Primer Education

[LIUNA]

I learned something today, I was shooting for a group on a new load and fired 4 rounds, decent group 1" at 50 yds. so I decided to up the charge 3/10's of a grain, and shot the 4 rounds, group spread badly, I went back to the original load and it shot badly. confused, I started back tracking my reloading procedure, and I remembered the only thing I did different was changing the primer tool. So I took the priming tool and seated a primer and checked it for depth, it only seated .002 deep, so I tried it again and realized the priming tool seating rod was short, I changed Priming tools and confirmed primer depth, and fired 4 rounds, and to my surprise I had a nice 3/4 inch clover leaf. So tonight I am going to order a 21st Century primer tool with depth adjustment. I think back about last summer and the problems I could't explain, it makes since now, and normally I check the seating depth when I start loading primers, but not that time. good lesson learned. and the old saying don't take anything for granted is still true. and as always you get what you pay for.

 

[jonbearman]

What are you shooting?

 

[LIUNA]

I was loading for a 45 Long colt, 1894 Cowboy Edition Marlin Lever action Rifle, and 6BRX.

 

[bigedp51]

I thought the advantage to the higher cost priming tool was increased "feel" to know when the primer was fully seated. Seating by depth measurment does not take into account primer pocket depth unless the primer pockets are uniformed.

I always seat my primers until a slight amount of smoke escapes around the primer and then I give the priming tool one final firm hard thrust of the priming lever. :