Crushed primers on 40 S&W

[rabid wombat]

Dumb questions

What is the proper diameter of small pistol primers?
Follow up - what is the proper diameter of small pistol primer pockets?

In short, I am having a loads of fun trying to reload 40 S&W. I am running into a lot of failure (primer crush). This is with both Winchester and Speer brass, using Winchester WSP primers, on a Dillon 650. Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[kcofohio]

Here is a link with pocket and primer dimensions.

http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/gsparesa/media/guns/PrimersandPrimerPocketDimensions.png.html

 

[JO JO]

I have not had any issues with primers and 40 s&w ?
any pictures of what your running into ?
are you still pushing after they have bottomed out ?
I hand prime so I can feel when they are seated no experience with dillon
priming on press maybe an adjustment issue ?

 

[9mmepiphany]

This is with both Winchester and Speer brass, using Winchester WSP primers, on a Dillon 650.

Use smaller primers...I've had good luck with either Federal or CCI.

I discovered The Winchester primers were "slightly" larger in diameter when loading primer tubes from the tray of a Vibraprime.

I asked about it at our next Reloading Club meeting and found that a member had actually measured several different primers to compare. I don't remember the numbers, but the Winchester SPP were the largest SPP

 

[judgedelta]

I've used thousands of Winchester SP primers with no problem. Just different brass, I guess. It's unusual that Winchester primers won't go in Winchester brass... I do prime by hand, though. Maybe it's your press-primer?

 

[orionengnr]

Just a thought...do you have the correct primer seater installed? Once I changed from .45 acp to .380, forgot to swap out the primer seating assembly for the small one...boy, was that a pain in the rear end...

 

[rabid wombat]

No problem with the primer system. I am blessed, I have a large primer 650, and a small primer 650. .

Now, before anyone asks, yep - small primer 650

 

[derek45]

The 650 needs a really solid bench

I've reloaded tens of thousands of 40 on my 650 without trouble

 

[FROGO207]

I do not own a Dillon but a thought. Is everything indexing properly? As in does the primer center when it is supposed to go into the pocket. I would look there first.

 

[rabid wombat]

I did not have the locator tab (figures 194 and 195) adjusted properly. I ran ~ 500 rounds without any meaningful hiccups. Take the human out of the equation, and the 650 is a pretty good machine.

For everyone else, if you do not have a primer tube loader - get one. Yeah, they are stupid expensive. They are noisy as hell. But if you hate loading primer pick up tubes, they are worth the money. A couple of key points - get the one with the rheostat to vary the speed (mine likes to run just above the slowest setting), make sure the clear plastic stabilizer plate is adjusted properly, and make sure the blue (red) plastic primer adapter is loose.

Thanks!