Posted: 6/12/2006 7:46:48 PM EDT
I started reloading my PMP cases (South African Division of Denel). The primers were next to impossible to push in. My primer pocket reamer wouldn't help any. I finally grabbed my RCBS burring tool. Using the pointed tip, I turned the tool 5 times inside the primer pocket. The primers now fit. Unfortunately, I threw away about 50 cases before I discovered this trick. 
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| You have to remove the military crimp, which you discovered. It's a waste of time unless you have nothing but time on your hands... I found out the hard way too that PMP brass holds way less powder and you can't begin to approach publish maximum charges before your cases are full. |
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I noticed the PMP primer pockets being tight, but did not have any noticeable crimp that needed removing. I used CCI primers, so dunno what dif that would make. As for the brass being thick, I only load for plinking and generally underpower my rounds a tad anyway so that wasn't an issue. For HD or hunting loads I use other brass anyway. |
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I discontinued use of pmp in reloading they are marked 223 but are thick like 5.56 and I also use cci primers and never noticed a problem with seating. I would caution you about your load consider loading them about 15% lighter than you would normally load commercial brass. I would consider PMP a military brass for reloading pourpses. I had a bad experience with this brass once I loaded them with my normal plinking load and they had to be removed from my 223 barrel by dropping a section of rod down the bore . I have since discontinued use of PMP and gotten rid of all of my 223 barrels and gone to 5.56mm barrels. That can withstand higher chamber pressures and use surplus ammunition. |
Can you quote the SAAMI chamber pressure max for 223 Remington and the NATO cvhamber pressure max for 5.56X45? |
the fact that they hold less powder could be quite useful for subsonic loads. Is it noticably less then regular (LC, etc) Military brass? |
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Yes .233 Remington is 50,000 CUP ( copper units of Pressure) and 5.56X45 mm is 60,000 CUP. For the mathamatic impaired that is a 10,000 CUP difference. Also a concern is the amount of freebore length (leade) Nato chambers have a long leade and SAMMI chambers are tighterand have short leade. The .223 remington usually has a .085 leade while the 5.56mm has a typical leade of .162 The problem lies in the fact that chambering a 5.56X45mm cartrige in a .223 barrel can jamb the projectile into the rifling. with no leade or shortened leade . So what you say , Well without reducing the powder charge you risk dramatic overpressure . The combination of a cartrige that is designed for the higher pressure chamber and a chamber with about half the required leade is asking for a big KABOOM. Not a risk I am willing to take. I am sure some have done it and are okay but I dont want to be around when they do.  And I havent even begun to discuss the volumetric efficency issues involved with reloading military cases vs commerical cases.
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I have reloaded 45 gr and 75 gr bullets near the max powder loading per Hodgdon, using PMP brass. The 45 gr cases showed no problems with excessive pressure. The 75 gr showed cratered primers where the firing pin struck (bolt action rifle). I have since reduced my powder charges for the heavier bullets. Powder is BL-C(2). I have a bunch of PMP I bought several years ago and don't want to waste all of that brass. Hodgdon Reloading |
Ball type powders seems to work better due to the reduced capacity. Take your surpluss brass and sell it at the local scrap yard! |