How Do You Prime?

MacD · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 7:15 pm Post subject: How Do You Prime?

Today I loaded up some 38 Special in Winchester nickel plated cases. I usually prime off the press with a Lee primer but today, to save time, I decided to use the safety prime on my turret press. I started having problems with primers not seating flush and ended up checking every round and giving perhaps 10-12 out of 50 another push to get them flush. Later I took some more cases, brass this time, and no problems with on press seating. I then used the hand primer on some more nickel plated and no problem there. I haven't used the top of the press ram prime. So which system do you use? Both mine are Lee but the principles are the same with most other brands as far as I can tell.

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3571 Location: Utah

Bottleneck (excluding .223) I prefer the RCBS hand tool. For runs of pistol or .223 I use the Lee Turret with safety prime. I've not noticed any high primers yet.

-DallanC

Azar · Member Joined: Jan 04, 2010 Posts: 275 Location: Utah

I've only ever used the RCBS hand-tool. Well, I toyed with the primer arm the RockChucker but didn't care for it. Handling individual primers is a pain.

dhc4ever · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 8:11 pm Post subject: Re: How Do You Prime?

These days I use a Lee auto hand prime.
In the old days a Lee hand primer, came with the Lee benchrest reloader.
Then I used to use either the lyman or rcbs priming tools that attached to the front of the press.
I like the hand primers although they are relitively slow if doing a lot of reloading, you can definately feel if there is a seating issue.
Only issue I had with the ones on the front of the press was the very occasional reversed primer out of the feed tube, you would generally see these as you loaded the primer cup, so not a big issue by any means.

res45 · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 8:19 pm Post subject: Re: How Do You Prime?

In the old days I use the priming arm that came on my Lyman press,still do if I'm going to just load up a few test rds. Most times though I use my two old Lee hand priming tools,one is set up for SR/SP and the other for LR/LP I just drop in the appropriate shell holder and primer away.

Never have had trouble not seating primer flush but I have smashed a few in sideways before but they never have gone off. All in all I prefer the hand priming best.

Vince · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 9:13 pm Post subject: Re: How Do You Prime?

I use the priming arm that is attached to my single stage press. Never had a problem with it, although it is a little slow.

Mac...the reason you may have had problems with the Safety Prime is because you don't use it often, so you don't have the "feel" for the primer seating fully.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 9:39 pm Post subject: Re: How Do You Prime?

I prefer using a hand primer. Currently I'm using an old Lee Auto Prime. A couple weeks ago I loaded about 1k 9x19s on the Hornady progressive and had some high primers. Haven't figured out what was going on yet.

gelandangan · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 11:47 pm Post subject: Re: How Do You Prime?

Since Bushy shows us his Lee priming tool, I have been using the same one. Cant remember the model, but it works great on my press.

Elvis · Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 12:04 am Post subject: Re: How Do You Prime?

lee auto prime hand tool ...always have and always will, I feel the primer bottom out and can feel a loose pocket too.

RePete · Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:08 am Post subject: Re: How Do You Prime?

I had a Lee Pro 1000 and had the same problem, so I started hand priming with the Lee unit.

I now use a Dillon 1050 for handguns.

For rifle, I prime with the RCBS APS Bench Priming Tool. I load rifle on an circa 1975 Rock Chucker.

SingleShotLover · Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:29 am Post subject: Re: How Do You Prime?

Bottle-necked cartridges - either RCBS or Lee hand primer tools. All of my handgun cartridges get primed on either Lee Loadmaster or Pro 1000 presses as part of the loading cycle.

Bushmaster · Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 7:49 am Post subject: Re: How Do You Prime?

Yup...Can't be beat for both handgun and rifle cases.

PaulS · Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 6:10 pm Post subject: Re: How Do You Prime?

When I started loading I used the priming arm on the press and the tube feed on the other press. Having to handle the primers to fill the tube or to set the primers in the arm I had some problems with contaminated primers not igniting.
After getting the Lee hand primer and later the RCBS hand primer I have had no trouble at all.

slimjim · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: How Do You Prime?

Primer arm on an RCBS Rock Crusher. I don't have any problems feeling the tightness that the primers seat in the pocket. Loose primer pockets are the number one reason that my brass has to be discarded. Excessive neck thickness variation is number 2.

Azar · Member Joined: Jan 04, 2010 Posts: 275 Location: Utah

slimjim wrote:

Excessive neck thickness variation is number 2.

Not to derail the thread, but how much neck thickness variation do you tolerate in your brass? And do you turn necks or just discard those outside of your acceptable tolerances?

Thanks.