Primer seating

[Chimneybob]

Hi-

I tried reloading 44 mag tonight for the first time. I'm having trouble getting about 1/3 of the primers to fully seat. I've cleaned out the primer pockets, and tried adjusting the primer tool, but no luck.

I'm using a Lee turret press.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I have always used a hand priming tool, much better feel. You will know when the primers are fully seated when they hit bottom and are slightly below level with the case head. You can look at a tray of primed cartridges, turn them on their side and glance over the entire tray and pick out any that are too high.

 

[Chief 101]

a separate priming tool should be mandatory. Mine is a bench mounted RCBS but more ppl opt for the hand priming tool I think...the operative word is "feel"

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Hi-

I tried reloading 44 mag tonight for the first time. I'm having trouble getting about 1/3 of the primers to fully seat. I've cleaned out the primer pockets, and tried adjusting the primer tool, but no luck.

I'm using a Lee turret press.

Well,
I have loaded a gzillion rounds of pistol Cals. on RCBS, Lee Turret, and a Dillon 650. Yes you can tell with all 3 presses when the primer is seated. I shoot to much to hand prime. Using a press is not your problem. I have never cleaned a primer pocket either. I don't know what primers you are using but you might try a different batch. Sounds more like a primer or brass problem. The primer tool on the press is pretty simple. If it is working correctly that isn't the problem.

 

[6gun]

Toss that primer tool and run down to your reloading supply and buy a "RCBS Universal Hand Primer" and your problems will be over easy as that.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Come on Guys. If he is getting 2/3 of the primers to seat it isn't the press IMHO

 

[6gun]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Come on Guys. If he is getting 2/3 of the primers to seat it isn't the press IMHO

Press priming is to slow and has to many adjustment problems as well as others, it's just a really poor way to prime, the sooner new reloaders find out there are better and faster means of priming the better off they are.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Come on Guys. If he is getting 2/3 of the primers to seat it isn't the press IMHO

Press priming is to slow and has to many adjustment problems as well as others, it's just a really poor way to prime, the sooner new reloaders find out there are better and faster means of priming the better off they are.

If you say so. My presses prime on the down stroke from sizing. The 650 will load around 600 an hour taking my time or 800 when I'm in a hurry

 

[sixshot]

Jim's right, its not the press. If you are loading high volume's of ammo & are using a progressive press then hand priming is an extra step you don't need, just use what you have. When loading rifle I always used a hand primer seater.

Dick

 

[SlickRS23]

I would try a diff brand of primers, if they are still tight then it has to be the brass.
I have some Winchester 44 Mag brass under my bench that I just gave up on.
The primers were so tight that I would flatten the primers installing them, Heck, I even bent the priming pin on my Lee ram prime. I was affraid one would go off on the press. I tried one of them hand primers to see if it helped, and it was even harder. I think I dislocated my knuckle it hurt so much. and that was after only 4 or 5 rounds.
Never had this problem before only with this one batch of brass. Don't know if there is a way to fix the brass or not.
Jeff

 

[mikld]

Well, y'all can debate the merits of on press priming with Lee equipment all you want, but my Lee turret has primed several thousand rounds (.38, .357, .44 Spec. and Mag., .9mm, .45 ACP, .223/5.56, 30-30, and 30-06). I have also use hand primers, but for convenience mostly use that little steel thingy that sits in the ram and pivots with the ram stroke. No problems that I could honestly say were caused by my equipment. All the failures to fire, were from my mis-seating the primers.

I would recommend for new reloaders to learn to use the press priming systems before spending $$$ on dedicated priming tools. 99% of them work just fine.

BTW, I rarely if ever clean primer pockets...

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Jim's right, its not the press. If you are loading high volume's of ammo & are using a progressive press then hand priming is an extra step you don't need, just use what you have. When loading rifle I always used a hand primer seater.

Dick

Thank you Sixshot
From the guy that doesn't know crap about reloading :wink:
He who has also so loaded a bunch of 45-70 and 30-06 cal M1 on the press that all seem to go BANG when needed
Jim

 

[Chimneybob]

I would try a diff brand of primers, if they are still tight then it has to be the brass.
I have some Winchester 44 Mag brass under my bench that I just gave up on.
The primers were so tight that I would flatten the primers installing them, Heck, I even bent the priming pin on my Lee ram prime. I was affraid one would go off on the press. I tried one of them hand primers to see if it helped, and it was even harder. I think I dislocated my knuckle it hurt so much. and that was after only 4 or 5 rounds.
Never had this problem before only with this one batch of brass. Don't know if there is a way to fix the brass or not.
Jeff

It was the brass. I swithed to another box (different brand) and had no trouble at all.

Thanks!

 

[Wyandot Jim]

DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA