Need help with priming ( primers not going straight)

E

Ernest II

New member
I have the RCBS hand priming tool. Its the same kind I used years agoi when I was reloading.The caliber 223 the shell holder #4 primers CCI.I just done 50 rounds and half of them were so hard to prime I was afraid they were going to fire. Some were f;attend and some went in crooked. I cant tell if its the brass the tool or the primers. I need help.The brass is once fired Hornaday. I never had this problem years ago. Maybe the priming tool is just not up to specs.What should I try?
Thanks Daryl P.
 
Im doubting that the brass would have been crimped if its Hornady. Did you set the hand primer to the proper size primer? There is a plastic insert for large and small. Maybe you are using the wrong one? Just a thought..
 
Last edited:
If you are trying to prime some range brass you might have some "military" brass that has a crimp to hold the primer secure.

I ran into that tas well. I bought an RCBS primer swag kit and run all my range brass through it. You also might try Winchester primers. That worked the best for me. Someone on here recommended it to me.
I still get an occasional primer that flattens or peels back but free range brass is worth the extra effort.
Hope this helps.
 
Its not range brass. It is once fired from my Ar. Yes I have the correct plastic sleeve and correct rod for small primers.The sheel holder is the one that came with the 223 lee dies #4holder.Not free range brass. I wont use any brass except new or once fired in my rifle. Do you think its the CCI primers?
Daryl P.
 
It seems that every 2nd or third one does this. SOme are so hard to seat Im afraid they will go off. Not to mention they are so flat by the time they arte seated I wont use the shell. SOme ar pushing the shell right out of the holder.
Daryl P.
 
I just checked the lee shell holder chart and #4 is what 223 shouyld be used on.Looks like the plastic RCBS sleeve that guides the rod has to big of a hole in it.
Daryl P.
 
Originally Posted By: Ricky BobbyMake sure you're wearing some safety glasses
^^ x10 on that!..and don`t hold your hand over the end.

I have seen a primer crimp on Hornady Brass (as far as I could tell) but it was nothing like LC crimp, and was easily removed w/chamfer tool.
This particular H. brass was from a shooting range so that could be why it had a crimp?? LEO/Security/Military use requirement..IDK

Anyhow hope you get it figured out.
 
Get a RCBS shell holder #10 (I looked it up to be shure) for .223, with the white plastic piece, and small rod. Been there done that, don't mix shell holders, that goes for dies too. Lee with Lee, RCBS with RCBS... RCBS #3 for .243/30-06 size heads, with the black plastic piece and the large rod.

If you still have problems, take your chamfering tool, the one you use to debur the necks, and give the primer pocket lip about one good turn. If this dosn't solve your problem, the pockets are undersize and will need to be swaged, or reamed.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: HookedOriginally Posted By: Ricky BobbyMake sure you're wearing some safety glasses
^^ x10 on that!..and don`t hold your hand over the end.

I have seen a primer crimp on Hornady Brass (as far as I could tell) but it was nothing like LC crimp, and was easily removed w/chamfer tool.
This particular H. brass was from a shooting range so that could be why it had a crimp?? LEO/Security/Military use requirement..IDK

Anyhow hope you get it figured out.

+1
 
Ernest,

Had some Hornady brass that had such tight primer pockets
that it was difficult to punch out the old primer. The
primer pocket uniformer in the RCBS case prep station
wouldn't even go in the pocket. Decided not to fool with them and threw them away.

John
 
Ernest, I too have been having some trouble with my new batch of CCI small pistol primers and my RCBS priming tool I've had for decades. I had Winchester primers before and had no trouble, I don't know if it's the primers either or the tool, but I am going to buy a lee hand primer just to see. Until I saw this blog on the priming I just thought maybe it was me as my hand is slightly crippled holding the tool and sometimes i need my second hand also. On occasion the primer doesn't alway go on the priming rod so maybe the spring has been getting a little weak to completly open the priming grip. In any case I have a little work to do.
 
Yukon21 and everyone thanks ,, Yukon 21 dont buy the lee primer. I called RCBS today and the lady told me that most manufacturers are crimpimg the primers in and I would need a primer pocket swaging tool to correct the brass for priming.Im thinking I will pass on the tool and just buy some winchester brass.
Daryl P.
 
Jack Roberts and others. I thought Jack was off the wall when he mentioned crimped primers. Sorry Jack. I called RCBS and the lady said that most manufacturers are crimping the primers in now. I came home and picked out 2 winch. primers and one hornaday. The hornaday had what looked like a crimp ring around the primer. I sized and de primed the 3 brass and went to reprime them. The 2 winch. done fine and the Hornaday with the what looked like a crimp around the primer pocket did not do so well. It was very hard to prime and smashed the primer. QUESTIONs has anyone else found that they needed to swage the primer pockets? I may buy the tool or I may just get some new WInch. brass depending on your reccomendations.Is it hard to swage the primer pockets? What wouyld you do?
Thanks for the help.
Daryl P.
 
Did you try one turn of the chamfering tool in the primer pocket? As long as you don't have a bunch to do this will fix your problems. Look at the Winchester cases, they are chamfered.
 
I try to always shoot LC brass in .223. I use the Dillion primer swag. Think I paid $98 for it a couple of years ago. Will outlast me by a centruy or so. Comes with a swag for large and small primer pockets. No more problems.


Tom
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top