Problem seating primers

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Sam Adams

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I've been reloading a bunch of .223/5.56 mm brass for load testing lately, and I've had a big problem with seating primers. Here are the specifics:

1) I've mostly been using Israeli brass (either TZ, TZZ or IMI headstamps), or Winchester brass from Q3131A.

2) I have a Lee press and Lee dies. Once I decap and size, I do any necessary trimming, and also clean out the primer pockets with the Lee tool.

3) I then load primers using the Lee hand-priming tool. I've used it for MANY years in various calibers, and never had problems. Now, however, when I try to load Federal match primers, I experience a lot of resistance and many of them get only partially seated. Sometimes I'm able to salvage the brass after removing the damaged primer, sometimes not.

I am EXTREMELY frustrated, and I'm losing primers, brass and time like crazy. Does anyone have an explanation and/or suggestion as to how to avoid this problem in the future? Could it be that because this is mil-spec brass, I have to ream out the primer pockets?

P.S. I loaded up a bunch of misc. brass (Remington, Federal, Lake City) that I found on the range to use as fouling shots prior to load testing - with WSR primers - and had NO problems. They all seated easily, quickly and (to my eye) perfectly.
 
""Could it be that because this is mil-spec brass, I have to ream out the primer pockets?" Yes."

OK, thanks. What tool is best (i.e. the best value for the money)?
 
RCBS makes a chamfer/deburr tool. It's about $15. Has kind of a cone on one end, and "legs" on the other.

Get that one. I hear they last forever.
 
"RCBS makes a chamfer/deburr tool."

Does anyone know if the Lee chamfer tool does a decent job on military crimps? The Technical Specs on Midway's site say it works for this, but I find it hard to believe that this little $3 item can trim the inside and outside of the case mouth and also do primer pockets. If it does, I'll be even more impressed with Lee than I already am.

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. At least now I have the problem identified, and solving it should be relatively easy and inexpensive.
 
Lee makes one, but it's about the size of an ant.

I had to work hard to get those crimps out with the RCBS tool, I can't imagine doing it with the Lee.
 
Does anyone know if the Lee chamfer tool does a decent job on military crimps?


Yes, it will do it all. Handy tool. But to just remove crimps, get a cheap counterbore from your local Ace HW store. This will remove most crimps.

Dave
 
If you're prepping quantities of brass, the Dillon primer pocket swaging tool is great. Big handle, lots of leverage. Swaging the primer pockets is effortless.
 
After reaming only about forty 50BMG primer pockets with the Lee Chamfer tool, I never want to use that type of tool for it again.

The Dillon tool is quick and yields consistent results.

-z
 
RCBS used to make (and they probably still do) a primer pocket swaging die that came with a die body and two different sized rods (for large and small cases) that was designed for the RC press, but will work with most. Two (large and small) swaging heads, which replace the shellholder, are supplied. This die set works really well (I have processed several thousand 9x19mmP, 5.56x45mm, 7.62x51mm NATO, .30-06, and many other cases over the years, and the set still works perfectly.

It is also a lot cheaper than the Dillon tool (although the Dillon tool works very well too).

Try it (the RCBS die), you'll like it...
 
"Christmas is getting close, you can ask Santa for one."

Santa hasn't shown up since I plugged his butt full of buckshot a few years back ;) (who the F thumps all over your roof with a bunch of flee-bitten deer and then enters the house through the chimney, anyway?) :D, but I'll see what Hannukah Harry has in his bag. At least he knocks, probably because he's hungry and wants some free potato latkes. Anyhow, I'm already asking for a tumbler and a few other gun goodies, so this one's on me.
 
Thanks, everyone, for your help. I'm going to get the RCBS die and try it out. If that doesn't work to my satisfaction, then I'll get the Dillon. Clearly the Dillon is the better product (it looks easier to use, and durable as can be), but for the price difference I can nearly buy myself a tumbler kit.
 
I'm just going to add that I've run across PMC brass in .223 that is also primer crimped. Always ticks me off, cause you're not expecting it! :cuss:

So, just one more step in the brass inspection stage...look at the pocket, see if it might be crimped. (Can't always tell though....)
 
Kamicosmos & Zak Smith

Kamicosmos - I also have a load of PMC brass, and it is the same as yours - crimped.

I found this out last night, when I decided to try the Lee Chamfer Tool on my TZZ and Win Q3131A. I can tell you all that while it works, I will be getting something else to do the reaming of the primer pocket, because it is tedious and not very easy for more than a few rounds. Zak, you are oh so right about it. I guess I'd use it if I was truly desperate, but I'm not. Besides, once I get a better tool, it won't be an issue any more.
 
kamicosmos said:
I'm just going to add that I've run across PMC brass in .223 that is also primer crimped. Always ticks me off, cause you're not expecting it!
Click to expand...

Yup. There are two different headstamps for PMC brass. Only one of them is crimped. From what my father found out, is that one headstamp was made in Korea and the other stateside, and if his info is right, the stateside PMC brass is crimped. If I recall correctly, the crimped PMC headstamp has "PMC" in small font very close together, whereas the uncrimped PMC headstamp has "PMC" in larger font.

I'd take pictures, but I'm at work.
 
Another possibility would be to just buy 100% processed Lake City (military) brass from Scharch's. It's inexpensive, and the primer pockets have already been decrimped. Plus, they've been roll-sized and trimmed.
 
Rockstar

I've ordered the RCBS primer pocket swaging die (it is supposed to arrive today, along with a bunch of other goodies from Midway), and I'll eliminate the military crimp on all of my existing cases this way. Thankfully, it is a 1-time job.

However, I've come to the conclusion that the way to go for "new" military brass is with Scharch's. You're right that it is only a few bucks (I looked - 4.5 cents each for 1000 cases fully prepped; 7 cents each fully prepped and already primed), and it is well worth the saved time. Unfortunately, Scharch's is so much in demand that they are out of supply and not taking any backorders as of about a week ago.
 
Sam, you are gonna like the RCBS swager. there is no effort in it at all. I have used one for many years, and it works just fine. Set up is easy, and you can do many hundreds of cases in a short period. Like most everything RCBS, it is way overbuilt, and I know of nobody who has ever wore one out. Because you are displacing the brass instead of cutting, there is never any worry about teeth losing their edge.
 
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