Primer Seating tools
- Thread starter jp
- Start date
bobm
Silver $$ Contributor
Last edited:
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
The primer pockets can be consistent with the use of the 21st century adjustable primer pocket uniformer
jp
Silver $$ Contributor
thx Dusty
TTE
Gold $$ Contributor
For $700 it should come with someone that seats the primers for you.
This is the most precise.
kmshooting.com
What you want to experiment with is variations in primer crush. This is the only tool I know of that shows you the exact crush of each primer and pocket.
Primer cup heights vary. I routinely see .004" variance in cup height. So seating primers to a certain depth is pointless unless you have measured all your primer cup heights and then sorted them accordingly. That also assumes uniformed pockets.
Knowing this, why do so many BR competitors use the 21st Century or Sinclair Primer seaters? Because there is very little to be gained by tuning with primer crush.
Using a good quality primer tool, seating until you feel the primer bottom out then giving just a tad more gives you 90% of what you need. The 21st Century and Sinclair give you that. Even a CPS, IF you buy the longer handle, has good enough feel to seat with a little crush.
The K&M Primer Gauge allows you to see exactly how much crush you are imparting with a dial indicator.
When I tested the K&M Primer Gauge vs seating primers to a certain depth, I improved ES by 5 FPS in a well tuned LRBR rifle chambered in 6 BRA. That was it--5 FPS in a case that uses 30ish grains of powder, in a full-on BR rifle.
That was meaningful in that rifle, because having a 5 FPS wider velocity node can help keep the gun in tune better during a match.
However, I can think of no other application outside of BR--Long Range or Short Range, where a 5 FPS wider node is useful. Even then, the conditions have to be very good for it to show up on paper.
Primer / Gauge Assembly | Primer Pocket Tool | Reloading
Primer / Gauge Assembly | Primer Pocket Tool | Reloading | Seat the primer until you "feel" it just touch the bottom of the primer pocket
kmshooting.com
What you want to experiment with is variations in primer crush. This is the only tool I know of that shows you the exact crush of each primer and pocket.
Primer cup heights vary. I routinely see .004" variance in cup height. So seating primers to a certain depth is pointless unless you have measured all your primer cup heights and then sorted them accordingly. That also assumes uniformed pockets.
Knowing this, why do so many BR competitors use the 21st Century or Sinclair Primer seaters? Because there is very little to be gained by tuning with primer crush.
Using a good quality primer tool, seating until you feel the primer bottom out then giving just a tad more gives you 90% of what you need. The 21st Century and Sinclair give you that. Even a CPS, IF you buy the longer handle, has good enough feel to seat with a little crush.
The K&M Primer Gauge allows you to see exactly how much crush you are imparting with a dial indicator.
When I tested the K&M Primer Gauge vs seating primers to a certain depth, I improved ES by 5 FPS in a well tuned LRBR rifle chambered in 6 BRA. That was it--5 FPS in a case that uses 30ish grains of powder, in a full-on BR rifle.
That was meaningful in that rifle, because having a 5 FPS wider velocity node can help keep the gun in tune better during a match.
However, I can think of no other application outside of BR--Long Range or Short Range, where a 5 FPS wider node is useful. Even then, the conditions have to be very good for it to show up on paper.
I use 21st century PP uniformer, 21st century priming tool and purchased the CPS recently.
I don't have any score or grouping data to justify my tools. FWIW, I was using Hornady PP uniformer with good results.
With good tools I know I can trust them and I can have some tool bragging rights.
I don't have any score or grouping data to justify my tools. FWIW, I was using Hornady PP uniformer with good results.
With good tools I know I can trust them and I can have some tool bragging rights.
drop_point
Silver $$ Contributor
Buy the RCBS RAM Prime. It has an infinitely adjustable die plus you can also use competition shell holders. Its $33 and easier on your hands than any of the hand priming tools. Just be sure your primer pockets are consistent to start with.
D Coots
Silver $$ Contributor
I use my old Sinclair but I tell every primer they're being seated by a CPS. We both feel much better that way....
Yup.. and you can use shims under the die as well to go deeper/shallower. Cheapest option out there (well, the Lee ram prime is a little cheaper) and you can control depth to .001".
You should crush it and informed the pockets. And it does indeed make difference in high precision rifles.
There are always exceptions. Can you go into a little more detail? "High precision" is a bit vague, Are you making reference to any very accurate rifle, a benchrest gun, or something else?
SWOPTICS
Site $$ Sponsor
I love mine. I think they offer good feel, but mine have consistently broken at around the 12-month mark. I keep two so I can cycle the broken one back to Lee for replacement.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
They havent made those parts since about 1999
sw282
Silver $$ Contributor
l pick up old LEE Auto-primes now and then on GB/eb
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