Primer tool?

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grubbylabs

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Is there a tool to tighten up primer pockets. My 300 win primers go in very easy, they don't back out, but it is a little scary how easy they go in.
 
No.

Loose primer pockets indicate pressure has expanded the web of the case head quite a bit.

At that point it is time to recycle them and get some new safe cases.

rc
 
I have seen some information in one of the gun rags within the last year or so that someone made push through dies to reduce the case head of rimless rifle cases. Maybe "Handloader", "Rifle", or the Varmint Hunter Association's publication as those are the only magazines I read regularly.

The result is to reduce the primer pocket.

Looks plausible but I am not sure it would be worth the effort.

I do not think the concept would work with rimmed cases.

My lack of specific information shows the impression it made on me.
 
R. W. Hart made one at one time. it was shown on page # 296 of Midway USA's catalog #30, 2007.

I checked Harts web site and could not find it.
 
What may feel like loose pockets is often just less reistence than what your used to feeling. In all honesty, I've never had to scrap brass due to primer pockets, and I load to near maximum pressure most of the time. The rule of thumb I've used for many years is, if the primer will stay put, it will seal 100% when brought up to normal operating pressure. Something that kind of supports this, is I''ve seen many reloaders with leaking primers at the range on powder puff loads.
 
When you insert a primer and it falls out on its own, I would say the primer pocket is a smidge oversize (aka loose primer pocket).

I experience them once in a while with 223 Remington. The other night, I just had a 221 Remington Fireball with an oversize primer pocket. The primer went in the pocket and backed out with the priming tool ram.
 
If I find a pocket I think is loose I will try to push the primer back out with a stiff piece of wire. If it stays put the round is OK to load. If it is loose I will try seating a Tula/Wolf primer as they are a bit bigger and might be OK for one more loading. Put an X on the head with a magic marker then reload once more and recycle that brass next time instead of reload.
 
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I would think if you could find a tool the crimps the primers would take care of it, like used on mil brass. If I recall the Dillon 1050 was capable of swedging primers in place.
 
Some one showed me a tool on midway and to be honest, I think I would rather spend the $60.00 on new brass. Sixty dollars will almost pay for a 100 pieces.
 
By the time magnum case head expansion make primers loose, the brass is not safe.

Which is cheaper?
A tool to beat it back in place?
A blown up rifle?
A glass eye?
Or new brass?

Oh! Super Glue is cheaper I guess.
Yea! Thats the ticket!

rc
 
By the time magnum case head expansion make primers loose, the brass is not safe.

Which is cheaper?
A tool to beat it back in place?
A blown up rifle?
A glass eye?
Or new brass?

Oh! Super Glue is cheaper I guess.
Yea! Thats the ticket!
Click to expand...

This may all be RC, you usually know whereof you speak. But then R. W. Hart & Sons may also know whereof they speak. After all he is a very well known custom rifle builder using a customers supplies action and the finished product coming to approx $2400.00, so he must be someone with some knowledge. Please note also this is a forth generation shop still in the same family.

Regarding the tool itself, I have no idea of its merits pro or con. Mayhap its not made for Magnum cases.
 
The R. W. Hart tool works, and works well. Several year ago I purchased some brand new Norma 303 Savage brass, and the primer pockets were lose. Instead of tossing brand new brass costing $1 each, I purchased one of those primer pocket tools and was able to fix it all.

But I see it often here - one answer and it simply MUST fit every situation, because that's just the way it is, no matter what the question. Instead of answering the question (in this case, is there a way to tighten pockets), the reply is "the brass is old and must be replaced." And that's the answer because. It doesn't answer the question at all, but apparently it makes the poster feel good.
 
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