Brass Question

[dennie]

Yesterday I tumbled some .45ACP brass. When I deprimed the brass I noticed some of the brass had very large flash holes. I measured the largest ones at .100-.125". It looked huge! A lot of my .45ACP brass is pickups or given to me by friends.
Question is, how large can the flash hole be to use safely, and should I just destroy the brass with the large holes? Also, why would someone open the holes to this size?
Thanx,
dennie

[SteveR]

When you were depriming did any feel really hard to get out? I have had some berdan primed 45 and 9mm that felt funny when decapping. What happen was the decapper pin punched a hole through the primer pocket.

If the pocket holds the new primer, prime one and shoot it with just the primer, and it holds the primer in the pocket, then you will probably have no problems.

Steve

[O.S.O.K.]

I am sure I read about this. IIRC, these are most probably "green ammo" rounds. I'm thinking CCI. Compressed/scintered metal bullets that disintegrate on contact with anything firm.

Regardless, I would discard those and use only the ones with standard flash holes. If for no other reason than consistency and accuracy, but also for safety.

Just isn't worth taking the chance IMHO.

[jhrosier]

Dennie

Are those large primer pockets or small"
The NT primers use small pockets and I have been told that the flash holes are oversized.

Jack

[BigSky56]

large flash holes are drilled so the shooter can use wax, rubber or plastic bullets so the primer doesnt back out when fired cant speak to foreign manufactures but I have seen large holes on brass I picked up before, speer recommends it for their target bullets. danny

[Griff]

large flash holes are drilled so the shooter can use wax, rubber or plastic bullets so the primer doesnt back out when fired cant speak to foreign manufactures but I have seen large holes on brass I picked up before, speer recommends it for their target bullets. danny

Yep, those and "blanks" need the flash holes enlargened so the primers don't back out. Usually to about an 1/8" (.125). What OSOK said.

[dennie]

These are all large primer pockets, and yes, some of the old primers made a "ding" type of noise when they popped out. I do not plan on running wax or other odd types of bullets. I only have a few this way, so will just scrap them and move on.
Thanx for the help.
dennie