Thread: Trouble seating primer into pocket

Been trying to load some 243 ammo today.

Using Highland unprimed brass from Reloaders, Federal primers. Priming was done using a single stage RCBS press with a priming lever arm.

Had 6 out of 20 cases where the primer just won't seat properly into the pocket. Doesn't matter how hard I force the press, the primer would still be protruding out of the pocket. I applied so much pressure it even caused a small dent on the primer, I was afraid that applying more pressure might bust the primer, and stopped there. See photo below.



There was even one instance where the case, primer and shell holder got stuck as one unit, because the primer was protruding out so much that I could not slide it out of the shell holder. Took a while to take them apart.

Anyone has any tips?

Thank you very much!

Sounds like poor quality control on the brass, maybe a primer pocket uniformer tool would do the job ?
Dunno but I'm sure someone else will chime in

Maybe de prime a few and measure the depth of the primer pockets on ones that fit vs ones that don't, should narrow it down to primers or the brass

Originally Posted by dannyb

Sounds like poor quality control on the brass, maybe a primer pocket uniformer tool would do the job ?
Dunno but I'm sure someone else will chime in

Maybe de prime a few and measure the depth of the primer pockets on ones that fit vs ones that don't, should narrow it down to primers or the brass

I see I see, good idea measuring and comparing the pocket depths.

Also wondering whether it is safe to punch out a live primer using the decapping die? Just trying to save the 6 brasses, but if unsafe I don't mind tossing them out.

Originally Posted by Synthetic

I see I see, good idea measuring and comparing the pocket depths.

Also wondering whether it is safe to punch out a live primer using the decapping die? Just trying to save the 6 brasses, but if unsafe I don't mind tossing them out.

I’ve done it, carefully !

Originally Posted by Frogfeatures

I’ve done it, carefully !

Yup done plenty, wear eye and ear protection and do it gently.
I've never had one go off but if it did the above precautions would be plenty safe

Run them through a swager? That's really proud

Originally Posted by Synthetic

......Also wondering whether it is safe to punch out a live primer using the decapping die? Just trying to save the 6 brasses, but if unsafe I don't mind tossing them out.

Ummmmmm probably a question from the stupid boy but why not avoid any stress and just load them into the chamber, fire them and then deprime?

Originally Posted by Kiwi Sapper

Ummmmmm probably a question from the stupid boy but why not avoid any stress and just load them into the chamber, fire them and then deprime?

Good point actually, never thought about that before.
Waiting for some reassurance from the gurus.

I had similar problems with ex mil 5.56 military brass.

I think you'll need to borrow/buy a swaging tool. RCBS makes them, they press the primer pocket into uniform size.

It will be more practical to put the problem cases aside for now, and wait till you have a large enough amount to bother with.

I have deprimed lots of live primers without a hitch, just take it slowly for a start till you're comfortable doing it quickly.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

I had similar problems with ex mil 5.56 military brass.

I think you'll need to borrow/buy a swaging tool. RCBS makes them, they press the primer pocket into uniform size.

It will be more practical to put the problem cases aside for now, and wait till you have a large enough amount to bother with.

I have deprimed lots of live primers without a hitch, just take it slowly for a start till you're comfortable doing it quickly.

Is this the tool you're talking about?
https://www.reloaders.co.nz/shop/Rel...ench+Tool.html

That or a SuperSwage

Looking at the curved line on the bottom of the primer it appears that the primer pocket was not lined up with the priming seating cup. You may want to run a case in the shell holder down onto the priming cup with no primer in the cup to see if they line up correctly.

Originally Posted by Synthetic

Good point actually, never thought about that before.
Waiting for some reassurance from the gurus.

could be wrong but would that be wise with the primers sitting so proud ? would they even chamber ?

Originally Posted by dannyb

could be wrong but would that be wise with the primers sitting so proud ? would they even chamber ?

Yup, I would rather do it on a press.

Replacing a decapping pin is cheap, replacing a firing pin is not...

@Synthetic, a primer pocket uniformer would be significantly cheaper than the swaging tool

https://workshopinnovation.co.nz/pro...asp?prod=09100

Also have a look at the rim of the primer pocket. If the primers had some form of crimp, the edge may have burrs etc. It is easy to clean that up using a champ her cutter you normally use before bullet seating.

If you want to get them out, just gently run them thru the die to punch those ones out and then I’d bin the brass, wear safety glasses but I’ve never had one go off. As Danny said I’d be be a bit iffy shooting them in a rifle with them sitting out so much?

You could get a primer pocket cutter as the pocket depth may not be deep enough https://www.workshopinnovation.co.nz...RLRPCT&cat=126

But I’d probably just bin those ones and buy better brass next time