Can you mess up hand priming???

[RampedRaptor]

Just started reloading today. At the priming stage.

Using a hornady hand loader is it possible to seat primer at wrong depth?

Some of my primers look deeper then others in the primer pocket.

Thanks for all help

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: Can you mess up hand priming???

You can smash primers without setting them off. You should be able to get a feel for when the primer seats then it starts compressing. Try stopping when the ram first gets snug and seeing where it's seated then give it a touch more if you need to. You do not have to move the hand lever to it's end stop to completely seat a primer. If you are getting a mark from the seating plug it's seated all the way with a little extra effort added at the end. I had a batch of .45 ACP that looked funny but worked fine from when I loading.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Can you mess up hand priming???

make sure all the pockets are clean, then don't gorilla grip the primers in, a soft, consistent squeeze is plenty. The primers only have to be recessed about .005 thousand below the base of the case.
hope this helps.

 

[sic65stang]

Re: Can you mess up hand priming???

Just be consistent, it doesn't take too much pressure, once you feel it press in and you meet some resistance its all done.

 

[jerseymike]

Re: Can you mess up hand priming???

also make sure your primer pockets done have crimps....youll have a helluva time trying to get those primers in.....

 

[RampedRaptor]

Re: Can you mess up hand priming???

Thanks guys. I don't think my pockets were clean enough and I had to use extra force on some.

I did smash 2 primers BC at first I thought you had to squeeze the hand primer as far as it would go.


Thanks guys fir fast responses

 

[Paladin2147]

Re: Can you mess up hand priming???

Get yourself a reloading manual. Read it. It will teach you. There is more in a manual than just data!!!!!! I see these rudimentary questions way too often. Not getting a manual is costing you time, not saving you money. If it makes you feel better - maybe you can get a manual on "Kindle." No messy book. But get a manual before you hurt yourself.

 

[RampedRaptor]

Re: Can you mess up hand priming???

ABC is on its way kolkio. I have the Hornady one but its doesnt have all the stuff I need. It wasnt about saving money just time.

 

[ditchdigger]

Re: Can you mess up hand priming???

If your primers are seating at different depths you should use a primer pocket uniformer before priming.

 

[Mike Sobr]

Re: Can you mess up hand priming???

Also set the round on a hard flat surface like your kitchen counter top and if they wobble they are not seated enough. I would rather have a slight impression on the primer than have them seated at various depths.

 

[Paladin2147]

Re: Can you mess up hand priming???

Dereck - good for you!

 

[WKR]

Re: Can you mess up hand priming???

I would say uniforming the primer pockets will avoid this issues, I had a box of Remington .308 brass that I primed the first time and had a bunch of primers that were not seated all the way in even after putting more pressure than usually needed on the hand primimg tool, I chambered a few of them at the range and extracted them just to look at the primers and I could see the mark the bolt left on them while being locked, I fired all of them without any issues and then uniformed all the primer pockets, it was easy to tell that there was a big difference in the amount of shavings coming out of the cases, second time the primers were easier to seat and depth is very consistent, average about .005". I reloaded for a few years before I started doing this but after seeing the difference I do it on all my brass new or used. I only do it once off course.