In case anyone gets similar brass -
Among the range brass I've picked up, I have 83 pieces of MKE NATO 5.56 brass - mostly '17. The primers were crimped and had a green sealant. After decapping, tumbling, sizing, reaming, and trimming - I pulled 30 out to trash while priming, because 7 of them primed so easily I was able to remove the new primers (CCI 400) by holding the universal decapping die in my hand and pushing the primer out with finger pressure against the base of the brass. The other 23 were culled after those 7 because I tested all the MKEs and these were also able to snag a new primer in the pocket with slight hand pressure, anvil facing up.
The rest of the MKE primed with enough effort (but still fairly minor) that I'm willing to use them for one single firing each and then they go in the trash.
Haven't had problems yet with 700 other pieces so far in 8 other headstamps, but now I want a primer pocket gauge.
Among the range brass I've picked up, I have 83 pieces of MKE NATO 5.56 brass - mostly '17. The primers were crimped and had a green sealant. After decapping, tumbling, sizing, reaming, and trimming - I pulled 30 out to trash while priming, because 7 of them primed so easily I was able to remove the new primers (CCI 400) by holding the universal decapping die in my hand and pushing the primer out with finger pressure against the base of the brass. The other 23 were culled after those 7 because I tested all the MKEs and these were also able to snag a new primer in the pocket with slight hand pressure, anvil facing up.
The rest of the MKE primed with enough effort (but still fairly minor) that I'm willing to use them for one single firing each and then they go in the trash.
Haven't had problems yet with 700 other pieces so far in 8 other headstamps, but now I want a primer pocket gauge.