CCI BR4 Primers into 6mmBR brass. Harder to seat.

[Colt Kodiak]

I wonder if anyone else has found this out. I bought 6000 CCI BR4 primers from a friend and I see the 6MMBR Laupa brass loads call for this primer sometimes. But, I have to hit the Redding press handle with my palm to load them flush. Never had to do that with Remington 7&1/2.

 

[tmwinds]

If they are seating with normal pressure and then you have to hit the press handle to get them flush I would look at the depth of the primer pockets. You may need to uniform the pocket depth.

 

[Colt Kodiak]

It seems that Lapua brass would have proper primer depth.

 

[newbieshooter]

 

[Tim s]

Maybe you want to try a proper primer seater.

 

[Dave Berg]

The primer pockets on Lapua 6BR (and PPC) brass are slightly deeper than on other SR cartridges. They also come from the factory with the corner between the wall of the pocket and the base rounded so the primer hits resistance before it bottoms out. Sinclair makes a non-adjustable solid carbide uniformer specifically to address this. I use it prior to the first firing which removes some brass and also to clean the pocket after every subsequent loading. Doesn't damage the brass at all. Part number is 749-003-713WS

FWIW I've never used anything other than CC-450's and Russian SRM primers in a 6BR or Dasher. The Russians make seating the 450's seem like child's play.

 

[Colt Kodiak]

I ordered one today. Thanks.
Also wondering what a "proper primer seater"? I use the Redding press slider primer seater.

 

[AckleymanII]

Cleaning the primer pockets helps a lot

 

[Forum Boss]

You generally won't have wonderful results with most press-operated primer seaters. Tolerances and play in the system.

Re comment about 6mmBR cases and primer pockets. I do NOT think you need to do ANYthing to prepare Lapua pockets before seating primers in new cases (other than check for obstructions/flakes in the flash holes). I have loaded 1000s of rounds of 6mmBR, using bench-mount primer seaters, and, preferrably, hand-held primer seaters. Using mostly CCI 450s which are pretty hard. My ES was under 15.

I don't think the carbide uniformer is necessary at all. But yes, I would clean the pockets after firing. Bottom line -- I don't think you need to cut out brass. Just use a quality primer seater.

 

[Dave Berg]

Also wondering what a "proper primer seater"?

Just my humble opinion. I've tried most of them. Russian primers will make you do that.

The best priming tool I've used is the RCBS APS Press Mounted priming tool. I have it permanently mounted on a Lee Classic Cast Iron press. The APS strips are easy to load with the primer of your choice, the press gives you plenty of mechanical advantage for even the hardest primers, and the long handle provides a very sensitive "feel" to what's happening. When the primer hits the bottom of the cup it feels like a car door slamming and if you choose to you can feel the primer flatten with additional pressure. A much better tool than the bench mounted version. Again, IMHO.

The bad news is that it's been discontinued. They do show up fairly frequently on Ebay and are a good investment in my opinion.

Link to where it used to be: https://www.opticsplanet.com/rcbs-aps-press-priming-tool-88503.html

 

[Colt Kodiak]

Okay, thanks.

 

[shoot4fun]

I ordered one today. Thanks.
Also wondering what a "proper primer seater"? I use the Redding press slider primer seater.

This one if you want bench mounted:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/457599/rcbs-automatic-bench-priming-tool

This one if you want hand-held: (this is what I use most)

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/319794/rcbs-universal-hand-priming-tool

 

[GrocMax]

Lapua tends to start with undersized primer pocket ID's, so they seat with a much firmer feel. Its just something you need to get used to.

 

[Colt Kodiak]

I have to say those bench priming tools are a lot like my Redding Slide Bar primer in the big boss. I'll stick with it. I have the hand primer by K&M with the dial caliper but it takes a lot of time.

 

[Forum Boss]

I'm also a fan of the APS strip primer system. It is very reliable and convenient.

I use the APS HAND Primer tool and APS BENCH tool. I also use APS strip primers with my Rcbs Pro 2000 progressive. I consider that superior to stacked column primer feeds.

 

[Evan]

I'm also a fan of the APS strip primer system. It is very reliable and convenient.

I use the APS HAND Primer tool and APS BENCH tool. I also use APS strip primers with my Rcbs Pro 2000 progressive. I consider that superior to stacked column primer feeds.

And safer too! The stacked column just invites fate to set the whole thing off in am accident.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Kinda the point of the CCI is that it's cup is a bit harder.. Guys use them a lot in Dashers because of this..


Ray

 

[Richard Coody]

I want those primer pockets to last. Like them tight to start with. No pocket uniforming flash hole deburring or anything else to lapua brass primer pockets.

Have no problem seating br4's in lapua 6br brass with my sinclair hand priming tool. I seat by feel not with some arbitrary seating depth number

 

[JFrank]

As usual I’m in the minority.

 

[Shooter13]

I use the Sinclair hand held priming tool and seat the BR4 CCI primers with no problem at all, very smooth. As for your problem, can you have another reloader take a look at it to see if maybe you do have a tool problem? You might also try to borrow a hand/bench primer and try it before buying. Let us know what you find! Good luck.