PMC case flash hole problems..

[insidious_calm]

I was cleaning some .223 brass I had been saving for whenever I did get into reloading, , and I noticed that the PMC cases had many that had the flash hole off center of the primer pocket. How much of an issue is this? Some were so bad that I had trouble depriming, as in the pin had to 'bend' to punch it out. Any thoughts?


I.C.

 

[Black Snowman]

I didn't have that issue with my PMC brass but now I can't seat a new primer. The primer pocket is too small and I don't have enough brass to justify a swagger. Maybe PMC 223 is really that out of spec

 

[ocabj]

Some PMC .223 has crimped primer pockets. I believe it's the stuff made Stateside. There are two different headstamps of PMC. One is made in Korea and the other here. IIRC, the stuff made here has the crimped primer pockets.

 

[stans]

This is the first time I have heard of PMC having grossly off center flash holes. Crimped primer pockets, yes, but off center flash holes? AMERC, aka American Ammo, is notorious for the off center flash holes and I avoid this stuff like the plague.

 

[Cortland]

You don't need a $100 Dillon swager to remove crimped primer pockets. I have a Lyman utility crank that I'll set up with a primer pocket reamer next to my press. Anytime I feel any resistance priming, I take the case and ream the primer pocket. That fixes it. Lyman case care kit.

If you pick up brass out at the range, this is a good thing to have -- you'll inevitably pick up military or crimped commercial brass.

 

[griz]

The little bit of PMC brass I've loaded was OK. I've seen off center flash holes in some military brass (forgot the headstamp) but it wasn't enough to be a problem with decapping. If it was I would toss it. 223 brass is very cheap compared to breaking even one decapping pin.

 

[dleong]

I have come across enough PMC brass (both pistol and rifle) with off-center primer flash holes and inconsistent dimensions that I now avoid picking up that brand of brass from the range.

(PMC = Pretty Much Crap?)

DL