If you prime by depth you should watch this test.

[mikecr]

The tests were for one thing, seating depth.

Yep

 

[Michael Huebner]

Nope, butrom what I have seen it should be easy to drill and tap the handle of the newest model to give the same adjustable stop that mine has.

You don’t need to the pin that seats the primer is adjustable - it’s threaded (has some thread Loctite on it to keep it there)

 

[memilanuk]

You don’t need to the pin that seats the primer is adjustable - it’s threaded (has some thread Loctite on it to keep it there)

Yeah... but it's fairly hard to turn - at least on mine - has a pretty coarse thread pitch, and you have to disassemble the whole damn thing just to get to it. It might work, but it sure seems like a less-than-ideal approach, at least to me.

 

[BoydAllen]

You don’t need to the pin that seats the primer is adjustable - it’s threaded (has some thread Loctite on it to keep it there)

Yes, I saw that, but it requires taking the tool apart and hoping that you got the exact change that you wanted. My old tool has the same feature that I have used to compensate for wear so that the handle stays in the same relation to the body when seating by feel. Of course for me, given that I seat by feel, this is purely an academic exercise. As long as I get the feel that I want, with the handle not touching the body of the tool, I am GTG with about any tool you can think of. For the newer ones that are adjustable, the advantage to me is that I can set them so that the handle position and leverage are what I like.

 

[Bronsin]

Even though I adjusted mine with the barrel inside the tool, tapping it for a set screw looks to be a much easier method, especially if your trying different depths.

 

[AlNyhus]

FWIW, I use the old round Lee Auto Prime tool and seat for a firm feel of the anvil contacting the bottom of the primer pocket. Bart's post made me check the depth from the case head...they are all identical.

The new Lee #90230 Auto Prime works really well, too.

 

[rsbhunter]

I have just started using /testing the Lee ACP priming "press". Now, I'm only using the calipers tail style of measurement, but the consistency is great so far. Right out of the box, the primers were seating at .003...EVERYTIME ! I did make the modification so that I can adjust the seating depth, per FClass John's video. I have now bought a 3D printed case feeder set up, and if I get it installed, it will really shorten the.time priming takes. I had been using the Frankford Arsenal tool, and it was working great. The auto case feed will definitely speed up the process with the Lee, as case handling will almost be zero....will comment on the good and bad after I get it running......rsbhunter

 

[searcher]

I have used the Sinclair tool for both small and large rifle priming operations for well over 20 years now and have been completely 100% satisfied with them. They are extremely durable and easy to use. For me, they are well worth the investment.

However, I seat by feel which seems to work quite well for me. I do uniform the primer pockets with the Sinclair tool, but I am not sure that it makes a difference on target or least I haven't been able to detect a difference between uniformed and non-uniformed pockets. However, being slightly anal I continued to uniform the pockets.

I agree. There are variances in primer height, pocket depths and taper of the pocket. The primer height is the only thing one can't change - but I believe it to be insignificant - or should I phrase that as I'm not going to go to the bother of measuring primer heights. But, with a tool set to a stop - as he is using in the video, the taller primers are going to have more "crush" on them - and a short primer less, presumably the .001" error difference he came up with, assuming even pockets. I use an older Sinclaire tool as well, though I also prefer to seat by feel (in fact I don't even recall off hand whether mine even has a stop on it - don't think it does). I have uniformed a lot of brass of many different brands. Some batches had HUGE variation in depth and other batches not so much different. On some of the batches that had a lot of material taken on some pockets, I would guess there would be some kind of a difference in performance. Just too many variables in loading overall to measure that performance, I think.

 

[K22]

I agree. There are variances in primer height, pocket depths and taper of the pocket. The primer height is the only thing one can't change - but I believe it to be insignificant - or should I phrase that as I'm not going to go to the bother of measuring primer heights. But, with a tool set to a stop - as he is using in the video, the taller primers are going to have more "crush" on them - and a short primer less, presumably the .001" error difference he came up with, assuming even pockets. I use an older Sinclaire tool as well, though I also prefer to seat by feel (in fact I don't even recall off hand whether mine even has a stop on it - don't think it does). I have uniformed a lot of brass of many different brands. Some batches had HUGE variation in depth and other batches not so much different. On some of the batches that had a lot of material taken on some pockets, I would guess there would be some kind of a difference in performance. Just too many variables in loading overall to measure that performance, I think.

The Sinclair Tool I have does not have a "stop" on the handle. It's strictly as seat by feel method which works very well for me meaning I can meet my accuracy goals with my reloads.

For me, the most important aspect of seating a primer whether it be a pistol or rifle, is reliability. Avoiding a "hang fire" is the most important consideration for me.

 

[Webster]

The Sinclair Tool I have does not have a "stop" on the handle. It's strictly as seat by feel method which works very well for me meaning I can meet my accuracy goals with my reloads.

For me, the most important aspect of seating a primer whether it be a pistol or rifle, is reliability. Avoiding a "hang fire" is the most important consideration for me.

How many articles do we need on seating primers?

 

[K22]

How many articles do we need on seating primers?

None

 

[Bronsin]

How many articles do we need on seating primers?

The same amount as we do on cleaning barrels

 

[rsbhunter]

I understand that some subjects get covered, and recovered, etc. But there are new guys that join, or just visit, and this may help them make a decision on buying a $50.00 priming tool or a $600 one. It's very easy for more experienced reloader's and shooters to get frustrated seeing the same subjects over and over. Yet we all have the option to skip over any topic at any time?..I still learn from the guy's on this site who excel at shooting, reloading and gunsmithing.... The best are far and few between, I for one am grateful that they will drag us kicking and screaming away from our beliefs that we know it all.....rsbhunter

 

[Propbndr]

Here is what Hodgdon says on the subject.

Primer seating depth

www.hodgdonreloading.com

 

[6Creed73]

I have just started using /testing the Lee ACP priming "press". Now, I'm only using the calipers tail style of measurement, but the consistency is great so far. Right out of the box, the primers were seating at .003...EVERYTIME ! I did make the modification so that I can adjust the seating depth, per FClass John's video. I have now bought a 3D printed case feeder set up, and if I get it installed, it will really shorten the.time priming takes. I had been using the Frankford Arsenal tool, and it was working great. The auto case feed will definitely speed up the process with the Lee, as case handling will almost be zero....will comment on the good and bad after I get it running......rsbhunter

I use the ACP too and I can't imagine a situation where I'd ever use anything else. This thing is dead nuts consistent. I use the Accuracy One tool to measure, which makes it so much easier than using calipers. My ACP seats at 0.005 95% of the time, sometimes it will seat 0.0045. I've used several other primer seating tools and none seat as consistently as the ACP.

 

[rsbhunter]

6creed73, it was hard to believe that the Lee ACP would or could be as accurate as some of the most highly rated priming tools. I'm guessing you made the modification for adjusting depth? I used to use the Lee hand priming tool, literally wore out 2 of them. I don't think that at my age, I'll wear out the ACP, or I'd have a new one in the box as a back up.!! Anyway, whether accurate and repeatable primer seating depth gives an edge or not, it's one less variable that I won't worry about...rsbhunter

 

[searcher]

How many articles do we need on seating primers?

Hey - you have to admit - some of them are entertaining, especially the ones that "re-invented" something.

 

[Webster]

I understand that some subjects get covered, and recovered, etc. But there are new guys that join, or just visit, and this may help them make a decision on buying a $50.00 priming tool or a $600 one. It's very easy for more experienced reloader's and shooters to get frustrated seeing the same subjects over and over. Yet we all have the option to skip over any topic at any time?..I still learn from the guy's on this site who excel at shooting, reloading and gunsmithing.... The best are far and few between, I for one am grateful that they will drag us kicking and screaming away from our beliefs that we know it all.....rsbhunter

The search tool will bring up hundreds of articles to read on seating primers. Many are recent.

 

[6Creed73]

6creed73, it was hard to believe that the Lee ACP would or could be as accurate as some of the most highly rated priming tools. I'm guessing you made the modification for adjusting depth? I used to use the Lee hand priming tool, literally wore out 2 of them. I don't think that at my age, I'll wear out the ACP, or I'd have a new one in the box as a back up.!! Anyway, whether accurate and repeatable primer seating depth gives an edge or not, it's one less variable that I won't worry about...rsbhunter

Yes, I made the modification to get the seating depth I wanted. Out of the box it was seating at 0.0035, also very consistently.

The ACP isn't perfect, it has a lot of plastic that I'd prefer to be aluminum or something, but it works. If mine broke tomorrow, I'd have another one ordered the same day. I have no desire to use anything else.

 

[rsbhunter]

Ok, so I'm guessing that all the posts on loads for 6 Dasher, bbl length for cartridge "X" , or how to find seating depth, ocw and 99% of other loading and shooting questions have been covered, so the classifieds it is!!! rsbhunter