my attention.
Click to expand...
What is this, “bring me a rock?”

When all is said and done, when push comes to shove, at the end of the day, one person has chronicled and photographed and posted results of a 16 month test of 200 Winchester 45acp cases.

Measured the cases and measured the measurements. Not good enough for ya? Look forward to your test:)

IMG_4866.jpeg
 
Walkalong said:
I have no idea what that means.

I just don't agree that playing with the primer pockets had nothing to do with multiple primers flying out when shot the 33rd time.
Click to expand...
Several uses of the saying. One essentially means a moving target. Bring me a rock. No, not that rock, bring me a different rock.

Join the club on the loose primers. That's what I said several posts before yours. At about the 30th shooting is when I re-uniformed some. It's certainly possible but not conclusive.

What you also said in post 11 however is you doubted that the pockets had gotten too small for the gauge. The pictures below were posted back in July/August when I discussed the tightening, difficulty seating primers, and gauge not fitting, etc. You wouldn't be expected to recall all that, but before doubting what I said...

IMG_0093.jpeg

1729686658399.jpeg
 
jmorris said:
If I were going for the record, I'd try S&B cases, they have the tightest primer pockets I have come across. Before I setup a 1050 for 45 acp, I would sort them out and load them all together, just so primer seating "feel" stayed the same for a given run.
Click to expand...
Are you baiting me into a new test? Load up your Cobra with S&Bs and I'll bring em to my place.
 
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