Sideways Primers

[MoreIsLess]

I have a couple of rounds that have the primer in sideways. What should I do? This occurred with my new Dillon 650.

 

[LiveLife]

Pull the bullet, pour out the powder and deprime then reuse the brass.

 

[Walkalong]

It happens. Do as bds suggests.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Yup, it isn't that uncommon.

I've been lucky with my Hornady LNL that I've been able to feel the primer requiring more pressure and been able to catch the case before adding the powder and primer.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Push the primer out. Just don't slap it with the decapping pin.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[greyling22]

I usually happens for me with crimped primer pockets. You might also confirm that your carrier is indexed properly. Mine worked fine from Dillon as set up for 357, but when I converted it over to 9mm the carrier was misaligned and I had issues with priming. A slight tweak and I have been fine ever since.

 

[AZAndy]

I keep a marlinspike knife handy for things like that. I pop the primer out and toss the cartridge in the "pull bullets later" can.

 

[armoredman]

I haven't seen a marlin spike since I left the Navy... Good idea. Working with a single stage I have yet to sideways a primer, but I did see an officer qualifying on our range who had not one but two sideways primers in her box of CCI Blazers.

 

[NWcityguy2]

I've used a dental pick to pop out a primer like that many times.

 

[Walkalong]

Please wear eye protection if you choose to do it this way.

My RCBS hand primer will occasionally flip a small primer and it can end up sideways. Not loaded yet, so easy to get out.

 

[klausman]

The only sideways primers I have had have been seating small primers in small primer 45ACP brass. The problem is that the shell holders are all set up for large primers, and that allows just enough slop for a primer to turn over on the side. That is why I hate small primer 45ACP brass.

 

[Doublehelix]

I used to get the occasional sideways primer on my XL650 (maybe 1 or 2 out of 1,000), but since aligning, that has not happened. It also helps to get in a groove when you are reloading. It takes time, but eventually, your priming will become more reliable. I usually wait a half a second or so before seating the primer with the forward stroke. This gives everything time to align just right.

They do not include the alignment tool with the unit, so you have to order it from Dillon, but I have heard if you call them, they will send one out for free. I just paid for mine...

 

[Zendude]

The problem I have is that a sideways primer sticks out of the primer pocket so that I can't insert the cartridge into the shell holder to deprime it (if I haven't seated the bullet yet) or to pull the bullet if the bullet has already been seated.
Is there a tool other than a knife or pick to get the primer out?

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

Make sure the 650 is lubricated for smooth operation.

 

[hdwhit]

Zendude, I hear you about not being able to get sideways cases into the shell holder. I take the decapping rod out of Lee decapping die, open the jaws of my shop vice enough to accommodate the case, put on gloves, eye and hearing protection and then use the rod to push the primer out so it falls between the jaws of the vice. Since the anvil is not in place to crush the primer compound the risk of ignition is minimal.

Note: saw misspelling of vise, but couldn't get back to correct it on my phone.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Just use the Lee Decapping Die with the case resting on the TOP of the shell holder. You may have to aligned the decapping pin with the flash hole, but since no sizing is going on, it will push the mangled primer right out and the case will be free. Sometimes, a shell holder for a smaller caliber works well to keep the case aligned with the decapping pin, due to more flat surface on top of the die, yet allow the primer to fall through.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[9mmepiphany]

use the Lee Decapping Die with the case resting on the TOP of the shell holder.

I've also used this method successfully

 

[Doublehelix]

I used to pop out the primers so I could reuse the case, and have had no issues, but nowadays, I don't even bother. I just toss the case with the primer in it. Probably not the safest method, and my garbage men might hear a pop or two from the back of their garbage truck when they are compacting the garbage, but that seems to be safer and easier to me now, and I am not worried about losing a case or two periodically. It happens so rarely...

I do pull the bullet, and reclaim the powder. But I figured a live primer is going in the garbage one way or another, either alone or in a case.

I really wish someone would come up with a way to deactivate a live primer that works. And no, soaking in WD-40 does not work.

I periodically interact with some chemists as a part of my job. One of these days, I am going to find one that is interested in taking on a project like this. There has got to be a way to inactivate lead styphnate and lead azide. There must be more to it than meets the eye however or else you would think someone would have invented something by now.

 

[armoredman]

Priming sequence - RCBS Universal Hand Priming tool in right hand, tray attached, all primers correctly anvil side up. Pick up brass with left hand, visually verify the primer pocket is empty, turn head, visually verify primer anvil is visible inside the channel in the priming tool. Insert case, squeeze action bar, remove case, visual inspect primer is in correctly, wobble test on flat surface to ensure full seat, then place primed brass in baggie or loading tray. I haven't had a sideways one yet.
Of course, now that I rattled that off all glib like I'll merrily crunch one in sideways on Tuesday...