Military crimp on PMC ammo? - The Firearms Forum

CJ7365 · 05-13-2009, 02:51 PM

I just went to reload some .223 ammo using once fired PMC brass, cleaned, deprimed and resized. I went to seat the primer and no go, I didn't want to force it, so I picked another peice of brass and same thing, I looked on the bottom and its got a MC

. I didn't really noticed it when I was cleaning the pocket, I thought LC was the only one with the MC

Guess I got one more step to do before reloading.

olmossbak · 05-13-2009, 03:57 PM

Yep, I learned that the hard way many years ago when I had a Mini 14. I learned it by breaking a decapping pin. I had to buy hardened pins (still got 'em) and a primer pocket reamer. The upside is, once done, done forever.

Oh yea, the Mini 14 is long gone. Looked really great but wouldn't hit a bull in the butt in a phone booth.

Blackout · 05-13-2009, 05:27 PM

Does military surplus .223 always have a crimped primer? I have some, and it doesn't look crimped, but it does have the red sealant. Is it obvious? I haven't started reloading .223 yet, but will real soon.

Thanks.

JLA · 05-13-2009, 06:52 PM

you can remove the military crimp with a standard chamfer tool. the end for chamfering the inside of the case mouth will fit perfectly in small primer pockets and doesnt bottom out in large primer pockets. Even the cheesy little LEE chamfer tool works well

Alpo · 05-14-2009, 09:29 AM

Most military surplus (45, 9mm, 30/06, 308, 30 carbine), not just 5.56, has a crimped-in primer. I have heard that it was to prevent problems when using it in full auto guns. This makes sense, but then howcome the miltary 38 Specials have a crimped in primer? To the best of my knowledge, nobody make a 38 special machinegun.

JLA · 05-14-2009, 10:34 AM

They did it to make the shell casings tamper evident. Have you ever read about any of the highly covert operations of mac-sog during the vietnam conflict. Those guys wreaked havoc on enemy moral and caused distrust in the firearms and ammunitions providers (the chinese). They ran an article about thier dutys in american rifleman a few months ago. They had a neat job

CJ7365 · 05-14-2009, 10:37 AM

Most all my .223/5.56 brass is LC or PMC, I have about 600 brass peices ready to reload, far most the best and fastest decrimping tool has been the Hornady pocket reamer//http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=501588 its also the easiest on the fingers, the Lee one works well but is a killer on the fingers

Blackout, ALL military ammo has a military crimp, like olmossbak said once its done then its done

05-13-2009, 02:51 PM	#1
CJ7365 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: El Paso TEXAS Posts: 65	Military crimp on PMC ammo? I just went to reload some .223 ammo using once fired PMC brass, cleaned, deprimed and resized. I went to seat the primer and no go, I didn't want to force it, so I picked another peice of brass and same thing, I looked on the bottom and its got a MC . I didn't really noticed it when I was cleaning the pocket, I thought LC was the only one with the MC Guess I got one more step to do before reloading. __________________ Rob http://www.olskool4x4.com -->

05-13-2009, 03:57 PM	#2
olmossbak V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NE Tenn Posts: 212	Re: Military crimp on PMC ammo? Yep, I learned that the hard way many years ago when I had a Mini 14. I learned it by breaking a decapping pin. I had to buy hardened pins (still got 'em) and a primer pocket reamer. The upside is, once done, done forever. Oh yea, the Mini 14 is long gone. Looked really great but wouldn't hit a bull in the butt in a phone booth.

05-13-2009, 05:27 PM	#3
Blackout Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 16	Re: Military crimp on PMC ammo? Does military surplus .223 always have a crimped primer? I have some, and it doesn't look crimped, but it does have the red sealant. Is it obvious? I haven't started reloading .223 yet, but will real soon. Thanks. Last edited by Blackout; 05-13-2009 at 05:28 PM..

05-13-2009, 06:52 PM	#4
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,407	Re: Military crimp on PMC ammo? you can remove the military crimp with a standard chamfer tool. the end for chamfering the inside of the case mouth will fit perfectly in small primer pockets and doesnt bottom out in large primer pockets. Even the cheesy little LEE chamfer tool works well __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

05-14-2009, 09:29 AM	#5
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,772	Re: Military crimp on PMC ammo? Most military surplus (45, 9mm, 30/06, 308, 30 carbine), not just 5.56, has a crimped-in primer. I have heard that it was to prevent problems when using it in full auto guns. This makes sense, but then howcome the miltary 38 Specials have a crimped in primer? To the best of my knowledge, nobody make a 38 special machinegun. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

05-14-2009, 10:34 AM	#6
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,407	Re: Military crimp on PMC ammo? They did it to make the shell casings tamper evident. Have you ever read about any of the highly covert operations of mac-sog during the vietnam conflict. Those guys wreaked havoc on enemy moral and caused distrust in the firearms and ammunitions providers (the chinese). They ran an article about thier dutys in american rifleman a few months ago. They had a neat job __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

05-14-2009, 10:37 AM	#7
CJ7365 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: El Paso TEXAS Posts: 65	Re: Military crimp on PMC ammo? Most all my .223/5.56 brass is LC or PMC, I have about 600 brass peices ready to reload, far most the best and fastest decrimping tool has been the Hornady pocket reamer//http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=501588 its also the easiest on the fingers, the Lee one works well but is a killer on the fingers Blackout, ALL military ammo has a military crimp, like olmossbak said once its done then its done __________________ Rob http://www.olskool4x4.com