What do you use to clean primer pockets?

[Old Infantry Guy]

Sinclair tool, especially helpful if you've got a lot of cases to prep - you can chuck it up in a drill.

I use K&M primer pocket uniformers, either large or small rifle, on ALL handloads. I just chuck it in my Dewalt drill and go to town. Like all K&M tools they are fast, efficient and a pleasure to use. I DO use leather glove on the case-holding hand. Precludes a possible nasty and needless wound.

 

[Equalizer]

Everyone has their way but messing with liquid then drying, taking hours for the machine… dang. Thought you said it saves time?… I'll never introduce liquid into my reloading. Why overcomplicate the process?

 

[Paulstarr]

Easy,treat yourself to an ultrasonic cleaner.

 

[Ho-Man]

I've been reloading for quite some time now so as to save time in brass prep I put all of the unprimed cases in my Rockford Arsenal liquid rotary cleaned with stainless steel pins, 60-90 minutes the cases come out looking like new with immaculate primer pockets.

 

[Dr. Richard Gray]

I use an RCBS uniforming tool in a Dremel tool. I turn the speed to the lowest setting and it is rapid and easy. Although, I don't see a thing wrong with your screw driver method. I used to use the same. Honestly though, I have never had much of a problem by not cleaning rifle cartridges, but my revolver magnum pistols are a different story. If the primer does not seat properly it will cause the cylinder to not revolve. It hangs on that primer that is .03 out.

 

[xsn10s]

I use either my RCBS primer pocket cleaning brush or Hornady priming pocket cleaning tool. I save my uniformers for precision rifles and only for uniforming primer pockets. I tried a chemical and ultrasonic cleaner but they didn't work for me.

 

[huntinghuasna]

One twist with Crocogator to knock down any excessive built up to insure consistent seat depth. I use this method on all my rifles including precision. I've experienced no gain in accuracy by using other methods to completely clean or uniform the pocket.

 

[dartem]

I use my Sinclair carbide pocket uniforming tool.

^^^THIS^^^

 

[Ho-Man]

In lieu of the liquid rotary cleaner and pins, if I want to clean just a handful of cases quickly, I resort to my RCBS electric cases cleaner station and appropriate size primer pocket brush which works well also. Also, I might at times place a cotton patch over the pocket brush to really polish out the primer pockets.
I found everyone else's comments enjoyable to read, thanks!

 

[Csbc4fun]

I knock out primers with FA hand deprimer before wet tumbling with dawn, Lemishine, and SS pins. Primer pockets come out clean with none of the time/effort described in most of the above posts.

As an added bonus, my press stays clean and dead primers properly wrangled.

Correct tool for the job once again! Any other honing, grinding, brushing, truing, or messing around with the primer pocket is not only wasting time it is prematurely wearing out the brass. The reason they didn't use a wet SS pin cleaner in the 1960's is because they didn't exist. Get one and be done with primer pockets.

 

[Ho-Man]

Correct tool for the job once again! Any other honing, grinding, brushing, truing, or messing around with the primer pocket is not only wasting time it is prematurely wearing out the brass. The reason they didn't use a wet SS pin cleaner in the 1960's is because they didn't exist. Get one and be done with primer pockets.

Well said, thats what I'm talking about, you want to keep the pockets tight, dawn dish soap works great too and a little anti-spotting chemical like lemishine works well. Its the best system as far as I'm concerned when it comes to cleaning brass. I learned it from a guy who loaded ammo professionally for resale and whom I had a lot of respect for.

 

[Shortmag11]

I use the Lee orange and gray handle screwdriver type. Works great. After that you could use a q-tip with a little alcohol.

 

[Calvin45]

I don't clean them. I've never seen a need there. I suppose if somehow they were visibly filthy I would but they're not. If in the future i become unsatisfied with how my loads are performing perhaps I'll give this a try as one more variable to perfect (or more likely, to screw up - the "keep it simple stupid" policy has worked for me - if it ain't broke don't fix it)

 

[The Oregonian]

My RCBS ultrasonic cleans them right up.