Why you should pack your reloads primer up

[strat81]

At the range, I had a round fail to fire. I ejected it and the primer was in crooked. I was packing my ammo in plastic boxes with the primer down. From now on it will be bullet down so I can eye-check the primers. Just a tip from a n00b to a n0ob.

 

[mc223]

I always put my loaded rounds in primer down. Never had a problem.

 

[ilbob]

I visually inspect and then run my thumb over the primer to see if it is seated properly before putting them in the ammo box. Sometime I bulk pack them (old coffee tins work well). If I use ammo boxes with individual spots for each round, they go in primer up. But that is so when I take them out, they are ready to go.

 

[Walkalong]

I prime with an RCBS hand primer after cleaning and sizing/depriming and check them all as I go before I load them all with my Projector.

 

[cdrt]

I pack my .45 ACPs in old military 50 round cardboard boxes for storage and then transfer them to plastic 50 round slip top boxes when I go to Bullseye matches. They always end up with the primer up, so I can visually inspect them. I have some old Fitz ammo safe red plastic boxes which are perfect for this. Wish I had bought more when Gil Hebard had them for $1.50 each.

We did have one guy who had an alibi at a Bullseye match. He had loaded one round with the primer in backwards. He never transfers his completed rounds to any kind of box. He just dumps them in plastice bags and transports them that way. If he had put them in boxes or at least visually inspected them, he would not have had the alibi.

.38 Specials go in some factory Remington wadcutter boxes that I saved. Of course, the primer end is up and because of their size, I can store 20 boxes per ammo can.

 

[EZred]

I had a similar problem today. I loaded six round into my Colt King Cobra, locked the cylinder and stepped up to fire. As I pulled the trigger, the cylinder turned slightly and then hung up. After gently opening the action, I discovered that the round on the right side of the frame had a primer that was not fully seated, and thus could not pass the gap. I am glad I did not try to pull the trigger again risking crushing the expose primer. I used to measure each pistol round, like I do rifle, but for expediency I started measuring every five. I can't believe I missed it, but loading in volume, I guess it happens.

 

[koja48]

I hand prime, look at the base/primer when I remove the case from the shell holder, briefly set each case on the bench primer-down to observe for wobble, then place in the loading block. I've never experienced the described problem & with this method, reckon I never will.

 

[atomd]

I always pack them primer up. I do it mostly because a colored marker dot on the primer tells me which load is which. Another reason is that I don't have to pick them up by the lead nose and get even more lead exposure. I'm not sure how much of a difference that makes exposure-wise, but it can't hurt anyways.

 

[atek3]

easier answer... get translucent ammo boxes, that way which ever side you label "up" you can still double check the primers

 

[The Bushmaster]

Inspect, inspect, inspect and pay attention...I have put primers in all kinds of directions and even missed a primer or two, but never packed them without a visual before putting the cover on the box. Handgun ammunition is packed primer up and rifle ammunition is packed primer down after it has been inspected...Never went to the range and found a mistake. With the cowd that I shoot with I would never live it down. Never...

 

[subierex]

Primer up in MTM boxes. Bullet weight makes them just naturally want to fall that way so that when you're cranking away on your turret press, it's just natural to do it that way.

 

[FieroCDSP]

My Loadmaster like to turn a primer sideways or upside-down every now and then. I always store primer up to catch it, as well as mark my reloads. +1 on the see-through boxes, I've caught one or two using the boxes.

 

[Picknlittle]

I use a single stage press and I prime in the press. It has just become habit to inspect each primer before moving it from press to load block. I turn my brass in the load block with each step until ready to throw charges and seat bullets. Finished bullets are placed in the box bullet up. When I'm at the range testing loads or just plinking, the cases go back in the box primer end up so I can check for flattened primers.

 

[scrat]

Primer down for me bullet up. its easier to get them out. I wont have this problem because i inspect my rounds. during each stage of the reloading process i inspect my rounds. then when loading them in the boxes they are inspected again. so i know whats going in. Same time in doubt pull it out. Bullets that dont seem right are put aside so they can be taken apart. Simple enough. You are quality control when it comes to your handloads. I know when purchasing and expect to recieve high quality ammo from factory loads. I want my loads to be better than factory loads so i have to be quality control as well as the loader and shooter.

 

[TEDDY]

Primer Up/primer Down

how do you get them in box primer down.my boxes won't except them.
because I like to clean my cases I decap and clean then prime with lees tool.I use a lee 1000.had a problem with priming sooo.also have a green machine it was pain priming.so prime my 38s same as 45acp.never had nouther problem.:banghead:

 

[Deanimator]

I use MTM plastic ammo boxes.

I don't have a choice. They HAVE to be primer up.

 

[Aneat]

Another reason for primer up if you cast your bullets and use a soft lube. If the rounds are primer down and get a little to warm (Like sitting in your car in the summer, or shooting a match where youre out in the sun) some lube can seep down into the powder and you will get a squib. Primer up and you just get a little lube on the nose of the bullet.

 

[RustyFN]

I check every primer when I put them into the box. I put them in primer up because it is easier to take them back out that way.
Rusty