Rookie question. How much force to seat primers.

[GunAddict]

I am fairly new to reloading and only have aspirations of precision shooting. Reloading was not as simple as I imagined it would be. I never realized that the load combinations are literally infinite. So her is an easy question concerning force to seat primers. I am using a RCBS hand priming tool. I also am cleaning my primer pockets with a Dewey Crocogator. I have heard people say that you can feel when the primer is seated. If I seat the primers until I feel it stop, I have some primers that extend a few thousandths past the case. If I take those cases and apply some more pressure, they will go in those last thousandths. I am probably over thinking this, but how easy should it be to seat the primers? Are there consequences to applying to much force?

 

[fredhorace77]

Yea dont give it too much thought... personally i seat the primer with a lee hand primer then spin the case 180° and squeeze it again. Other than that i do nothing else.

 

[brno308]

Hand priming requires moderate pressure. Just ensure that your primer is at least flush -or slightly recessed and you'r good to go. Never let the primer protrude.

 

[BoydAllen]

Give it just a little more pressure beyond what it takes to bottom in the pocket. You should feel the primer come into contact with the bottom of the primer pocket. I am pretty sure that all of the competitive benchrest shooters that I know seat by feel, rather than depth, and if the pocket is correct, the primer will always be well below flush when properly bottomed. Beyond this, you don't need to loose much sleep about how you are seating primers.