Question about blazer brass and loose primers

[madd0c]

Ok,
Shot my first 38 special reloads this past weekend.

The cases were once fired Blazer brass.

Rem SP 1 1/2 primers

4.7 gr Universal under a Bery 125 FP bullet.

Very light load it turns out, wouldn't even knock down the steel targets, almost no recoil. No pressure signs.

Cleaned up the brass in the tumbler, ran it through a FL lee die and reprimed 50 cases. Ran each case through a dillon case guage to make sure they were correctly sized then reprimed.

The same Rem 1 1/2 SP primers went in VERY easily (RCBS Hand primer). They were not loose after seating, i.e. not falling out, but I am a little concerned that they went in so easily.

Is it the Blazer brass? I can't believe after one reload of a very weak load it would loosen the primer pocket that much.

 

[rfwobbly]

I can't believe after one reload of a very weak load it would loosen the primer pocket that much.

I would have to say that Blazer brass is not my favorite, but it should be good for 5+ loadings. Many things could have changed to affect the feel of insertion. Most of them have to do with the tolerances between the pocket ID and primer OD. In truth you're talking about holding the pocket AND the primer to tolerances out at 4 decimal places to get the proper fit. That's dimensions on the order of 1/10 of a human hair. So, one of the parts doesn't have to be off that much to change the entire "feel" of insertion.

Still we can't be sure it was the brass without trying the same batch of primers in another brand of brass.

Try some Winchester white box next time. They seem to hold up much better for me.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I load Blazer brass just like any other .38 Special brass. Remington primers do seat a little easier than other brands. I'm sure that if you seated some CCI primers into that same brass, there would be more resistance.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Noveldoc]

Try Wolf primers. They are a bit oversized.

Tom