Old CCI 200 large rifle primers tight?

[1KPerDay]

I just ran out of CCI #34 primers for my Garands/M1A. I tried using some old (we're talking 1970's era) CCI200 primers my dad left me. I have a few thousand and have used them in bolt guns before. They are MUCH tighter in the primer pockets and I'm having trouble seating them below flush, even on the LCT which gives you A LOT of leverage when priming if you need it. Brass is cleaned, pockets chamfered and cleaned. The 34s go well below flush on this brass (HXP, WCC, LC) without issue.

Are the old CCIs maybe TALLER than the recent manufactured 34s? Larger in diameter? Too old? They pop just fine.

I seated one flush in an empty case, inserted it into the chamber, and let the bolt slam from fully rear on it, then repeated 4 times. (not that you should ever load a Garand like this IRL). There's an indentation but it didn't go off until I dropped the hammer on it.

 

[kcofohio]

I too have acquired some 70's era, or earlier, from a co-worker whose FIL passed away in '79. CCI200's in a green box with white lettering.
They press hard in 8x57 and 7.62x54R. I have newer CCI200's that basically glide into the same said casings, compared to the old.

I compared the 2, both are at .2115" with my calipers. But using my 5x loupe, I can see that the older primer leading edge is sharper than the new primer. The newer primer shows a slight radius on the leading edge, with no sign of a radius on the older one.

 

[1KPerDay]

Yep, green and white. Thanks for the report.

Hmmm.... what am I going to do... I bought a primer pocket uniformer but that probably wont' help diameter-wise.

 

[kcofohio]

You're welcome!
With this finding, I think I'll mark some casing for the old and see how much faster the primer pocket wears compared to the new primers.

 

[243winxb]

RCBS Ram Priming Unit for hard to seat primers

 

[blarby]

1k !

I think I can finally help ya !

I had a STACK of these last summer.

I ended up spraying the inside of my primer tray with PTFE spray, and boy- did it work like a charm !

A little of that stuff goes a long way, just need to find the best way to get it on your primer edges.

 

[1KPerDay]

Hmmm... interesting idea! I was wondering how I'd lube just the primer pockets. I don't want them to contaminate the priming compound of course.

the primer pocket uniformer did nothing to help, as I suspected. It's the OD that's larger (apparently) than newer-manufactured ones.

Maybe I could use them to load converted Berdan brass. LOL

 

[Float Pilot]

Yes they do seem tighter. I still have a bunch I bought back in the mid 70s. They are harder material and tighter. Part of the problem is that back then CCI was the cheap crappy brand and they had crummy quality control.

 

[blarby]

That PTFE isn't going to conaminate anything once the carrier dries.