I have been given some mixed .45ACP brass. WCC,WRA and RA. Ran them thru the tumbler and they look great. Mostly WCC '62,'64, '67. Some RA '68 and 4. The RA 4 (WWII ?) show a heavy deposit from corrosive primers so were discarded. The primers look to be copper. Should I deburr the primer pocket with the nose of my deburring tool ? I know there is supposed to be a crimp but I don't see it. I plan to reload for standard velocity. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Reloading Military .45 ACP Brass
- Thread starter Sea Buck
- Start date
The cases deprime very easily. The primer pocket is straight with no evidence of a crimp. There is a detent around each primer, may be this is the "crimp" giving the primer a squeeze to help hold it there. Maybe for if the round was used in a SMG like a Thompson. Who knows, but it's good brass. Loading with 5.0 of Bullseye for around 850 fps. Thanks for you comments.
"Looks straight" prolly won't be enough. The metal around the pocket is more than likely distorted a bit. If there is a "detent" it's a "stake crimp" which is quite often used (all my 30-06 HXP brass has stake crimped primer pockets.). I have used a countersink on mebbe 2,000 military cases; 45 ACP, 9MM, 30-06 and 7.62x51. While they may look straight, it would be easy/better to just give each case a quick twist with your chamfer tool. 
Mike Irwin
Staff
"The RA 4 (WWII ?)"
Yes. Manufactured in 1944.
At the end of 1943 the manufacturers were told to simply grind the 3 off the headstamp bunter and continue to used them if they were still in good condition.
Apparently many of the manufacturers then took bunters from 41 and 42 that were still servicable and still around and did the same thing.
In any event, that became the dictated standard for ammunition manufactured in 1944.
Supposedly there are some cases out there that are marked with the complete year, but they're apparently pretty rare.
Yes. Manufactured in 1944.
At the end of 1943 the manufacturers were told to simply grind the 3 off the headstamp bunter and continue to used them if they were still in good condition.
Apparently many of the manufacturers then took bunters from 41 and 42 that were still servicable and still around and did the same thing.
In any event, that became the dictated standard for ammunition manufactured in 1944.
Supposedly there are some cases out there that are marked with the complete year, but they're apparently pretty rare.
Some have no visible crimp, some have the stake crimp, and I have seen pre-WW II brass with the full "ring" crimp common on GI rifle brass.
The intent is to be an added insurance against the primer backing out due to the vibrations in the feed system of full auto weapons. Not a huge concern for the civilian shooter.
A quick twist with the nose of the chamfering tool solves any problems.
The intent is to be an added insurance against the primer backing out due to the vibrations in the feed system of full auto weapons. Not a huge concern for the civilian shooter.
A quick twist with the nose of the chamfering tool solves any problems.