Federal NT brass - a new twist

[Jeff H]

As I make my way through loading a few thousand 9mm rounds this winter, I stumbled on a handful of Federal NT brass. They all have crimped primers.

Why? It isn't NATO ammo, Head stamp just says FC NT.

That sucks. Just another annoying thing to look out for while reloading. :banghead:

 

[Beancounter81]

Had some Federal NT .40 S&W - same thing. Don't know why they crimp the NT primers (or if they do it on all of them).

 

[helotaxi]

Federal has begun crimping allot of their factory ammo. 9mm is so plentiful and cheap, I'd just toss the crimped stuff in the recycle bin.

 

[capreppy]

Not the first time I'm hearing about crimps in 9mm NT brass. Seems to be needed due to the NT primers. I'm about to start loading up some 9mm later today, but I've got several thousand R-P & Win before I get to the FC brass (yes I DO sort my brass by headstamp, but I'm just anal that way).

 

[john16443]

The Fed NT and the Win NT stuff gets tossed in the recycle bucket here too. Many I'll catch before I pick them up and toss back, the next check is as they're removed from the tumbler and pockets checked, the final check is the sorting and storing by headstamp.

 

[Striker Fired]

Your not alone with the sorting by h/s,at least the three major brands.

 

[rcmodel]

Might as well get used to it.

The lead-free Dinol primers have a much more vigorous explosion then normal primers, and early lead-free ammo was causing gun damage. What happened was, the primer fires, backs out of the cases, and eventually peens a dent in the breach face.

Three things were done to prevent the gun damage early on.
1. A larger flash hole decreased the primer pocket pressure considerably which reduced the violent backing out to more normal levels.
2. Primers were crimped in place to help prevent them backing out.
3. A switch to Small primers in calibers that had traditionally used only large primers was made.

rc

 

[Hizzoner]

I also sort by headstamp.
If you take the time to sort you can pick up all kinds of case condition issues.
I have found SP primed .45 ACP brass, crimped primers in 9mm, one or two cracks etc.
If you can weed those out it saves time when you are on a roll.

 

[gamestalker]

Another brass sorting reloader here too!

 

[capreppy]

If you can weed those out it saves time when you are on a roll.

I HATE having to slow down when I am on a roll and thus the reason I started doing it. R-P is a little thinner than Win and I knew that the force required to FL size Win brass was more so I was always prepared for it (read sometimes I use a wee bit of lube to make the effort just a smidge easier).



I sort by the three major headstamps (R-P, Win, & FC) and the rest go into the same bucket (usually). I run through my brass one headstamp at a time. In 9mm Luger, I have about 3k of each of the major headstamps so it takes me a little while to get through each. In .45 ACP, most of my stash is R-P (3k) and the rest is Win (1.5k), FC (.5k), and other (.5k which is further separated to include those that are SP).

 

[kingmt]

If I tossed all my crimped brass then I'd only have about 300 pieces left. Speer, FC, & Hornady all have a crimped primer.

 

[Hizzoner]

Au contraire, mon Frere.
There may be SOME Speer, FC, and Hornady that are crimped but far from all.
Why waste time hammering out a primer and resizing the pocket when 9mm brass is so cheap (or often free).
Not worth the aggravation to me.

 

[kingmt]

Because I have about 10K of them & if I throw them out I'd have about 200.

It wasn't until I started useing a progressive that I even know they were crimped. I just thought my press didn't do a very good job of priming. I also have about 3K 45acp the need swaged but haven't had the time yet.

 

[capreppy]

Because I have about 10K of them & if I throw them out I'd have about 200.

It wasn't until I started useing a progressive that I even know they were crimped. I just thought my press didn't do a very good job of priming. I also have about 3K 45acp the need swaged but haven't had the time yet.

You sound like the perfect candidate for a Dillon Super Swager. That'll do the brass in a very timely fashion.

 

[Uniquedot]

1. A larger flash hole decreased the primer pocket pressure considerably which reduced the violent backing out to more normal levels.

I don't know how many times i have read in loading manuals/articles that enlarging the flash hole increased pressure, but it's been quite a few times. Is this a myth or are powder charges adjusted to compensate in the lead free ammo?

 

[rcmodel]

I am not talking about the pressure of the load.

I am talking about the pressure inside the primer pocket that caused the primer to back out.
The larger hole allows the primer pressure to escape out of the pocket and into the case fast enough to keep them from backing out.

As for actual load pressure?

Lots of folks here load them the same and report near identical velocity measurements with the same loads.

It might increase pressure slightly, but I think you would have a hard time proving it.

rc

 

[evan price]

Been scrapping the crimped 9mm. Nice brass, but a bother to deal with... Sorting brass for sale lately couple years has gotten a lot more tedious.
Brass-plated steel S&B, crimped primer NTs and military WCC, A-Merc, nickel plated, small flash hole RWS, berdan primed foriegn surplus, makarovs & 380s, 9x19 trimmed to Makarov length, etc, on top of the usual split or dented or full of debris... >sigh< it ain't gettin' any easier.

 

[john wall]

Another victim of OCD who sorts ALL brass by head stamp.

Eight rifle calibers, nine handgun.

 

[john wall]

I know it makes my ammo more consistent. Takes a lot of time, keeps me out of trouble. LOL