Colt Country | Home of The Almighty Colt

General Black Powder => Percussion Caps and Primers => Topic started by: Navy Six on March 31, 2024, 07:42:22 AM

Title: primer seating depth
Post by: Navy Six on March 31, 2024, 07:42:22 AM: At my last Cowboy Shoot my 38-40 black powder loads failed to fire in my Uberti 1866 at a rate of almost 50%. I was very puzzled as this has never happened. Inspecting the offending cartridges later showed light firing pin strikes, but that all primers (Winchester large pistol)were seated below the case rim. Rifle inspection showed nothing amiss so I broke down the remaining cartridges. I then used a RCBS hand priming tool and was able to further seat each primer. Those now empty cartridges fired normally in the same rifle. I load on a Dillon 550B which is now 40 years old, but I inspect each and every cartridge I reload for primer seating depth and know for certain none of those 38-40s had high primers. So I guess I will probably now use the hand priming tool as you can feel the primer bottom out in the pocket much better.
Title: Re: primer seating depth
Post by: Dave Shooter on March 31, 2024, 08:18:21 AM: I don't own an 1866. Is it possible to drop the hammer with it slightl
y out of battery?
Title: Re: primer seating depth
Post by: Hawg on March 31, 2024, 08:56:48 AM: I always seat mine with an RCBS hand primer. You have a much better feel for when it's fully seated.
Title: Re: primer seating depth
Post by: Captainkirk on March 31, 2024, 06:23:58 PM: I have always seated primers on the press but lately I'm thinking about changing this up due to some primers being very hard to fully seat. Are you reaming primer pockets during brass prep?
Title: Re: primer seating depth
Post by: Hawg on March 31, 2024, 07:34:16 PM: The only pockets I ream are 5.56.
Title: Re: primer seating depth
Post by: Captainkirk on March 31, 2024, 08:48:45 PM: Quote from: Dave Shooter on March 31, 2024, 08:18:21 AM
I don't own an 1866. Is it possible to drop the hammer with it slightl
y out of battery?

Yes, it is possible.
Title: Re: primer seating depth
Post by: Navy Six on April 01, 2024, 08:16:08 AM: I don't ream primer pockets but since I clean cases in a rotary tumbler with SS pins the primer pockets are completely clean.