Old Primers

[blaisenguns]

I was just reloading some .303s with a Lee Loader kit, and I had two primers go off. I know this not uncommon with the Lee Loader, but I was also using some old CCI primers a freind gave me. Does the primer being old make it more likely to go off while loading?

Blaise

 

[rcmodel]

No, but pounding them in with a hammer does!

The age of the primer has no effect on sensitivity, and if it did, they would eventually be less so.

rc

 

[blaisenguns]

Thanks. Unfortunatly I cant afford a press, so I will just have to wear goggles!

 

[Quickdraw McGraw]

No, but pounding them in with a hammer does!

rc that would make a great sig line. Sorry but I read that and spit coke all over my computer. It even came out of my nose. Man that burned

 

[KenWP]

I had on welll doing 30-30 years ago go off on me. I never did find the case after it flew away. I soon after that went to a press.

 

[matrem]

Thanks. Unfortunatly I cant afford a press, so I will just have to wear goggles!

Bet if you looked hard enough,you could find a press for about the same price as a case of primers & a pair or two of safety goggles.

 

[Quickdraw McGraw]

Thanks. Unfortunatly I cant afford a press, so I will just have to wear goggles!

Here a press at Midway for $32 and it comes with a reloading manual - check out the reviews! Not the best press but it works. I have one that I occasionally use for depriming brass!

 

[Walkalong]

No, but pounding them in with a hammer does!

rc that would make a great sig line. Sorry but I read that and spit coke all over my computer.

I laughed out loud myself.

 

[tactikel]

Thats part of the fun of Lee's original loader!, never knowing when that "pop" will happen. I've loaded thousands of rounds on Lees (when I was young and broke!) they made good rounds, but I always wore glasses when loading.

 

[sigma 40ve]

FWIW, I "graduated" from the original loader many years ago.

I recently tried some 1980's era CCI SP primers I had stored in the attic of the shed at my parents house for about 4 years, here in SW Ohio, (long story). It was a 1k count box. I have tried 100 of them so far with 100% "fire" rate.

 

[Ol` Joe]

Try a Lee auto prime..http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1249178542.5174=/html/catalog/primtool.html
$20 and you`ll want one in the future anyway.

 

[blaisenguns]

After the third time I had one go off, I ditched that box and started using a newer box of primers for the second half of my shells. I didnt have any more incedents after that, but I also started using a slightly lighter touch.

 

[moosehunt]

A primer going off would put the fear into me! What's the deal? I've been loading for 45+ years and, knock on wood (I did, too), I've never had one go off, but I've only loaded something in the neighborhood of 300K shells (granted, a lot of shotgun). Something is wrong with this picture, like maybeso Mr. Models hammer? Go to e-bay and get a decent loader cheap. I've been looking for a particular unique old press for a while, hence look there regularly, and have seen bunches of good presses sold there quite cheaply. Based on all I've heard, even the cheapy Lee press is safe. Whatever you have sure as hell isn't!!!!
Good Luck! You need it!

Incidently, I just used some primers that my dad bought back when Christ was a kid--no problems at all.

 

[Corner Pocket]

Quickdraw Mcgraw stated:

Here's a press at Midway for $32 and it comes with a reloading manual - check out the reviews! Not the best press but it works. I have one that I occasionally use for depriming brass!

I started out with one of those 18 months ago. I keep a log of what I'm loading. Have recently gone past 12,000 rounds with it. That's a nifty little press that just keeps on crankin' em out!

Corner Pocket

 

[bobotech]

Have you thought about getting a Lee hand press and a set of dies? Figure 30 dollars for the hand press and another 20 or so for dies. You would then be able to full length resize them. My buddy even FL sizes 30-30 and 308 in his hand press.

 

[rcmodel]

Something is wrong with this picture, like maybeso Mr. Models hammer?

He started this thread by saying he was using a Lee Loader kit.

You DO in fact, pound the primers in with a hammer.



rc

 

[KenWP]

I use a plastic faced hammer to reload with Lee Loaders. I have two of those cheap C frame Lee presses. The first one broke off when I had a rough case in it and then I made a frame to keep the new on from flexing so much untill I could steal my RCBS Rockchucker back from my brother. I used it to seat bullets after that .