Trouble with FC 223 brass

[Jonzer77]

I made a few rounds to try out some 77gr smks that I bought. I used Varget and made some rounds with 21, 22, and 23 grains loaded to 2.260. I used mixed brass that was trimmed to 1.750 but the fc brass was a little short but from what I have read short brass is ok to load.

This is what the case looked like after firing
FC Brass


Everything else

 

[rcmodel]

And the trouble is???

rc

 

[Jonzer77]

Just wasn't sure if this was normal or not.

 

[rcmodel]

Normal What??

I don't see anything different except the military primer pocket crimp on the FC brass that was there before you shot it the first time when it was new.

rc

 

[FROGO207]

The only difference that I see is that the FC brass had crimped primer pockets when new and therefore look different now. That is what those extra rings are around the primer. The primers look OK to me otherwise.

 

[Jonzer77]

I thought something was wrong because the FC brass has purple around the primer and indentations on the brass whereas the other brass looks normal.

 

[rcmodel]

The purple is military lacquer sealer from when Federal loaded it.
The indented ring is the military primer crimp.

I'm not at all sure how you were able to re-prime it without reaming or swaging the old crimp out first.
Which would have also taken off the purple GI sealer too.

Normally, a new primer won't go back in a crimped case without smashing it trying to seat it.

rc

 

[243winxb]

The purple looks like gas leakage from loose primer pockets.

 

[Jonzer77]

The primer went in normally which is why I didn't think it had a crimp. I thought only 5.56 brass had a crimp in the primer pocket so I didn't think the Federal 223 brass had a crimp. I just noticed the FC brass already had that indentation prior to loading it so I answered my own question lol. I prepped and primed a few hundred cases but then wasn't able to get them loaded so I didn't notice the indentation until after they were fired so I got a little worried seeing that. I just checked the rest of the fc brass that I have and it all looks like that. Now I feel silly lol. I am still fairly new to rifle reloading and I tried looking for an example of that in my reloading books so I figured I would ask you guys.

 

[rcmodel]

It looks like FC American Eagle purple primer sealer lacquer to me.

BTW: Where did you get the brass?
Maybe somebody had already swaged the primer pockets and reloaded it once before you got it?

rc

 

[Jonzer77]

Rc,

Thanks for the help, it is much appreciated.

Also, what tool do you use to swage your primer pockets?

 

[Jonzer77]

Most of the brass I have is range pickups.

 

[243winxb]

First photo, bottom row, 2nd from left. When down loaded, edited, inlarged, it looks like gas leakage.

 

[Jonzer77]

I just pulled the bolt and there was a circle of some substance on the bolt face and I cleaned it up and it's gone. I have the FC brass separated from the rest of the brass until I can get something to swage it.

 

[rcmodel]

Was the patch you cleaned it with purple or black?

Purple is primer sealer.

Black is gas leakage.

rc

 

[Jonzer77]

It was black.

I have loaded a few hundred rounds with 223 brass and never had this happen until I used the FC brass. Lesson learned.

 

[243winxb]

RC is right, check the color.

 

[rcmodel]

It was black.

Well the stuff in the picture still looks like purple sealer to me.
I think I got some in the basement just like it.

rc

 

[243winxb]

Some F C brass might be a problem. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/253106_and_34_F_Cand_34__cases____what_s_the_deal_.html I am not reading it again, as i have never had a problem with FC brass.

 

[Jonzer77]

Thanks for the link 243.

What do you use to swage the primer pockets?

 

[243winxb]

I dont have crimped brass. No swage.

 

[rcmodel]

I use a RCBS Primer Pocket Swager kit.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/447022/rcbs-primer-pocket-swager-combo

The Dillon Super-Swage is way better if you can afford it and have mass quanities of brass to swage.
http://www.dillonprecision.com/content/p/9/pid/25263/catid/8/Super_Swage_600

For small quantities of brass just ream it out with a chamfering tool or Primer pocket reamer.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/501588/hornady-primer-pocket-reamer-tool-small

rc

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

in your pics, that purple/black/whatever stuff appears to be on the surface of the primer. unless you put a sealant on your primers after re-priming, then it's not primer sealant. that really only leaves gas leakage as a possibility.

however, that FC brass was clearly crimped when new. either someone removed the crimp before you got it or you were able to seat new primers anyway, which i hear is fairly common on some types of brass. i haven't personally used any crimped brass that could be primed without removing the crimp, but plenty of folks report doing so. the fact that it could be loaded without removing the crimp would lead me to believe that batch of FC has relatively loose primer pockets, which would also explain the gas leakage.

 

[Hondo 60]

To decide what tool to use, you have to ask your wallet.

You can do it REALLY, REALLY cheap, using a Lee Chamfer and Deburring Tool $3.79
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/389104/lee-chamfer-and-deburring-tool

or you can spend $100 or more.
http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25263/catid/8/Super_Swage_600

 

[kingmt]

I have a CH4D swager & ram prime tool that cost $40 & I'm very happy with it.

If you shoved the primers past the crimp you probably undersized the primers. They look like they are backed out some which I thought was low pressure but after reading down the thread I believe you may have forced the primers past the crimp.