Primer "dimple"
Quote from Reloader on February 25, 2015, 10:56 pmI loaded 10 rounds of 9MM with my 550b to start to make sure that my loads were good. I was loading hardcast lead bullets. I had one in the 10 the had a "dimple" in the primer and at the range, the round did not fire. I have loaded about 50 more rounds since that time and I have noticed another two rounds that have a "dimple" on the primer. Can someone explain why this is happening. I do not know if the recent rounds loaded with "dimples" will fire, but I do know that the first round that had a "dimple" did not fire. TGhanks
I loaded 10 rounds of 9MM with my 550b to start to make sure that my loads were good. I was loading hardcast lead bullets. I had one in the 10 the had a "dimple" in the primer and at the range, the round did not fire. I have loaded about 50 more rounds since that time and I have noticed another two rounds that have a "dimple" on the primer. Can someone explain why this is happening. I do not know if the recent rounds loaded with "dimples" will fire, but I do know that the first round that had a "dimple" did not fire. TGhanks
Quote from Reloader on February 26, 2015, 7:48 pmPrimer cups are manufactured of soft brass, and any spot of debris on the primer seating punch will leave a mark. These are cosmetic, and have no effect on firing. More likely is the primer was not fully seated, and the firing pin strike merely seated the primer deeper. See if a second firing pin strike fires the cartridge.
Ideally, primers are seated slightly below flush. .002-.009" is the tolerances for primer seating depth.
Primer cups are manufactured of soft brass, and any spot of debris on the primer seating punch will leave a mark. These are cosmetic, and have no effect on firing. More likely is the primer was not fully seated, and the firing pin strike merely seated the primer deeper. See if a second firing pin strike fires the cartridge.
Ideally, primers are seated slightly below flush. .002-.009" is the tolerances for primer seating depth.
Quote from Reloader on February 26, 2015, 11:21 pmThanks for the reply Dillon! I have not changed the primer seating depth from the factory setting when I set up the press. Tell me where to get the instructions on how to measure the primer seating depth and how to
adjust if needed.
Thanks for the reply Dillon! I have not changed the primer seating depth from the factory setting when I set up the press. Tell me where to get the instructions on how to measure the primer seating depth and how to
adjust if needed.
Quote from Reloader on March 10, 2015, 1:20 amI have had issues with primers not being set to the proper depth. I don't think that there is an adjustment for the primer punch. What I found was that the shell plate was not quite tight enough. The slight play in the shell holder moving upwards as the primer was being seated was enough to prevent the primer from being seated to the proper depth. What I do is tighten the shell plate bolt so that there is a little resistance when turning the shell plate and then back it off very slightly. Then tighten the set screw that holds the shell plate bolt in place. Check the shell plate again to make sure that it is just loose enough to not have much resistance to turning. Hope this helps.
I have had issues with primers not being set to the proper depth. I don't think that there is an adjustment for the primer punch. What I found was that the shell plate was not quite tight enough. The slight play in the shell holder moving upwards as the primer was being seated was enough to prevent the primer from being seated to the proper depth. What I do is tighten the shell plate bolt so that there is a little resistance when turning the shell plate and then back it off very slightly. Then tighten the set screw that holds the shell plate bolt in place. Check the shell plate again to make sure that it is just loose enough to not have much resistance to turning. Hope this helps.
Quote from Reloader on March 15, 2015, 10:04 pmSeating depth is learned by feel; how much pressure you put on the handle. Then run your finger tip over the seated primer to make sure you feel that it is below flush.
To measure, use the end of a caliper to press against the primer until the body or rail of the caliper is seated against the case rim, then read the dial.
Seating depth is learned by feel; how much pressure you put on the handle. Then run your finger tip over the seated primer to make sure you feel that it is below flush.
To measure, use the end of a caliper to press against the primer until the body or rail of the caliper is seated against the case rim, then read the dial.
Quote from Reloader on March 29, 2015, 2:44 amI've had a number of dimples here and there as well on my 9mm and .45 ACP primers. All of mine have fired. What I've noticed is that particles from the old primers tend to fall down into the plate area and on top of the primer seater. Thus when a new primer is seated/pushed into the primer pocket, the debris creates the dimple. Not particularly attractive, but all of mine fire.
What I do is at least every 100 rds, is clear the reloader of all brass and primers and brush and air blast out the plate and primer area completely.
I wish the deprimer would capture ALL the expended primers and ALL the debris ALL the time. I always end up with about 20% of my expended primers on the floor. Maybe Dillon could manufacture a better recovery system.
I've had a number of dimples here and there as well on my 9mm and .45 ACP primers. All of mine have fired. What I've noticed is that particles from the old primers tend to fall down into the plate area and on top of the primer seater. Thus when a new primer is seated/pushed into the primer pocket, the debris creates the dimple. Not particularly attractive, but all of mine fire.
What I do is at least every 100 rds, is clear the reloader of all brass and primers and brush and air blast out the plate and primer area completely.
I wish the deprimer would capture ALL the expended primers and ALL the debris ALL the time. I always end up with about 20% of my expended primers on the floor. Maybe Dillon could manufacture a better recovery system.
Quote from Reloader on March 30, 2015, 2:48 pmDo the dimples look like maybe a firing pin strike? Occasionally an expended primer may stick on the de-capping pin and be pulled back into the casing on the upstroke. Did you notice any difference in how far the handle moved up when seating several of the primers. Usually the marks I have on the primer from dirt or shavings on the primer punch leave shallow and not totally round marks. Firing pin marks are pretty round unless it is striker fired and then some are rectangular with a small pin mark in the middle. Once you have loaded on the 550 for a while you will get to know the feel of the primer seating and when something doesn't feel right, stop until you can find what is wrong. Don't force the handle either up or down. 200,000 plus rounds on my 550 and I still stop often when something just doesn't feel right, even though nothing was wrong.
Do the dimples look like maybe a firing pin strike? Occasionally an expended primer may stick on the de-capping pin and be pulled back into the casing on the upstroke. Did you notice any difference in how far the handle moved up when seating several of the primers. Usually the marks I have on the primer from dirt or shavings on the primer punch leave shallow and not totally round marks. Firing pin marks are pretty round unless it is striker fired and then some are rectangular with a small pin mark in the middle. Once you have loaded on the 550 for a while you will get to know the feel of the primer seating and when something doesn't feel right, stop until you can find what is wrong. Don't force the handle either up or down. 200,000 plus rounds on my 550 and I still stop often when something just doesn't feel right, even though nothing was wrong.