ORIGINAL: Hotburn76
I have a 100 Hornady 204 cases that I have been reloading. These were factory loaded ammo and I have reloaded them maybe five or six times. When I first started loading them I never noticed it. I am using a lee hand primer so I have a pretty good feel as I am loading them. This time when I loaded up some the primers went in real easy, kinda like to easy maybe. Is this a first sign of cases at the end of life? And is this ok to have a primer in with out a bunch of seating force? Thanks guys.
When primer pockets start getting loose, such as yours seem to be, it is a sign of TWO things:
A. The cases are indeed worn out, and need to be scrapped.
B. IMO, the reason your cases are worn out is because you are loading to pressure levels that are slightly too high (for YOUR particular chamber). BC is correct about this. You need to drop back about 5% on your powder charge. (Your load may not be DANGEROUSLY HIGH, but it is on the ragged edge of that point!)
Many people will accept the case life you are getting. I won't. I require my loads to permit cases to be reloaded at least ten times..... For example, I have some Norma 7X57mm bnrass that have been reloaded as manyas 20 times over the last 25 years, and they have not developed loose primer pockets. And, my 7X57mm loads are NOT what you'd call "mild" by any stretch of the imagination!