Primer Go no Go Primer Pocket Gauges.

[Chuck R.]

I use them (small and large) right after wet tumbling with SS media.

Only takes a couple seconds that perhaps save me time down the line, from sizing then potentially trimming brass with a loose primer pocket. I check them right after cleaning when I do my initial inspection anyway looking for case neck splits etc. For .223 I'm looking for crimps and loose pockets, the other rifle brass just loose pockets.

 

[Muddydogs]

I use my small gauge to check for primer pocket crimps if I have some brass in question, my eyes are getting tired and sometimes I just can't tell by looking. What I originally got a set for was my 7mm Rem Mag brass, I find that the primer pocket gets loose before the case shows any signs of failure so after resizing the brass I check the primer pockets before bagging and tagging the brass for storage. I could just cull the brass with loose pockets when priming it but sometimes it might be a few years before I reload for the 7mm and there is no since in storing bad brass plus if I happen to pitch a few cases due to primer pockets I can be on the look out for replacement brass.

 

[NWcityguy2]

If the primer goes in and does not fall out I call it good.

This is the standard I use as well, and have yet to see a good argument against it.

 

[AJC1]

I would like a set for when I'm dealing with large lots of brass. When preparing 500 223 rounds and cutting military crimps out, I would like to remove as many cases as possible from going through my process. It may be an extra step but if it eliminates 5 further steps before priming and finding a gone pocket.

 

[Chuck R.]

This is the standard I use as well, and have yet to see a good argument against it.

I try not to "discover" loose primer pockets this way, because by then I've invested time:

FL sizing
Vibratory cleaning to remove lube
Measuring
Possibly trimming then deburring and chamfering

Just to find a loose primer pocket by seating a primer and end up tossing it into the recycle bin?

To make matters worse, most of my precision loads are done in boxed sets of 50, so IF I "discover" a loose pocket and discard that piece, I now have 49rds. I HATE that!, so I'll then HAVE to prep another piece. I anneal my brass pretty religiously, so 99% of the time the 1st thing that goes is the primer pocket.

I look at it as one of those "stitch in time" things or "penny wise, pound foolish" in time value.

 

[NWcityguy2]

Discovering the occasional, and I mean the occasional piece of brass with a loose pocket is far more time efficient my way than checking every single primer pocket.

I also save time by never:

- Sorting brass by how many times it has been fired
- Separating brass by what was shot by my gun and what was shot by someone else's gun