How much do I ream out the primer pocket? (223)

[krushed]

Gents,

I'm processing some xm193 LC brass and I understand I need to ream out the primer pocket. I'm not sure how much I need to ream out. I'm using a Hornady small head reamer.

Anyone have any photos or any tips to help me out?

[CSACANNONEER]

Just enough to remove the crimp. A few twists should do it. Do a couple and then try to seat old (used) primers. If you don't have any problems seating used primers, do a small lot and then just try to load them. If everything works fine, you've reamed them enough. If not, try a few more twists and do it all again. I've done large batches by putting a reamer in my drill press and reaming each round for less than a second.

[krushed]

That's a lot less than I thought I needed to ream. I think I reamed too much on some of this brass. What do I need to be concerned about if I reamed too much? Loose primer pockets?

How do I know if the primer pocket is too loose?

[armygunsmith]

I don't like to ream the primer pockets, i use the RCBS primer pocket swage. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=880694 After swaging, i like to very lightly touch up the primer pocket with a Chamfer and Deburring Tool. I think it makes it pretty hard to mess it up.

[Sunwolf]

Use the primer pocket cleaning tool,if it rotates you are home free.

[krushed]

Interesting... I found two cases that actually seemed to to need reaming. When I put the ream head in, it only went half way because there was material in the primer hole.

The other 298 cases did not seem to have this issue and the reamer just took some off the lip of the primer hole... Does this mean that I didn't need to ream them?

[bohoki]

Use the primer pocket cleaning tool,if it rotates you are home free.

which brand ? my lee one flops aournd in even crimped pockets

hmm its hard to say really i guess i kind of to about a 1/16

but its kind of like i run it on a drill and give it about a 1 onethousand 2 onethousand

even then i get maybe 1 in 20 with a primer that wont go in so i have to take a bit more

i hate when i destroy a primer it makes me sad