223 rem reloads

liljake

January 03, 2012 14:57

I have been reloading for my 300 ultra , 350 rem mag and 22-250 for a few years now wanted to start doing the same for my 223. The problem encountered here was i cannot get the primers to seat into the case. I am attempting to reload once fired federal cases from my rock river. I have never encountered anything like this before. I am using win small rifle primers with an rcbs hand priming tool (which i always used and had no problems with)and it almost seems as if they are too big for the case. I went back and double checked that every detail was taken care of but it seems like something just isnt right. Some primers get crushed and others get bent like something j isnt lining up correctly (yes I switched the bracket and pin in the priming tool to the small one). Any ideas??? Any help??? Never thought that getting cases reprimed could get so frusterating...

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  76k20

  January 03, 2012 14:59

  The brass cases you are attempting to prime likely have crimped primer pockets. You will need to remove the crimp before priming. Several companies make tools for this purpose.

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  bpost

  January 03, 2012 15:27

  This should be moved to the reloading forum.

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  sandwarrior

  January 03, 2012 15:36

  liljake,
  
  I hope to expound a little on what 76k20 said. Since Federals biggest contracts are coming from the Government these days, they considered it a "pita" to sort civilian .223 from military 5.56 while being run through the manufacturing process. Therefore, since about '03 or so, civilian .223 has had primer crimps. Something that hasn't happened with other manufacturers or prior to that time by Federal.
  
  In any case, the cases continued on through the process and are separated by Federal when they put the powder in. I'm not totally understanding why this is as military spec primers are thicker/tougher than civilian primers. Civilian primers therefore, shouldn't have to be crimped in. But, at Federal, they are.
  
  Don't feel alone. I've got about 1000 cases that need the crimps removed. My local dealer, John W. at the Gunstop, sat down one time and did several thousand. His opinion about that was [xx(][xx(][xx(][xx(]
  
  Anyhow, if they are inexpensive, and you have a ton of them do do, go with a power system to do them and it will save a lot of hand cramps. Otherwise, do what you can and set 'em down a few days and go back to them.

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  dfletcher

  January 03, 2012 19:48

  I bought about 500 cases of 30.06 years back and discovered this thing:
  
  http://www.kitterytradingpost.com/product.php/pid/103/sid/650/tid/2519/prodid/7452
  
  It's the best primer pocket swager out there, I think. Not saying you'll enjoy the extra work, but you'll zip through it quick as heck. I guess the question is though whether buying it for brass that can be had so cheap is worth it.

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  rong

  January 03, 2012 20:45

  I had the same problem with
  Remington or Winchester from
  Cabelas. I squished one in sideways
  and a few got stuck in the shell
  holder.
  I threw them in the brass bucket.

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  nononsense

  January 04, 2012 01:00

  "I bought about 500 cases of 30.06 years back and discovered this thing:
  
  http://www.kitterytradingpost.com/product.php/pid/103/sid/650/tid/2519/prodid/7452
  
  It's the best primer pocket swager out there, I think. Not saying you'll enjoy the extra work, but you'll zip through it quick as heck. I guess the question is though whether buying it for brass that can be had so cheap is worth it."
  
  I bought the same tool but it was $6.00 cheaper through Dillon...
  
  Best.

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  Mobuck

  January 04, 2012 02:22

  Hey guys, don't throw those crimped cases away. Send them to me, I process thousands of military cases every winter for my use.

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  tsr1965

  January 04, 2012 02:43

  I see it as one of two solutions to your problem.
  
  1. Get a primer pocket swager to get rid of the crimp.
  
  
  2. Go to Midway USA, and get a large lot of new brass. They have several different manufacturers, including Lake City new brass...never used. Never used it shouldnt have the primer crimp, but that is not saying that the pockets are uniform either.
  
  Best

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  USN_Airdale

  January 04, 2012 04:08

  quote:Originally posted by 76k20
  The brass cases you are attempting to prime likely have crimped primer pockets. You will need to remove the crimp before priming. Several companies make tools for this purpose.
  
  
  
  i concur, about half (about 1,500) of my Federal brass have crimped primers, i ream them rather than swage, easier, faster and smoother inserting new primer.

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  cbyerly

  January 04, 2012 05:26

  Don't waste your time trying to reload Federal cases. Current production have crimped primer pockets and even after swaging them, the pockets will be loose. All federal cases that I find or use go in the scrap bucket.

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  catpealer111

  January 04, 2012 07:47

  Just purchase a primer pocket reamer. A couple of turns by hand and you're good to go. I've reloaded a few hundred Federal cases that all needed the crimp removed and it's not really that big of a deal to do.

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