I have only loaded LC 5.56 brass before for .223/5.56, no issues seating primers as long as I reamed the primer pockets good.
Tonight I tried loading mixed headstamp brass and had a heck of a time getting primers seated, some wouldn’t seat at all.
I know many use mixed headstamp with no issues, so what am I doing wrong?
I use a Ballistic Tools primer pocket swage gauge to check the primer pockets of all my .223 brass and ream/clean primer pockets if necessary with a Lyman handheld case prep tool.
I have 2 lots of new small rifle primers, never loaded with these before, no other SR primers in house, I restocked this spring.
CCI 400.- Measured .177”
Winchester military SR- measured .176”
Measured with a micrometer.
A few headstamps primed OK, but many were extremely tight or wouldn’t prime at all. I was just trying random headstamps, with no LC, RP or FC or PMC, these were separated earlier.
FC was too tight, RP primed ok, but wasn’t prepped yet.
I was about to give up but decided to try some of my prepped LC brass. Primer slid in beautifully, win military SR, didn’t try the CCI yet.
Sample size of one, I gave up then, time to sleep on this issue and start again in the morning.
I only have a limited amount of LC and bought a bunch of powder and primers so I would like to use mixed HS for plinking and save my LC for special use.
Any suggestions?
Am I lucky enough to just have 2 lots of primers that are on the large size?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk