Primer Seating Depth For Berdan Primers

[PCCUSNRET]

Anyone priming the Swiss GP-11 Brass with the TulAmmo primers now being sold by Powder Valley? I have started priming some brass with these primers and they seem to be seating overly deep in the primer pockets on some pieces of the Swiss GP-11. A couple have seated as deep as .025 but most are around .010. I am using a RCBS hand priming tool to seal these primers and afraid I may be crushing some of the primers even though they don't appear to be flattened from the top of the primer. It is my understanding that with the Berdan primers the cup underneath the primer has to hit the anvil in the primer pocket to cause the primer to ignite. Is it possible to smash these primers from underneath? Just afraid they may be seated beyond the reach of the firing pin in the K-31. I would try a couple in the garage but afraid the neighbors would hear them and call the police. I don't recall this happening with the PMC primers but it could be that I am just using too much pressure to seat these primers. I'll try to get a photo but not sure if I can get a shot this close.

 

[Steve C]

First see if you have a problem of are just making one up in your head.

Measuring depth means nothing, the only thing that matters is if they fire the round when shot in your rifle. Rather than over thinking and asking about measurements and wasting a bunch of time measuring primer depth just pop a sized and primed case with the depth you are concerned with into your rifle and see if it goes off. If it does your inquiry is answered, if not you need to seat a bit shallower. I'd also test the ones not set so deep to make sure they go off too.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

First see if you have a problem of are just making one up in your head.

Measuring depth means nothing, the only thing that matters is if they fire the round when shot in your rifle. Rather than over thinking and asking about measurements and wasting a bunch of time measuring primer depth just pop a sized and primed case with the depth you are concerned with into your rifle and see if it goes off. If it does your inquiry is answered, if not you need to seat a bit shallower. I'd also test the ones not set so deep to make sure they go off too.

Thanks! You're right. I tried the deepest one and it went off just fine. I guess it was all in my head:banghead:

 

[rcmodel]

Depth is far less important then if it is fully seated to the bottom of the primer pocket.

If it isn't, the primer compound is not pre-loaded against the anvil, and you may very likely get mis-fires with lessor weapons then an old Swiss army rifle.

rc

 

[PCCUSNRET]

Depth is far less important then if it is fully seated to the bottom of the primer pocket.

If it isn't, the primer compound is not pre-loaded against the anvil, and you may very likely get mis-fires with lessor weapons then an old Swiss army rifle.

rc

RC,

The K-31 I tried the one I was concerned about left a deep firing pin indent in the primer. I had a couple of misfires with the ones I got from PMC several years ago but this was caused by not seating the primers deep enough as they fired with a second hit. Thanks for your help.

 

[bentongunclub]

I reloaded some 8mm mauser today using the 7.62N primers from Powder Valley. *those guys are great*. I measure seating depth by passing my finger across the base of the case and feel for a slight depression. If none there, then I squeeze the hand primer again. Done. All rounds went bang and a new accuracy load presented itself despite the smoke, noise, and general BS conversations going on at the time.

Rifle is a K98 using reloaded Romanian brass, IMR 4320, and Hornady 195gr spire point. I have not worked on any 175 gr projectiles or 200 gr projectiles yet. Other powders tried were Norma 203-B and IMR 4064. I did not chrono but I am interpolating the loading data to speculate these are in the range of 2350fps to 2450fps. I am looking for this general area because the Romanian "sniper" rounds I purchased group and shoot excellent (less than 1" @ 100yd). Also, these velocities do not kick the bejesus out of your bod.

 

[Twmaster]

I've recently reloaded a bunch of mixed Yugo and FN 8MM Mauser cases. The primers I have were sold by 'Old Western Scrounger' many years ago. Some of my cases seat similar to yours being ~.025" or so deeper into the pocket. Other cases the primers were dead flush. Unfortunately I cannot remember what cases seated deep and as of now all my brass has been deprimed and await cleaning/reload.

All went bang. As RC notes you should not have an issue in that fine old rifle. My Czech Mauser seems to not care either.