Deciding when primer pockets are gone

[mlevimadden]

I have some Norma 6.5 PRC brass I have been reloading from factory ammo. I'm up to 4-5 firings on the 200 pieces and some of the primer pockets are noticeably looser than the first firing but not to the point where primers are falling out of the pocket. I have had a few rounds recently have leakage around the primer upon firing with the same load of N565 I have been shooting for most the barrel's life and am wondering on how others on here decide when to toss brass for primer pockets?

 

[waspocrew]

You can try tapping the case head on a table to see if the primer falls out. There’s also no/go gauge to check pockets.

At 5 firings, I’d be ok tossing the brass and starting with new.

 

[alexnelon]

At 5 firings, I’d be ok tossing the brass and starting with new.

Same. We don't need to stress about not getting 15 firings out of a piece of brass. They're like a dollar.

 

[TradLife406]

My buddy gave me some 6 UM brass. He's like they may still be ok. For the most part no issues. Annealed them. But there was definitely a couple that the primer went in like a hotdog down a hallway so they got pitched. He didn't know how many firings they had.

If someone could come up with a primer pocket that had more life... that'd be amazing.

 

[mlevimadden]

Thanks guys. Sounds like the general consensus is just feel when seating primers doesn't have much resistance and chuck the brass at that point.

I'm already getting a little etching on my bolt face from the primer leakage, so I'd prefer to get a new lot of brass than have to replace my bolt.

 

[77TMK]

Brass tools pocket gauges

 

[Sinistram]

Yeah, this is always a dicey situation because you want to get as much life out of brass as possible while still staying safe. I've basically done it like you where I'll oad them until some of the pockets are soft and then toss all the cases in that batch after the next firing.

Were I a more sensible man, I'd invest in those gauges others have mentioned and start is them around the third or fourth firing to avoid having to process and load cases that shouldn't be.