Installing primers in 12 Ga shells

[Win 38-55]

Well gents, I have a lot of experience loading rifle and pistol cartridges, but zero experience loading black powder shotgun shells. Since I got my old antique shotgun, I'm all in a lather to load up some shells. I don't plan to use any dies or press, so I'm not sure how to get the primers in. I could whack them in, like I used to do with the Lee hand loader, but is there a hand squeezer (for lack of a better term) primer tool for 12 Ga shells? Can you point me in the right direction?

 

[vagrantviking]

I've never seen a hand tool.

My brass cases have a balloon head sort of construction where the inside of the case has a dimple for the primer pocket. I use an old deep socket that fits in the case but around the primer pocket and whack at it with a wood mallet. I have been intending to get a piece of dowel and drill a recess to go around the raised bit.

If you are using plastic or paper shells something similar should work and you might not need to worry about the primer pocket protruding inside. Or you could use a normal shotgun loading press.

 

[H Wally]

Looking for a pic of the tool. I always see them at local gun shows. They're made out of cast metal, and look like a nut cracker. One arm has a loop in it that the shotshell drops into and the other arm has a little nub that seats the primer.

You place the shotshell in the loop on the one arm, put the primer in place, then squeeze the arms shut and seat the primer. They're very basic... usually about $5-$10 each.

 

[tonyg]

 

[mooncoon]

You see the priming tool above, in antique stores from time to time. Usually 12 guage and usually around $15 or so. You could probably make one from a large iron hinge, if you can't find one

cheers mooncoon

 

[H Wally]

Yep - that's the one. Depending on if they're available locally it'd probbaly be just as easy to make one at home if you're feeling inventive

 

[Win 38-55]

That looks like a nifty tool. I'll keep my eyes open for one of those units. It looks better than pounding them in by hand (which is what I'll be doing until I find one of those).
Thanks for the pointers.

 

[vagrantviking]

Hey I've seen those at gun shows. Wish I'd known what I was looking at. It would be a little more elegant than the hammer method.

Thanks for the pic Tony.

 

[Short Knife Johnson]

RCBS has 12 gauge shellholders that fit into standard press rams. They are special order items, so you have to call them. You could try priming cases using the press. That might only work with MagTechs that use large pistol primers though. It's what I plan on doing.

 

[heavyBullet]

If you cannot find that tool, Lee made "Lee Loaders" for a 12ga. similar to the Lee Loaders for metallic cartridges. find one, and you would have the correct tool, except you would be back to wacking them in.

 

[tactical870]

When I load my 24 guage fiocci hulls I just tap them lightly in with a dowel while supporting the rim of the case in a piece of round stock with a appropriate sized hole bore in it.... It's not pretty or particularly fast but it works quite well....