How do my primers look? (updated 7/29)

[Shooter_308]

Hey guys, so i started handloading today and it's all going pretty smooth so far. Just wanted a quick assesment of my primer depth, tried to take the best pics i could with my DSLR, so they may be a little big. Input is great, thanks!

New Winchester brass, Federal 210m primers

 

[USAF SP]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

they look just fine. Throw some powder in them and get to shooting. You need to pay attention to the primers after the shot since you will be able to tell if you are pushing them a little to hard. Good luck and enjoy

Hog

 

[wIg SpLiTtEr]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

They look good to me as well. If you want to double check em just chamber one and test fire it

 

[Shooter_308]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

unfortunately i can't text fire them...neighbors are too close and i'll get scalped if i do it in the house haha. Thanks guys. Time to do 50 more tomorrow.

 

[cav.scout]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

Just sit them on a table if they don't wobble there good.

 

[B3dlam]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

The table trick works well I usually run a finger over the bottom as I puill it from my priming tool and feel to make sure it doesnt protrude....On a side note a higher aperature on the camera would have made for less 'artistic blur' lol.

 

[Highflyer]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

+1. Good advice for primers and photography.

 

[wnroscoe]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

3rd from the left is about .0015" to deep but other than that they look gtg

.

 

[671RTO9513]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

Mr. Roscoe

I believe your precision Eyeometer needs a thorough lubing and recalibration.

I made it .00121367"

May I suggest Avery's IPA as a suitable lubricant - works for me.

 

[wilecoyote]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

if they don't protrude "can" be ok (...perhaps),but if they are a little bit deeper will be better for sure_ with some practice,even with a Lee primer tool you can develop the sensibility to "feel" when the primer is fully seated,and his anvil is properly armed,without be crushed,of course_this is important to have a uniform ignition on a bolt action, and even more important to reduce slam-fire risks on a semi-auto_

 

[Shooter_308]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

Haha thanks for the info and a couple laughs. Yeah i did the table trick/finger trick and they all seemed to check out (tonight's batch as well).

Everything is sized/chamfered/deburred and ready to go! I set my Forster seating die and I made up 2 dummy rounds set to 2.800" COAL.....they fit in my internal magazine no problem as well as chamber very smoothly!

I'm pretty happy. And with the girlfriend out of the picture for the weekend, and a day off looks like i'm going to the range this weekend to load test

Oh and thanks for the info on the camera haha

 

[Twitch2120]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

they look terrible, send them to me for disposal. the other 50 too when you are done

 

[Shooter_308]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

Aw crap!!! Sigh...what's your address.... haha.

 

[Hink]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wnroscoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">3rd from the left is about .0015" to deep but other than that they look gtg

. </div></div>

If you're satisfied just rounding to the nearest half-thousandth...

To the OP - primers look good. If they go bang when you pull the trigger, then they're great. Some get really into primer seating depths, but as long as they're flush I don't really see a reason to get much further into it.

 

[Shooter_308]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

Hey all, so i finished all my priming and sizing so tonight was powder and bullet seating. I gotta tell ya, i really do feel accomplished rolling my own! I have one and a half batches so far, i had to quit because ive been up since 9 am and was going cross-eyed haha.

So far i'm at:

178 & 168gr Hornady A-MAX
Winchester Brass FL sized/trimmed to 2.005"
Varget Powder (40.0-44.5gr loads for testing)
Federal 210m Primers
COAL 2.800"

The 178's will be shot out of my 700 AAC 20" 1:10, and the 168's out of mt SPS-V 26" 1:12.

Just some more pics of the progress:

my station

The 178's jacket for some reason seems to once in a while get BARELY shaved causing a little bit of copper dust, but when i pulled a few from seating too deep they barely had any surface marks...odd. The 168's didn't do this, all cases were chamfered and deburred.

boxed and labeled for this week, gotta finish those last 25 tomorrow morning!

 

[ScurvyPete]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

How come you don't ladder test these?

 

[B3dlam]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

Ladder testing is definitely a great option however it can be extremly time consuming especially if you are shooting at a range with other people.

 

[Shooter_308]

Re: How do my primers look? First time priming...

B3dlam said it perfectly, unfortunately the closest range to me is about an hour away and is always packed, it's one of the 2 on the whole island.... So basically i'm gonna bring what i have, shoot it, check for pressure signs etc see which groups best, and work from there. I would love to do a full ladder test but i just don't have the real time to do it. This is more of a tactical shooting rifle, rather than benchrest though.