RCBS Universal Handprimer not seating primers

[hunter686]

As above, my hand primer won't seat my primers properly.


As you are seating the primers i feel the resistance then its like the primer disappears as the handle makes contact with the body of press. When i check the primers most of them protrude from the case base. It's like the plunging rod is too short and the and runs out of travel before it seats the prime fully. No matter how many squeezes of the handle i give it the handle always makes contact with the body first with no contact after the initial press.



I have the right priming rod size and the pockets are uniform so there is nothing funny in that department.



I have attached a picture to show you how far the pins actually protrudes at full travel (or doesn't)



Any suggestions on what is the problem?



cheers

 

[dkhunt14]

My RCBS hand primer rod adjusts for length. The end screws out the rod to make it longer. All I do is take it out and adjust. Matt

 

[hunter686]

My RCBS hand primer rod adjusts for length. The end screws out the rod to make it longer. All I do is take it out and adjust. Matt

I can do the same. The problem is when i screw it in and out the plunger just sits mid screw (loose and wobbly) which leaves it open to movement either in or out - most likey back in - and I'm back at sqaure one. Unless i pull it apart everytime to readjust or make a very small bushing to butt it up too.

Did you have the same problem without messing with the plunger insert?

 

[284winner]

As above, my hand primer won't seat my primers properly.


As you are seating the primers i feel the resistance then its like the primer disappears as the handle makes contact with the body of press. When i check the primers most of them protrude from the case base. It's like the plunging rod is too short and the and runs out of travel before it seats the prime fully. No matter how many squeezes of the handle i give it the handle always makes contact with the body first with no contact after the initial press.



I have the right priming rod size and the pockets are uniform so there is nothing funny in that department.



I have attached a picture to show you how far the pins actually protrudes at full travel (or doesn't)



Any suggestions on what is the problem?



cheers

I can do the same. The problem is when i screw it in and out the plunger just sits mid screw (loose and wobbly) which leaves it open to movement either in or out - most likey back in - and I'm back at sqaure one. Unless i pull it apart everytime to readjust or make a very small bushing to butt it up too.

Did you have the same problem without messing with the plunger insert?

I must have an older model rcbs hand primer. It has two different rods. One for small rifle and one for large. Was going to say, maybe you have the wrong rod in the handle. Think the small primer rod is longer than the large primer rod.

 

[hunter686]

I must have an older model rcbs hand primer. It has two different rods. One for small rifle and one for large. Was going to say, maybe you have the wrong rod in the handle. Think the small primer rod is longer than the large primer rod.

It has both pins for large and small. I double checked the length and they are both the same.

 

[SheepDog]

Contact RCBS and they will make it right. All it takes is a phone call.

 

[hunter686]

Contact RCBS and they will make it right. All it takes is a phone call.

I thought I'd check with others first incase it was me being a dumbass or if that's how it was meant to be. By the sounds of it's not normal.

 

[dkhunt14]

I can do the same. The problem is when i screw it in and out the plunger just sits mid screw (loose and wobbly) which leaves it open to movement either in or out - most likey back in - and I'm back at sqaure one. Unless i pull it apart everytime to readjust or make a very small bushing to butt it up too.

Did you have the same problem without messing with the plunger insert?

No, it stays solid. I never have to change it unless I want to go deeper. Matt

 

[hunter686]

No, it stays solid. I never have to change it unless I want to go deeper. Matt

Have you the standard or universal?

 

[dkhunt14]

It is just a hand primer. Had it a long time. Two different priming rods. Small and large. If I turn it upside down they fall out. Matt

 

[hunter686]

It is just a hand primer. Had it a long time. Two different priming rods. Small and large. If I turn it upside down they fall out. Matt

Ahh.! I have to borderline dismantle mine to change the pins. There is a small socket supplied that i have to feed in from the top to unscrew the pin. Pin is only around 12mm when screwed into place.

 

[hunter686]

Just took the SR plunger out my universal and it measures

15.92mm (or 0.627')

If anyone has to one to hand they can compare to that would be ideal.

Cheers
Geordie

 

[foxguy]

Just took the SR plunger out my universal and it measures

15.92mm (or 0.627')

If anyone has to one to hand they can compare to that would be ideal.

Cheers
Geordie

My Universal APS Primer seater SRP ram pin measures .626 over all length.

 

[hunter686]

Mine measures .626 over all length.

Thanks foxguy,
It's not a short pin looks like a give the guys a call tomorrow and see what they say.

 

[M-61]

I thought I'd check with others first incase it was me being a dumbass or if that's how it was meant to be. By the sounds of it's not normal.

All RCBS will do is make it right. They have replaced parts for me that I lost (at no charge). Losing the part is way down on the food chain, but they did not care.

 

[Webster]

As above, my hand primer won't seat my primers properly.


As you are seating the primers i feel the resistance then its like the primer disappears as the handle makes contact with the body of press. When i check the primers most of them protrude from the case base. It's like the plunging rod is too short and the and runs out of travel before it seats the prime fully. No matter how many squeezes of the handle i give it the handle always makes contact with the body first with no contact after the initial press.

I have the right priming rod size and the pockets are uniform so there is nothing funny in that department.

I have attached a picture to show you how far the pins actually protrudes at full travel (or doesn't)

Any suggestions on what is the problem?
cheers

My 45 YO Lee hand priming tool. With the handle all the way against the body I have about 0.018” protrusion measured with a digital caliper. With a case in the tool and the pin all the way down the difference between pushing the case up and down to show the limits of travel in the shell holder, I get what looks like about 0.005” clearance. This means that plunger pushes against the primer and the case moves upwards about 0.005” before that case movement is stopped by the shell holder, only then does the primer get pushed into the pocket. It works fine.

From your picture it looks like your pin protrudes at least 0.025”. This is far more than what is needed unless your shell holder has a lot of slop. Put a primer in the tool and push the handle slowly closed and make note of how far the pin pushes the case upward before upward movement is stopped by the shell holder, at this point the pin starts seating the primer. The only thing that seems reasonable is the case moves upward too far before travel bottoms out in the shell holder. The above test should verify it. Is the shell holder the correct one for your case?

 

[hunter686]

My 45 YO Lee hand priming tool. With the handle all the way against the body I have about 0.018” protrusion measured with a digital caliper. With a case in the tool and the pin all the way down the difference between pushing the case up and down to show the limits of travel in the shell holder, I get what looks like about 0.005” clearance. This means that plunger pushes against the primer and the case moves upwards about 0.005” before that case movement is stopped by the shell holder, only then does the primer get pushed into the pocket. It works fine.

From your picture it looks like your pin protrudes at least 0.025”. This is far more than what is needed unless your shell holder has a lot of slop. Put a primer in the tool and push the handle slowly closed and make note of how far the pin pushes the case upward before upward movement is stopped by the shell holder, at this point the pin starts seating the primer. The only thing that seems reasonable is the case moves upward too far before travel bottoms out in the shell holder. The above test should verify it. Is the shell holder the correct one for your case?

It's the universal primer so uses a spring jaw system as apposed to holder.

Here's some pictures and info.
Top one is how much clearance there is between the case head and the top face below the jaw.

That's how much paper i can get under the case (when it's on the jaws) and the top face where the plunger comes out without the plunger actually being engaged. As for primer protrusion i will go get my ammo box I'd say 0.001-2


Primer pocket depth: 0.137 to the flash hole and 0.127 to the edge of the pocket


Also, from face to the top of the plunger is the size 0.050 (1.24mm) total protrusion.

Thats works out 0.009 travel from the face of the case head into the pocket