primer seating on lee press

[Denn0001]

My Lee Pacemaker press seats the new primer on the upstroke of the handle. I have noticed that the primers are basically flush with the casing end. I have read that they should be .001 to .002 below the case end. I am reloading Remington .223 cases with #400 CCI primers. I hope I am not looking at a bunch of duds shooting my M4. I will test fire them in a couple of days.

 

[Grizzlypeg]

I see no reason that would cause them to be duds. My only concern is that they be flush and not protrude from the case.

 

[woodchopper]

I use a hand primer for all my reloading

I dont like the feal or lack of when using the press

 

[Breaker61]

Place your primed cases on a flat surface, such as cd case. The cases will wobble if the primers are not flush.

 

[easyrider604]

Flush is Ok.

Be concerned if primer is raised, or not seated deep enough to be flush or a little below like you said..

 

[Doc M]

I've seen the same thing with mine; if you're really concerned, get a primer pocket uniformer and it will allow you to seat a few thou deeper by milling out the rounded edges of the pocket's interior.

With that said, I've never had a single misfire and I do all my priming on-press with my Lee.

-M

 

[fixerdude]

Place your primed cases on a flat surface, such as cd case. The cases will wobble if the primers are not flush.

I'm using the same test. My Lee Load Master used to do that a lot, tipped or reversed primers 1 out of 10 times.

 

[Denn0001]

Can I give them another press if the primers are not flush? That is just repressing them.

 

[hk33ka1]

Yes you can gently re-press them, aka seat them a little deeper.

 

[bigdaddyeo]

Yes you can gently re-press them, aka seat them a little deeper.

As long as the casing is still empty

 

[mikeystew]

Can I give them another press if the primers are not flush? That is just repressing them.

if they are already charged i would not personally. if not you for sure can.

 

[Denn0001]

Cases are still empty so I'll repress some if I have too. Maybe I'll get the Lee hand primer tool so I can feel them seat properly. Thanks guys.

 

[Tex Critter]

I use the Lee hand prime tool. It provides for a more sensative feel for determining when the primer is properly seated. And its quicker than using the ram prime on a press!

 

[migrant hunter]

I"ve been seating with a lee press for years and would'nt use a hand primer.
I've never had any problems with the flush seating, and I know that they are all seated uniformly.

 

[Denn0001]

Crap. A lot of the primers are sticking out about about .002. Do I dare load and fir them this way or should I just repress them with my press? Of course, being me, I did up 50 rounds. Thank goodness there is no powder in them yet!!

 

[Denn0001]

I"ve been seating with a lee press for years and would'nt use a hand primer.
I've never had any problems with the flush seating, and I know that they are all seated uniformly.

Is your press just a basic one like my 50th anniversary edition? If so, can I just put the primed cases back in the press and give them a good ram home? There is no powder in the cases.

 

[warrenb]

I"ve been seating with a lee press for years and would'nt use a hand primer.
I've never had any problems with the flush seating, and I know that they are all seated uniformly.

Me, just for 1 year but I like everything about the press seating operation.

 

[warrenb]

Is your press just a basic one like my 50th anniversary edition? If so, can I just put the primed cases back in the press and give them a good ram home? There is no powder in the cases.

Yes, just press them again. They will not go bang. The Lee press is light enough that you can feel when they seat with resistance and when they seat more easily if say pockets are enlarged.

There should be some resistance when you press them in.

 

[fixerdude]

Cases are still empty so I'll repress some if I have too. Maybe I'll get the Lee hand primer tool so I can feel them seat properly. Thanks guys.

If the primer sticks out enough, it may not fit the hand primer. I use the Lee Safety Prime system.

 

[Denn0001]

After doing some very careful measuring and comparing my primed cases to some factory rounds, I have discovered that my primers may be seated a little crooked. That is, they stick out .001 to .002 on one side of the casing but are flush if I turn the casing 90 degrees and measure again. I am using a very good vernier dial caliper to measure with. The primer pockets were all very well cleaned with the Lee primer pocket tool so I don't see why this has happened. I put them on a flat surface to see if they rock a bit. Some do and some don't. Some of the factory rounds rock a bit too. Maybe I am being paranoid, being a first time reloader. I guess the only way to find out for sure if I have a problem will be to go to the range and see if I get a slam fire with the M4. Crap, I have read up on slam fires and it can be dangerous!!