Here's A First!

[RVTECH]

Sizing and depriming some .45 ACP brass today and one kind of felt 'funny' so I looked at it.

The bottom of the primer broke out leaving the rest in the pocket of the brass!

Read More

 

[lucusloc]

Sizing and depriming some .45 ACP brass today and one kind of felt 'funny' so I looked at it.

The bottom of the primer broke out leaving the rest in the pocket of the brass!
View attachment 2260649

How old was that brass? Was it due to corrosion of the primer cup or just a manufacturing defect?

 

[Stomper]

How old was that brass? Was it due to corrosion of the primer cup or just a manufacturing defect?

That primer pocket looks pretty green inside....

 

[RVTECH]

How old was that brass?

It's some recent 'range' pickup so pretty new however I have discovered over years of reloading S & B brass typically has tighter primer pockets than nearly any other I have EVER reloaded so this was just one where the primer wasn't going to pop out!

 

[Stomper]

It's some recent 'range' pickup so pretty new however I have discovered over years of reloading S & B brass typically has tighter primer pockets than nearly any other I have EVER reloaded so this was just one where the primer wasn't going to pop out!

The picture is a tad blurry when zooming in, but isn't there a bit of green corrosion spots in the pocket?

 

[RVTECH]

but isn't there a bit of green corrosion spots in the pocket?

I looked at it closely with a Lupe magnifier and didn't see any green. Just normal blackening.

Just an odd 'first' after many 1000s of rounds of .45 ACP I have reloaded over the years!

 

[RVTECH]

Update - while flaring the rest of my brass I discovered another piece of S & B brass with the remains of the primer in the pocket.

Apparently the bottom of the primer broke out completely and I didn't notice it at first but did before I threw it into my 'prepped' brass jug.

I now have to look at ALL pieces of my sized brass to make sure all the primer pockets are clear.

Just another issue I have encountered with S & B brass.....

 

[kmk1012]

Is this a new way to convert large primer pockets to small?

 

[orygun]

That primer pocket looks pretty green inside....

It do. At least from that pic.

Still, I've never seen a primer come apart like that.

 

[lucusloc]

Is this a new way to convert large primer pockets to small?

Disregard, misread that comment

---------------------------------------

There used to be a supplier of circular shims/bushings that would fill the gap. These are not made anymore as far as I am aware, and there was always a lot of discussion on if they were safe/reasonable things to use, or reuse as the case may be. Reports of gas blow-by and other sealing issues, issues with punching them out (sometimes they stick with the pocket, sometimes they stick with the primer), getting them out of the pocket/off the primer depending on which one happens. . . I think the general consensus was they were not worth it even if they were (mostly) safe.

You may still be able to find hoards of them from old reloader liquidation sales, but you kinda have to know what you are looking at to recognize what they are. Other than making your own I am unaware of another way to get a hold of them.

 

[RVTECH]

Still, I've never seen a primer come apart like that.

Neither have I in almost 50 years of reloading but being BOTH pieces are S & B brass and having had issues with it before I am thinking all of the S&B is going into the scrap bucket....

 

[JDubDub]

Neither have I in almost 50 years of reloading but being BOTH pieces are S & B brass and having had issues with it before I am thinking all of the S&B is going into the scrap bucket....

I've seen similar issues, but only with brass that had crimped primers and/or primer sealant. Never has an issue with S&B brass, but things change I guess.

 

[gmerkt]

Not completely unheard of, I've seen it a couple of times. In cases that had been wet at some time or another. My supposition when seeing them was that it was caused by corrosion between the sidewall of the primer and the primer pocket.

Cases of a brand that have a tight primer fit, I save those for occasions when I might have primers that otherwise seat loose. Like live primers that have been decapped and are being reseated again. I've noticed that most S&B .45 ACP have a nice, snug fit.

 

[Buckey]

Sizing and depriming some .45 ACP brass today and one kind of felt 'funny' so I looked at it.

The bottom of the primer broke out leaving the rest in the pocket of the brass!
View attachment 2260649

 

[Buckey]

I have decapped many thousands of 45 ACP brass and have had this happen a number of times. I suspect that it came from range brass being picked up, possibly some corrosion from laying on ground for who knows how long.

 

[aasbra]

I've also encountered this a couple times on range brass that has been in a wet environment and had some corrosion starting in the primer pocket.

 

[eb in oregon]

Sizing and depriming some .45 ACP brass today and one kind of felt 'funny' so I looked at it.

The bottom of the primer broke out leaving the rest in the pocket of the brass!
View attachment 2260649

That's the main reason I look in every primer pocket after de-capping. I've had that happen before. Those go into scrap, it's not worth trying to get the rest out.

 

[RVTECH]

Those go into scrap,

Already there!

 

[Pepe-lepew]

I just had that happen to a handful of 1970's LC 30 carbine cases I was depriming. They were once fired club ammunition, never been wet or stored poorly.

 

[dangerranger60]

Sizing and depriming some .45 ACP brass today and one kind of felt 'funny' so I looked at it.

The bottom of the primer broke out leaving the rest in the pocket of the brass!
View attachment 2260649

Good to catch it now instead of while trying to re prime. DR