Seating Primers

[Ernest T]

Watching YouTube videos, it seems like there is no perfect hand primer, they all seem to do the job, but seem to have a quirk or two that someone doesn't like. I'm leaning toward the Lyman hand primer, any reason I shouldn't?

[Robinhood]

That's what winter time is for....LOL Last month I finish 386 cases of my SA284 wild cat, and 412 of my
284-ELF. With a cold beer, streaming a good movie, and a towel on my lap to catch the brass cuttings,
It's not so bad. Something about being able to kick your feet up helps. Or maybe it's the beer.....:cool:

I have to know, do you use a jar openener pad to hold the brass? My thumbs would be tired after 100!!!!

[South Prairie jim]

Watching YouTube videos, it seems like there is no perfect hand primer, they all seem to do the job, but seem to have a quirk or two that someone doesn't like. I'm leaning toward the Lyman hand primer, any reason I shouldn't?
21st century click adjustable hand primer is the cats meow’ however and it’s worthy of repeating that your primer pockets should NOT have any raised lip or deformation. You may want to solve that puzzle first.

[Ernest T]

21st century click adjustable hand primer is the cats meow’ however and it’s worthy of repeating that your primer pockets should NOT have any raised lip or deformation. You may want to solve that puzzle first.

So, it looks like the issue is my decapping pin is larger than the Lapua flash hole. It displaces a small amount of brass which makes that ring. Some people have removed it, others have not and it doesn't seem to make much difference in accuracy. I can tell you removing it with my Lee case conditioner takes a lot of force and will be a chore for 200 rounds of brass. I'm about halfway through the life of this brass so I might just live with this for now and look for a smaller decapping pin when I start on my next 200 rounds

This pic is from another forum.

9323

[Ernest T]

Looking at my brass, this is obviously the issue. I measured the pins and the Redding decapping pin is .058 across while the Lee is .068.

New, unfired brass vs old brass.

9324

Redding, on top, which I'm using now, vs Lee die which I used to reload this brass 7 or 8 times.

9325

[South Prairie jim]

Yep’ I recommend you get the right size decapper pin before you ruin any more of that good brass. Then set your primers to bottom out in the pocket plus a slight crush.

[Ernest T]

Yep’ I recommend you get the right size decapper pin before you ruin any more of that good brass. Then set your primers to bottom out in the pocket plus a slight crush.

I use the Redding die with the small pin now, but I didn't know I had an issue before. I have another couple hundred Lapua cases, I'm glad I didn't use them.

[charlie b]

At least the mystery is solved. I never knew there were different size flash holes until I got the 6BR. Do small primers have smaller flash holes or is it just that brand brass?

[Ernest T]

At least the mystery is solved. I never knew there were different size flash holes until I got the 6BR. Do small primers have smaller flash holes or is it just that brand brass?

It's brand and cartridge specific, a few use them. This is from the 21st Century website for their flash hole uniforming tool.

"Cutters are available in standard (.082” flash hole) or small (.062” flash hole). Most cartridges will use the .082” cutter, but the small flash hole (.062”) version is used in cartridges such as the 6mmBR family, 6PPC, 6/6.5x47 Lapua, 308 Palma. 6/6.5 Creedmoor with small primer in Lapua and Hornady brass, and 6.5 Grendel to name a few). "

[Fuj']

I have to know, do you use a jar openener pad to hold the brass? My thumbs would be tired after 100!!!!

I sure don't do em' all in my sitting !! LOL Sometimes I use a Mechanix glove with the gripper fingers.

[Fuj']

So, it looks like the issue is my decapping pin is larger than the Lapua flash hole.

Yes Sir....Another "WTF" moment. It drives your knowledge base.

[Ernest T]

Yes Sir....Another "WTF" moment. It drives your knowledge base.

That's no lie.

[South Prairie jim]

Happy to help anytime …

shoot small ya’ll
j

[Robinhood]

But, but, but its only .003" too large!

[Stumpkiller]

Get a universal decapper from Lee. A great $13 investment. I keep one on a Lee “C” press.
9326

[South Prairie jim]

But, but, but its only .003" to large!

Get a bigger hammer!!!:p

[charlie b]

[QUOTE=Stumpkiller;510971]Get a universal decapper from Lee. A great $13 investment. I keep one on a Lee “C” press./QUOTE]

But the Lee pins are too big for the smaller flash holes. I've only got 3 or 4 of them and none fit in my 6BR.

[Robinhood]

[QUOTE=Stumpkiller;510971]Get a universal decapper from Lee. A great $13 investment. I keep one on a Lee “C” press./QUOTE]

But the Lee pins are too big for the smaller flash holes. I've only got 3 or 4 of them and none fit in my 6BR.


Get a bigger hammer!!!:p

Jim has the answer.

[Stumpkiller]

Just measured my Lee Universal pin at 0.068". So if your Lapua has a 1.5mm vent, yeah, you will need to find a small pin decapper.

Sucks to get all fancy. ;-)

[South Prairie jim]

Perhaps Redding in their infinite wisdom has discovered the need for small decapping pins and have them available for their customers, and if not I would next contact Harrel’s precision and get the correct die.
https://www.harrellsprecision.com/products/full-length-die