Priming .223 cases

[BarboursvilleBill]

i've just started loading AR ammunition, and am "loading down" to .223 specs, rather than 556 specs, which has been recommended. i've only been reloading for a few months, and have had great success with .243 Win.

my immediate problem is that it seems i have to use lots of pressure to insert primers into my once-used cases. these are PMC, Federal, and Liberty (made in Israel for Federal). i have removed carbon from the pockets and am not using military cases that had crimped primers in them.

i'm using an RCBS hand-priming tool which worked like a champ on my .243 without requiring much pressure. i'm using Winchester WSR #6 1/2 primers.

any suggestions? thanks,

Bill

 

[rcmodel]

Your commercial cases are probably crimped just like military cases.

Pretty sure the PMC and Federal are.
If the Liberty are made in Israel, they are very likely crimped too.

Ream the primer pockets, and try again.

rc

 

[BarboursvilleBill]

thanks rcmodel; will do

Bill

 

[Dudedog]

Sounds like you need to remove the primer crimps.
(this only has to be done once)

Lots of ways to do it.
This is an inexpensive tool that I use.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/804809/hornady-primer-pocket-reamer-package

 

[snuffy]

Get different primers! The 6-½ primers are for low pressure centerfire rifle cartridges like the .22 hornet, 22 jet. Use of the 6-½ primers in full power .223 shells will result in perforated primers that could destroy your bolt face.

 

[murf]

snuffy, i thought it is the remington 6 1/2 primers that are for the low pressure rifle rounds. are the winchester primers the same way?

murf

 

[JimKirk]

Is your gun chambered for .223 Rem or is it a 5.56 chamber ?

 

[Walkalong]

Are you using Winchester WSR primers, or Remington 6 1/2 primers?

Can you post a pic of the primer pockets, which, as members noted, are probably crimped, but a pic would show for sure.

Welcome to THR

 

[BarboursvilleBill]

My rifle is a standard Colt M4 with 556mm chamber.

I've uploaded a pic of the casing, and the box of primers.

I think I'm mistaken about the 6 1/2 number; it's nowhere on the box. In the Hornady ref book, this is the primer that's called for for the bullet i'm using.

Thanks all

 

[Reloadron]

The Hornady 9th calls out WSR (Winchester Small Rifle) which is what you have pictured. Any number of primers will do fine. Aside from everything mentioned something you may want to consider is your primer pocket diameters on average and your primer diameters on average.



WSR primers typically run around .1750 but this can vary lot to lot so I suggest you see what you have. If you have tight pockets and wide primers you can figure they may go in a little hard.

Ron

 

[BarboursvilleBill]

thanks a lot for the SAAMI primer specs, Ron. i'll check 'em out. i also have some boxes of Federal primers; will measure them, too, and perhaps use them instead.

i've also decide to buy (ordered from Midway), a pocket swager tool, since i don't trust myself doing reaming (that i might remove too much brass). it fits into my single-stage RCBS press which i have trust in.

Bill

 

[judgedelta]

I think Winchester primers are smaller than Federal, CCI or Remington. I have never been completely satisfied with pocket swager tools. I usually ended up reaming a little with a champher tool.

 

[ericuda]

If you are ordering the rcbs press mounted pocket swager remember to lube the nipple every 6 or 7 rounds with a qtip and a little imperial lube or you'll be very frustrated.

 

[BarboursvilleBill]

thanks again all; is imperial lube similar to my case lube? i have RCBS.

 

[Walkalong]

Either the RCBS Case Lube II or Imperial will work just fine. Those are the two I use. Good stuff.

 

[Reloadron]

Imperial Case Sizing Wax is likely only one of a few dozen out there to choose from. Additionally there are many who choose to roll their own case lube and no shortage of recipes out there to be had. How much better is one than the next? I really don't know. I use the RCBS aerosol can spray, and I also have a few pump plastic bottles of RCBS. Even RCBS comes in a few flavors, I simply use what works for me. I can lay out 50 to 100 cases and just hit them with the spray and done. Then a touch up inside the necks. The stuff I am using goes back 20 years and was gun shop left over inventory. I won't say this or that is better. I will say try a few and see what works for you and develop your technique. They all lube the cases just some better than others depending on the individual's technique.

I just looked online and no longer see the Case Slick in a aerosol can just the pump.

Ron

 

[snuffy]

Dadgummit, I should not read this forum when I'm too tired!:banghead: I saw 6-½, but did not see Winchester WSR. Yeah the Remington 6-½ will rupture in standard pressure .223 loadings.

That'll teach me to re-read before spouting off my mouth!

I use a Hornady primer crimp reamer stationed in my RCBS case prep enter. It cuts just the crimp, leaves a nice taper for the new primer to easily slide in.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1165253550/hornady-primer-pocket-reamer-cutter-head



The second link is just the cutter itself, all you need if you use the case prep center. The threaded shank threads right into the 8x32 spindles, or can be used by chucking it in a drill motor.



Or you can get the handle and both the large & small reamers if you're going to only do an occasional case or three.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/804809/hornady-primer-pocket-reamer-package

 

[JonB]

I use the above Hornady crimp tool although I don't have a fancy-shmancy case prep center

I use the 'elbow grease' method while watching tv, sitting on conference calls for work, etc. Slow, but each case only takes a few seconds even if doing it manually.

 

[GBExpat]

My Milwaukee M12 drill motor is my "case prep center".

 

[hdwhit]

Deburring Tool

I've used my venerable RCBS Deburring Tool to remove the crimp on primer pockets since I started reloading. It still removes the lip and leaves a nice bevel in just a few twists. Of course, after several thousand rounds either I'm getting older or its starting to get dull because those few twists seems to take more effort than they did when I was a teenager.

 

[TwoEyedJack]

I have tried lots of primer pocket prep tools and the best by far is the Dillon swager. It is permanently mounted to my reloading bench.

 

[straightShot]

My Dillon swager seems to work fine on crimped brass for small rifle primer pockets. I've used it for a few years.

 

[BarboursvilleBill]

ericuda, does this mean that i have to wipe it clean somehow, as i do when i clean case lube off?

 

[Grasslander]

I use a Hornady reamer chucked into an el-cheapo Skil drill press. I burned up a Dewalt drill before I bought the bench mount drill press. Lesson learned there.

I do all my case prep on the drill press. I also use a Mechanix glove on my right hand which really helps my grip and prevents sore fingers.

 

[Clark]

Back when i was willing to do it, I liked the Dillon best.

https://www.dillonprecision.com/content/p/9/pid/25263/catid/8/Super_Swage_600