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.

 

[pmor4243]

I use go/no go gauges for my primer pockets. You can gauge as they wear out, just how much life you might have left by how much the no go slides in.

https://www.pacifictoolandgauge.com/Primer-Pocket-Gauge--GoNo-Go_p_116043.html

 

[Castle Rock]

I use go/no go gauges for my primer pockets. You can gauge as they wear out, just how much life you might have left by how much the no go slides in.

https://www.pacifictoolandgauge.com/Primer-Pocket-Gauge--GoNo-Go_p_116043.html

Have you ever measured your gauges and compared them to actual primers?
I would be interested in seeing the results.

 

[pmor4243]

Have you ever measured your gauges and compared them to actual primers?
I would be interested in seeing the results.

I think I did early on but don't remember how they measured (I can take some and post them here).

I don't rely on the gauges and typically go by feel but it if I get a batch that is getting questionable, I'll run the gauge through them and toss the ones that are worn out.

I will say that a case that fails the go gauge still usually will hold a primer, but they seat with very little effort compared to other cases with good primer pockets.

 

[Bater]

I would be pretty upset if I only got five firings out of brass, but then again that’s why I don’t use Norma.

 

[Castle Rock]

I would be pretty upset if I only got five firings out of brass, but then again that’s why I don’t use Norma.

Yeah, I can’t see the attraction, its beautiful brass but it just doesn’t last