RCBS primer tube problem

[jtmo3]

I have an RCBS turret press and am using the small pistol primer tubes to stab the primers and insert them in the primer tool. The problem I am having is with some 15 or so year old winchester small pistol primers. They pick up ok, but when I go to dump them in the feed tube, I pull the pin and maybe 5 come out before a primer gets turned sideways in the tube and they won't come out. I am sure this is a small primer pickup tube and not large. Could there be an issue with the size of these primers or what could be happening? They work fine seating and firing, so they go into the cases ok once I get them into the feed tube. I don't have this issue with newer cci primers. I have two tubes and they both do this. Help. This is driving me nuts. When they get stuck, it's tough to get them out without worrying about setting off the whole tube.

John

 

[MCMXI]

I am sure this is a small primer pickup tube and not large. Could there be an issue with the size of these primers or what could be happening?

The I.D. of the small primer tube is about 0.185" and the I.D. of the large primer tube is about 0.220" so it's virtually impossible to get them mixed up. It's very possible and likely that there's a burr inside the primer tube around the edge of the hole (for the pin). Remove all of the primers and insert an appropriately sized drill bit in the end of the tube closest to the pin hole. Rotate the bit by hand as you move it in and out ... I bet you'll knock the burr off in a couple of seconds.

I've been using RCBS primer tubes for more than 17 years and have never had a primer turn sideways using either a single stage or progressive press. I have six primer tubes for different primer types, but then again, I ran a bit through all of mine when I got them.

 

[jtmo3]

Thanks for the help. I don't believe it's a burr. I've used these tubes to feed cci primers just fine for quite a while. I ran out and picked up about 3000 Winchesters from a buddy who had them since the mid 90's. They work fine shooting. They will just not feed correctly through the pickup tube. One will cock sideways and it's all over. It's very frustrating. I guess a call to RCBS Monday is in order because something is just not right. I have a hard time believing that these 15 year old primers are smaller than newer primers and the pickup tubes are just enough larger that they would allow one to cock in the tube. It's possible and is happening but I'm just not sure why. Thanks again.

John

 

[MCMXI]

John, I have thousands of Winchester large and small pistol primers from the mid 90s but as I mentioned, they feed just fine. Anyway, I just measured a bunch of Winchester WSP primers lot # GML197G997 and they're all 0.175" in diameter. I also measured some recent CCI 500 small pistol primers lot # L17Z and they're also 0.175" in diameter. For the heck of it, I measured some Federal No.200 magnum small pistol primers lot # 5C H038 and they're 0.175" in diameter too. The thing that was obviously different between them is the radius on the base of the primer (outside of the cup). The WSP primers have a smaller radius as you can see in the photo below, but I would think that this would make them LESS likely to flip over inside the primer tube. It does appear that the anvil protrudes further from the cup on the WSP compared to the CCI and Federal primers, but I don't know if this would cause a problem. Anyway, I'm all out of ideas now ... maybe someone else has had this problem and has figured out the cause.

By the way, did you measure the I.D. of your primer tube? My small primer tubes are all 0.185" (I.D.) which means that the primers only have 0.010" of clearance.

 

[jtmo3]

Wow, thanks for that and the great picture and time you spent doing that. I appreciate it. I haven't measured the ID of the tube, but I will, and also the primers that are giving me problems. I have not had this happen before, but this is the first time I've used these primers. I would have normally chalked it up to a burr, as you said, but I have two tubes that were feeding fine from both until I tried these particular Winchesters. Now both tubes are doing the same thing. I did load up about 20 cci that I had in a partial pack to test, and they feed just fine through the tube and into the primer feed tube. It really is driving me nuts. I'm off to measure the current primers and tube. Thanks again for the great help.

John

 

[MCMXI]

John, you're welcome ... most of us are here to help and to learn. I hope I've done the former from time to time, and I know I've done the latter. You get extra credit if you know what the primers are sitting on in the photo above.

Good luck solving your particular problem ... and do let us know what you find out ... it may well help someone else.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

anyway you could run a solvent soaked piece of flannel thru the tube (piece of coat hanger?)for a 'cleaning' then a dry patch? anything is worth a try before you flip yer lid I suppose?

 

[jtmo3]

Well, you've got me stumped. It kind of looks like a granite or slate counter top. Guess I don't get the extra credit.

As to the primer and tube size, I measured them. The primers are as you found, .175. I also measured the id of the tubes. One is .185 and the other is .190. I can stick a primer in the larger tube and basically spin is on it's side in the tube. When one in the stack inside goes sideways, it lodges and stacks up the remainder until I can get it loose and then another and another. Still looks like I'm going to have to call RCBS Monday. Maybe they'll have an idea or send me a new tube to replace the larger one at least. Thanks again.

John

 

[MCMXI]

Well, you've got me stumped. It kind of looks like a granite or slate counter top.

It's the front cover of Lyman's 49th Edition reloading manual.

So is it the 0.190" tube that you're having trouble with? If so, then you've solved the problem ... get RCBS to send you a new tube.

 

[jtmo3]

Well actually, it's both of them. And it only happens with the Winchester primers.

Darn, no extra credit. Thanks again for all your help. I'll let you know what RCBS tells me.

John

 

[jtmo3]

A follow up. I talked with RCBS today and they really didn't have an answer. They suggested that Winchester primers might be a problem in the tubes because they were slightly shorter than cci and federal. I thought it sounded plausible until I got home and measured them against a cci primer. The winchesters were actually slightly taller than the cci. So much for that theory. Maybe the edges are rounded more? Whatever it is, it's a head scratcher. I did take them up on their offer to send me another small pistol primer tube to try, so maybe in a week or so, I'll have a better answer? Thanks again for the help.

John