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Posted: 3/15/2015 3:58:32 PM EDT
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Decades ago I reloaded for my AR with a Star progressive reloader. No problems.
Now I'm trying that again. This time with a turret press. The other difference is that I'm using once fired military brass. Unlike before I just can not find new factory brass. This has been an experience. I swage the primer pockets and chamfer them. Despite a lot of effort I still run into primer pockets that are all but impossible to get a primer into. If I was using a progressive I'd jam the machine for sure. So to those of use who are using a progressive and once fired military brass, what am I missing? |
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Might be better asked in the reloading forum. Have you tried different primers? Some seem to have a tighter fit than other. I prefer CCI primers....IIRC the remington primers where a little tight (I could be wrong as it's been many years since I tried to use them) I ream out the primer pocket on LC brass with the RCBS case prep center (pic below) and it works fine for me. YMMV |
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I have processed many thousands of GI cases with very rarely a problem seating primers.
My process for preparing the primer pockets of once-fired GI brass: 1. Decap and size the once-fired cases 3. Cut a very small 45 degree chamfer at the opening of the primer pocket 4. Run the pocket mandrel of the RCBS swaging die into the primer pocket CCI primers then seat smoothly and firmly into the pocket. Maybe 1 or 2 of a thousand cases the primer might hang up while seating the primer. I usually just toss that case. No big deal loosing a case or two. |
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No problem with primers here, either.
Decap and then swage with a Dillon swager, I then rock and roll on a Hornady LnL AP with CCI#41 primers, seating just fine. If someone is having MAJOR difficulty with primer seating of once-fired military brass, I think that the first place I would look to is how you're prepping the primer pockets. Either swaging or reaming works, but if either is lacking in technique and/or consistency, "problems will ensue", as they say. |
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I used an RCBS on press swage die. It takes a good bump to release. I got rid of this.
I then used the Dillon bench mount swager. I sorted by headstamp and swaged. Still had some tight pockets. Since I load on a progressive I need/want them all to have the same feel. I tried the Hornady reamer chucked in a drill. Works like a charm. Primers seat with uniform effort. Now that my reloading bench and area are nearly done I will also use a primer pocket uniformer. I have a few thousand cases to ream and I will also uniform them. Even though I am currently only loading plinking ammo I want to get in the habit of uniforming. I will be loading some 77gr stuff later this year and I want to have the case prep down. |
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