Alpha Munitions primer pockets too tight?

[NevadaMike]

I have 300 virgin Alpha Munitions 6mm CM SRP pieces of brass to load up. Using my Primal Rights primer I am getting dented primer pockets. I reached out Primal rights to make sure I was not missing anything. I also reached out to Alpha who suggested to walk the primer in slowly to make sure I was not crushing the primer by bottoming it out. Even with the primer still standing proud I am getting dented Primers. I have tried both CCI and Gold metal match primers. Has anyone seen this and if so what was the solution?

 

[blkqi]

I've never noticed this issue with any of my SRP Alpha cases.

However, I crush a few primer cups like that every time I reload LC brass and never had a problem because of it. The GM primers have a quite soft cup, in my experience.

If one feels snug going in (with hand primer) I always rotate the case in an effort to align it with the priming ram.

 

[jerm8352]

I had the same problem with alpha brass. Sold it and got Peterson and have had no problems.

 

[waspocrew]

Weird, no issues with my Alpha SRP brass.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

My alpha 25cm primer pockets are tight as well, but I’m not having issues. I do feel like it has a step at nearly full seat depth tho. Using a Lee hand primer.

 

[sndmn11]

Virgin 22creed and 6creed were tight my first load through them

 

[peaches]

Cci usually seat easiest in tight pockets; Fed is the worst in my experience.

Maybe try running a primer pocket uniforming tool in a couple and/or lightly chamfering them.

 

[NevadaMike]

I heard back from Alpha again today and he suggested I tumble the brass for 10 minutes to lube the pockets but I had already done that after seeing their most recent video. I put a little one shot in a cup and used a Q tip to lube the pockets. It is better but still slightly dented. I am going to test the most dented ones to see if they go boom before I load them up. Kudos to Alpha and Primal rights for getting back to me on a weekend.

 

[HuntHarder]

Are you able to uniform the primer pockets? I do it with all my brass and it makes a difference imo.

 

[peaches]

Lubing primers...um no. I remember people freaking out about touching primers and worried their finger oils would cause detonation issues.

Thanks for your post. I'll be sure to never order Alpha brass. Geeze.

 

[NevadaMike]

Are you able to uniform the primer pockets? I do it with all my brass and it makes a difference imo.

I do not have one of the tools and want the brass to last as long as possible. Alpha assured me that after the first firing I will no longer have problems.

 

[NevadaMike]

Lubing primers...um no. I remember people freaking out about touching primers and worried their finger oils would cause detonation issues.

Thanks for your post. I'll be sure to never order Alpha brass. Geeze.

I used one shot in the pockets so hopefully I do not have problems. I am still confident Alpha is some of the best brass out there and I have my personal 6mm LRP in the tumbler now. I only have a few firings on it but it has been good. Now if I could just quit losing my brass at the hunter events that would be good.

 

[peaches]

I'm Sure the primers will go bang. I don't care the Alphas response. They should have sent you new brass. No way should primer pockets need lubed.

Good luck.

 

[TaperPin]

 

[HuntHarder]

Lubing primer pockets is a first. Dont we normally put primers in lube to make sure they can't go bang?

 

[BBob]

If you’ve never experienced this phenomena before then you haven’t been reloading long enough. Shoot them and they’ll most likely loosen up. This has been a thing here and there way before alpha ever came on the scene. Years ago there was a run of Lapua PPC cases that were convex on the base that got really tight after firing. Those were a real problem child to fix.

 

[waspocrew]

I like Alpha brass, but I don't care for extra steps to make brass work right out of the gate (especially premium brass). I haven't had tight primer pockets, but 22 CM necks were so tight they were deforming projectiles while seating. Had to run a mandrel through them first. I'm on 4 firings on that brass now and necks are just fine.

Do a small batch (10 cases). Lube like Alpha suggests, then load and fire. Try to prime again. If no issue, do the rest and move on with life. If still tough to prime, talk to Alpha and maybe they'll swap it out.

 

[Lawnboi]

Do you have any different primers to try? Sometimes you get a fat lot.

I have had some tight primer pockets in alpha. Nothing that did above but they took some push to get there, almost like they taper their primer pockets.

 

[NevadaMike]

Do you have any different primers to try? Sometimes you get a fat lot.

I have had some tight primer pockets in alpha. Nothing that did above but they took some push to get there, almost like they taper their primer pockets.

I tried both CCI and Federal.

 

[TaperPin]

Curious what the pockets measured out as. I didn’t elaborate, but that diagram from SAAMI is the industry standards for primer size and pocket size.