Do you guys clean your primer pockets?

[Rule3]

OK, for those that do clean them, what does it do?

Do primers seat better, easier, better velocity,?? Facts not anecdotal perceived results.

Why clean rifle if not cleaning pistol??

As mentioned early in this thread, I have cleaned them but after seeing how little come out, did not seem worth the time. JMO

 

[Potatohead]

Yea, good question Rule3, does anyone notice a difference? I guess it would be to hard to tell. Man it's a tedious process. I enjoy all of the other reloading steps...so far, this is the only one Ive come across that sucks pretty bad. That be a good thread: What do you not like about reloading.....


Hey thx for all of your replies gentlemen...(kind of---now I feel like I should be cleaning my primer pockets)

 

[Potatohead]

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.

What exactly do you mean "stainless steel pins"? Hadnt heard of tumbling with that one.

 

[TheCracker]

On bottle necked rifle loads I clean pockets only when I trim. That varies but is usually every 2-3 loadings. I don't think it really makes any difference though.

On pistol loads never!

 

[jaguarxk120]

You use stainless steel pins in a rotary tumbler (wet) Dawn detergent and Lemshine. The Dawn works as it should removing dirt & grime, the Lemshine removes any discoloration from the brass. The pins do the scrubbing and make the brass look like new.

Clean brass is easier to resize, when pulling necks over the expander ball there is no carbon to drag on.

Primer pockets are clean.

This is a wet process and the brass needs rinsing/drying after cleaning.
Initial cost is higher, but there is no dust or dirty corn cobs to deal with.
The rotary tumbler is not as loud as a vibrator.

 

[Potatohead]

Interesting. Thanks Jag. Where do you get the pins?

 

[Nordeste]

Depends. I do clean then on what I call my "match grade" ammo, which is the one I use in competition and that I am more careful with. This one I usually give it a wash, dry it, resize and deprime, then leave the cases inside a solvent fluid that takes care of removing most of the crud. In some of them I still need to use a pocket cleaner. I find that with a cleaner pocket, priming is easier, and I have the peace of mind of having made the best possible ammo.

 

[Jcinnb]

This is what I got:
http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/catalog/product/view/id/21/s/stainless-tumbling-media-refresh/


It is just a "refreshing kit" but I only used about 1/2 when I started. I use a cheap azz Harbor Freight rock tumbler, about $45. The LEMISHINE and DAWN are nothing.

I started tumbling about 4 hours, told that was too long. Amazing clean. I pop the primer first with the Lee Universal, then dump all the brass in the two containers.

When it is done, about an hour now, I dump the brass in a sink, rinse it good. Work a towel under it, make a tunnel, and blow one of the wife's or daughters' hair dryers through the tunnel for a few minutes, shaking the towel occasionally. Brass gets pretty hot.

One of the best jack leg deals I have ever done!

 

[witchhunter]

Tater, I uniform mine when I get em new to me. I use a Sinclair tool on a drill. after that, nope. Just tumble em, poke out the flash hole and load em up.

 

[luis7]

Hi.
I always clean primer pockets in all my pistol brass with a dremel machine and steel round brush.
Very very fast.
Greetings from España.

 

[cfullgraf]

OK, for those that do clean them, what does it do?

Primarily, it makes me feel better.

If i feel better about my reloads, i will shoot better.

 

[DoubleMag]

Rifle, yes. Comp pistol rounds / hunting rounds yes. Plinking pistol, no. I do put them into a plastic tub with a vigorous shaking, amazing how much black dust comes out.

 

[Potatohead]

Hi.
I always clean primer pockets in all my pistol brass with a dremel machine and steel round brush.
Very very fast.
Greetings from España.

Wow. I reckon that will get 'em clean!

 

[Potatohead]

This is what I got:
http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/catalog/product/view/id/21/s/stainless-tumbling-media-refresh/


It is just a "refreshing kit" but I only used about 1/2 when I started. I use a cheap azz Harbor Freight rock tumbler, about $45. The LEMISHINE and DAWN are nothing.

I started tumbling about 4 hours, told that was too long. Amazing clean. I pop the primer first with the Lee Universal, then dump all the brass in the two containers.

When it is done, about an hour now, I dump the brass in a sink, rinse it good. Work a towel under it, make a tunnel, and blow one of the wife's or daughters' hair dryers through the tunnel for a few minutes, shaking the towel occasionally. Brass gets pretty hot.

One of the best jack leg deals I have ever done!

Cool. Ok , I'd never seen the pins before. How often do you replace them?

 

[cfullgraf]

The pins do not wear out. But, if you are sloppy with separating them from the brass, you will lose them. The rate of loss will depend on how careful you are.

 

[warhwkbb]

Pistol = NEVER
Bulk Rifle = NEVER
Match Rifle = Maybe

I've experimented with cleaning primer pockets on several batches of reloads and could not tell any difference; accuracy or function. I do however check for high primers, especially with my Garand loads. Otherwise, it's a waste of time for me.

 

[cougar1717]

OK, for those that do clean them, what does it do?

With some handgun brass, those ever so slightly oversize Russian primers have a hard time seating flush, let alone below flush. Cleaning primer pockets is peace of mind that when the primer hits the bottom of the pocket and is still higher than flush, there is nothing in the way when more force is applied. Even so, some may be fully seated and slightly above flush.

 

[Potatohead]

The pins do not wear out. But, if you are sloppy with separating them from the brass, you will lose them. The rate of loss will depend on how careful you are.

thx

 

[Potatohead]

Thanks everyone.

 

[jaguarxk120]

Buffalo Arms has the stainless steel pins and they are a cheaper. But you still need a rotary tumbler. The initial cost is higher, but over all performance is much better. Don't forget the pins clean the inside of the case.

 

[Potatohead]

For some reason, I thought I read that you shouldn't use a rotary. I don't see why it would matter, I'm not sure where I saw that but i'm pretty sure i did...

 

[AABEN]

Yes I deprime all my brass then put them in my ultrasonic cleaner this cleans the hole brass hand gun & rifle.

 

[SigFTW]

No, takes too long to de-prime to clean, so I just clean the brass with the primer in.

 

[floydster]

In over 60 years of pistol shooting I never cleaned a primer pocket, I tumble, then deprime.

 

[jaguarxk120]

With the rotary, it is the tumbling action of the pins against the cases that does the cleaning.
In a vibrator everything just sets there with no movement, too much weight.