Lube + primer = ?

[PinnedAndRecessed]

I just bought a Redding Boss single stage press to start reloading my rifle cartridges. For pistols I use a Dillon Square Deal which has carbide dies. No lube required.

But for my rifle cartridges, I will have to lube the case exterior, inside and outside of the case neck (but not the shoulder, right?). Then after lubing the case, I place the case in the shellholder.

Then I physically pick up a primer to place it in the primer arm. I raise the shell, resizing and depriming. Then lower the shell to reprime.

Question. How do you pick up the primer and place it in the primer arm if your fingers are coated with case lube? Won't that contaminate the primer?

 

[mc223]

Lube, size, clean off the lube, wash your hands, prime.

 

[crackerjack]

Don't think it will create a problem. My experience primers are not easy to deactivate. On the square deal you should try a batch lightly lubed it makes the operation much eaiser. You could size and prime then test fire a few primed only cases to vertify. I would consider a hand primer or some other means, it is going to get old hand feeding, plus primers pose some hazards.
Hope it helps

 

[griz]

On a single stage I size all the cases, clean them all, then prime. I use a hand primer but it would work the same on the press since you cleaned your hands at the same time you cleaned the cases.

And you don't need much lube. On most rounds I only lightle lube the body, none at all on the neck or shoulder. The only other place I would lube is the inside of the case neck on some 223 brass, and even there it's a tiny amount.

 

[highlander 5]

you should be able to purchase a priming system for your press.
it consists of two primer tubes,small and large and two priming arms ,large and small. Your best bet is to buy a hand priming tool from Lee or RCBS. They have a tray that holds the primers and uses gravity to feed the primers.they use a lever and linkage system to prime the case and use standard shell holders
and are $30 to $40 bucks and well worth the investment

 

[Chawbaccer]

I use a large pair of tweezers to handle primers. It can be kind of awkward at first but with practice they can be easy to handle.