what to do?

[MDF4]

I was rummaging around my reloading room this morning and came across a box (50) .358 38 Sp 125 gr LC-RNFP coated loads. I didn't date the reload but I'm thinking they are about 3 years old. After a close inspection every last one has a shallow set primer and dragging my nail across leaves no doubt. If memory serves, I think I was using the Lee Auto bench prime tool at that time. I added the priming setup to my Redding T7's since then and that's served me well.
Question is, what to do? Put them on the press and seat deeper or shoot them as is? The press option kind of sounds dangerous, should a round do the unthinkable. Shallow seating brings the potential for cylinder lockup or should I just pull my screw up and start over? Last thing, I've used my primer pocket tool since I started reloading so I don't know what happened.
The brass is "A USA" range brass and primers CCI 500
Any thoughts and suggestions are very appreciated. Thanks...Hal'

 

[Hair Trigger]

I'd try loading them in the cylinder and see if the primers scrub and cause closing problems before trying to seat them deeper or pulling the bullets and starting over. I've never had a primer fire when seating them on an empty case, but I'd sure be sweating it trying to seat one on a loaded cartridge. I doubt that one would fire if it is against the recoil shield, as the anvil in the primer has to crush the priming compound to make it fire and you're not punching the primer that way.

 

[kraynky]

I'm a bit of a daredevil perhaps, but I've gently re-seated high primers before with no problem.

Have you ever set off a primer when seating it during the initial loading? Me neither.

I realize it's a more daring risk, being a completely loaded cartridge. But it's not a violent primer strike.

Do so at your own risk of course, if you choose to do so. But my personal opinion is, if your careful and slow, you'll be fine.

Shooting as is seems a bit more risky to me, however, your pistol may or may not even rotate the cylinder if they are too proud.

Let us know what you decide,.......... wear ear and eye protection......... LOL!��

 

[OKFC05]

My first step for high primers is to see if my 686 will close on them. If yes, I shoot them at something. High primers sometimes take 2 hits to fire; first hit seats the primer.
If the gun won't close on them, I pull the bullet and start over.
Under NO circumstances will I try to seat a primer deeper on a loaded cartridge with a press.
"I did it before and it was OK that time" is the #1 statement made by people injured doing something contrary to the manual.

 

[serger]

This is what I'd do.

I'd seat them using the press. Just wear PPE.
Worst case, one goes off and you get a split case
maybe and a slug bouncing off the ceiling. Use
ear plugs and eye protection. Since the shell isn't
contained minimal pressure and zip for velocity.

Just saying what I'd do.

 

[Miracle Man]

I'm a bit of a daredevil perhaps, but I've gently re-seated high primers before with no problem.

Have you ever set off a primer when seating it during the initial loading? Me neither.

I realize it's a more daring risk, being a completely loaded cartridge. But it's not a violent primer strike.

Do so at your own risk of course, if you choose to do so. But my personal opinion is, if your careful and slow, you'll be fine.

Shooting as is seems a bit more risky to me, however, your pistol may or may not even rotate the cylinder if they are too proud.

Let us know what you decide,.......... wear ear and eye protection......... LOL!��

Yes I have

It's been many years ago. I was loading 223. Of course I was seating the primer, nothing seemed out of order and all of the sudden POW !! I about you know what in my pants. I checked brass and primer all out and never did find anything for a cause.

I've loaded 1,000's of rounds with zero issues. And yes I've nudged a couple high primers in deeper over the decades.

If it was me I'd pull em, just not worth it. Yes it's probably one in a million, but.

 

[MDF4]

Thanks Guys and with all due respect, I'm going to pass on trying to set deeper on a loaded cartridge. I've got time this week and think I'll try one at a time in the 686 cylinder and see what happens. I'm sitting here laughing at myself..." Why didn't I think of that?"
Thanks Guys and...Happy New Year! Hal'

 

[rockquarry]

This is what I'd do.

I'd seat them using the press. Just wear PPE.
Worst case, one goes off and you get a split case
maybe and a slug bouncing off the ceiling. Use
ear plugs and eye protection. Since the shell isn't
contained minimal pressure and zip for velocity.

Just saying what I'd do.

Poor and potentially very dangerous advice.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If the ammo doesn't bind up your revolver just shoot it as is. Even if you need a second strike when shooting so what? It's only range ammo, go for it.

While reseating primers in live ammo has been done it is a very bad idea to do so. Just shoot it and get it right next time around. You know the saying, "Better safe than sorry!"

 

[Forrest r]

I find it interesting that no one thinks twice about seating a primer in a empty case.

But do the same thing to a loaded round and it becomes dangerous.

 

[cracker57]

so some say just put them in the press and seat them the rest of the way because they have done it with no problem. The odds of one going off are 1 in a million so go for it. look at it like playing the lottery the odds are one in a million but remember someone wins, with seating a high primer in a loaded round one could say someone loses.

 

[rockquarry]

I find it interesting that no one thinks twice about seating a primer in a empty case.

But do the same thing to a loaded round and it becomes dangerous.

Because it's potentially dangerous; why take a chance? Most of us do think twice about seating a primer in an empty case and we take necessary precautions like using safety glasses.

If a primer is somehow fired when priming an empty case (and that's happened) that's bad enough. When a cartridge is fired while seating a primer deeper that's a bit worse, maybe or maybe not life threatening worse, but it's foolish to risk possible injury when you can avoid it.

It's much better and safer to fire the cartridge if it can be done safely or break it down.

 

[Alk8944]

Just finish seating the primers in your press or with a priming tool, you are doing nothing that is in anyway different than normal seating of a primer! I know the manuals have been warning against doing this for years out of an over-abundance of caution, but

Can anyone cite a single example of ever having a primer fire during normal seating operations while loading? Or even heard a reliable report of this happening?

Have you had a primer flip on its side during seating and been crushed sideways into the primer pocket? Did any of those primers fire? There is absolutely no hazard in seating a high primer in a loaded cartridge as long as it is done no more abruptly than when normally seating primers! The priming compound must be crushed by an abrupt, forceful blow as is given by the hammer and firing pin, a gentle push by the flat face of a seating punch cannot cause a primer to fire!

 

[rockquarry]

Just finish seating the primers in your press or with a priming tool, you are doing nothing that is in anyway different than normal seating of a primer! I know the manuals have been warning against doing this for years out of an over-abundance of caution, but

Can anyone cite a single example of ever having a primer fire during normal seating operations while loading? Or even heard a reliable report of this happening?

Have you had a primer flip on its side during seating and been crushed sideways into the primer pocket? Did any of those primers fire? There is absolutely no hazard in seating a high primer in a loaded cartridge as long as it is done no more abruptly than when normally seating primers! The priming compound must be crushed by an abrupt, forceful blow as is given by the hammer and firing pin, a gentle push by the flat face of a seating punch cannot cause a primer to fire!

If you absolutely need an example of primer detonation during the seating process, contact Lee Precision. They probably have more documented information than anyone else.

 

[MDF4]

To me, the one in a million concept is just not worth the potential for disaster. The range I use is owned and operated by a really good gunsmith and if I get a locked cylinder I'll just hand it to him. Last night I took the time to dig out all my old load sheets and from what I can tell these loads were from early 2018. I've loaded thousands of rounds since then with no problems so I'll take the safer path on this one.
Thanks to all, and on the side, the SWF is the best.

 

[venomballistics]

Thanks Guys and with all due respect, I'm going to pass on trying to set deeper on a loaded cartridge. I've got time this week and think I'll try one at a time in the 686 cylinder and see what happens. I'm sitting here laughing at myself..." Why didn't I think of that?"
Thanks Guys and...Happy New Year! Hal'

We are talking about 38 here .... I think you have a solid reason to score yourself a Henry Big Boy in 357 to deal with problems such as these.
There's no rotating mechanism to hang up, you can recock the hammer without advancing to the next cartridge. and its just a cool rifle for the new year.

 

[MDF4]

We are talking about 38 here .... I think you have a solid reason to score yourself a Henry Big Boy in 357 to deal with problems such as these.
There's no rotating mechanism to hang up, you can recock the hammer without advancing to the next cartridge. and its just a cool rifle for the new year.

Venom, you make a valid point and I'm going on the hunt, no pun intended, for your recommendation being the perfect resolution. Thanks...ya' just got to think out of the box

 

[venomballistics]

Venom, you make a valid point and I'm going on the hunt, no pun intended, for your recommendation being the perfect resolution. Thanks...ya' just got to think out of the box

Glad to be of service.
Got one for the missus years back so as to have something reloadable and fairly mild for her to shoot.
Then I fell in love with the thing as it filled a ballistic void in the arsenal that most of us tend to neglect, but shouldn't.
Hope you make similar findings

 

[scooter123]

I use RCBS Universal Hand Primers, have one set up for LP and one setup for SP. It turns out that they do wear out and the result is shallow primers. Found that out when went to the range and had some failures to fire on the first strike in my model 67. Note, they did not bind at all but did fail to fire on the first strike, probably because I had the DA trigger tuned to 8 lbs at that point. Anyhow I had another 350 rounds that were run in that particular batch. I corrected the problem by changing my LP hand primer over to SP and re-seated the primers. Did not have any issues at all. Take note, if you put too much pressure on the Universal Hand Primer you will find the shell will pop free, so that does provide an additional layer of safety.

 

[Forrest r]

Because it's potentially dangerous; why take a chance? Most of us do think twice about seating a primer in an empty case and we take necessary precautions like using safety glasses.

If a primer is somehow fired when priming an empty case (and that's happened) that's bad enough. When a cartridge is fired while seating a primer deeper that's a bit worse, maybe or maybe not life threatening worse, but it's foolish to risk possible injury when you can avoid it.

It's much better and safer to fire the cartridge if it can be done safely or break it down.

Like it isn't potentially more dangerous to create a "hang fire" situation???

I'm not telling anyone to do anything. As for myself I have no issues seating primers. I have no issues reseating primers in loaded cases and have done so in the past. And will continue to do so in the future.

What I will not do is pull the trigger 2/3/4 times trying to seat the primer deeper so it can go off. This is creating the perfect storm for hang fires/mis-fires.