.45ACP Primer Issue

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skyking897

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I've just recently started reloading .45ACP and had quite a hard time finding large pistol primers. I eventually found some labeled "Campro". I know they make projectiles for reloading and have used them but didn't know anything about their primers. Since they were the only ones I came across I bought them. Seems I'm having an issue with seating the primer deep enough to be flush with case. I tried seating them in my Lee Turret Press and with a hand press I have and same issue with both. I deprimed a few that weren't seated deep enough and measured the primer pocket and it measured 0.123" deep while the primers measured 0.121" so they are not bottomed out. I can't find any specs on primer heights so I don't know if these are ok or do I have another issue?
 
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skyking897 said:
I've just recently started reloading .45ACP and had quite a hard time finding large pistol primers. I eventually found some labeled "Campro". I know they make projectiles for reloading and have used them but didn't know anything about their primers. Since they were the only ones I came across I bought them. Seems I'm having an issue with seating the primer deep enough to be flush with case. I tried seating them in my Lee Turret Press and with a hand press I have and same issue with both. I deprimed a few that weren't seated deep enough and measured the primer pocket and it measured 0.123" deep while the primers measured 0.121" so they are not bottomed out. I can't find any specs on primer heights so I don't know if these are ok or do I have another issue?
Click to expand...
Hard to say. Are you sure they are LP and not LR? LR primers are slightly thicker than LP and cannot be seated flush into an LP primer pocket. I have never heard of Campro.
 
When the primer is forced into the pocket, it's compressed in diameter and that will lengthen it slightly, at least it will tend to raise the dome in the center of the cup. .002" really isn't quite enough clearance and I suspect those are rifle primers. A good carbide pocket uniformer will clean up and deepen the bottom of the pocket enough for this combo to work. I got mine from Sinclair but I'm sure they are commonly available.
 
Since you measured the primers and primer pockets, and the primers are .002" shorter than the depth of the pockets from your numbers, None of the suggestions above will help you at all! The only answer is that the primers are slightly larger in diameter than others you are used to and they are simply hard to seat. Simply push just a bit harder! They should be .003" or so below the face of the case head when properly seated.

There is one other possibility, and that is your priming tool is worn to the point that it just cannot seat the primers fully. If the lever of your priming tool goes against the tool body when priming it is worn and you need to replace it.

Just re-read your post and see you are using a Lee turret press. Same comments about wear apply here too.

Do you have anyone in your area who is more experienced with hand-loading than you are? You might ask him to come over and help you trouble shoot this. Questions about mechanical device problems are nearly impossible to trouble shoot without being able to examine the equipment hands on. As you can easily see all of us, including me, are GUESSING, and I at least have been reloading for over 60 years! I use equipment from all the major manufacturers, including a couple that have been out of business for many years, and I am still guessing.
 
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Alk8944 said:
....
There is one other possibility, and that is your priming tool is worn to the point that it just cannot seat the primers fully. If the lever of your priming tool goes against the tool body when priming it is worn and you need to replace it.

Just re-read your post and see you are using a Lee turret press. Same comments about wear apply here too.

Do you have anyone in your area who is more experienced with hand-loading than you are? You might ask him to come over and help you trouble shoot this. Questions about mechanical device problems are nearly impossible to trouble shoot without being able to examine the equipment hands on. As you can easily see all of us, including me, are GUESSING, and I at least have been reloading for over 60 years! I use equipment from all the major manufacturers, including a couple that have been out of business for many years, and I am still guessing.
Click to expand...

That is a very good point and something to check. It is hard to help you without being hands on.
 
Things I would look at:
1. Are they large pistol or large rifle primers, large rifle are slightly larger in diameter than large pistol.
2. Diameter of the primer pocket, some brass have minimum spec diameters, S&B brass immediately springs to mind.
 
If you don’t have a primer pocket reamer, I would invest in one. It’ll clean and size your pockets. I’ve found that S&B and Winchester brass to be very tight with out reaming the pockets. Best of luck.
 
Jackcpat said:
If you don’t have a primer pocket reamer, I would invest in one. It’ll clean and size your pockets. I’ve found that S&B and Winchester brass to be very tight with out reaming the pockets. Best of luck.
Click to expand...

Yes. I was thinking they might have a crimp.
I've taken to reaming my 9mm brass after wearing out my thumb with the Lee priming tool. Glad I bought that RCBS primer pocket reamer.
I do 45acp on a Dillon progressive. It has enough leverage where priming is not an issue.
 
I prime my pistol ammo on my 550b’s and Lyman T2 presses, they give you plenty of leverage to seat hard ones. Have even seated a few sideways until i figured why they flipped. I use an old Lee auto-prime for my rifle ammo.
 
primer specs & pocket dimensions

Large pistol pocket = 0.1170 min height, 0.1230 max, diameter min 0.2085 and max 0.2100

Large pistol primer dimensions - 0.1150 min height, 0.1250 height, .2100 diameter min, .2120 diameter max


Brownell/Sinclair pocket reamer ,both large and small, chucked in B&D electric screwdriver easy way to go. Not terrible expensive either .

I use on both new brass and reloads. Squares up pocket and sets proper depth.

I have come across some imported primers the last few years that were too large to fit. I try to stick with CCI and Winchester, Federal as well.
Check your priming tool for wear as well.
 
Alk8944 said:
Since you measured the primers and primer pockets, and the primers are .002" shorter than the depth of the pockets from your numbers, None of the suggestions above will help you at all! The only answer is that the primers are slightly larger in diameter than others you are used to and they are simply hard to seat. Simply push just a bit harder! They should be .003" or so below the face of the case head when properly seated.
Click to expand...
I would tend to agree with this, from my own recent experience with "unknown brand" primers. I bought half a brick of small pistol primers that I think are made in Croatia, can't remember the name, since I've loaded them all and threw away the packaging. So far, they've all gone "pop", and looked well-made when I was priming with them. I hand prime all my ammo, and these were a real exercise in grip strength to get them seated. I was loading already fired as well as new brass, in several cartridge types, but these primers were tight in everything.

To the OP, if you shoot a lot of .45 Auto, keep a supply of large primer as well as small primer brass on hand. Then you have options when you can't find one size or the other. I load both types and really can't tell the difference when you pull the trigger. I keep my ammo lots separate so I don't have to sort the brass later.
 
DWalt said:
Hard to say. Are you sure they are LP and not LR? LR primers are slightly thicker than LP and cannot be seated flush into an LP primer pocket. I have never heard of Campro.
Click to expand...

seems to be Canadian
As Canada has fought along side us on numerous battlefields. I think they can get this right.
Just starting as he is, this could very well be a combination of fresh new brass and inexperience
 
Thank God I stocked up on all primers about 4 years ago. Mostly load 45ACP, second is 38 Spl and 357 Mag then 45 Colt. The Winchester LPP have both slightly domed and flat cups. I prefer CCI and Federal but have lots and lots of Winchester. 99% of my 45 ACP cases have been run through RCBS pocket swage but occasionally will shoot some new out of the box GI ammo and have to swage them, no big deal.
Civilian brass has always been uncrimped and no problem. I also try to deprime 45 ACP cases before they go in vibratory case cleaner. Maybe 1/3 have small piece of walnut hull stick in primer hole, easy to push out when inspecting cases. Always check every component when reloading. taking a few seconds can prevent problems.
 
Just glancing through a few different forums I see this is nothing new with Ginex primers. Read reports going back several years of both small pistol and rifle primers not wanting to seat and actually breaking a press or two in the process so it shouldn't be surprising about large primers having the same issue. Also read where some US sellers stopped carrying them after hearing from many irate customers.
 
SAAMI primer specifications

Get an RCBS Ram Prime unit. Primers can be flush with case head to .008" below.

Large pistol & large rifle are different in size. Fyi

SAAMI PRIMERS | The High Road

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Thanks everybody for your input. Just to clarify some details, yes I'm Canadian, not new to reloading just new to .45ACP. Recently graduated from shooting 9mm to .45ACP and enjoying it. Supplies have been scarce around here for awhile with sparadic deliveries which seem to be improving lately. I normally use CCI primers but everyone was out of stock so I took what I could get which in this case was Campro. They could very well be large rifle primers but the boxes are labeled large pistol primers. I have a varied collection of brass since I was originally shooting factory ammo and I now have enough .45 small primer brass to try reloading that.
 
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