Tight primers...

Smokey Joe · Mar 9, 2016

Eager to load for my new 6.5 Creedmoor. Got 100 Nosler cases. Have had good results for my "serious" rifles with CCI BR-2 primers, so that was what I used to prime them. The BR-2's I have used for years, with no problems; they have inserted normally into all my cases up 'til now.

That's as far as I've gotten. Results: Found that the CCI BR-2's went into the Nosler cases VERY stiffly. 2 cases I had to really force, the other 98 were just "hard to insert." All 100 primers were finally inserted into the primer pockets, many with noticeable flattening. They all went in, though, just a whisker below flush, just like they're supposed to.

Used a Lee Auto-Prime XR for this--Have had it for some time and have had zero difficulties with it, with other cartridges.

IMX, any primer that goes straight into the primer pocket of a cartridge, without being actually crushed, will go bang when struck by the firing pin.

My questions are these: 1. Does Nosler brass come with notably tight primer pockets? 2. Is 6.5 CM brass normally made with tight primer pockets? 3. Did I encounter a run of CCI BR-2's just a hair bigger in diameter than normal? 4. Or, if none of the above, what in the dickens IS going on here???

Would appreciate any & all opinions.

loose noose · Mar 10, 2016

Had the same problem using CCI Standard large rifle primers, into some cheap S&B casings in .303 British, using the same machine, switched over to WW Magnum large rifle primers and noted they went in a bit hard but they did go in nice and flush.

MtnCreek · Mar 10, 2016

Probably just tight pockets. They'll loosen before you want them to.

Reloadron · Mar 10, 2016

The diameter of primer pockets can vary on any brass from lot to lot and even within a given lot. The Large Rifle Primer Pocket Specification or allowable tolerances are 0.2085" to 0.2100" Diameter. The diameter of the actual Large Rifle Primers can vary lot to lot also and even within a given lot. The Large Rifle Primer Diameter Specification is 0.2105" to 0.2130" Diameter. On average the CCI BR-2 Large Rifle primers I have measured average around 0.21065" Diameter with a Height of 0.1265".

If you want to know in advance if the cases will be tight or require more effort to prime do some measurements in advance. Measure the pocket depth and width on maybe 5 or 10 case primer pockets and get an average width and depth. Now measure 5 or 10 of your primers for height and width. That will tell you what to expect during the priming process as to ease of seating. Seat all primers till then bottom out in the pockets.

Overall looking at the above specification numbers it is easy to see where both pockets and primers can be in specifications and have a tight fit. Sometimes it just happens but is considered normal.

Ron

Smokey Joe · Mar 10, 2016

Danke!

Thank you, gentlemen!

Tight primers...

Smokey Joe

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loose noose

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MtnCreek

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Reloadron

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Smokey Joe

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