Crushed primers - Help

[Jesse Heywood]

Had a rough go tonight using my RCBS hand primer. Out of 40 cartridges 10 had primers that had turned sideways and were crushed, Primer is low mileage. Tula SP primers. Brass is 38 spl mixed: TZZ, R-P, Win, Rem-Umc. I have never had this happen before. So I must be doing something wrong. But what?

 

[FROGO207]

Was it in the TZZ? Those have crimped in primers at least in the 9MM and 45ACP ones I have used. The problem with my Lee hand press was the cover could become loose and the primer would flip sideways. I got into the habit of looking at the primer before inserting the brass to make sure the primer was upside down. This stopped the problem for me. Although it took a bit longer I had 100% primer insertion and no more crushed primers.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Occurred in all the brands mentioned. The cartridges have been reloaded at least once. After the first couple I started watching the primers before inserting the brass. The primers were right side up, but when I started squeezing they were sideways.

 

[LoonWulf]

my buddy has an rcbs hand primer and has had similar issues. I haven't messed with one yet tho, so can't say as to the exact cause.
Only recommendation I've got is move the brass in and out slightly as you apply light pressure. you should feel it line up. With my 90s Lee hand prime, if the cases are far enough the wrong way it will flip the primer sideways on the edge of the pocket.

 

[rskent]

I’m gonna take a guess and say that maybe the lid was not down in position. Some people use rubber bands to hold the lid down tight.

 

[MEHavey]

using my RCBS hand primer. Out of 40 cartridges 10 had primers that had turned sideways

Are you perchance using small primers w/ the large primer insert ?
Or perhaps w/ the rounded end of the rod up?
(I jus' gotsta ask...)

 

[FROGO207]

Yeah, if the shell holder has dirt or such buildup in the groove you might not get the brass in the correct position for centered primer insertion. Is this the new safety type of primer tool? I have heard many complain about those type with the primer isolation bar being problems no matter the brand it seems.

 

[Walkalong]

Since my old RCBS hand primer has gotten many miles on it, it will occasionally let a small primer get sideways and jam in the primer pocket, I have to crush it to get the case out. It never does it with large ones. It never did it when new. It does it maybe one if a few hundred. Lid on good?

 

[Random 8]

Basic mechanical troubleshooting... (Read as a flow chart) Clean it with compressed air or the spray air for computers. Disassemble and check for any foreign matter, hit with some more compressed air. Check all parts for correct installation and any that are particularly loose, possible factory defect. See if you can replicate the flip raising a primer into position without a case present and see what caused this to happen. Try different brand of primers, some are fussy (my Lee one hates Win primers, but works flawlessly with CCI which are specifically N/R by manufacturer??!!). Hit it with a hammer, a nice string of naughty words, and buy another brand.

 

[WelshShooter]

I second the check on the insert. Do you have the black plastic insert for large primers fitted instead of the white plastic insert for small primers? Also check the corresponding metal rods used to seat the primer.

Also, which RCBS hand primer is this? The one which takes shell holders or the one with the spring loaded collet?

 

[whughett]

If the primer isn’t sitting deep enough in the tools cup it’s possible for the pocket to catch and flip the primer just as your applying the pressure to seat.
My Lee auto prime would do this.

 

[FROGO207]

Random 8 the type of primers Lee czutions against using are Remmington. Supposidly they are extra sensitive and could pop. I never had that problem but only put 20 Rem primers in at a time to reduce problems if one should pop with my old Lee round primer seating tool.

 

[Random 8]

Interesting, my autoprime XR instructions (aprox 10 years old) specifically mentions CCI primers as one that may not feed reliably, and eludes to the possibility of Fed primers being prone to mass detonation, not mentioning them by name but by size of packaging.

 

[FROGO207]

I have no problems using CCI primers, in fact they seem to work the best in my older round primer tool. Luck of the draw it seems. I have actually worn out two of them so far. Still have two left though.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I second the check on the insert. Do you have the black plastic insert for large primers fitted instead of the white plastic insert for small primers? Also check the corresponding metal rods used to seat the primer.

Also, which RCBS hand primer is this? The one which takes shell holders or the one with the spring loaded collet?

I think I found the problem. Will have to call RCBS.

Also, this has the mechanism to hold the cartridge.

Random 8 the type of primers Lee czutions against using are Remmington. Supposidly they are extra sensitive and could pop. I never had that problem but only put 20 Rem primers in at a time to reduce problems if one should pop with my old Lee round primer seating tool.

Lee warned against the use of Federal primers. Claimed they could go bang. Mr. Lee has since admitted that he said not to use Federal primers because Federal would not provide primers free of charge for use in his testing for the reloading manual.

 

[FROGO207]

At least RCBS will make it work again for free! We all learned something here. Glad you figured it out quickly.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Mr. Lee has since admitted that he said not to use Federal primers because Federal would not provide primers free of charge for use in his testing for the reloading manual.

I guess I can feel a bit more secure when I prime next time. About the only primers I use are Federal

 

[Hondo 60]

Had the same as the OP.
My problem was tumbling media stuck under the rim of the
shell holder.

I hope its this simple for everyone .

 

[FROGO207]

The take away from all these trouble threads is to take a step back and think about what changed from the last time things worked and when problems started. That at least gets you looking in the right frame of mind. I like to think that I am Columbo. I take it slowly and methodically taking things apart and cleaning then inspecting as I go. This works well for me so far. It helps that I started BC (before computers) and HAD to figure it out on my own though. Now that we have computers and the web I feel our critical thinking skills are being blunted down on a lot of fronts. I fear this progression.