.45 acp primer pockets?

[prickett]

All,
I'm at wits end. I reload my .45 .acps and about 2% of them fail to fire. The primer shows a dimple, so there was a primer strike. More over, this happens on both my .45's (meaning it's not a gun problem).

I suspect the primers aren't fully seated (using Federal primers in range brass). When I reinsert them into the pistols, they always fire. So, I'm guessing the first "fire" fully seats the primer and the second "fire" sets the primer off.

I don't notice any primers any higher than any other primers (i.e. no indication the primer isn't fully seated). Furthermore, my 9mm's and .357's all have NO problem with primer seating. So, I'm confused why only one caliber has trouble with primer seating.

How do Federal primers compare to other brands in terms of size and hardness?

Are some .45's primer pockets notoriously tight? (I've not paid attention to the brand(s) having problems - I need to start).

Any suggestions for other things to try/watch for?

TIA

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Dunno about Federals, but I recently bought some Tulas. With my press, I have lots that do not seat as deep as I would like. My Lee hand primer will seat them deeper. Just today, I dug out a handful of the highest seated ones that I could find and took them to the range. They all fired.

 

[more forty fives]

Federal primers are one of the softest from what I have read.The size is the same as others.I have read that wolf have a larger O.D. Make sure the primer pockets aren't full of crap.

 

[Drail]

Federals are the softest. All competition shooters use them for that reason. If your gun won't pop a Federal it needs to go on the bench for a checkup. They do need to be seated all the way to the botom of the pocket. Using mixed range brass could be part of your problem. The primers will not be seated consistently in the cases if they dimensionally different. What are you using to seat primers with? Are both of your guns Series 80 1911s?

 

[prickett]

I'm seating the primers with an RCBS Pro 2000 press.

The guns in question are a CZ97 and a Springfield XD.

 

[ReloaderFred]

It's a primer seating problem. Ideally, primers should be seated .004" below flush. Some case and primer combinations won't allow them to be seated quite that deep, but they will still allow them to be seated below flush.

Federal primers are the easiest of all the commercial primers to ignite, so it's not the primers, and it doesn't sound like it's either of the pistols. That only leaves the seating process, so that's where I would look.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[charlie-6]

Are you cleaning the pockets out before seating the primers/is your brass real old like been fired a lot i mean a LOT? try a few new brass.

 

[918v]

I seat primers with a Hornady hand tool. No headaches.

 

[smurf hunter]

I recently scored a huge amount of once fired .38 spl brass. Most all were in good shape, but some had very nasty primer pockets.

Rather than sit there with the lee hand reamer pocket cleaner, I picked up one of these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004UDHK/ref=ox_ya_os_product

What's nice, is I can actually open up the pocket very slightly. I've found a quick 1.5 seconds at medium speed with my dremel, not only makes the pockets smooth and shiny, but all my primers seat consistently now.

Just an idea.

 

[Seedtick]

prickett, see if you can figure out if you are just having trouble with one particular headstamp. Since it isn't happening any more than it is you may find that one brand just takes a little more ummph to get them all the way to the bottom.

Hey smurf, check out Widget Supply for your dremel stuff. They have the best prices I've found.

Seedtick

 

[Clark]

Depth min max diameter min max
small rifle primer pocket .117 .123 .1730 .1745
small pistol primer pocket .117 .123 .1730 .1745
Large rifle primer pocket .125 .132 .2085 .2100
Large pistol primer pocket .117 .123 .2085 .2100


Height min max Diameter min max
Small rifle primers .115 .125 .1745 .1765
small pistol primers .115 .125 .1745 .1765
large rifle primers .123 .133 .2105 .2130
large pistol primers .115 .125 .2100 .2120"

SAAMI specifications on primers and primer pockets per "Sinclair International's Precision Reloading & Shooting Handbook" 10th edition 1999

You will find it hard to measure inside diameters accurately with dial calipers.
Pin gauges are better.

 

[gamestalker]

I think you've diagnosed the problem as not seating primers deep enough. If they are working on the second strike then it's just about a 100% chance they are not completely seated. I really don't think it has anything to do with the Federal primers. Are you using a primer seating die or just seating them by touch? If the primers are not below the head by some small degree, say .001" to begin with, then they most likely they need to be deeper. This is an area of hand loading many have trouble with so don't feel bad. I learned about it from my Speer manual many years ago because I was very unsure about how to know what was deep enough. The manual stated to seat below the head by at least .001" and to learn to recognize that pop over feeling when it has reached the base of the pocket. I've most often used CCIs which have a beveled cup which I think makes it easier to feel the sweet spot. But I use what ever is available including Federal without problems. Actually seating primers is probably the one step in hand loading that is the most problematic because of concern about crushing them, which is actually harder to do then we think.