Do you guys clean your primer pockets?

[Muddydogs]

For target pistol ammo and bulk 223 I don't clean them. If I am loading defense or hunting rounds then I do clean the primer pocket. Here we are talking quantitys, 1000's of bulk pistol and 223 rounds loaded on the progressive press compared to a few 100 defense or hunting rounds loaded single stage.

 

[RealGun]

I only load centerfire handgun ammo and never clean primer pockets. I wet clean and then tumble without depriming. If I was getting hang fires and duds, I would be more concerned.

If it was a concern, I would wash twice, once to prepare for handling and depriming, and again for cleaning primer pockets. More handling and mechanical working of the hole would not be considered because it is mostly cosmetic discoloration. I just don't see handgun loading as that demanding at this point, but can appreciate that others set whatever standard makes them feel good.

 

[The Bushmaster]

All primer pockets get a quick cleaning using a throttle cable cut to 1 inch.

 

[Potatohead]

What's a primer pocket?

No. I did once with some 357 Mags, cleaned them over a clear plastic container, The amount of crud that came out was insignificant, never did it since.

Thats kind of what I was thinking. I dont know if it just smears it around the pocket or what, but not much crud seems to come out.

Thanks for the replies everyone..

 

[dickttx]

In a prior lifetime I did. But since I got back into shooting and reloading (only handguns) about three years ago I have not.
When working up some 38 Super loads a couple of years ago I sized and deprimed on one turret in my LCT and finished up on another. I was amazed at the amount of crud that came out of the primer pocket. However, I have never had one not fire.
Since going to a LnL AP I would not even consider it. I toss them in the vibrator when I get back from shooting, then usually reload within a day or two. Since I bought it for use as a progressive and to cut down on lever strokes, I put a cleaned piece of brass in (fired primer still intact) and come out with a finished round.

 

[CraigC]

Usually and even for pistol. When you have several custom revolvers with headspace set at a minimum, high primers are not an option. Cleaning the pockets ensures that the primers seat properly.

 

[buck460XVR]

I have never cleaned the primer pocket in handgun brass and probably never will. (same with sizing)

I'm thinkin' you meant "trimming" and not "sizing"? As for cleanin' primer pockets, it kinda depends on the mood I'm in and the intended usage. In handgun ammo for normal range fodder, generally never. For ammo intended for hunting or SD, generally yes.

 

[Potatohead]

Thanks, I was wondering what he meant there...

 

[carbine85]

Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. Depends on what I'm reloading and what mood I'm in.

 

[Dr.Zubrato]

id agree with the majority of posters, it isn't necessary and I don't do it to my pistol casings, who has the time these days?
but with rifle, if I'm in a reloading mood, I chuck my lee primer pocket cleaner into my drill and go to town on as many as I can before I get bored

 

[osteodoc08]

It depends

When I load my for my rifles (except 223 AR blasting ammo) it is a labor of love. Tumble, size and deprime, clean pockets, trim, tumble, prime by hand, weigh each load, seat bullet, crimp, reinspect, in the box. I do no more than 50 at a time. During load development, I will start at min powder weight and work up in .3gr increments in 5 each. Ill then head to the range. If Ive loaded up 50, that gives me a 3gr spread. Ill usually find a sweet spot somewhere and then go back to the drawing board to go in .1gr increments. Ill again go through the process and clean primer pockets again.

Auto brass, not so much. Tumble and load.

 

[hatwerinrednek]

clean primer pockets

i do on rifle but not handguns

 

[Jcinnb]

I deprime with Lee Universal, SS tumble, then resize. My routine is to check primer pocket, resize, debur case....

Since I have been using SS media, I have had 100% great looking pockets

Oh, no pistol, just 25-06, 8mm, and 7.62x54R

 

[W.E.G.]

Bottleneck rifle brass gets resized with water-soluable lube.

The cases are also decapped during the same stroke of the press.

The cases then get washed in hot water to remove the lube.
(left to air-dry for two days)

So, the primer pocket gets sort of washed.
But no, I do not EVER independently clean the primer pockets with a purpose-built tool.
I don't de-burr flash holes either.

Crimped primer pockets of course have to be swaged (or chamfered) to remove the crimp.

I do all steps on a single stage (Rock Chucker) press.

 

[savanahsdad]

I de-prime , wash , run a Lyman .091 flash-hole tool through them and then a Lyman pocket uniform tool to square up the pocket and make sure all pockets are the same depth , after a few firings I will notice the cutter is only touching the out side of the primer pocket and the flash hole tool really dose nothing , just lets me know the hole are the same size , any black crud that's left is left there ,you only really need to make sure the primers are all sitting the same , some of my cases will be clean all the way across and others will be black in the middle ,

not so picky with handgun loads I'll do the above only once on new brass and once fried factory brass and range brass with large primers and small primers get the same but I skip the .091 flash hole tool

sounds like a lot of work , but only the first time , after that it's just touch up , and peace of mine

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Mine get cleaned every time I pull the trigger! And only then!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm thinkin' you meant "trimming" and not "sizing"? As for cleanin' primer pockets, it kinda depends on the mood I'm in and the intended usage. In handgun ammo for normal range fodder, generally never. For ammo intended for hunting or SD, generally yes.

Yes, that's exactly what I meant but didn't write it, thanks for catching that mistake. I did an edit on the post to fix it!

 

[Kurastduuks]

Every time. Hornady magnum sonic cleaner, worth every penny once you figure out the proper mixture

 

[jaguarxk120]

I remove the spent primers, then tumble with stainless steel pins. Case's come out like factory new, clean inside and out. No longer clean primer pockets.

 

[griff383]

Pistol no, rifle yes but I cheat. I have an extra large SS media setup that I can do 10-22 pounds of brass in at a time. Once washed with SS media the entire case is clean inside and out

 

[StandingTall]

Pistol.....no

Rifle.....yes

 

[j1]

Yes, I do.

 

[Keeperfaith]

Yes I do, every time.

 

[ares338]

I do clean them most of the time. I have the cleaning tool chucked in my drill and it's quick and easy.

 

[shekarchi]

I literally just started reloading last weekend and came up with this in a short time after seeing how hard it was to clean the primer pockets. it takes me about 5-10 seconds per case to bring the primer pocket back to like new shine .
I chuck a RCBS primer pocket brush in a variable speed drill- put the drill in a vise, turn it on and let it run at a medium-slow speed- then each de-primered case gets a a few seconds with the spinning brush [not much pressure needed] and all the crud comes right off. vioalla!!!