"Flattened primers" w/ rcbs hand primer & 9mm

[gamestalker]

I use an RCBS priming die. Once I've adjusted it I just primer one after the other without having to even inspect them for proper depth, or other problems.

 

[SSGDave]

(sorry to be so late in getting back w/ more info... my daughter's h.s. b-ball scrimmage had me tied up for most of the evening...)
The marks on my primer were of the type Waywatcher was imagining - where the mark is the same size & shape of the primer rod - where most of the primer was flattened and the crescent shape was the "unflattened crescent on one side.
RCmodel, what you guessed might be Waywtchr's issue is actually mine - small rod w/ the big black insert. Remember the part about being new to this What a "duh" moment - totally forgot to switch that out.
There is definitely too much wobble w/ the black plastic (large) insert with the small rod.
Here's an odd customer-service related plot twist, though... When I went to assemble the two halves of my smaller white plastic insert, I realized that I have two "left" or "right" halves - not one of each. A little packing error I guess. So, I will in fact be giving RCBS a call about that tomorrow.

When I couldn't try the white insert w/ small rod tonight because of that, I put the black insert back on and used the proper large rod with it. No play or slop at all there. As suspected, since that rod is too large to go "into" the primer pocket of the 9mm, it stops flush w/ the case, leaving the primer where it should be and without any apparent damage/marks.

Great site here. Great folks always willing to help. Thanks for getting me thinking and realizing what the problem was.

Only problem with using the large primer setup is that your primers may not be guided correctly.
I have an RCBS hand primer, used Instead of the progessive setup on my RCBS Piggyback due to the high percentage of "Crimped Primers" im finding on 556 and others i need for Dept use. Since we have to buy our own ammo, i reload and have been for about 25 yrs.
I found long ago that if you use the wrong tool, you wind up with trouble, like sideways primers, crushed primers, etc, and they occasionally "Get your attention" in "Unmistakeable ways" to be polite about it-lol.
You do have to make sure to remove that primer crimp if it's WCC or other military brass otherwise it will damage the primers.
2nd Question-did you notice the "Flattened primers" before or after shooting?