Really has me stumped!!!!

[PigButtons]

With a tool as old as yours, is it possible that the guide pocket that the pin and guide rides in is worn to the point of allowing it to shift at the end of the stroke? A one degree cant of the pin will get the results you are seeing.

 

[wkdickinson]

Yeah, I always figure a problem is my fault, but I've reloaded for 40+ years, and have never had this problem. I for years used the least expensive priming tool from Lee, wore 2 of them out.....if the new one wasn't "new and improved" , I'd have a 3rd one !!!!! What did you switch to, if I may ask?? Thanks, rsbhunter

I too used the Lee hand priming tool. I have two of them and used them right up to this year when I bought the new Lee Auto Bench Priming Tool (https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1017749087). It works great! You have really good "feel" (I like primers to bottom out solidly) and it is much easier on old hands than the hand held ones. They are cheap also.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have one of the Lee benchtop priming tools, tho it is good and definitely helps ailing arthritic hands, the Lee shell holder for the .223 is a little sloppy. On all other cases it's fine and fast with little effort to prime. However if I had to do it all over again I'd have bought the RCBS benchtop priming tool , and probably will in the near future.

 

[K22]

While not cheap, the Sinclair tool is top quality and will last you a lifetime.

I've been using mine for 20 years now and it works flawlessly and will not break like a lot of those cheap ones make of "pot metal." I broke three RCBS hand primers before switching to Sinclair.

 

[skeeljc]

+1 for the RCBS bench priming tool. It has the right amount of leverage to let you feel when the primer is seated and keeps you from crushing the primer.

 

[JFrank]

Yeah, I always figure a problem is my fault, but I've reloaded for 40+ years, and have never had this problem. I for years used the least expensive priming tool from Lee, wore 2 of them out.....if the new one wasn't "new and improved" , I'd have a 3rd one !!!!! What did you switch to, if I may ask?? Thanks, rsbhunter

I can personally recommend the K&M basic hand primer tool or step up to a click adjustable 21st century

 

[rsbhunter]

I recieved an email from the customer service guy at Frankford Arsenal this morning. They are sending out a new unit complete. This kind of CS is unbelievable!!! I have told them to send a will call tag, as I don't feel right getting a whole new set, without sending the original one back. Even though this unit is only 6 months or so old, I thought they could inspect it and find what is off. Either way, had to let you guys know the situation, and give due credit when it's deserved. Frankford Arsenal has honestly been one of the most willing companies to listen and try to correct a problem that can't be understood clearly through emails. rsbhunter

 

[Murray Brook]

I have been using for years the Lee ram priming tool. The one that goes where the die are screwed in the press. Works great and I find it has a great feel to it when seating the primer. JMO

 

[Fern]

I ordered. FA hand primer last month and after reading your thread went to my garage to try it out for first time.
it seated primer good with no signs of what you saw.
let us know how the replacement one works

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Maybe your primer pockets are just too tight? See if you can stop like .015 short of where youre seating and see if its still doing that not crushing the primer

 

[Zero333]

I've had this problem before...

Some new brass has tight pockets and some primer types are a hair bigger in circumference than others.
When you combine a tight pocket and a wider primer this is what happens. So try a different primer like Sellier & Bellot that mic a little smaller than most and use them for the first firing. Then uniform the pockets and try your regular primer.

 

[Mark W]

"new and improved" is marketing speak for we found a way to make them cheaper

Frank

……and charge you more….lol

 

[CJ6]

Is it just me??? or does the primer in the 1st pic look like it was sand blasted...I mean it looks really rough. The 2nd pic looks like the rim is deformed (over-pressure) and I'm wondering if the rim isn't seating in the shell-holder correctly.