I know the case would most likely be discarded before the primer pocket would wear out. But my question is, if you were using a case for wax bullet shooting where you would use the case over and over again, would the primer pocket eventually wear out from pressing them in?

what are the CCI and WINCHESTER primers made out of? Is it a metal that is softer than the cartridge brass, so it won't wear the primer pocket out?

Also, what DIAMETER is the primer pocket for a large pistol primer, and what is the exact diameter of the LPP? How 'tight' of a fit is it usually? ANd what is the maximum tight fit?

Thanks,

Buck

I don't believe there is any danger of wearing out the primer pocket from seating primers. Primer cups are so much thinner and therefore more malleable than the primer pocket that they will give long before the brass pocket does. Quite often when shooting wax bullets, the primer will back out of the pocket due to low pressures. If you find this happening and locking up the cylinder on revolvers, you may need to enlarge the primer hole slightly. If you do this, mark your cases very well so that they will not accidentally get loaded with full pressure rounds. That would create a very dangerous situation.

Intuition tells me that there has to be some wear...but it would be so slight that it would take 100's of cycles to be noticable. Your cases proably won't last 100's of cylcles for other reasons. Sizing/expanding from shooting/sizing will work harden the WHOLE case...crimping/firing.crimping will split the necks sooner or later...prressure may expand the primer pockets over many loads...lots of things subtract from the life of a case, but primer seating wear has to be pretty low on the list.

But intuition also tells me that dirty primer pockets (and primer residue is kind of gritty) would speed the process.

Thanks.

What is the proper I.D. for a large pistol primer case pocket? And what is the O.D. of a large pistol primer?

Mine usually measure .208 - .209, and the primers .210 - .211

Okay. So the primer has to have a .002 larger diameter than the case pocket so it can be 'squeezed' in for a tight fit. I'm new to reloading, so I wasn't sure.

What is the metal the primer is made out of? CCI is a shiny silver color. Is it a tin? The primer metal is definitely a softer metal than the cartridge brass?

Thanks,

Buck

Okay. So the primer has to have a .002 larger diameter than the case pocket so it can be 'squeezed' in for a tight fit. I'm new to reloading, so I wasn't sure.

What is the metal the primer is made out of? CCI is a shiny silver color. Is it a tin? The primer metal is definitely a softer metal than the cartridge brass?

Thanks,

Buck
Pick apart some fired primers and file on the pieces a bit.

Believe it's brass (just a softer alloy or heat treatment) and the silver color comes from plating. Are other makes of primers without the silver look, just natural "brass" colored.

Haven't fooled arround with all makes of primers, but some use a steel anvil (the part inside the cup) and others use a brass anvil. Wouldn't surprise me to find some made with a mild soft steel cup, but the modern US mades ones all seem to be brass (color plated or natural).