Uniforming Primer Pockets

[TimRB]

I re-evaluated my reloading process after I read an article on one of the military marksmanship units (Army or Marines). They said they don't do ANYTHING unless it is proven to put numbers on the board. In my case, primer pocket cleaning and uniforming was the first to go.

Tim

[FLIGHT762]

I uniform the primer pockets on all of my precision rifle cases.

[Wrangler John]

I used to do a lot of weird crap, like smoking Camel cigarettes, shaking salt into a glass of beer, or seasoning a grapefruit with soy sauce and Lee & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce, then I asked why? Uniforming primer pockets was such a thing. Did it on all my varmint cartridges. It became a religious experience, seeing those flat bottomed primer pockets gleaming back at me all polished up by the reamer just sent me into a metallurgic bliss. Then I tried some cheap nondescript Winchester cases in the wild, no uniforming, no flash hole deburring, and they shot the best groups I ever fired. Squirrels died, maybe the bullet hit one or two ribs down, or up, but then who could tell from the remaining goo where it had hit?

So I stopped uniforming. Until this last batch of Nosler .308 Winchester brass. Pockets are miking .127" deep and primers run .123" allowing for .004" depth below the head, but the corners are radiused not flat. Getting the primers flush with the case head, let alone .003" to .004" below, took all the strength my hands could deliver on the priming tool. That radiused corner is the culprit, so they will all get uniformed. Some brass just needs it especially Lapua and Privi Partisan and now Nosler. Don't ever give up on obsessive things that work. Now, where did she put the Lee & Perrins?

[J-cat]

You are not supposed to mash primers into the primer pocket. In theory, a perfect primer pocket is one that allows the primer anvil to bottom out and the cup to slightly compress (preload) the mix against the anvil. If the depth of the primer pocket varies, the primer may seat too shallow with too much preload or not enough, causing variable ignition and a larger ES.

[LynnJr]

This 5 shot group was fired by a fellow Calgun member about 26 years old whom I met for the first time two weeks prior.He had never seen nor shot the rifle before and this was his first 5 shots out of a cold bore at 100 yards.

If your into plinking uniforming is not a necessity.If you want to improve your accuracy it is both cheap and quick.