Federal Brass - difficulty seating some primers

[EJSG19]

I'll start by saying that I consider 45 acp brass made by Federal to be perfectly fine for reloading. Second I will say that I have seen a disproportionate amount of federal cases having primer pockets that will not allow me to seat a primer in them compared to other brands.

Brass shows no signs of abuse that I can see. No ejector marks, flattened headstamps, case wall flaws, cracks, etc. When trying to seat a primer, the primer won't begin to enter the case before it is obstructed. (Dillon 550 standard press mounted auto priming system here) Now, on some cases, this can be caused by the case not being fully inserted into the shell plate and adjusting the case solves the problem.

These Fed. cases however are extra stubborn. I'm talking maybe 5 out of 100 federal cases lately. After good firm pressure on the press handle with no success, the cases sometimes show an off-centered bright ring around the primer pocket mouth, like the primer pocket itself is not centered.

So what is the remedy? Chuck the case and move on? De-burr the primer pocket and re-try? So far I haven't gotten too creative except just tossing the case, because a screwed up case isn't worth my time and health. But if its just something simple/stupid I guess I'd like to know about it. I haven't got pictures at the moment, but maybe some of you will know what I mean.

[Stradawhovious]

Are they stamped "Federal NT"? If so they could be manufactured for small pistol primers. I've run across a few........ Big PITA. They now reside in my recycle bucket.

[westberg]

did your read three reloading manuals before posting this question?

[870TC]

The "off center ring" sounds like a crimped primer pocket, common on military brass. Does the head stamp say Fed and have a date?, if so it may be military and therefore have a crimped primer pocket.

[EJSG19]

did your read three reloading manuals before posting this question?

I multiply any and all "for good measure" safety recommendations by 5 now. I have read no less than 15. Sadly none have a page dedicated to the topic of "Eric you are a dumbass for not being able to figure out why you can't seat an Effing primer in .05% of your brass."

Strad, I have seen the NT stamp once in a while, and yes those are like trying to squeeze a golfball through a garden hose... if you will. Anyone who designed the .45acp to take a small primer should be re-edumacated so my life is made easier.

At 5-10 cents a case I have not yet been real worried about it, but its about the most immediate question I have on the subject.

[EJSG19]

The "off center ring" sounds like a crimped primer pocket, common on military brass. Does the head stamp say Fed and have a date?, if so it may be military and therefore have a crimped primer pocket.

Very well could be. A call to The Oracle also led to this being a likely cause. Remedy suggested was to take the primer tool, and ream/de-burr the primer pocket, then try the case again.

Hey I had a semi-accurate guess in the OP, hooray! Maybe there is hope for me yet.







Huge meatball tossed right over home plate there, for anyone that cares to take a swing at it.

[Stradawhovious]

Maybe there is hope for me yet.
Huge meatball tossed right over home plate there, for anyone that cares to take a swing at it.

Don't get your hopes up.

[EJSG19]

Maybe there is hope for me yet.
Huge meatball tossed right over home plate there, for anyone that cares to take a swing at it.

Don't get your hopes up.

I expect better from you...

[Bessy]

45 GAP rounds also take small pistol primers.. just an FYI.

You should be able to look at the brass and tell if it's crimped. To me it either sounds like crimped brass, or an issue with your press centering the round properly at the priming station. Take a trouble maker put it in the priming station and rotate it while you apply a little bit of pressure. If it eventually "finds the spot" and primes my vote is something on the press is wacky.

You could also try swagging the primer pocket on the trouble makers and see if they prime afterwords, or you could use a military crimp remover and try reaming them out. If you lived down here I would loan you my super swage.

All that above being said... I've found federal brass to be a bit harder to work than other brands. So it could be that your press is just a little off... and only exhibits this issue with brass that has a tighter tolerance in the primer pocket.

[Stradawhovious]

Maybe there is hope for me yet.
Huge meatball tossed right over home plate there, for anyone that cares to take a swing at it.

Don't get your hopes up.

I expect better from you...

There you go, getting your hopes up.

Stop it.

[hammAR]

Huge meatball tossed right over home plate there, for anyone that cares to take a swing at it.

You want me to do it, or just wait for SS...............

[EJSG19]

45 GAP rounds also take small pistol primers.. just an FYI.

You should be able to look at the brass and tell if it's crimped. To me it either sounds like crimped brass, or an issue with your press centering the round properly at the priming station. Take a trouble maker put it in the priming station and rotate it while you apply a little bit of pressure. If it eventually "finds the spot" and primes my vote is something on the press is wacky.
You could also try swagging the primer pocket on the trouble makers and see if they prime afterwords, or you could use a military crimp remover and try reaming them out. If you lived down here I would loan you my super swage.

All that above being said... I've found federal brass to be a bit harder to work than other brands. So it could be that your press is just a little off... and only exhibits this issue with brass that has a tighter tolerance in the primer pocket.

That is more or less my procedure when this happens. A lot of times taking the case out, putting it back in, or just rotating it will allow a primer to seat fine. But then I wonder of that action just re-inserts the case into the shellplate fully, and maybe the first time I didn't get the case inserted properly. If it happened more consistently it'd be easier to figure out the cause. These Federal cases though, are the only ones that remain un-primeable (that can't be a word), no matter how much re-positioning is done.

Starting to sound like more work than its worth really. Unless its my press that is out of spec, then that is bothersome. Wonder if its an easy thing to bend a primer bar or something that might have been done otherwise. Those primer bars are pretty solid pieces of metal, but it could be a number of things I guess.

[EJSG19]

Huge meatball tossed right over home plate there, for anyone that cares to take a swing at it.

You want me to do it, or just wait for SS...............

Hoping somebody will. I'm hunkered down in my bunker with my kevlar. I never said I wasn't doing something stupid, so bring it on. After the fire has been put out, maybe I will have learned something.

Even if its laced with fury and contempt, I still appeciate the message underneath.

[Bessy]

These Federal cases though, are the only ones that remain un-primeable (that can't be a word), no matter how much re-positioning is .

What is the range of cases you have used so far?... I can think of some other stubborn ones like S&B.

Honestly have you called dillion? Their customer service and knowledge base is outstanding, it could be something equipment specific that they have all ready encountered.

Oh and I hope your kevlar has the trauma plates in.

[farmerj]

the cases sometimes show an off-centered bright ring around the primer pocket mouth, like the primer pocket itself is not centered.

Sounds crimped...

Have you got someone who has a dillon swage press you can try it on and see if that helps close by? I hate seeing pockets get reamed. Most of the time they get loose then.