Primer Pocket and flash hole uniforming

[horseman]

I have a Frankford Arsenal case prep center I bought a while back but all I've used it for is trimming rifle brass. I recently picked up a large and small RCBS primer pocket uniformer and a Lyman flash hole fixer upper that are threaded the same and will fit the FA. I bought these to do rifle rounds (tryin some of that "accuracy stuff" ya know ) because who does handgun brass right? ..Well I have abought a 1,000 9mm mixed bag pieces that need to be cleaned, they've already been deprimed, so thought I would just start with them for the "learning curve". First thing I learned after about 100 is that this is not an enjoyable experience. Booooooorrrrrinnng. Second thing is that with these small cases (rifle may be the same, don't know) you want to wear SOMETHING on you hand to protect your fingers. I finally stuck one of those Hardy gloves (yellow and gray Harbor freight) with the rubbery type grip on my hand. Not as easy to handle the brass with them but my fingers (thumb and forefinger) are very appreciative. I've probably done about 8 hundred so far. Took a couple hours. Here's what I've found. Remember this is "mixed" brass, mostly FC some Win, HPR (?), Aquila (?) and RME or something like that.
The FC brass was the easiest to process, very little effort on the primer uniforming, flash holes on all brands were about the same in effort (not much).But, it's interesting how much "shavings" you get from that process. I have quite a little pile of them (shavings) just from the flash holes. Some of the Aquila brand pockets were simply a b!+(h. I mean rip the skin off your fingers hard (that's why the glove) and no they weren't crimped pockets. The others were for the most part fairly easy with an "occasional" one being more difficult. So is any of this "necessary"? NO...and I have no idea if there will be any performance improvement as far as accuracy. But it will make priming a lot easier and more consistent, especially on a LM. And, I can't help but think there will be some improvement in overall performance as far as ES, SD, and maybe in FPS due to a more consistent primer seating and the flash hole being cleaned up for a better powder burn. Maybe.... If you all could see the brass "shavings" I've got piled up in the "catch box" it might make you wonder also. As much as I dislike doing case prep (and especially this "stuff") and if I had to do this "by hand" it would be limited to a box or two of rifle rounds, but powered up I think I will continue with it on all the brass that comes through my reloading room. It may be a big improvement, maybe not, certainly can't hurt.... I should get my chrony out and do some comparison. Maybe next week if it ain't snowing and I get a bit more caught up around here. That would be interesting. AND I may find I'm just wasting my time....oh, now that would irritate me after doing all these...

[GasGuzzler]

I have the RCBS set for pockets. I use it on 5.56. I don't use crimped 9mm.

[horseman]

I have the RCBS set for pockets. I use it on 5.56. I don't use crimped 9mm.

Like you I bought these to do 5.56, 06', and 7mag. The 9mm was just a "because"...as I stated, none of the 9mm cases I have done or have on hand have crimped pockets...I have an RCBS crimp remover on the FA right next to the uniformer. The crimp reamer wouldn't do anything on the "tight" pockets I ran into. Just poorly made brass IMO..

[GasGuzzler]

Yep. 9 brass is too cheap to mess with an extra step.

[Poppop]

Doing all that work on unknown brass is OK but you shouldn't have to clean the flash holes anymore. Just be sure that after cleaning the brass after shooting, inspect the pockets and clean out soot with a small screwdriver - that's all you need to do.
The more time you spend cleaning more than you need to, the less time you have to shoot

[horseman]

Yep. 9 brass is too cheap to mess with an extra step.

It has nothing to do with the cost of the brass. It has to do with making the brass "better"....would you mess with them if your reloads were, say, 50% better in accuracy or more consistent in performance? Would you take these and a couple other steps with your rifle brass for better accuracy and better consistency? Just curious as to what steps and with what platforms others are willing to take for "better" ammo, and when the effort outweighs the benefits.

[GasGuzzler]

Not for 9mm for me.

My comment above was in relation to crimped once fired 9mm brass. I don't buy crimped 9mm (therefore no need for the pocket step) because 9mm brass is too cheap to mess with crimps.

If you're uniforming non-crimped 9mm then you're a glutton for punishment.

[Fyodor]

I've bought an RCBS primer pocket swager 2 when I got 450 crimped cases of .45ACP.

I ended up chamfering the pockets with a counterbore drill on my drill press. The swager didn't do anything to the crimps, even when I pulled so hard that the press handle flexed.

[Ohio3Wheels]

I did a lot of brass with both the pocket uniformer and the flash hole de-buring when we shot IHMSA in the 90's. Did both 7mmBR and 6.5mm TCU. Finally ran both preped and un-preped brass through the Contender (14" 6.5mm TCU) in the Ransom rest, there may have been 1/4" difference in the 20 round 100 yard groups. Wasn't work the bother. I do however do both to my 40-65 WCF brass for the Sharps I shoot for BPCR. Just me

Make smoke,

[daboone]

I do a lot of case prep including trimming on a different platform than yours. It is a real bonus to have trimming, chamfering and primer pockets all together in a small compact area. A while back I posted pictures of my case holder for trimming and chamfering the brass but it's no help for primer pockets. The fingers definitely don't like that job. No question these steps makes a difference if only because I know I've done everything in my control to make the BEST handloads I can.
There is a appreciable pile of brass shaving when doing 1000 M1 Carbine cases. I'm just not into recycling much of anything but brass but the shavings ain't worth the extra effort. (OK aluminum cans get recycled too because my grandsons scouting activities)

A comment about recycling: try watching Penn & Teller's BS program on recycling and see what it's doing for our environment and pocket books. You gotta love what big gov and tree huggers are doing to us, it's BS. Sorry about going off track and ranting.