380 primers slightly raised - problem?

[Claus]

Finally got the pro 1000 into the groove and cranked out a few hundred 380 ACP's. Upon inspection I notice a couple of dozen that don't sit flat, or just slightly wobble. Not enough to feel or see without magnification but the primers are seated just quite not all the way. I know now that I should pay attention for this when loading in the future.

Are these safe to shoot ? What should I look out for ? Thanks in advance.

--Claus

 

[Rule3]

Do NOT try and reseat or seat them further on the press or hand held primer tool.!

When shooting you may experience fail to fire on the first try. \\Is your gun hammer fired or striker fired?

A second strike of the hammer/firing pin may then ignite the primer as it was pushed in further by the first strike

 

[ATLDave]

The most likely problem is that some of the firing pin's energy will go into fully seating the primer, rather than denting the primer. You may get failures to ignite; Rule 3 is correct that a second strike will usually solve that (as the first strike will usually get the primer fully seated).

 

[ATLDave]

Do NOT try and reseat or seat them further on the press or hand held primer tool.!

Rule 3, is this your advice simply because a primer popping under a load of powder and bullet is much more dangerous than a primer popping under an empty case? Or do you think there's actually a higher likelihood of the primer popping?

 

[mdi]

Personally, I would not attempt to shoot any semi-auto ammo with high primers. If you discovered the high primers after reloading is complete, pull the bullets and powder and try reseating the primers on the empty case. If you discovered the high primers after priming but prior to charging, find out why before you proceed...

 

[mdi]

Rule 3, is this your advice simply because a primer popping under a load of powder and bullet is much more dangerous than a primer popping under an empty case? Or do you think there's actually a higher likelihood of the primer popping?

I'll let Rule3 answer, but which would you rather have happen, a fully loaded round going off inches from your body in a press or handheld priming tool, or would you rather have an empty case pop a primer near to you?

 

[ATLDave]

I'll let Rule3 answer, but which would you rather have happen, a fully loaded round going off inches from your body in a press or handheld priming tool, or would you rather have an empty case pop a primer near to you?

So your answer would be, as I said, "a primer popping under a load of powder and bullet is much more dangerous than a primer popping under an empty case." Noted.

As for what I prefer, I would rather not pop a primer on a press at all.

 

[cbnoble]

I'm with mdi on this one. If the primers are high, I would not try to shoot them out of a semi auto. Pull the bullet, dump the powder, and then finish seating the primer or remove it and start over.

The scariest thing I've had happen while shooting was an out of battery firing. Not sure exactly how it happened, though I do know that the round was NOT a reload. Luckily for me, the gun was a Browning 1919, which is VERY robust under these circumstances. It bent the top cover and blew it open, cracked the barrel extension, and destroyed two more rounds in the feed tray. First thing I remember, before even looking at the gun, was counting for all 10 fingers.

Depending on the geometry of the bolt stripping the round off of the magazine, that high primer might be the first thing taking the impact. Having been there, I do not want to even slightly risk another OOB. In the 1919, a high primer does not present a risk because of the way the extractor and bolt interact to pull and position the round, but be that as it may, if I have a high primer, I fix it. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Rule3]

I'll let Rule3 answer, but which would you rather have happen, a fully loaded round going off inches from your body in a press or handheld priming tool, or would you rather have an empty case pop a primer near to you?

This^^^^ above it is just something you do not do!!

Reloading rule.# 3.25 sect 1 paragraph 2.

The loaded round is locked in the shell holder, You are then pushing on the primer so what happens if it goes off??. No it is not sharp center hit like a firing pin but pretty darn close.

 

[Shaq]

If you decide to shoot those rounds with high primers, make damn sure the muzzle is pointed downrange WHEN YOU CHAMBER A ROUND. Sometimes, a high primer will fire when you close the action.

 

[ATLDave]

Rule 3, would you agree that the likelihood of the primer popping on the press is no different for loaded rounds as opposed to empty brass?

 

[GBExpat]

Rule 3, would you agree that the likelihood of the primer popping on the press is no different for loaded rounds as opposed to empty brass?

Not Rule3, but ...

... with a loaded round you have the very real possibility that the anvil & primer compound are no longer alone inside the primer as they are when you press a new primer into an empty case.

 

[ATLDave]

Ah, interesting thought. Play that out for me.

 

[GBExpat]

BANG!

Howzat?

 

[buck460XVR]

IMHO, you have only two safe and responsible options.......

If you discovered the high primers after reloading is complete, pull the bullets and powder and try reseating the primers on the empty case.

If you decide to shoot those rounds with high primers, make damn sure the muzzle is pointed downrange WHEN YOU CHAMBER A ROUND. Sometimes, a high primer will fire when you close the action.

I personally would give the latter a try first, depending on how high the primers are and how many rounds you have with high primers, and because I hate pulling bullets.

 

[Rule3]

Rule 3, would you agree that the likelihood of the primer popping on the press is no different for loaded rounds as opposed to empty brass?

Apparently it seems like you wish to engage in some type of argument or debate??

Correct me if I am wrong on this??

How about the primer may or may not go off at some random time . But only sometimes, maybe or a definite maybe?

You may do whatever you wish with your primers and press.

 

[ATLDave]

Rule3, I'm trying to understand your position.

Think of it this way: When assessing risk (R), one looks at the probability of a bad thing happening (P) times the cost/consequence (C) of that bad thing happening. R=P*C.

I'm just trying to understand whether you (and others) are talking about only the C variable being higher for loaded rounds (and I don't question that at all), or whether you are contending that the P variable is ALSO higher. If the latter, why?

Not trying to argue, trying to understand.

 

[ATLDave]

BANG!

Howzat?

Completely unhelpful. I'm not asking about the consequences of a popped primer. I'm asking about how your note that there may be another substance (powder, presumably) in the primer pocket would case ignition to be more likely, if at all.

 

[Rule3]

Rule3, I'm trying to understand your position.

Think of it this way: When assessing risk (R), one looks at the probability of a bad thing happening (P) times the cost/consequence (C) of that bad thing happening. R=P*C.

I'm just trying to understand whether you (and others) are talking about only the C variable being higher for loaded rounds (and I don't question that at all), or whether you are contending that the P variable is ALSO higher. If the latter, why?

Not trying to argue, trying to understand.

So we are going into risk management? Had enough of that at work!!

How about because Speer #14 page 90 has a big warning on do not do it!?

Actually my original answer was incorrect. Speer as others state do not shoot them. The correct answer is PULL the BULLETS and THEN RESEAT the primer. OK??

We are also not supposed to decap live primers but I know I have lived on the edge and done that!

 

[macgrumpy]

For a semi-auto pistol, a raised primer can be ignited by the face of the slide, not just the firing pin. When the slide goes home it can impact the primer and it's possible (maybe not probable) that the primer could ignite.

For a wheel gun, a raised primer could interfere with the operation of the firearm. The raised primer could actually come in to contact with the pistol's frame.

Primers wont seat deeply enough for two reasons;

• The equipment isn't properly setup.
• The primer pocket has fouling in it (carbon, tumbler media, dirt, etc).

I use a hand priming tool to ensure that my primers are seated deep enough.

I use an ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning my cases so that I don't get tumbler media in the primer pockets, media that I might not notice and that would prevent the primer from seating all the way.

 

[sbwaters]

One wonders why the primers are high in the first place.

1. Dirty pockets?
2. Insufficient pressure when inserting primers.

If option 2, how can the Lee pro 1000 be adjusted to seat them properly?

 

[mdi]

In 30+ years of reloading I have had just one primer go off while handling/loading. If that had been on a fully loaded round, the chances are (probability) I would not be typing this response. I would either have damaged my hands so I could not type or worse case scenario, I would be dead (I can imagine a .44 Magnum case full of WC820 topped with a 250 gr. bullet going off uncontained, just inches from my chest.).

As a new reloader it's best to just take some things as they are offered, without analyzing, especially those that are obviously just common sense...

 

[ATLDave]

mdi, are you familiar with the operation of a Lee Classic Turret press?

 

[Zendude]

Finally got the pro 1000 into the groove and cranked out a few hundred 380 ACP's. Upon inspection I notice a couple of dozen that don't sit flat, or just slightly wobble. Not enough to feel or see without magnification but the primers are seated just quite not all the way. I know now that I should pay attention for this when loading in the future.



Are these safe to shoot ? What should I look out for ? Thanks in advance.



--Claus

On the Lee 1000, it takes a little while to get a feel for when the primer didn't quite seat fully. Still happens to me sometimes too.
If it's seated far enough that you can't see or feel it sticking out, then it's more than likely ok to shoot. It's a good idea to inspect the rounds after making them though.

 

[Sunray]

It's highly unlikely a primer will go BANG when pushed a bit deeper in a loaded round any more than it is with an empty case. The primer seater plug is flat and roughly the same diameter as the primer. Nothing there to cause it to go BANG. Nor is there enough pressure to cause it.
However, high primers is the main cause of premature BANGING(aka slam fires.). In combination with inertial firing pins.
Your Pro 1000 isn't providing enough force to push the primer far enough. Might be a dirty pocket.