Inconsistent Primmer Seating Depth on RL1100
Quote from Jacek on October 21, 2025, 2:38 pmHey everyone — running into a frustrating priming issue on my Dillon RL1100 and hoping someone here has seen this before or can offer ideas.
Problem:
When I prime at ~0.002" below the case mouth (what I thought was correct), primers sometimes don’t fire. Pushing the depth deeper to ~0.005"–0.006" gives 100% ignition reliability, but creates a new problem: my shell plate flexes and newly-primed cases get pushed up against the shell plate so the case gets stuck up against the shell plate. That misalignment causes the powder funnel to miss/crush the case and I have to push the round down manually from the shell plate.What I’ve checked / tried so far:
Mixed range brass (so I accept there’s case length variance) — but this seems extreme even for that.
Called Dillon — they told me to check the shell plate for tightness. I verified there’s no wobble/play at the mount, but the plate still flexes under load when primer depth is set to ~.005" below the case.
Adjusting primer depth: shallow (.002") → unreliable ignition; deeper (.005"–.006") → good ignition but cases stick/push up and powder drop misaligns.
Suspect next step is a priming hold-down die for the priming station (I’m looking at the Level 10 Priming Support Die).
Questions / what I’m asking:
Has anyone experienced the same behavior on an RL1100 or similar progressive press — reliable ignition only at deeper seating but shell plate flex / case sticking occurs?
Does the Level 10 priming support / hold-down die reliably fix this symptom (not just a bandaid)? Any other recommended brands or solutions?
Could this be caused by something else)?
Any setup tips for mixed-length range brass to avoid this (shims, spacer, different shell plate, bushing, or technique)?
Is deeper seating (.005"–.006") safe/standard on RL1100 for consistent ignition, or am I masking another issue?
Specs / details to help diagnose:
Press: Dillon RL1100 progressive reloader (priming station).
Brass: mixed range (various manufacturers/lot lengths).
Primer depth targets tried: 0.002" below case mouth (problem), 0.005"–0.006" below (ignition reliable, mechanical sticking issue).
Shell plate: appears tight at mount but flexes when priming deeper.
Considering: Level 10 Priming Support Die (hold-down die).
Appreciate any pointers, war stories, or photos of a fix if you’ve done it. Thanks!
Hey everyone — running into a frustrating priming issue on my Dillon RL1100 and hoping someone here has seen this before or can offer ideas.
Problem:
When I prime at ~0.002" below the case mouth (what I thought was correct), primers sometimes don’t fire. Pushing the depth deeper to ~0.005"–0.006" gives 100% ignition reliability, but creates a new problem: my shell plate flexes and newly-primed cases get pushed up against the shell plate so the case gets stuck up against the shell plate. That misalignment causes the powder funnel to miss/crush the case and I have to push the round down manually from the shell plate.
What I’ve checked / tried so far:
Mixed range brass (so I accept there’s case length variance) — but this seems extreme even for that.
Called Dillon — they told me to check the shell plate for tightness. I verified there’s no wobble/play at the mount, but the plate still flexes under load when primer depth is set to ~.005" below the case.
Adjusting primer depth: shallow (.002") → unreliable ignition; deeper (.005"–.006") → good ignition but cases stick/push up and powder drop misaligns.
Suspect next step is a priming hold-down die for the priming station (I’m looking at the Level 10 Priming Support Die).
Questions / what I’m asking:
Has anyone experienced the same behavior on an RL1100 or similar progressive press — reliable ignition only at deeper seating but shell plate flex / case sticking occurs?
Does the Level 10 priming support / hold-down die reliably fix this symptom (not just a bandaid)? Any other recommended brands or solutions?
Could this be caused by something else)?
Any setup tips for mixed-length range brass to avoid this (shims, spacer, different shell plate, bushing, or technique)?
Is deeper seating (.005"–.006") safe/standard on RL1100 for consistent ignition, or am I masking another issue?
Specs / details to help diagnose:
Press: Dillon RL1100 progressive reloader (priming station).
Brass: mixed range (various manufacturers/lot lengths).
Primer depth targets tried: 0.002" below case mouth (problem), 0.005"–0.006" below (ignition reliable, mechanical sticking issue).
Shell plate: appears tight at mount but flexes when priming deeper.
Considering: Level 10 Priming Support Die (hold-down die).
Appreciate any pointers, war stories, or photos of a fix if you’ve done it. Thanks!
Quote from The Human Manual on October 21, 2025, 3:55 pmMy first suspicion is that the case pockets in the shellplate are deformed, either from excessive swaging pressure on insufficient support from the case backup die. I recommend detaching the toolhead and removing the shellplate, then laying it on a truly flat surface and see if there is any wobble. I personally seat primers for my competition revolver to .009" below flush, using sorted Remington cases. My mixed brass 9mm and 45ACP are seated to .005-.006" below flush, with no flexing of the shellplate. Put a piece of deprimed commercial brass into the primer seating station, no other cases in the shellplate. Does the primer seat properly? Then cycle the handle to advance the primed case to the powder measure. Is it misaligned?
I do not understand the case sticking in the shellplate or the powder funnel misalignment. Do you have the brass locator pins installed? Did you verify the correct pins are in use?
Additionally, you do not provide a cartridge or primer brand. Not all primers are equal, or even equivalent.
My first suspicion is that the case pockets in the shellplate are deformed, either from excessive swaging pressure on insufficient support from the case backup die. I recommend detaching the toolhead and removing the shellplate, then laying it on a truly flat surface and see if there is any wobble. I personally seat primers for my competition revolver to .009" below flush, using sorted Remington cases. My mixed brass 9mm and 45ACP are seated to .005-.006" below flush, with no flexing of the shellplate. Put a piece of deprimed commercial brass into the primer seating station, no other cases in the shellplate. Does the primer seat properly? Then cycle the handle to advance the primed case to the powder measure. Is it misaligned?
I do not understand the case sticking in the shellplate or the powder funnel misalignment. Do you have the brass locator pins installed? Did you verify the correct pins are in use?
Additionally, you do not provide a cartridge or primer brand. Not all primers are equal, or even equivalent.
Quote from Jacek on October 21, 2025, 5:32 pmThanks for the detailed response and suggestions. I verified that the shellplate is flat — no wobble at all when checked on a flat surface. I also confirmed that all the locator tabs and die settings are correct.
To clarify, I only experience the issue when I try to seat primers deeper, around .006" below flush. When I keep the RL1100 set to about .002" below flush, everything runs flawlessly. I’m using CCI #500 primers and loading 9mm.
When seating deeper, the case tends to hang up slightly on the shellplate. At this point, I’m starting to think the issue might be related to either mixed brass or my swage depth not being quite deep enough.
Appreciate your insight and time helping me troubleshoot this.
Thanks for the detailed response and suggestions. I verified that the shellplate is flat — no wobble at all when checked on a flat surface. I also confirmed that all the locator tabs and die settings are correct.
To clarify, I only experience the issue when I try to seat primers deeper, around .006" below flush. When I keep the RL1100 set to about .002" below flush, everything runs flawlessly. I’m using CCI #500 primers and loading 9mm.
When seating deeper, the case tends to hang up slightly on the shellplate. At this point, I’m starting to think the issue might be related to either mixed brass or my swage depth not being quite deep enough.
Appreciate your insight and time helping me troubleshoot this.
Quote from The Human Manual on October 21, 2025, 5:36 pmWith the handle up, push down on the edge of the shellplate at station 7, the bullet seating position. If it feels springy, Then the shellplate lock ring needs to be a bit tighter.
With the handle up, push down on the edge of the shellplate at station 7, the bullet seating position. If it feels springy, Then the shellplate lock ring needs to be a bit tighter.
Quote from The Human Manual on October 21, 2025, 6:01 pmPick out a handful of commercial cases, disengage the swager, then run them through the loader. Seat primers to .005-.006", and see how that goes.
Pick out a handful of commercial cases, disengage the swager, then run them through the loader. Seat primers to .005-.006", and see how that goes.
Quote from Jacek on October 22, 2025, 2:13 pmSame results 🙁 , too much up force which is flexing the shell plate. Works great at .002", but when I increased the depth to .006 i get too much flex on shell plate.
Same results 🙁 , too much up force which is flexing the shell plate. Works great at .002", but when I increased the depth to .006 i get too much flex on shell plate.
Quote from The Human Manual on October 22, 2025, 3:51 pmBack out the swage backup die above the swager, so it doesn't contact the cases at all. With that and the swager out, run another dozen cases through the loader. I'm wondering if the backup die is down too far and deforming the primer pocket downward from the inside.
Back out the swage backup die above the swager, so it doesn't contact the cases at all. With that and the swager out, run another dozen cases through the loader. I'm wondering if the backup die is down too far and deforming the primer pocket downward from the inside.
Quote from Jacek on October 22, 2025, 6:16 pmHere is the inside of the case after swage and primmer seating. Looks clean inside with no deformation.
Here is the inside of the case after swage and primmer seating. Looks clean inside with no deformation.
Uploaded files:
Quote from The Human Manual on October 22, 2025, 6:29 pmI can see that the burr left after the primer flash hole was punched has been flattened during depriming or swaging. Deprime a case, then use the dust cover/depth probe on calipers to measure the primer pocket depth. Then swage the case and remeasure it.
I can see that the burr left after the primer flash hole was punched has been flattened during depriming or swaging. Deprime a case, then use the dust cover/depth probe on calipers to measure the primer pocket depth. Then swage the case and remeasure it.