Question on Federal Brass?
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daveg.inkc
Hunter
What brand of primers?
Once upon a time, I bought 100 "once fired" 243 Win brass and found that 2/3 had primer pockets expanded beyond what would hold a primer. That is NOT good.
TX Nimrod
Bearcat
No wonder the OP got the brass for "a good price". Nothing really wrong with FC brass in my experience, but I wonder what cartridge the OP is using....a big secret I guess.
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I wonder if they are .45 ACP with the large primer pockets.
NikA
Buckeye
I suspect the brass were a 'deal' because they've been fired to the point that the primer pockets are loose, as others have said.
The smart thing to do is scrap the brass.
The resourceful thing to do is to swage the pockets tighter. You can do this with a ball bearing and some means of pressing the case head (e.g., the body of an RCBS primer pocket swager die). This is a step in the conversion process for Berdan brass; it will probably not be extend the brass life significantly or be safe for high pressure loadings.
The smart thing to do is scrap the brass.
The resourceful thing to do is to swage the pockets tighter. You can do this with a ball bearing and some means of pressing the case head (e.g., the body of an RCBS primer pocket swager die). This is a step in the conversion process for Berdan brass; it will probably not be extend the brass life significantly or be safe for high pressure loadings.
Some were fired some were new. this is not the first time I have come across this problem, Yes I have scraped the brass, seems strange no one else has had this problem with FC Brass. And before some one askes I have been reloading for 60 years and have NEVER had this problem with ANY other Brass.NikA said:
NikA
Buckeye
So if you've come across this problem before with Federal/FC brass, why not go with a different brand? Not now, obviously, but in the future...
Federal rifle brass has a reputation for being fairly soft, which shortens case life. I don't reload for anything that eats cases at the moment, but if I did, I like to think I'd avoid it unless that were all that was available.
Federal rifle brass has a reputation for being fairly soft, which shortens case life. I don't reload for anything that eats cases at the moment, but if I did, I like to think I'd avoid it unless that were all that was available.
57springer
Buckeye
I am looking for new 308 brass myself and in searching I learned there is 308 "match " brass which uses small rifle primers and 308 brass that uses large rifle primers . Go over to starline brass for more info . Could be what you have ?
I can't remember having any problems with Federal GM brass and CCI primers but both are 20 year old production. Maybe someone decided this was crimped primer brass and decided to swage the already properly sized primer pockets. Just throwing mud at the wall to see if something sticks.
Paul B
Hunter
A few years back I was gifted 1,100 rounds of once fired Federal Gold Medal Match .308 brass by a friend. This brass came from an LEO organization that does not reload their brass. The primer pockets on this brass is so loose it will barely hold a primer.
Possible fix depends on the brand of primer used when reloading. Winchester brass is just too loose but CCI brass apparently has a slightly larger cup and will hold better in that brass. Just something that might work for you.
Paul B.
Possible fix depends on the brand of primer used when reloading. Winchester brass is just too loose but CCI brass apparently has a slightly larger cup and will hold better in that brass. Just something that might work for you.
Paul B.
Enigma
Hunter
Some reloaders won't even pick free Federal rifle brass up off the ground for just the reason stated. In many instances, their primer pockets are oversize after just the initial firing.
mr surveyor
Blackhawk
Enigma said:
AMERC brass comes to mind also
jd
I hav shot 1000's of Federal 308 reloads that started out as FGMM. Federal brass is softer and nowhere as consistent as Lapua, but as the old sayn "You get what you pay for". Try to find some Wolf or Tula primers. They are couple .0001" larger diam
