New lee classic turret press...crooked primer seating?

[drgracr]

I have been reloading 9mm for a while on an older Lee Pro 1000 and I didn't like how the primer seated with it. It would seat the primer with one side of the primer face slightly above the cartridge face. I just bought a Lee Classic Turret today to start reloading 38 special...I got it all set up and it does the exact same thing. When I seat the primer with normal force and I lay a straight edge across it I can see that the primer didn't seat level and one side of it sticks up a bit. So I tried using a bit more force and then the face of the primer looks a bit crushed but is below the surface. I tried cleaning the pockets and it doesn't help. Is this common with Lee presses or does my press have a problem?

 

[twice barrel]

Of course it could be something with your press or more specifically, your primer arm. However, since I've been loading mixed cases in 40S&W and 45ACP I find different cases tend to be rough when it comes to seating the primers. (Most often the Speer headstamp has been problematic) Sometimes a primer will appear to seat canted but truth is; how do we know its not the primer pocket?

As long as they've been firmly seated I've experienced no functional issues. No bleeding around the primer upon firing so don't concern myself with it but I have noted some doing as you describe.

Regards,

TB

 

[Sin City Shootist]

Both large and small primer arms on mine were bent. I actually had a few where the primer flipped over just before seating. Does the arm stick in the shell holder?

 

[Motownfire]

The few primers I run into that don't want to press in easily, it's the brass not all the way into the shell holder. I push it in all the way with my finger and the primer goes in easy. Hope this helps ya out.

 

[1SOW]

I've never experienced your specific problem with my LEE turret, but I have experienced some of the other problems mentioned.

I don't seat my primers with a steady/normal pull. I pull to make contact and then 'pop' the primer in with sort of a 'flick' of the wrist. I've never found one seated improperly.

I sort my 9mm brass, so all the pulls feel about the same for whichever cases I'm using. When a "WCC" case sneaks in with the WIN cases, I always have to punch the primer back out and trash the case.

After I have deprimed a lot of range brass, I clean the primer arm, cup, shellholder and especially the upper section (just below the shellholder) of the primer arm holder slot in the ram. I mean really clean. With any crud left in this last area, my primer arm will stick or even fall out. When the arm sticks, it's always been fixed by really cleaning that upper area of the slot.

If I don't get these areas 'spotless' It'll cause problems. Once clean it will be steady and smooth until I deprime again.

I have had primers flip in the cup. I've seated a few sideways and one upside down. My pull was always either too fast or not smooth or both.

My son has the 1000 and it's persnickety, but primers seat fine.

 

[jfh]

I vote for the cleaning drill 1SOW described.

In addition to that cleaning, run a gunsmith's swab up inside the shell holder primer hole and around the holder rim flange. you may find some junk there, too. But, overall, is the slot for the primer arm is gunked up you can get bad seating.

Jim H.

 

[warnerwh]

Once it is set up properly you should have zero problems. One thing I did is to put little pieces of tape on both of the wings that go into the slot where the primer feeder is. This will make it so when you push to the primer arm the feeder will not go off to one side or the other. However I did use it before the tape and all you had to do was make sure you were pushing it to the primer arm. You could even be off center and it still works. There are zero issues loading with my Classic Turret, everything works well.

 

[G36Rick]

I just set up my Classic turret press today,and had the same problem with my Large primer arm.A quick call to Lee,spoke to a great guy named "Bill" and a new LPS large primer arm is on it's way.He is also sending me some indexing collars.(yes, I buggered the first one up,when I was setting up the press )...) Glad they give an extra in the parts bag.With only this small problem,I love this new press ! I will be loading 45ACP,9mm,38spec/357,and maybe try some .223 in this press. Here's a picture of my bench,just about finished...still have to put on the shelving trim.

 

[rcmodel]

The most common cause of crooked primer seating is probably using a sloppy shell holder that doesn't fit the case rim.
And 9mm is the worlds worst for having a gazillion different rim sizes from different brands over the years.

Lee even list two different shell holder numbers (#6 & #19) for 9mm so you need to try both with the brand of cases you are using to see which one fits best.

If you are loading mixed brass, all bets are off.

rc

 

[chineseboxer]

I use alot of lee products, but have gotten away from their shellholders. I have switched to RCBS and worth the price difference.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Never had a problem with crooked primer seating with either of my Lee turrets. Of course I cheat. I use Lee's Auto Prime II for that job on a single stage press.

 

[RustyFN]

Been loading on a classic turret four years and never had a crooked primer.

 

[Duckdog]

Ditto that. I would guess that it wouldn't matter at all if they are not straight. I would have to second the idea that it is probably the brass rim thickness compared to the shell holder.

 

[kennedy]

I had the problem and fixed it by using a lee auto primer

 

[luvmyRugers]

An old pro taught me to spin the case 180 degrees and press it a second time to "flatten' it out in the pocket. MTCW