45acp Primer Pocket Reaming & Uniforming

[CQB45ACP]

Need some help here brethren.

I’m looking for an effective large primer pocket reamer. It doesn’t have to be a reloading company product—it can be a machinist’s reamer, for example.

I currently have a reloading company reamer which doesn’t work well. I also have a standalone swager I wish I hadn’t bought.

Attached picture shows:
1) a pocket gauge not fitting,
2) the purpose built pocket reamer fitting completely (and loosely I might add) in a like sized pocket, and
3) a #4 tapered hand reamer which is the approximate size and quality I’d like (but don’t think I want tapered). It’s also old worn out—was my grandfather’s a century ago.

I find a surprising number of Winchester cases with really tight pockets as shown yet they don’t look crimped.

If your answer is just throw offending cases in trash, save your breath I’m not going to do it.

 

[koz4guns]

Why?

I’ve been reloading 45acp since the early 90’s and never cleaned or reamed a primer pocket.

I’ve also never encountered a crimp 45acp case, what headstamp do you have that is crimped?

 

[CQB45ACP]

Why?

I’ve been reloading 45acp since the early 90’s and never cleaned or reamed a primer pocket.

I’ve also never encountered a crimp 45acp case, what headstamp do you have that is crimped?

All answered in OP

 

[Jim Watson]

I have a supply of TZZ 86 Match .45 brass of which a third to a half have crimped primer pockets. The Dillon 1050 is supposed to swage the crimp out but doesn't always. I load mixed 9mm brass and come across some crimped primers which I do not have a swage for.

I chuck a case deburring tool in a drill and ream the crimp away, leaving a pronounced bevel on the primer pocket.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Only thing i do with the pockets. Is clean out the primer residue. And swage if needed. I had problems with Federal LP being over sized. The case of them is about gone.

 

[murf]

my setup:


murf.

p.s. I hold the case with a glove to keep it from spinning.

 

[CQB45ACP]

my setup:
View attachment 1176257View attachment 1176259View attachment 1176260View attachment 1176261View attachment 1176262

murf.

p.s. I hold the case with a glove to keep it from spinning.

Thanks

K&M I see.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I have a supply of TZZ 86 Match .45 brass of which a third to a half have crimped primer pockets. The Dillon 1050 is supposed to swage the crimp out but doesn't always. I load mixed 9mm brass and come across some crimped primers which I do not have a swage for.

I chuck a case deburring tool in a drill and ream the crimp away, leaving a pronounced bevel on the primer pocket.

Thanks

Which tool?

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Need some help here brethren.

I’m looking for an effective large primer pocket reamer. It doesn’t have to be a reloading company product—it can be a machinist’s reamer, for example.

I currently have a reloading company reamer which doesn’t work well. I also have a standalone swager I wish I hadn’t bought.

Attached picture shows:
1) a pocket gauge not fitting,
2) the purpose built pocket reamer fitting completely (and loosely I might add) in a like sized pocket, and
3) a #4 tapered hand reamer which is the approximate size and quality I’d like (but don’t think I want tapered). It’s also old worn out—was my grandfather’s a century ago.

I find a surprising number of Winchester cases with really tight pockets as shown yet they don’t look crimped.

If your answer is just throw offending cases in trash, save your breath I’m not going to do it.

View attachment 1176241

I like and use the Lyman’s kit

Lyman Universal Case Preparation Kit

The Lyman Universal Case Preparation Kit is perfect for the reloader looking to purchase all the tools necessary for quality case preparation. The...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[243winxb]

Reaming removes crimp.- Will be loose in pocket.
Uniforming corrects depth of pocket. - Pistol & Rifle different depth.

2 tools needed, i think?
The WRA69 was from loaded ammo supplied by Government for free, at Bullseye Pistol Hardball Matches. Had crimped in primers. 1970s.

Edit/add- to change pocket diameter, a swager may be needed?

 

[film495]

I think I have the same two ended primer pocket check tool for a couple cartrdiges. In my experience if the correct end of the tool, that is supposed to fit in the pocket, if it starts to go in at all, the pocket is about .0001 small or there is a tiny burr, and even though it technically fails the test, really if it goes in at all, the case is fine and a primer will seat and work correctly. I've also seen the check fail the test, and had it be a small piece of brass stuck on the tool and cleaning the tool just with a rag quick, then it went in completely and the test passed. I've also just taken steel wool, and just cleaned the primer picket quick, just shoved a piece of 00 steel wool and spun it by hand a few times to grind it in there, and then the check passed. - my assumption is this removed residue or a burr or whatever, and then it passes completely - check tool goes in and out fully. Crimped pockets are a different problem, and I just use I think a cheap little Lyman tool that cuts the end out of the primer pocket, which IMHO does not really work very effiicently, but does work to remove the crimp, just a little hand tool, but it is a PITA and if I did a lot I'd be onto another tool or technique.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Reaming removes crimp.- Will be loose in pocket.
Uniforming corrects depth of pocket. - Pistol & Rifle different depth.

2 tools needed, i think?

View attachment 1176268

Yes indeed two tools.

And I agree now that I think about it, that explains the looseness of the tool but it does not explain the tightness of the pocket which I still have to fix. Thus I need a reamer or something.

I named thread inappropriately for my primary objective—reaming

 

[CQB45ACP]

I think I have the same two ended primer pocket check tool for a couple cartrdiges. In my experience if the correct end of the tool, that is supposed to fit in the pocket, if it starts to go in at all, the pocket is about .0001 small or there is a tiny burr, and even though it technically fails the test, really if it goes in at all, the case is fine and a primer will seat and work correctly. I've also seen the check fail the test, and had it be a small piece of brass stuck on the tool and cleaning the tool just with a rag quick, then it went in completely and the test passed. I've also just taken steel wool, and just cleaned the primer picket quick, just shoved a piece of 00 steel wool and spun it by hand a few times to grind it in there, and then the check passed. - my assumption is this removed residue or a burr or whatever, and then it passes completely - check tool goes in and out fully. Crimped pockets are a different problem, and I just use I think a cheap little Lyman tool that cuts the end out of the primer pocket, which IMHO does not really work very effiicently, but does work to remove the crimp, just a little hand tool, but it is a PITA and if I did a lot I'd be onto another tool or technique.

Right thanks

These particular tight pockets however are numerous and not debris related.

When I use the old taper reamer it actually works but stubbornly.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I like and use the Lyman’s kit

Lyman Universal Case Preparation Kit

The Lyman Universal Case Preparation Kit is perfect for the reloader looking to purchase all the tools necessary for quality case preparation. The...

www.midwayusa.com

I didn’t reveal the brand reamer I was using—Lyman

 

[243winxb]

Edit/add- to change pocket diameter, a swager may be needed?

Swager- Best method? Never used one. Brass Web thickness, of different brands, may be an issue when (depth) swaging.

 

[lightman]

Over the years I have used several methods to remove the primer crimp. A 45º countersink from the hardware store is fairly cheap and works well in an electric drill. Or drill press. Its easy to over-do it with these. You can also used the standard "rocket" looking deburring tool. I have the RCBS die type swaging tool and it works ok, but is slow. I may be the only guy alive that didn't like the Dillon swaging tool which many consider the "gold standard". I've used reamers from Lyman, Lee and RCBS and they seem to get dull rather quickly. Wilson and Redding seem to use better steel. Currently I use a Wilson tool designed to work in their case trimmer but can be used without the trimmer. It cuts the crimp out and also uniforms the diameter of the primer pocket.

I use a tool from Sinclair to uniform the bottom of the primer pocket. This tool does not do anything to the diameter of the pocket. You can't go wrong with tools from K&M, Sinclair (now Brownells) or Wilson.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I didn’t reveal the brand reamer I was using—Lyman

Then don’t buy the kit.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Swager- Best method? Never used one. Brass Web thickness, of different brands, may be an issue when (depth) swaging.

Don’t like the swager method and wish I hadn’t bought my Frankford standalone

 

[CQB45ACP]

I have a supply of TZZ 86 Match .45 brass of which a third to a half have crimped primer pockets. The Dillon 1050 is supposed to swage the crimp out but doesn't always. I load mixed 9mm brass and come across some crimped primers which I do not have a swage for.

I chuck a case deburring tool in a drill and ream the crimp away, leaving a pronounced bevel on the primer pocket.

But if it’s not a crimp what does it do?

 

[CQB45ACP]

Then don’t buy the kit.

Too late actually. I bought their multi tool that holds the bits inside a hollow body. I use the bits also in a Sinclair handle as shown.

Overall I like it but now understand the reamer is crimp removal size and doesn’t get the job done in other situations. Not it’s fault.

 

[Otto]

Something here sounds amiss.
I’ve loaded thousands of
Winchesters and I’ve never needed to touch the primer pockets.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Something here sounds amiss.
I’ve loaded thousands of
Winchesters and I’ve never needed to touch the primer pockets.

Maybe if I’d just never bought and used that darned gauge

Can’t guarantee nothing is amiss but can guarantee it’s really happening.

But if I had that many to worry about I wouldn’t have a problem either.

 

[drband]

I have used the Hornady reamer for crimped .45acp brass with perfect results. It will not deepen the pocket.

The bit is available alone if you have a good handle already.

 

[Soonerpesek]

I would say if you are looking for a precise diameter pocket, the only way to get precision is with a proper sized chucking reamer……..
It won’t get you depth tho, only diameter….

 

[CQB45ACP]

I would say if you are looking for a precise diameter pocket, the only way to get precision is with a proper sized chucking reamer……..
It won’t get you depth tho, only diameter….

That’s what I’m a thinking too. I’d make do with Papa’s but it’s nicked up and dull. Funny I have a dozen others of his wrong sized that are nearly perfect.