easy efficient primer pocket cleaning -solved

[Dand]

Well drat, I wanted to do a search as I'm sure this topic has been covered here.

But I'll ask again.  I like having clean primer pockets and I like to hand prime my cases. But I don't like cleaning the pockets by hand -especially doing larger batches of handgun ammo.

My Lee primer pocket cleaner seems to be wearing out - must be 20 years old now.

Is there a faster, inexpensive tool or way to clean pockets?  I don't have funds or bench space for the RCBS motorized unit.

I'd sure appreciate advice.

I tumble my cases before sizing and decapping as I don't like to clear media out of the flash holes - so tumbling deprimed cases doesn't seem a good option to me.

Thanks folks and Happy New Year

[jpsmith1]

Well, Hornady makes a little motorized job that cleans and chamfers.  It's like a cordless screwdriver for about $50.  I've used Dremel tools with brass brushes.  The cordless ones can be had for about $20-30.  The problem with them is that they only run for 20 minutes on a 3 hour charge, and they take a specialized brush.  Either tool works, but the I find myself using the RCBS hand tool, or a metal piece that I drilled and tapped.  It sits on the bench and I thread a brush into it.  Just a quick twist of the case and it's done.

[quickdtoo]

I made a little adapter out of an old 8-32 cleaning rod so I could chuck the RCBS brush in my cordless drill instead of using the handle, works like a champ for cleaning primer pockets!!

I decap with a Lee Universal decapper, then tumble em, then they're nice and clean when the go thru the sizing die.

Tim

http://rcbs.com/default.asp?menu=1&s1=4&s2=3&s3=18

[ggeilman]

I got a new Lyman 1200 Pro tumbler and tried it yesterday. Problem is that the media gets stuck in the primer hole. Had to clean almost every one out by hand

[Don Fischer]

I drilled a hole in the end of a 1 1/4" hardwood dowel and glues in a headless 16 penny nail and sharpened the end. Case comes out of the press and get's the nail run around the inside edge right away, no sweat! I know guy's that don't clean the things.

[Dand]

Thanks for the comments guys. 
JP, I couldn't find any tool as you describe on the Hornady website, am I missing something? 

I did find a similar Lyman tool - anybody use it or have a comment on it? 

What about the little hand crank system Lyman offers?

Quick: I was just trying my cordless drill with the old Lee cleaner tool chucked in it but it was a bit awkward.  I hadn't thought of the decap, tumble, size routine.  That WOULD clear the flash holes.  I have thought of getting one of those little Lee or RCBS presses and the universal decap.

All this makes that RCBS Trim Mate look more appealing. I see Midway has them on sale right now. Maybe its worth it to dig deep.  The buyer reviews are generally VERY good. But it still seems a bit big for my work space and maybe a little noisy.  I usually do a lot of my case prep while watching TV.

Don F:  Interesting solution with the nail.  I try to move through the sizing process quickly, a little pause on the nail could work.  I know a lot of folks don't clean the pockets but I think its a small effort that could aid function quite a bit so like to do it.  Seems like some of my 41 mags will have a lot of crud in the pocket after even one firing.

Happy New Year

[Graybeard]

I bought the RCBS tool several years ago and wouldn't be caught reloading again without it ever. As to bench space it takes very little and doesn't have to stay there all the time. Mine isn't fastened down and it doesn't need to be so you can remove it after use with no trouble if you like or need to. Cost isn't cheap for sure but for what it does and the time it saves you I'd never be without mine. If you trim cases it sure makes the deburring and chamfering go fast and easy also. For me it's a MUST HAVE tool just like my Lee Auto Prime.

[quickdtoo]

I've thought about the Trim Mate, looks like it would work great, just a lota money.  Midsouth's regular price beats Midway's sale tho!!

Tim

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0004490375

[Dand]

Quickd  -  THANKS for the Midsouth tip.  The lower the price the more interested I get.  I tend to mostly shop Midway and have excellent service.  But Midsouth has been good to me too.

I'll have to keep an eye on that.   Some times just a few dollars less makes all the difference.

[Little Joe]

I deprime my cases with a Lee hand tool and discard them to the outside trash can. I then drop them into a bath of Birchwood Casey brass cleaner and let them soak for ten minutes. Next, take a primmer pocket cleaner tool and clean them out fallowed by a Q-tip. The lead residue will be loosened up by the bath and the Q-tip finishes them off. Rinse them off with hot running water. Wash your hands afterwords. I like to use latex free hand gloves. The primer pockets are like factory new with no lead powder residue. Let them dry out overnight and then you can tumble them if they need more polishing. This is the safest way to clean out primers. No lead dust on your equipment, in your equipment or in your home or on you!

Little Joe

[Bullseye]

I put off buying the RCBS tool for years because of the cost.  I used to deprime with a deprime tool, tumble, size.  Now I skip the deprime step and use the RCBS tool.  It is quicker and cleans the pockets better than tumbling.  When trimming cases the RCBS tool is great to deburr and chamfer.  It is not that loud, I can here the TV with it and the electric case trimmer running.

[Dand]

ow ow ouch quit twistin my arm guys! 

Sounds like I have to save some nickels and clean off my bench for a Trim Mate!

Happy New Year.  Hope its a good one for shooters and hunters.

Dan

[Jay HHI6818]

I bought Sinclair's Primer pocket uniforming and use them for cleaning the primer pockets. Kills two birds,  uniforming the primer pockets and cleaning them.

http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=RECPUN&type=store

[quickdtoo]

Dand, maybe this will save ya some pennys!! I use the Lee trimmers, after trimming, while I have the case chucked up, I champfer and deburr, then run a brush inside the case, then wrap a paper towel around the case and wipe the lube off. Doesn't help with the primer pocket cleaning, but I can't see spending the $90 just to do that in my case, looks tempting tho!!

Tim

[Dand]

All the good comments on the RCBS Trim Mate made me look at it more carefully.  Its not quite as big as I thought. And it sounds worth the space it uses. Thanks for other suggestions folks. I realized I wanted something that I could use one handed. I wasn't happy with using my cordless drill with tools chucked in it.

Then I lucked out and found I had a little more cash than I thought in my Pay Pal account - at the same time there was a good deal on a used Trim Mate on Ebay.

So it should be in the mail to me soon and I'll have to clean up my bench top.
Thanks again.  I learned a lot.