New Hand Primer Question

[Significent]

I just hand primed my first 223REM brass with my brand new RCBS hand primer. I followed all of the directions. The device seems to be quality hardware. One of the justifications for buying a hand primer was the "feel" it affords. Well, I can feel the primers moving into the case just fine. When it starts to feel like the primer is stopping, I check to find that it's still slightly protruding past the plane of the case head. So, I squeeze a little harder several times checking to see the result. Ultimately, I'm able to engage the lever on the hand primer all the way back to its fullest extent. At that point the primers look properly seated, just perceptably below the surface of the case head.

I thought the advantage of "feeling" primers being seated was knowing exactly when they were seated just right. Was I mistaken?

Perhaps my problem is that I'm using the Redding shell holder I purchased for my Redding dies instead of an RCBS shell holder? Should I be concerned? Do I need to buy an RCBS shell holder?

Thanks for your input.

 

[Jeeper]

The RCBS handprimer can bind up a little if the plastic pice on the top is out of alignment.

 

[P95Carry]

Whatever the re-priming method ... I've always found that the ''fit'' gets tighter progressively, such that last bit of travel is harder.

The solution for me has always been the aquisition of a ''total feel'' .... by which I mean, the force and speed of the operation being hard enough, and fast enough .... to do the whole deal in one hit. With practice I'd say you will easily aquire this .. a fast and flowing movement ... which inspection will soon prove makes things go just right ''all the way'', every time.

 

[Significent]

The "Feel"

I haven't had a problem with binding. I believe I get a perfect primer seating if I just squeeze the hand primer's handle as far as it will go. Anything less seems inadequate. How can I tell if I've seated the primers too hard?

Thanks again.

 

[P95Carry]

Hmmmm ..... ''too hard''??! Well, generally, the primer delivery pad is just a tad oversize but if pressing into a large chamfer then it can be possible to go a tad too far.

I regard a seating as a tad excessive, if you see an obvious high spot .... caused by pressure from the anvil. Tho ... I have not (yet) had one of these fail to go off.

The pic below shows how anvils are usually a tad proud of the primer case .... on seating, the legs get pressed on and the anvil gets pressed then into the compound ... generally it is reckoned this ''sensitizes'' the primer. However, theory at least, would dictate that too much pressure and thence an obvious high spot as seen from outside the primer .... could put so much pressure on the priming compound as to ''cut thru'' it.

As I said earlier .. however you may wish to describe it .. once you are familiar with the gear ... a certain ''feel'' will always about guarantee a good seating.

 

[Cal4D4]

Using the RCBS I get an anvil impression with some brands of primers and not others. I have found squeezing the handles fully closed seats to my best satisfaction. Consistently flush or slightly below without having to check every round.

 

[Significent]

No Anvil Marks

I'm not seeing anvil marks and the cases don't rock when I stand them up on a flat surface, so I'm good to go. Thanks for your help!