Lee Auto Prime and small primer .45 ACP brass

[RadBear]

Trying to prime small primer .45 ACP brass with the Lee Auto Prime and I've run into difficulties. The first 20 or so cases went fine, then one of the primers went sideways. After clearing the squashed primer out almost none of the subsequent primers are feeding in the correct orientation. Has anyone else encountered a similar problem? If so how did you solve it?

I'm using mixed head stamp brass (mainly federal) Remington 1 1/2 small pistol primers, and a number 2 shell holder.

Any advice on how to resolve this would be appreciated!

 

[entropy]

There are two different sizes of rams for the Auto Prime- use the small one for small pistol and rifle primers, and the large one for large pistol and rifle primers. Your difficulties will disappear.

 

[cfullgraf]

What entropy said.

Many folks have two priming tools, one set up for small primers and the other set up for large primers.

Then you do not have re-configure the priming tool when priming cases that require a different size primer.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Yup, my experience has shown that consistent sideways presentation of primers usually indicate that you're using the Large priming ram with a Small primer

 

[RadBear]

Turns out I was using the correct ram, but a couple of large primer pocket cases snuck into my small primer case bin.

 

[entropy]

That would explain it also.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I like loading SPP .45ACP cases on a progressive press. When you don't feel any resistence when priming, you know there's a LPP case. You can pull it out and you haven't damaged the primer

 

[murf]

welcome to thr, radbear.

murf

 

[RadBear]

Thanks Murf!

 

[mdi]

Thanks for sharing the cause and solution! The most important "tool" for reloading is your eyes, and second is yer brain. Inspect every case you reload and think about what you are doing will eliminate 98% of reloading problems.

I have about 400 small primed 45 ACP cases along with my thousand or so large primed cases and so far, reloading both small primed and large primed 45 ACP brass, the only problem I see is when someone doesn't inspect his brass well enough (or not at all).