Reaming primer pockets tip

Smitty500mag

I've been reloading .223 brass which is not the caliber I've loaded very many of over the years. I purchased some once fired brass and a lot of it is the military stuff and the primer pockets don't seat very well as most of you probably know.

I ordered a Hornady pocket reamer and started doing them by hand when I realized that's a lot of work plus it makes your fingers sore. So I took the bit out of the little aluminum handle and screwed it into a cleaning rod and then cut the cleaning rod off so I could chuck it up in my cordless drill. I screwed the bit into a cleaning rod to protect the threads and it works very well.

Ambrose

I did that, too, back in the late 1950's only it was with a large primer reamer made by/for Herter's and I was reaming military .30/06 primer pockets. the Herter's tool handle was made of some kind of plastic and, if I remember correctly, I knocked the handle apart with a hammer and the steel part then fit nicely in an electric drill. (Yeah, we had electric drills in those days!) I've still got that reamer around here someplace

Mobuck

No need to worry about the threads. It'll get dull sooner or later and get thrown away. I use one of those in a drill if I'm doing some odd cases and don't want to reset my Dillon swager. More precise than some of the junk ideas folks come up with.

Smitty500mag

quote:Originally posted by Ambrose
I did that, too, back in the late 1950's

(Yeah, we had electric drills in those days!)


Yep I know. I've been around since the late '40s myself. I started reloading with one of these Lee Loaders in the little red box back in 1962. I would reload .20 Ga. shotgun shells at night though the week so I could go dove or squirrel hunting on the weekends.

charliemeyer007

I have a set of Lyman primer pocket reamers with wood handles that are older than I am. Dad used them for many years before they came to me. Still sharp and cut nicely. A sharp clip point blade on a pocket knife does a good job.

The RCBS older version primer pocket swage works but leaves a lot to be desired IMHO.