Does the primer pocket need to be shiny clean?

[JWH321]

I just finished removing the crimp from and cleaning the pockets of 1500 pieces of .223 brass.

I'm about to go cross-eyed. I use the RCBS swagging die, then I use a little wire brush in the pocket. Then I use a Lyman tool that has a little cross shaped bit, and another that looks like a flat bladed screwdriver. The pocket looks like finely polished brass. But I'm going nuts with this fiddly process.

What is really necessary? Can I eliminate a couple of these steps?

 

[someguy2800]

You basically just need to knock the loose crap off the surface. No need to get super anal about it. Many people don't do anything to clean it out at all. I use a lyman cross shaped tool in a cordless drill. Pick up 3-4 pieces of brass out of the bucker, spin the drill in the primer pocket for a second and drop them in the next bucket. When done put the lid on the bucket and shake it for a minute. 95% of the crud ends up in the bottom of the bucket to be discarded.

 

[someguy2800]

i also only really clean my brass after about 5 firings and I don"t clean primer pockets on anything but precision rifle loads. never for pistol or plinkers

 

[MEHavey]

"No"

 

[Sunray]

No and neither does the case body. Only needs to be clean.

 

[cfullgraf]

If the primer pockets get shiny clean as a result of tumbling the case, great.

If not, I do not worry about it

 

[beag_nut]

NO! (to the original question)

 

[splattergun]

no. deprime. tumble if desired. If not, just knock out the crud.

I'm amazed at the lengths people will go to turn an enjoyable hobby into an exercise in self-torture.

 

[Reloadron]

If the primer pockets get shiny clean as a result of tumbling the case, great.

If not, I do not worry about it

Same. Long as they are clean enough to seat a primer they are fine.

Ron

 

[Trickam]

Also no, couple twists with the primer pocket tool, tap and toss.

 

[jeeptim]

No,

 

[ColtPythonElite]

No....I have brass that has been in use for many years and I have never cleaned the primer pockets.

 

[ironworkerwill]

I try not to clean pockets ever chance I get.

On target rounds I put one twist on an already uniformed pocket. It'll be perfect once again.

 

[jmorris]

Add me to the "no" list.

 

[Hardtarget]

I do not get crazy about cleaning primer pockets. I just use a wire brush that fits the pocket. Couple of twists and move on.

Primer crimp is more of a problem. Several turns (7 or 8 ) sometimes leaves too much crimp to seat a primer. Maybe my cutter is just wore out.

Mark

 

[Dudedog]

Only if you are OCD

 

[Ironicaintit]

No need to get crazy. As long as theres nothing to hold up a primer, its good. I have all the other tools but never use them. I ground down an old small screwdriver to have a small bit in the center, run it around real quick. (The center part to knock any media out of the flash hole)
I include it as part of the first inspection after tumbling

 

[rcmodel]

Crusty crud needs to go.

Discoloration is perfectly fine.

You will never see it again after you seat a new primer in it.

rc

 

[ku4hx]

My short answer is no.

My primer pocket cleaning happens under two circumstances:

1. The pockets need the crimp ring removed and the cleaning is a secondary unavoidable action.

2. For hunting rounds. Maybe not really necessary, but I try my best to mitigate even the small things that might ruin a shot.

With the exception of big bore revolver hunting rounds, I haven't cleaned a hand gun primer pocket since about 1975. If you're using a progressive press it seems to me cleaning primer pockets is pretty much a self defeating proposition.

 

[GBExpat]

Does the primer pocket need to be shiny clean?

Only if you are OCD

This.

 

[MarkG35]

For them to function,No.
Only you can decide if they need to be.

 

[345 DeSoto]

I haven't touched a primer pocket since I got my HF wet tumbler. IT does the work.

 

[lightman]

I uniform my primer pockets on rifle ammo and use the same tool to clean them. They come out shiny clean because the tool cuts the brass. But no, they don't have to be that clean. They just need to be clean enough that the primer seats. Its a personal preference up until there is so much trash in there that the primer won't seat.

 

[zb338]

I found the easiest way to clean primer pockets is to use
a screwdriver that is a fairly close fit and spin it a few times.
Other than that the tumbler is the easiest.

Zeke

 

[JWH321]

Thanks folks. No more five hour sessions with the primer pocket. It has never been an issue with my pistol rounds, but the AR seems to eat ammo more quickly. When I com home from a range session with the handguns, I bring back a couple of hundred cases. With the AR, I come home with 600/700.

( but then, I hang around and pick up everybody's empties - it still amazes me that people just walk away and leave all that brass laying there. I haven't bought brass for years).