Simple, Low Cost tool for Primer Seating Depth

[chop house]

This is not a thread about the merits of crush/feel vs exact depth! That has been sufficiently addressed by the real experts on the forum. This is simply a means for those that wish to experiment with exact depth, as indexed off the cartridge base, to do so without buying new gear.

For years i have de-primed with an arbor press and rod. I use a double ended base that was originally intended as a 'booster chair' (?) for wilson seater dies. One end has .223 recess, and the other .308, with a .222 through hole that the spent primers fall through.

I tapped the hole 1/4-28, turned down the end of a bolt to 0.150 (for small primer work) and added a set screw in the body of the tool. Done.

Using any style of priming tool, seat primers but leave them slightly proud of the cartridge base. insert brass into the recess (after setting the 'ram' protrusion to your target number (say 0.005) ) and push down on the cartridge web using a rod with a slightly rounded end. measure and adjust as necessary, 10 degrees = 0.001".

FOR ILLUSTRATION: If pockets measure 0.123", primers measure 0.122" then depth of 0.005" should give 0.004" crush.

<presented for educational purposes only, author is not advocating any particular primer seating tool or technique. >

 

[ShtrRdy]

Good idea!

 

[M-61]

That has been sufficiently addressed by the real experts on the forum.

Can you list them please?

 

[chop house]

Can you list them please?

oh my gosh. there has been so much chatter... and threads/posts from members such as Boyd Allen, Dusty Stevens, Alex Wheeler, Mike Ezell, Bart Sauter et al reviewing tools, tests, and winners equipment i wouldn't dare revisit.

more recently there was a thread about a lee ACP priming tool that just kinda got me curious. it had design problems, wasn't well accepted, and didn't last long on the market.

my idea was merely, how can you get this done well enough (index primer on case head rather than rim) (without spending $100 or $700) to do some testing. i like the old lee round trays, but my arthritic thumbs do not. that caused me to go to the rcbs bench mount. i lost some of the 'feel', and it does not pack well in my 'load at the range' gear. Also, i had been messing around with mil crimped ofb and found it difficult to get the right feel after swaging the pockets.

surprisingly, if when using the tool i made, you support the case with thumb and forefinger while resting them on top of the tool you can easily detect both the motion and the hard stop.

if you question my use of 'sufficiently' i grant that you may have a point. is a ford/chevy debate ever really over? this is more in the vein of 'one way to do your own testing' if you see value in it - one way or the other

 

[chop house]

Major Factor in Primer Seating Depth Variability

Primer seating depth

Would like to now if primer seating depth for better accuracy is fact or fiction. Thanks buck

forum.accurateshooter.com

Question for all current long range Benchrest record holders and nationals winners, IBS and NBRSA

Did you seat those primers by feel or to a particular depth?

forum.accurateshooter.com

Primer depth for accuracy

I'm trying to find anyone's actual testing experience regarding primer seating depth. With the Accuracy One primer seating gauge and the Primal rights seating tool, among others, it is possible to mostly control or at least ascertain what each rounds seating depth is. But.....does it really...

forum.accurateshooter.com

If you prime by depth you should watch this test.