Reloading Sellier and Belliot - Primer Seating

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Barmcd

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I was given a bunch of empty 45 Colt cases made by S&B and for the life of me I can’t seat the primers flush with the case head. They stand proud about 1/16”. I’m using a Lee turret press and I’m using enough pressure that I fear I might crush the primer.

I even tried reaming the pocket with a crimp removal tool which made no difference. I have a K&N primer pocket uniforming tool for small rifle primers and wonder if I got one for LPPs it would help seat the primers.
 
Same. I ream the pockets and uniform them. Doesn't help. I don't buy that ammo anymore. At least not for reloading the brass. It may as well be steel case.

Federal Champion brass in 10mm is very nice but I can't find it anywhere.
 
Barmcd said:
I was given a bunch of empty 45 Colt cases made by S&B and for the life of me I can’t seat the primers flush with the case head. They stand proud about 1/16”. I’m using a Lee turret press and I’m using enough pressure that I fear I might crush the primer.

I even tried reaming the pocket with a crimp removal tool which made no difference. I have a K&N primer pocket uniforming tool for small rifle primers and wonder if I got one for LPPs it would help seat the primers.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you need’ the LPP uniformer. You can measure the pocket depth using the tail of your calipers, you can also measure the full thickness of the primer.
Primers are tough little buggers, and almost impossible to deform.
 

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FWIW; one tool that has helped difficult priming for me has been a ram prime. Simple, inexpensive made by several different manufacturere (I have one by Lee and it has served me well for about 30 years, never a FTF or mis-seated primer). Lyman states a ram prime is the most consistent and positive priming tool...
 
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Barmcd said:
…..I have a K&N primer pocket uniforming tool for small rifle primers and wonder if I got one for LPPs it would help seat the primers.
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I think you meant K&M. Yes, it will correct primer pocket depth. But is another tool worth the expense? As mentioned above, the dumpster would be my preference.
 
Well, I like tools, but if it’s not going to help with this issue, as hordingthemanual says, I’ll Chuck it. I’ve found that 45 ACP in S&B is tight the first time I reload, but not impossible like the 45 Colt.
 
Otto said:
I think you meant K&M. Yes, it will correct primer pocket depth. But is another tool worth the expense? As mentioned above, the dumpster would be my preference.
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Yeah K&M. I’ve only got a couple of their tools so it doesn’t roll off the tongue.
 
Never had an issue with their 9mm stuff, but I use a Lee hand primer.

I’m using a Lee turret press and I’m using enough pressure that I fear I might crush the primer.
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So far I have never popped one in my hand primer and I have tired seating a few sideways:eek:, once you start them sideways you have to finish to get the case out of the shell holder.
So I have mangled/mashed some with no issues other than a wasted primer and some :cuss:ing.
Make sure you are wearing safety glasses and use enough pressure to show the primer who's boss.

If I couldn't get them to seat then, I would probably scrap the brass. Unless you have a lot of it.
Cost of new tool (time and trouble) vs cost of some different brass.
 
I’ve never had an issue seating primers on a particular brand of brass with the press before now. I load one precision rifle cartridge and uniform the primer pocket before the first reload. I use a Lyman hand primer to seat the cases and they are very uniform.

I have a breechlock single stage press and Lee says their Ram prime won’t work on a breechlock press. I don’t know why because there is an adapter insert to convert breechlock to threaded mount.
 
Dudedog said:
Never had an issue with their 9mm stuff, but I use a Lee hand primer.


So far I have never popped one in my hand primer and I have tired seating a few sideways:eek:, once you start them sideways you have to finish to get the case out of the shell holder.
So I have mangled/mashed some with no issues other than a wasted primer and some :cuss:ing.
Make sure you are wearing safety glasses and use enough pressure to show the primer who's boss.

If I couldn't get them to seat then, I would probably scrap the brass. Unless you have a lot of it.
Cost of new tool (time and trouble) vs cost of some different brass.
Click to expand...
Yup, there’s not $27 plus shipping worth of brass.
 
Primers are different size from some mfg. There is a tolerance for primers to meet spec. So depending on who's (mfg) your using it's possible to change mfg and get a easier fit. I normally do this with high volume rifle brass but it also works with pistol brass.

With that said due to availability of primers in some what short supply it may not be a option.
 
Large rifle primers are taller than large pistol. Small rifle are the same height as small pistol.

I have read of folks having issues with tight pockets on S&B cases, but I've never had an issue. Perhaps because I hand prime, perhaps luck.
 
Walkalong said:
Large rifle primers are taller than large pistol. Small rifle are the same height as small pistol.

I have read of folks having issues with tight pockets on S&B cases, but I've never had an issue. Perhaps because I hand prime, perhaps luck.
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Its odd, because I've reloaded S&B 45 ACP.
 
I never found a LRP that fit in a S&B .303 Brit casing without a lot of work on the primer pocket
 
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my Lee Pro 4000 was set up for 45 ACP when i bought it, and i reloaded all brands of 45ACP, with no issues. (and i have since switched that now to 9 mm) since my Dillon does all my other reloads

now my Dillon 550c reloads all my 45 ACP, again, no issues, with S&B, Fiocchi, Winchester, Remington.....and new Starline Brass.

i just do not reload Blazer as they have SPP's and Federal which also has SPP's.

in fact, just Thursday and Friday, i reloaded 500 rounds of 45 ACP, all mixed brass, never an issue.
 
buddyd157 said:
my Lee Pro 4000 was set up for 45 ACP when i bought it, and i reloaded all brands of 45ACP, with no issues. (and i have since switched that now to 9 mm) since my Dillon does all my other reloads

now my Dillon 550c reloads all my 45 ACP, again, no issues, with S&B, Fiocchi, Winchester, Remington.....and new Starline Brass.

i just do not reload Blazer as they have SPP's and Federal which also has SPP's.

in fact, just Thursday and Friday, i reloaded 500 rounds of 45 ACP, all mixed brass, never an issue.
Click to expand...
You don’t use Federal nor Blazer because some percentage are SPP? Send em this way:)

All in picture are large except box of Remington.
IMG_4315.jpeg
 
CQB45ACP said:
You don’t use Federal nor Blazer because some percentage are SPP? Send em this way:)

All in picture are large except box of Remington.
View attachment 1167575
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I don't reload any of the large caliber rounds that are now available with SPP like 45 ACP, but I still collect them. I clean and store them in a container for that day, that will come, when primers are again expensive and hard to find. I figure having the option of using a large or small primer will keep me shooting.
 
Loading on any press that’s not a 4 digit Dillon with a swager at station #3, they are noticeably tighter for me too.

I cull them, load them together (so everything feels the same) and shoot them at lost brass matches.
 
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