Primer seating

[jelenko]

My question is about how much, if any 'deformation' of the primer cup is ok.

But, first, my application.
I'm shooting in 'cross the course' competition - our smallest 10 rings are 2 MOA, X rings are 1 MOA. If my average group size is 1/2 MOA, I'm happy - recognizing some groups will be smaller and some larger. I'm shooting 223 from a Wylde chamber.

With that, I'm not and am not expecting to uniform the primer pockets. I.e., that would not be a potential solution.

I've been seating with a Frankford Arsenal 'perfect' hand primer. After going through ~ 10,000 cases and fired rounds with no obvious issues in live fire, I've noticed there was a slight round ridge on the outside of seated primers. It appears to be from the ram of the primer tool putting enough pressure on the primer to push in the top of the primer except for the very edge of the primer.

After reading the other recent thread on primer depth, I got to wondering if there might be any problem with what I'm seeing.
Since I've already been doing this for a bunch of rounds, it wouldn't seem so. But, I don't know if it would be better to not have as much deformation of the top.

Thanks!

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Probably won’t hurt, but why not stop a little short on your handle pressure so this doesn’t happen.

 

[jelenko]

Probably won’t hurt, but why not stop a little short on your handle pressure so this doesn’t happen.

Right.
The tool is click adjustable. I just clicked out until the primer is below flush and did 10 rounds.
I'm guessing with my accuracy requirements, it really doesn't matter as long as it goes bang?

 

[CA_Shooter]

I'd like to keep an eye on this thread cause I've also been curious of a similar scenario. Using the RCBS hand priming tool, the ram comes up completely off center, and I've seen the imprint of the seating ram on my primers too

 

[Henryrifle]

@smoketheclay: That’s not good but there is good news. RCBS customer service is excellent. Call them and tell them what is going on and I’m betting that they will make it right at no cost to you.

Apologies for the thread drift...

 

[K22]

Check the shell holder for the priming tool to make sure that there is not build up of debris that might cause the case to not sit flush on the shell holder.

Sometimes cleaning media and / or powder residue will accumulate in the recesses of the case rim and transfer over time to the shell holder.

I've been using a Sinclair hand Priming Tool now for about 15 years or so. While expensive, it works flawlessly, and I've primed thousands of rifle and pistol cases with no problems.

 

[piie]

I'd like to keep an eye on this thread cause I've also been curious of a similar scenario. Using the RCBS hand priming tool, the ram comes up completely off center, and I've seen the imprint of the seating ram on my primers too

Have you checked and made sure that the pin is in the correct orientation? My old RCBS (think the new universal one as well) has a flat end and a round end on the bar that actually seat the primer - the round end is supposed to go into the primer tool, while the flat end is what should be pushing on the primer when seating.

 

[jelenko]

Shot the 10 rounds that were seated just below flush [this was 6 clicks less than what I've been using].
The rifle and the target couldn't tell the difference. The indent on the primer was much less - almost not noticeable and, of course, there was much less travel of the handle on the priming tool after the primer first engaged the bottom of the primer pocket.