Maybe a silly question but are you seating them firmly enough?
Maybe a silly question but are you seating them firmly enough?
"An infinite number of monkeys banging away at type writers for an infinite period of time will eventually reproduce Hamlet" Thanks to discussion forums we now know this to be untrue.
I'm using the primer attachment on my RCBS Rockchucker. I know people rate the hand held ones but you get far more leverage on the press, they are consistently seating to the bottom of the pocket, I've no doubt.
The thing that is driving me mad here is the SAAMI tolerances ALLOW this to happen! It's madness. Nothing I have is out of spec according to those tolerances, but if the primers are designed to sit below flush but the tolerance stack up allows them to sit proud then it's completely wrong IMO.
Thanks, I've fashioned a little depth gauge using a dial indicator. Calibrated it off a slip block so it's bang on.
Yep, as mentioned above they are definitely seating down on a good positive stop.
The problem is the size of the damn things. When the physical measurements don't allow it then it's impossible to get them where they need to be.
Cheers
Greg
Perhaps someone could stick some of their small rifle primers into a calliper and provide some measurements for comparison.
Hello,
I have measured two primers from two different box's of CCI No. 400. Small Rifle primers.
The first one measured 0.174" diameter and a depth of 0.120"
The second one measured 0.173" diameter and a depth of 0.119"
Hope this helps?
6.5 55 SWEDE.223 HOWA VARMINT NIKON 8X32X50 -.22LR CZ STYLE-16" .17 HMR CZ AMERICAN-16" SIMMONS AETEC-12G BERETTA A.302,AYA NO 4,BAIKAL O&U
Hello,
Did you say that you measured new Lapua cases and the pocket depth is 0.120" max ?
Judging by my measurements, the CCi primers at my measurement of 0.120 will only just fit perfect! That is as long as you get a "full insert" into the primer pocket.
Of course if you get a batch of primers that are in excess of 0.120" , then you will have your problem of not seating flush.
Again I have never had this problem but!
Perhaps even on new brass, it might be a good idea to try a different pocket cleaner on a few cases to entirely clean the surfaces and try some primers in the cases again.
6.5 55 SWEDE.223 HOWA VARMINT NIKON 8X32X50 -.22LR CZ STYLE-16" .17 HMR CZ AMERICAN-16" SIMMONS AETEC-12G BERETTA A.302,AYA NO 4,BAIKAL O&U
Thanks for doing those measurements. The CCI primers I have are mostly around the .122" mark. Some as low as .119" and a few up as high as .124". That's pretty shocking consistency.
Yes, the new Lapua brass has very consistent primer pockets, all between .119"-.120". Not much good though if most of my primers are .122"!
I ordered a K&M uniformer tool yesterday on zx10mike's recommendation. I've seen a lot of good reviews on them too so they must be pretty good. I'll see how I get on with that. I still think the primers are oversize though!
Cheers
Greg
Primer loading tools rely on the top of the rim pushing against the shell holder. Try measuring the rims or a different shell holder.
I personally think the above is your problem. I have a Rockchucker but shelved the idea long ago of using the press to prime cases - you don't need that extra leverage to seat primers - seating primers is all about 'feel' especially after a few firings when primer pockets become loose and decisions have to be made to bin the brass. If a primer is seated correctly you should be able to see with the naked eye that the primer is below the level of the head stamp - my prognosis is that your press is not seating the primer deep enough.
For your benefit, I took a CCI small rifle primer (CCI 400) and measured its depth with my Mitutoya gauge and it was .121" I then took my RCBS priming tool and seated that primer into a brand new 223 Lapua case, then with a universal deprimer carefully removed the primer and remeasured its depth - now .1165". Seating the primer correctly has the effect of expanding the primer outwards to ensure a good seal in the primer pocket. Perhaps you should try that with your press method.
Maybe you have some one in your area that reloads and uses a handheld primer tool that you can use.
"An infinite number of monkeys banging away at type writers for an infinite period of time will eventually reproduce Hamlet" Thanks to discussion forums we now know this to be untrue.
You are not alone I have had issues with these primers exactly the same as you, I stopped using their small pistol primers back in the 1980s I had hundreds of Sako cases & they would not seat flush, I actually broke the bottom yoke on a Dillon press seating these, the answer was use different primers, end of problem. I still use that Dillon after 35 years, I only use large pistol primers these days & again I cannot seat CCI primers in some cases so I don't buy them, strangely enough I can use CCI rifle primers with no trouble but I only use them if I can't get any other brand, however I use a pacific single stage press for loading rifle ammo. My advice try other brands, if they seat O.K. end of problem.
Elwellaxe.
i use mostly cci and reload my .223 with them and never had any issues....i do use the hand press though
email...... stephenbarrow@ntlworld.com
Thanks for the reply and for going to the trouble of trying a primer in one of your cases. I appreciate your point about priming on the press but I genuinely don't have an issue with feel on it. My point about extra leverage on the press was just to emphasize that the primers were going to the bottom of the pocket.
I tried your test with a CCI primer and it came out the exact same size it went in.....However, see part 2 of the reply below..
Problem solved! I bought some Federal small rifle primers and they seated faultlessly. I primed 100 Norma cases and every one seated a perfect .004" below flush of the case head.
The problem in this case was the CCI primers. I don't know whether I bought some from a bad batch or what but they just would not seat properly
Following on from dicehorn's test above the Federal primers DID compress as he suggested. I de-primed one which went in at .120" and came out at .117".
Perhaps when the pockets wear a bit after a few firings I'll try the CCI again.
Cheers
Greg