Can you help me with a priming issue?

[courtgreene]

I've been loading three cartridges for a while, and recently (today) decided to start loading .223 rem as well. I am having issues, though. Actually one issue. I got cci 400 small rifle primers, and started trying to prime federal fusion brass (shot it last week, it's all i have at present). The primers won't go in. I tried it on the lee handheld priming device... won't work. I tried it on the priming device that is part of the press, and it will go in but the primers bend as if they were flattened by high pressure (even though, of course, they were not because they have not been shot.)

My first instinct is that the priming pockets in the brass are too tight, but I have no other brass to try. Has anyone had similar problems? If you haven't but you know a lot more about this than I do (most of you), then do you have any idea what my problem may be?

I would love to show you pictures, but I have none. Maybe I can get those tonight when I get home, but there was no time over my lunch break.

Thanks all.

 

[ljnowell]

crimped primers?

 

[RidgwayCO]

99% sure you have crimped primer pockets. The crimp needs to be removed before you can reprime the cases. Use the search function to find the many ways people have devised to rid the brass of this military necessity. Personally, I'd use my Dillon Super Swage 600. Well... the only problem with that being my shooting buddy is borrowing it at the present...

 

[rcmodel]

+1

Your factory primers are very likely crimped in place.

You have to remove the crimp either by reaming or swaging before you can reprime them.

Look closely at the primer pocket and you should be able to see a swaged ring indention around the old primer.

RING CRIMP


STAB CRIMP


rc

 

[courtgreene]

well, that didn't take long. But that's exactly my problem. Why in the world does federal think they need to crimp fusion for goodness sakes?
Oh well, thanks guys (or gals, we're gender inclusive in the Greene Household). I guess now I have to find out how to remove the crimps.

ETA: After searching, it appears my deburring tool will remove the crimping... so it costs me nothing. It's nice to have good news once in a while.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[rcmodel]

All military ammo is crimped, and ATK/Federal/Lake City is the biggest military ammo manufacture in the United States.

Most all .223 ammo is shot in semi-auto's, and the great minds at ATK/Federal think the primers might fall out.

You can remove the crimps with a sharp pocket knife, or your chamfer & deburring tool, or a primer pocket reamer as made by about every reloading company, or a primer pocket swager as made by RCBS, Dillons, Etc.

rc