Primer pockets-How loose is to loose.??

native hunter · Post by **native hunter** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:20 pm

G"Day All
While reloading some 25/06 brass today I noticed that the pockets were really loose, these cases have had 7-8 reloads and 2 of these were warm loads, I also noticed that one of the cases had a small split in the neck.
Do you think it is time to flick them out the window??
Regards
Damien Webb.

300RUM · Post by **300RUM** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:56 pm

I wouldn't flick them because of loose primer pockets until the primers won't stay in anymore. A mate of mine puts nail polish on his primers to keep them in they are that loose. Sounds like your cases may need a neck anneal though.
Brett

jb747 · Post by **jb747** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:18 pm

Loose is a relative term. A change of primers and you may well find that they are being held firmly again. But, I would be a bit wary, as if they are all from the same lot and some are cracking around the neck, I'd suspect the rest aren't all that far behind.

And for the bloke who uses nail polish.....I hope he wears decent eye protection.

Kenny · Post by **Kenny** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:07 pm

Native,

Your cases are trying to tell you something.....chuck em away.

As for the nail polish......

The things people do never cease to amaze me

KY

300RUM · Post by **300RUM** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:00 am

Kenny wrote:Native,

As for the nail polish...... The things people do never cease to amaze me

KY

When you've paid over 4 bux a case and you live 150ks west of Charleville why not?
Can you honestly say you have had a loose primer pocket leak gas? I shoot with him and have never seen it.

Kenny · Post by **Kenny** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:12 am

Well YEAH

Judging by the stain around the primer pocket and on the bolt face. Maybe you should take a bit of a look

I have also had a face full of powder from a case that suffered from complete head seperation, and ringing ears from it. Scared the shit outta me and all it was from was keeping cases too long, 4 bucks a case is cheap compared to having the bolt removed from your cheeckbone

it is just not worth it.

Have also witnessed a rifle blow up in a mates face, he made a mistake and filled up his 222 cases with hornet powder...boom... 3 peice gun, one black eye and deaf for three days. I don't think your freinds method is something to be followed. It is probably testament to how well firearms are made that not many are injured.

Cheers
KY

300RUM · Post by **300RUM** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:05 pm

So you have seen a gas leak from a loose primer? Interesting? Not from a case head separation that is easily checked with a tool thats costs nothing? I fail to see how you can draw a parallel between primer pockets and cases that have been destroyed by case head separation or over loading. Of course loose pockets are caused by brass flow in the case and yes from just above the web area. But a shitload more has flowed forward where it gets trimmed off every so often too.(unless of course you don't check that either!! Blown primer cause No.2) If you still have tight pockets and have done a couple of trims and still don't check the internal walls of your cases then you are in a LOT more danger than a horseshit loose primer pocket! How LOOSE a pocket is is very much open to personal opinion. I was only using the nail polish as an example of this and wasn't recommending it. I have 80 220 swift cases that although of course I use a hand primer to prime I could also seat them all with my thumb. They DON'T leak or blow up in my face and when the primer won't stay in I flick them. I the primer does not fall out in use then what is the problem? Annoying yes, but we are talking varmints here not dangerous game. A primer falling out won't get you eaten. I don't let my big game rounds to get like this obviously. The things you have warned me about here seem to be caused by lazy reloading practices not loose primer pockets?

walking_death · Post by **walking_death** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:41 pm

300RUM wrote: but we are talking varmints here not dangerous game. A primer falling out won't get you eaten. I don't let my big game rounds to get like this obviously.

so you are admitting that your 300 REM Ultra is just a varmint callibre then mate?
Beacuse I have seen a few of those cases with soggy bums... I think I have one of them in my shooting bag, all black and stretched in the arse...

But seriously, I had a batch of 22-250 cases that must have been a little soft or something because after a couple of reloads (that were fine in other cases) they got so slack that if you dropped a loaded round, when you picked it up you had no primer and 748 dribbling out the bottom!
What fun! Kept them for killing paper at the range.

Ackley Improved · Post by **Ackley Improved** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:39 pm

Hi

For me, I'd throw them... 7-8 loads out of the case is not bad. If a neck has split, thats a good indication that the rest of the shells will be stuffed too.

You could try another brand of primer. You maybe suprised that another primer might be slightly larger. (CCI BR4 primers are slightly harder and larger than a 205 if I recall)

25-06 brass is not expensive.

As for nail polish........HHmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!

Cheers
AI

Kenny · Post by **Kenny** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:45 pm

300RUM

So you are telling me you have NO marks on the face of your bolt from your 'loose' primer pockets

it is usually a nice black ring which I am presuming is a deposit of soot from gas leakage around the primer, but maybe my theory is wrong.....and I will stand to be corrected on this.

You are right there is no 'parallel' between loose pockets and case head seperation as they are caused by the SAME thing, that being - old cases that should be thrown away as they have stretched to the limit of their usefull life

The pockets of my cases were..moderately loose I guess, but did certainly not fall out

and there was no overload problem in my gun. Or headspace problem which I presume you meant from the measurement comment.

Also the gun blow up comment I made was an example of what can happen when things go wrong, it has nothing to do with loose pockets you are correct. I was sharing an experience that will stay with me forever.

In saying what you did about the nail polish, you may have inadvertently given any person who reads it, the notion of this being OK to do, when IMO it is not.

If you want to persist in this practise thats your business, I wish you good luck with it

KY

a.JR · Post by **a.JR** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:05 pm

walking_death · Post by **walking_death** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:32 pm

Kenny wrote:
In saying what you did about the nail polish, you may have inadvertently given any person who reads it, the notion of this being OK to do, when IMO it is not.

If you want to persist in this practise thats your business, I wish you good luck with it

KY

If you actually read the posts before you try ripping anyone a new orifice, you will see he said it was

"a mate of mine" (not me either) who had to do it as a matter of necessity, not living in town and being able to nick down the gunshop for a new bag of brass. And it was mentioned as an example of what can be "got away with" if needs be, not as best practice.

Hows about Native Hunter buys some new brass (unless he's got 800 cases like I have for 22-250), 300RUM goes back to blowing critters up and all the scientists go back to their laboratories....

Kenny · Post by **Kenny** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:21 am

Walking_death,

I am not ripping anybody a new anything, my comments were not meant to come across like this, but if you want to read them that way...go for it

Perhaps the fact I am "homo phobic" is the reason to why I don't subscribe to the use of fingernail polish

Seriously, I agree, your mate is innovative in the use of it, and pleased he 'got away' with it and that you yourself know it is not recomended practise.

Native asked a question and opinions were given, I was asked by 300 a question about seeing gas leakage and I answered also giving examples of my experiences when things can go wrong. I don't think my ramblings have offended him judging by his reply......have I

(in which he has shown his knowledge of brass flow during a bullet case's life and admitting he chucks his when the primers fall out) to which I have also replied and admitted some of my comments were .....off topic.
I have asked the question about marks on the bolt face and have recieved no reply as yet.

My last comment was obviously a bit harsh and wrong..............oh well, musta been the bundy

Heyyyy...hows about next time your mate goes 150k to town to buy powder and projies he buys 100 new cases too

KY

lowndsie · Post by **lowndsie** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:46 am

As long as it's pointed out that it IS a saftey issue!!!!! then its all good aye.

walking_death · Post by **walking_death** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:16 pm

Kenny and all, no worries mate(s) its all fun until someone loses an eye (or spills their Bundy).

And on the topic of fun... here for your amusement is a pic of the case I was talking about that a certain other member of this forum who shall remain nameless gave to me just before he backed that load off a couple of grains. (hint, his forum name is practically written on the headstamp of these cases)
One brand new case and one that may be once fired (but could be twice).

Looks like a bit of errosion around where it says "300" to me

You can literally drop a primer into that pocket, but if you turn the case upside down it will fall out again!

(I will be in the shit now! He'll make me walk back from Thargomindah next week for sure)

AusVarmint

Primer pockets-How loose is to loose.??

Primer pockets-How loose is to loose.??

Reduce loads or throw them!!

Sizes!