OzFclass

Mornin'

In the process of setting up a brand new 6.5 x 47 rig and had planned to run in the new barrel this morning. HOWEVER- last night while attempting to prep some cases for loading I had a problem inserting primers into the cases. Cases are standard Lapua and the pockets have been uniformed using a standard Sinclair 6.5 x 47 uniformer. The brand new Lee Primer tool appears to be functioning properly and I am using the correct "small" tray for the purpose. Primers being used are Federal Premium Match "Small rifle" No GM205SM. Unfortunately the primers insert about a thou or so and will go no further - just enough to be a pain in the butt getting them out. I have tried using the uniformer to excess but nothing makes a difference.
Has anybody had this problem? Maybe the primers are the wrong size - don't know. Any help will be appreciated.

Regards............Jeff. Roberts.

Are you getting a similar result with a different priming tool or small rifle primer?

Federal primers are soft relative to CCI & sometimes, when using the less engineered priming tools, a tad of misalignment will cause the cup to spring & lock up, though I'm talking LR here, not SR. I've never used small Federals. PMC Russian primers are a tad oversize & I've heard of people having issues seating them with standard seating tools.

I believe that a seater with metal components is the best deal in the long term. They hold cases square & offer up the primer more elegantly. I have both Sinclair and K & M (I got the latter from BRT) & have not had issues since I went that route.

I would be looking at using thicker cup primers- the CCI BR4's and CCI 450's are the go. Work up to around 37.5gr 2208 carefully with the 450's and 130 bergers and you should find a pretty accurate load.

Thanks guys for the input.

Aaron - Have not tried any other tools. The Lee looks OK to the naked eye and appears to work OK but maybe this is still a problem. We have a RCBS tool that we have been using for sevaral years in 308 so might give this a try with the small attachment fitted if I can't work it out any other way.

Johnk - Same again - If I can't work it out with what I've got I will look at the K & M from BRT.

Brady - CCI's might also be worth a try. As above wil try this too - it's a cheap try. Also thanks for the load data. Had this load suggested by somebody else too so good to know it works. Have a heap of 130 Berger VLD's on hand ready to go when I get this problem sorted.

At the Club today I had it suggested that I should put a small champher on the lead in to the pocket to help guide the primer in the inital stage of pressing. Any thoughts on this?

Regards..........Jeff.

Case and primer support is important,I prime a lot with an old Super Simplex press,the first shellholder I purchased had a groove from the entry side of the holder to the primer hole.Primers seated with that unit were bulged and distorted,a friend gave me a spare one without the bottom groove,it seats perfectly without any bulging.
Mike.

Hi Jeff

All my 308 ex-mil Lapua brass has a chamfer of sorts given I used a counter sink tool to remove the primer cup crimp. Makes for a very tight seating set-up and the occassional crushed primer due to slight miss alignment. I'm happy enough with the tight seating set-up as I'm under the impression there is less chance of a pressure leak past the primer.

I'm using the Federal Match 210M primers and did find they were softer than the CCI standard and benchrests when I first started handloading.

Regards
Aaron