Hand priming pressure.

[jackdanson]

Just set up my rcbs kit and resized some brass. Now I'm hand priming using the rcbs hand priming tool and I'm not sure how much pressure I need to push. I remember reading that too much pressure can pop a primer, I got the first primer in just a smidge and it became fairly hard to press any further. I'm putting 5 or so pounds of pressure on the handle and am paranoid to push harder.

 

[243winxb]

What caliber/brass? Some brass have a crimped in primer, the crimp must be removed. Some primers are harder to seat then others. A steady push will not set off a primer that i know of. I find CCI primers to be on the large size and hard to seat.

 

[bensdad]

"Five or so pounds" is very little preasure. That would be a pretty nice pistol trigger.

The preasure isn't the important thing. It may take very little preasure to get one right, and it may take a great deal of preasure to get the next one to seat the same. Grab a couple of factory rounds, and make your reload look, measure and feel just like factory. If you have to squeeze the crap out of it, there might be some other problem (crimped primer pocket, ring of the old primer left in the pocket, WAY too much build-up of black crud in the pocket, etc.).

It won't take long to develop a feel for the right depth. As for popping one, wear eye protection when priming. I haven't popped one yet, but I hear it can be quite an experience. Just make sure that the rod is in with the flat end facing up (pushing on the primer).

 

[jackdanson]

Just make sure that the rod is in with the flat end facing up (pushing on the primer).

It is.

It's .223. I don't think it's crimped though. It's remington umc brass, is that crimped? I'm using the "white box" cci primers, the harder military ones.

"Five or so pounds" is very little preasure. That would be a pretty nice pistol trigger.

Yeah, I guess it's harder than that, I tried pushing a little harder and it hasn't moved...

 

[Ol` Joe]

If you`re real worried drape a towel over the case and tool then squeeze until it goes in.
If the pocket isn`t crimped the primer should seat with a little effort. Be sure to always wear safety glasses and go slow. Some primers are at the large end of tolerance and some brass at the small end. When you get this mix it takes a bit of pushing to get the primer to go all the way in.

 

[Remo-99]

Priming compound is usually iniciated by heat caused by compressing the mixture with a sudden force, ie a firingpin strike.
Slow/steady force of seating is unlikey to set a primer off, unless the primer anvil is seated hard and your compressing the primer with a lot of force.
If they are that tight to seat, then safety glasses are good insurance, while priming.

 

[243winxb]

Crimped Primer

It's remington umc brass, is that crimped?

The top row of brass shows 1 type of crimped primer. The crimp can be removed by swagging or reaming using special tools. Not sure if Remington umc brass is crimped or not?

 

[Walkalong]

A couple to several pounds of pressure.

If you can seat one hard enough to set it off, I ain't messin' with you.

 

[jcwit]

I remember reading that too much pressure can pop a primer

Nothing to even concern yourself with. Priming compound is set off/ignited by impact ie; firing pin strike. Steady pressure will do nothing.

Another way to look at it is with all the thousands of hand primers sold by Lee, RCBS, Horandy, Sinclare, K&M, the old Pope style ect., ect., the lawyers would have long ago taken them off the market thru litigation, and we probably would have lost some reloading companies along the way.

Have no fear, press those babies in and go merrily on your way.

 

[jackdanson]

Yeah I got it in, I just wasn't pushing quite hard enough... DOH!

I've put a few more in and they've gone a little easier, I don't think these are crimped they seem to be fine.. the primer is set just a hair below the cartridge base.

 

[Walkalong]

the primer is set just a hair below the cartridge base.

Then you are good to go.