Hand Primers? Issues??

I've been using the same Lee Auto Prime that I bought new around 1982.

I figure by now I'm closing in on 30,000 cases primed with it. Mostly handgun, but in years past a lot of rifle, too.

The secret to the Lee Auto Prime is to keep the linkage lubricate. If you don't, priming force goes WAY up, and you'll end up breaking it.
 
Hello Folso

The cases which are jumping out and have the primer half way seated are not wasted ;)
I'm using this tool now for about one year and recently found out, you can pop the case in from the top also. The jaws are tapered at the top, so with a little practice you can reinsert the half primed case and seat the primer completely.

I had this issue with some tight primer pocket S&B 9 mm brass :(

Now I made it a habit to insert the case from the top and rattle it a little to make sure the jaws grabbing it well and it is aligned.

Hope this helps
 
I bought a RCBS Universal Primer around 2 years ago and that's not been my experience. Works for large and small primers. I've never crushed a primer in it. Must be defective. I'd send it back to RCBS and ask for a new one. I primed 50 cases on Starline SR Creedmoor brass on mine last night. Worked as designed. But sounds like crimped primer pockets is the problem.
 
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I also have Lee reloading kits that include hand primers and no one remembers the Lee 'hammer-in' primers. Nervous reloaders; The best way to stack primers in the old Lee primer with the round tray is to double clutch the leaver. Big Problem; the extra primer below the one that is 'just stuck and hanging on' reduces leverage. It is about this time the reloader uses two hands/two thumbs to seat both primers. After that the nervous reloader looks for someone to blame meaning there is no way to design a tool that protects someone from himself.

Once I start a primer I do not change directions, the flaw in the design allows another primer to slide in below the partially seated primer when the leaver is released. I understand this has never happened to members on reloading forums because no one has ever considered the possibility of it happening.

And then? There is a slot cut into some shell holders, before the Internet there was a purpose for the slot.

F. Guffey
 
I believe the OP said he was having issues with the RCBS Universal hand primer crushing small primers, so he is asking for alternatives, possibly one with a shell holder as he has heard they align the shell better.

"I was just thinking that having a tool that uses a shell holder would help my small cartridge alignment and seat my small primers."

"What is everyone else using????? Any thoughts??"
 
Small primer mystery

For several years I have had good results with the RCBS universal hand primer with small and large primers. However, soon after I bought the tool and began repriming, problems similar to the original post were encountered. Reason was two-fold: 1) loose hold down screws for the top plate resulting in misalignment; and 2) no lubrication.

Tightening the 4 hold down screws and a very sparing use of lubricant on the shell jaws solved the problem. I always check the tool prior to each repriming session for tightness and smooth operation.

Hope this helps.
 
I'm no expert but it sounds like the only issues the OP is having is with 5.56/.300BLK. As a few people have hit upon, it "sounds like" there's some crimp left in the primer pocket, despite the prep work being done.

It might be a good idea to try something else that has a small primer but does not have a crimp (if possible), or maybe spend a couple bucks at Cabellas or a similar place for a small bag of new brass that's never been crimped.

folsoh said:
What is everyone else using????? Any thoughts??
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I have been using an older Lee hand prime with the square trays and special shell holders for the priming tool only. These work fine with small primers, albeit on .38/.357. Sometimes I need to try a few different holders versus blindly choosing the one Lee says to use, but no issues there.
 
Sometimes I need to try a few different holders versus blindly choosing the one Lee says to use, but no issues there.
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I have noticed this, too. Lee shellholders are not the tightest fit. They use fewer total shellholders for the same # of cartridges, and some wobble more than I like. I do not buy Lee shellholders for this reason. But, I receive Lee shellholders when I buy their dies (the dies work fine). When using a priming tool, I find it helps to use RCBS, Redding, Lyman, etc. shellholders, which provide a firmer grip on the case rim. This eliminates brass popping out.
 
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