Primers not seating

[jeeptim]

loading up some 7.62x54r all my ppu and lapua brass is just fine but I got about 50 winchester cases that my CCI LRP just wont fully seat I mean they stick out about 1/32nd of an inch. I have cleaned scraped even swagged it's like the pocket is not deep enough. Maybe I should go to a softer brass WLRP.

 

[dmazur]

I found this with a search -

Tuna1
08-17-2011, 10:44 PM

The Winchester 7.62x54 is made by S&B. The primer pockets on the S&B are shallow and to get proper seating of a primer you have to lengthen the pocket to accept the primer. The brass is good and I have used it in a PSL six times now with full loads. But over all the PRVI brass is nice and easy to load and of good quality. The primer pocket is a bit deeper but I have had no problems with it. S&B is making more and more of Winchesters ammo and I think only Federal is making all of it's ammo in the US.

Entire thread - http://forums.thecmp.org/archive/index.php/t-52271.html

I have no personal experience with 7.62x54R, but there is apparently some confirmation of your issue.

Cleaning, reaming and swaging the pocket won't make it deeper. You need a "primer pocket uniformer", something like this -

http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/case-preparation/primer-pocket-tools/uniformers/sinclair-primer-pocket-uniformers-prod34720.aspx

Of course, they are out of stock. Once things get back to "normal", this should solve your problem.

 

[returningfire]

I appreciate that info. I ordered some Winchester brass for my 7.62x54r from Buffalo and didn't know that it came already primed, YES! But when I get ready to reload it, it appears that I may have to modify the primer pockets. Dang it.

 

[docsleepy]

With the S&B brass, I always have to uniform the primer pocket before I can get primers to go in right. Didn't realize Winchester bought S&B brass.

 

[gamestalker]

Sounds like a bummer cartridge to work with. I suppose they make a primer just for that cartridge, maybe?
GS

 

[dmazur]

I'm sure the original primer is a special size...how else would it work?

In terms of it being a bummer cartridge to work with, I uniform Winchester .30-06 brass for a Garand. While most cases show only a few minor shavings, some definitely show brass being cut.

The good news is, you only have to uniform them once...

 

[Trent]

Winchester brass is obnoxious. I got a bunch of 300 win mag and 8mm Winchester brass, and it is horribly inconsistent.

I've found cases that are warped, wrinkled, missing flash holes, cases with big spools of brass shoved down in them, etc. Most of the 300 win mag brass I bought was thicker on one side, than the other, by .002" (including the neck, it is VISIBLY thicker on one side).

By the time I finish weight sorting, neck sizing, uniforming the pocket, it damn near wears me out to the point I don't want to look at the things anymore.

Next time I buy rifle brass, I'm getting Lapua, Nosler, or Norma. Period. I'm done with Winchester and their evil cousins Remington (who makes equally gnarly brass).

The quality is worth the extra money they cost.