I've reloaded around 100 rounds on 6.5x55 on the press and every time it requires a really heavy push to seat the primers. When I reload 9mm, the amount of force is the same as every other stroke - almost nothing. I've noticed that bits of brass are being shaved off from the cases when I'm priming, leading me to believe there is an alignment issue. I'm using Federal primers - all that's available around here. The other issue I'm having is that the spring in the primer punch keeps jamming, leaving the plunger up, blocking the slide, and causing the rod to pull out of its anchor points.
Frustrated reloading LRP on the Hornady AP
- Thread starter Armymutt
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Federal primers always gave me issues on my LnL. That being said- don't use so much force on the upstroke if you're causing your primer rod to pop out. As soon as you feel resistance-stop!
I use a lot of force on the down stroke to seat the primers because I have had had a lot of high primers in the past.
As far as the jammed primer seating rod goes you need to keep it clean. Little bits of spilled powder grains and soot from spent primers can get into there which prevents the rod from receding back into the assembly. I use compressed air. The kind used for cleaning keyboards.
I use a lot of force on the down stroke to seat the primers because I have had had a lot of high primers in the past.
As far as the jammed primer seating rod goes you need to keep it clean. Little bits of spilled powder grains and soot from spent primers can get into there which prevents the rod from receding back into the assembly. I use compressed air. The kind used for cleaning keyboards.
The primer rod pops out because the shuttle is jammed in place by the plunger from the primer seating system or by a primer that is not fully seated in the brass. If I stopped pushing when I felt resistance, no brass would get primed. It feels like the primers aren't being lined up with the hole in the brass. If I could get it to run for 5 rounds, I'd be happy. The brass shavings from one case jams it up for the next one. The brass isn't crimped, and the stoppage is random. A piece of brass could have no issues one time and lock up everything the next. Add in the heat and humidity in the garage and it makes for a very frustrating exercise.
Make sure the shell plate stays tight. I had to get a lock washer b/c mine loosened up all the time. I also had an issue with one shell plate not indexing correctly because the detents were driven in at different depths. You can adjust them with a punch and mallet.
I disassembled and polished (600 grit) both primer punches and I lower the ram all the way down to raise the punch and blast it with computer duster every time I load primers in the tube.
I also beveled the leading edge of the round end of the primer slide on the bottom. This allows a small amount of powder/debris to accumulate before it binds things up.
Your brass could be a factor as well depending on make and the shell plate being used. Apparently, US made brass shares dimensions w/ 30-06 family. Imported brass usually has the true dimension which IIRC is slightly larger. If it is US brass try it with a #1 plate or a #19 for import. Just a suggestion, do your research. I am going off of memory and that could be sketchy!
I disassembled and polished (600 grit) both primer punches and I lower the ram all the way down to raise the punch and blast it with computer duster every time I load primers in the tube.
I also beveled the leading edge of the round end of the primer slide on the bottom. This allows a small amount of powder/debris to accumulate before it binds things up.
Your brass could be a factor as well depending on make and the shell plate being used. Apparently, US made brass shares dimensions w/ 30-06 family. Imported brass usually has the true dimension which IIRC is slightly larger. If it is US brass try it with a #1 plate or a #19 for import. Just a suggestion, do your research. I am going off of memory and that could be sketchy!
Stripped down the primer system this morning. Polished the plunger and the inside of the nut thingy as best I could. Managed to get the rest of the brass primed. Still very inconsistent in the amount of force needed to seat primers. Some feel like they didn't go in, while others definitely take a push. Still having an odd indexing problem. I have to return to "top dead center" and pause for a bit, and then continue on in the push motion.
Sounds like an indexing issue. Have you adjusted the pawls to make sure everything is lined up perfectly. Federal primers are the easiest primer to seat on my LNL AP. they go in like butter. But having to pause before you push forward to seat a primer sounds just like an issue I had with indexing. The left pawl should be the one needing adjustment.
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