Difficulty Hand Priming

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Rosco19

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I used an RCBS hand priming tool for the first time tonight (the one that comes with the Rock Chucker kit). I was priming 308 WIN Hornady match brass (once fired) with Federal 210M primers. About 50% of the primers would go in with little to no effort. The other 50% were very difficult to seat the primer and would require significant force be applied to the priming tool. Out of the 50 cases I primed, about 5 had to go through the decapping die as the primers dented or flattened from the amount of force I needed to apply. However I was eventually able to get all cases primed.

Has anyone else had issues with the RCBS hand priming tool? Or is this a maybe an issue with the primer pockets being very tight on the Hornady match brass?
 
Must be girly hands. :)

When you reprimed the cases after removing the messed up primers, was it just as hard as the first time around?
 
Rosco19 said:
I should have mentioned that all primer pockets were uniformed prior to primer seating. However now that I think of it the uniform tool was a real tight fit in many of the cases.
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Hmm I would try and get one that could trim the edge a little more and see if it's better, I know my LEE Ergo was supposed to be easy but I have to use two hands most times and especially with different brass such as Blazer and Norinco.
 
it sounds like an issue with the brass. as others have said; go over your primer pockets. Using the hand tool should require the same or near the same pressure from case to case.
 
I was just priming some S&B brass tonight that had crimped primers. I swagged the pockets but it was still giving me a hard time. i found if I had one that the primer was giving me a hard time seating I just take off the pressure. Spin the brass 1/4 turn and apply pressure again. 9 times of of 10 it just pops in easy. They seems to bind. Good luck
 
I had the same problem with my Hornady Match 308 Brass, the primers were much harder to seat then with Winchester or Federal
I used the primer reamer and it helped a little but still much harder to seat in versus the other brass

Using Federal Large Rifle primers as well
 
Spawn-Inc said:
Must be girly hands. :)

When you reprimed the cases after removing the messed up primers, was it just as hard as the first time around?
Click to expand...

Most definitely girly hands. That's what I get for working with computers all day.

Seemed about the same difficulty re-priming the boogered up cases.
 
Nova316 said:
I had the same problem with my Hornady Match 308 Brass, the primers were much harder to seat then with Winchester or Federal
I used the primer reamer and it helped a little but still much harder to seat in versus the other brass

Using Federal Large Rifle primers as well
Click to expand...

Glad it is not just me.
 
Muskyhunter1 said:
I was just priming some S&B brass tonight that had crimped primers. I swagged the pockets but it was still giving me a hard time. i found if I had one that the primer was giving me a hard time seating I just take off the pressure. Spin the brass 1/4 turn and apply pressure again. 9 times of of 10 it just pops in easy. They seems to bind. Good luck
Click to expand...

Good tip about spinning the brass. I was finding the tool to be somewhat inconsistent with how it applies pressure to the primer; seems to be ever so slightly off centre.
 
Rosco19 said:
Most definitely girly hands. That's what I get for working with computers all day.

Seemed about the same difficulty re-priming the boogered up cases.
Click to expand...

I'd like to suggest tight primer pockets, but if you've gone over them with the pocket uniformer, not sure what's left.
 
Spawn-Inc said:
I'd like to suggest tight primer pockets, but if you've gone over them with the pocket uniformer, not sure what's left.
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Well the true test will be if they get any easier to seat after multiple firings.

One of these days when it becomes less difficult to find new brass, I'll try another brand to compare.
 
I use an RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool for my 9mm pistol loads. Once in a while, I also get the same problem in seating primers. I feel that if I push the primer harder, it might ignite. What I usually do is clean the primer pockets, put a slight chamfer against the pocket using a countersink like this http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/...in-High-Speed-Steel-Countersink-Bit/8031015.p You have to use it very lightly or your primers will not seat at all if you go very deep.

Stay Safe!
 
No problems ever with the RCBS hand primer, Fed GM primers and either Winchester or Remington brass.
Uniform all primer pockets & debur flash holes (once) and clean pockets with brush each time.
Only moderate pressure used, feels the same each time and no problem detecting when primer "seats".
 
ambishooter said:
I use an RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool for my 9mm pistol loads. Once in a while, I also get the same problem in seating primers. I feel that if I push the primer harder, it might ignite. What I usually do is clean the primer pockets, put a slight chamfer against the pocket using a countersink like this http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/...in-High-Speed-Steel-Countersink-Bit/8031015.p You have to use it very lightly or your primers will not seat at all if you go very deep.

Stay Safe!
Click to expand...

You need not worry about the primer going off with a slow compression, it reacts to a quick hard hit.

I've done this many times with no primers going off.
primer.jpg
 
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I kind of have the same problem with my RCBS hand primer that I got with my kit too.

I find that what helps for me is by playing around that white plastic piece thingy and the shell holder. I find that pushing that white piece thingy all the way in and turning the shell holder so that the open end is facing the primer tray works the best for me. Turn it while looking down where the primer come up and you can see if its centered or not.

I think its a design flaw and not the cases.
 
I use the same tool for my rifle cases as well, takes a little getting used to but does make it easy to know when primer pockets are getting too loose. You also have to make sure when you put the shaft in place that seats the primers that the flat end is pushing against the primers. If you turn it upside down the round end will deform your primers and would likely make them go in a little crooked at times as well?


Rodney
 
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