Winchester vs CCI primers

[MoreIsLess]

I have been having issues with my new Dillon 650 not seating primers all the way. I am already aware of the 2 likely culprits:

1. Loose shell plate
2. Loose primer punch

One thing Dillon told me to try to narrow it down was to switch primers brands and see if that helps. It shouldn't matter which brand of primers with a machine like the 650 does IMHO, but I am digressing.

Anyway, I am using Winchester primers already and I have always found those to be easier to seat than CCI. Not sure about other brands.

Do you think it would be a waste of time to switch to CCI primers from Winchester?

 

[Bottom Gun]

Occasionally I will find a piece of primer debris that prevents the shell plate from coming down far enough to fully seat new primers. Once I remove the debris, I'm back in business.

 

[hdwhit]

MoreIsLess wrote:
One thing Dillon told me to try to narrow it down was to switch primers brands and see if that helps.
...
Do you think it would be a waste of time to switch to CCI primers from Winchester?

Yes, it probably is.

BUT you're the one who called Dillon and asked for their help in diagnosing the problem and that's what they told you to do. So, unless you intend to call them back up and say that you've chosen to ignore their advice but you still want them to support the product, then you need to do what they say - right after you make the check Bottom Gun suggested.

 

[Load Master]

You didn't mention here what round you are loading. If it is a type of case that primers originally were crimped, are you swagging the primer pockets? Are you sure you are stroking the lever completely each time?

 

[JO JO]

Do you think it would be a waste of time to switch to CCI primers from Winchester?

NO !

 

[Walkalong]

Both are good primers. Look at your priming technique/press components.

 

[Sunray]

How are you cleaning your cases? Either the plate or punch move if you wiggle 'em? Any milsurp brass involved?
Highly unlikely changing primer brands will make any difference. Far more likely that you're not operating the ram enough.

 

[rfwobbly]

I have exactly the opposite issue. CCI won't seat as reliably as Winchester on my 650 !! (I'm talking 1 out of every ~100; so it's not a big deal.)

However, do as suggested and follow Dillon's advice. Can't hurt; might help.

 

[GW Staar]

One possibility: If you are using really old military brass, and you have swaged it, swagers sometimes, on old hard brass, shear rather than swage leaving a tiny ring of brass in the bottom of the primer hole. That plays hell with priming to depth. Been there, done that....caused a slam fire in my A-10 before I recognized and corrected the problem. The cure was a reamer instead of the swager.

 

[444]

Do you think it would be a waste of time to switch to CCI primers from Winchester?

No
I don't know whether it will fix anything or not: but we are talking about going to the store, buying one pack of primers and seeing if it fixes the problem. How hard can that be ?

 

[Blue68f100]

All primers must meet spec, which gives you 0.002" tolerance range for both the primer and pocket. Not all lots will have the same size. It was several years ago Winchester had some primers that were running on the wide side, which caused a lot of problems. Some hand loaders had problems some didn't. It all depends on where you were on the high or low side of spec.

So No, it's not a waste of time. Check your inventory and see if you have different lots. If so try the other, if not buy some other brand and try them. Or find a local hand loader and work out a swap to test with.

 

[nettlle]

I wouldn't have high expectations fixing priming seating operations by switching brands of primers.

 

[Lafitte]

Also consider OID, operator induced difficulty. The 650 seats the primer as you push the operating lever at the top, when the shell plate is all of the way down. Full push equals fully seated primer.

Lafitte

 

[Bugster]

I don't have a Dillon, but I agree with whats been said. Check and see if you have debris in the primer hole first. Then it's as simple as picking up 100 CCI primers and trying them. Here it's about 4 bucks OTD and you can eliminate that aspect. If either is the fix, you're good. If not then check out the press components and your technique. If everything seems ok, call Dillon back.

 

[pert near]

I realize the Dillion is a high volume, progressive loader, but as a single stage press handloader, I wouldn't want to have to change my load for the machine. BUT as 444 said, get 1 pack of CCI & try it. May learn something & proceed to problem solving from there.

JFWIW...

 

[Doublehelix]

What happens when you do a "dry run" and watch the primer punch alignment as it comes through the disc? Does it center exactly in the hole in the priming disc? Every time?