Question for Reloaders

[Cwi555]

Usually an over powered load flattens the primer?

Mar 29, 2013 18:18:31 GMT -7 woodyz said:

Just as a clarification, because I may have heard what I read wrong.

I don't think there would be anyway a "proper" case wouldn't go into the "proper" holder except for a bur on the base of the case or on the holder.

And it appears that is exactly what the problem was, a bur on the holder.

First I don't understand why you drilled out the hole that resulted in the bur?

Second is my main question or clarification. I have had plenty of primers bulge or blow part way out when shooting reloaded shells. Mostly caused by the reloader changing the amount of powder in a reloaded shell and getting it a little too hot.

So unless I don't get it there are two possibilities where a primer might cause a problem seating in the shell holder.

One someone loaded the shell too hot and it bulged the primer. Two the primer wasn't seated properly when it was set.

geron indicated it was once fired brass which would indicate either a factory load or new brass reloaded. I would never expect the problem from factory loaded brass. But new brass reloaded and shot once could have bulged or could have had a bur in the brass hole and not seated or could have just not seated and caused this type of problem.

.

[geron]

Why I drilled the shell holder:

My press is a Lee 4 hole turret press.

Here's the best pic I could find of the Primer lever. This one's on a single stage press but operates Identical to the turret press.



You'll notice that the primer lever tilts out of the ram (of it's own weight) when the ram is raised to remove the old primer and size the case. A new primer is inserted in the primer cup on the primer lever.

When the ram is lowered the primer lever, which is protruding from the slot in the ram, contacts the base of the press and is rotated into the slot on the ram. The primer cup is then lifted through the hole in the case holder as the ram continues to be lowered and the primer is set in the case.

Now, when the ram is raised, the primer lever is "supposed" to drop back into place of it's own weight. HOWEVER, the primer cup would bind in the hole in the shell holder then drop down, miss the pin that is was supposed to be seated on and fall out of the press. VERY ANNOYING.

FAQ on the Lee site recognized the problem and offered to drill/ream the hole in the shell holder if you'd send it in to them. (hopefully they're using a large drill now since they know the problem )

Well, Ole Geron here says to himself, "If they can ream/drill the hole bigger Ole Geron can do it to." Mount it in the lathe and screw it up. The metal on the shell holder was hard. Got it done but ruined the bit.

The primer lever arm now drops consistently and doesn't fall out of the ram but evidently I left the burr on the shell holder. Hopefully all is well now that the burr was found and filed down.

It's still interesting that most cases would fit and a few wouldn't. Can only attribute that to different manufacturers and tolerance variations.

Clear as mud . . . yeah, I know

[woodyz]

Thanks Geron, I understand now.

Cwi555 I had several bulged primers when working up a load for my .243, most I wouldn't notice until I went to reload them again and had trouble getting them into the shell holder. One fired round I couldn't get it off the bolt. Since I didn't want to force it I took it to a gun smith. The primer had bulged enough to push out against the extractor and wedge the shell in the bolt face. Too hot a load.

On my daughters SKS I load a little light for her "best" load. It just seems to me each person shoots best when they, the firearm and the bullet are all tuned to that person.

I think off the shelf bullets would do OK as long as the weapon was in good shape and adjusted and the shooter was used to the weapon.

But I think there is a "sweet" spot to be found and I like to play with the load to find it. Some people are happy to hit a playing card at 100 yards, I wanted three shots in the black on an ace at 100 yards.

Now, dispite the excellent weapon and tuned rounds the best I can do is keep three rounds in a 9" pie pan at 100 yards. It's hell to get old.

[hunter63]

Point of this is valid...Anything that doesn't seem right or (correct" as it were, when it comes to re-loading, is important as it could become a safety issue, for you, and possibility anyone around you.

It' a good thing to question anything that doesn't seem right...and it seems the problem has been identified, and corrected.

Y'all know the difference between a "problem, and an "issue"?

Problems have solutions...issues go on forever...LOL

[thywar]

''Problems have solutions...issues go on forever...'' Hunter63

Exactly.. That's what I kept telling her.. Maybe that's why she left..