CCI large pistol primers

[1_Ogre]

I have used CCI primers exclusively, never had a problem that wasn't "MY" fault. ALL of my brass goes through the Dillon Super Swager before the primer box is even opened. NEVER had a problem so far, and I've been loading since the 60's

[Bookworm]

My primer pocket uniformer only deepens pockets. It does not change pocket diameter. It could still be the brass.poacherjo says it's worse with Federal brass. I might suggest measuring a few of the Federal cases that are hard to prime. Leo

I've noticed some of my Federal brass seems to have a sharper "shoulder" than some other brass, making it more difficult to start primers.
I use a primer pocket cutter that relieves the pocket shoulder, making it easier to start the primer. Same idea as flaring the case mouth to help start a boolit.

Perhaps I am wrong, but the OP did state that he used a pocket uniformer. I thought that all of them cut the pockets to a uniform size (hence the name....pocket uniformer).

[Ken in Iowa]

You wouldn't be trying to load S&B brass would you? I quit using it because of undersized primer pockets. james

Due to tight pockets, ALL S & B brass goes in the scrap brass bin at my house.

[Ken in Iowa]

I have a problem with these primers not fitting in the pocket about 5 per cent non fit. I took my primer pocket uniform tool and went through the brass and they still won't go in. It's got to be the OD of the primer not being consistent . I am using a dillon 550B to set the primers in 45 ACP. This batch of primers is 20 years old! Was there a problem with CCI that I don't know about?

I just used up a small batch of large pistol primers from the same era. My RCBS hand priming tool did not survive. I sent the tool and the primer sleeves with lot numbers to RCBS for repair.

I have been having good results with Winchester WLP in the last several years. Primer trouble must go in cycles.

[hermans]

S&B brass are notorious for having tight primer pockets, I have gone through all of mine with my primer pocket uniformer, and then beveled the entrance with my RCBS deburring tool. Then they work perfectly, even with CCI primers. I also have been using CCI LP primers for decades, no problems seating them in any other brass than S&B.
Make sure your 550's priming system is setup properly, being just slightly off can cause you all sorts of problems.

[ioon44]

I treat S&B brass just like crimped brass and run it through my RCBS swagger, then it never is a problem.

I deprime all my brass before wet tumbling this really helps the 550 priming system to run with out any problems.

[rototerrier]

Because I hand prime, 9/10 times I can just rotate the S&B brass until I hit a spot where the primer will seat. I've only had a few S&B's that refused to take a primer. If I were priming on the press I'd sort the S&B's out for sure. Big pain.

[David2011]

I am using a dillon 550B to set the primers in 45 ACP. This batch of primers is 20 years old! Was there a problem with CCI that I don't know about?

CCI primers that old are not the same as new ones. As I pointed out in a previous post the new ones (dark blue-black packaging) load easily in my 550 and 650. The old ones are very cantankerous in the Dillons but load OK in a single stage press.

[RMII]

I use a variety of brands with no issue - except with a small primer .45 neaks in to the pile or cheap brass as mentioned before.

[WJP]

CCI primers that old are not the same as new ones. As I pointed out in a previous post the new ones (dark blue-black packaging) load easily in my 550 and 650. The old ones are very cantankerous in the Dillons but load OK in a single stage press.

It's not the primers, it's the brass. I have old and new cci primers. It's the s&b brass that causes all my issues. Same issues with winchester and federal primers in s&b brass.

[fredj338]

Good Read @Bookworm !! I am going to try and hand prime the rest. It seems more of a problem with the Federal brass. I didn't want to go through each piece and Mic it , I thought maybe others had the same problem. After I noticed the frequency of the nonfit I took out the uniforming tool and set the depth at.120 and I got quite a few shavings out of 250 cases. But after reaming them I thought it was fixed so it has to be a variance with the primers. I have 700 more of these old primers to use up. I ran 100 federal primers without any problem!!!!

As noted, the uniforming tool doesn't affect pocket dia but depth. Federal cases, do they say NT on them? There are small primer & large primer cases. Nothing wrong with the primers, it is likely you have the bastard small primed cases.

[Mr Peabody]

The only times I've had problems with high primers in domestic brass it's been with CCI.

[osteodoc08]

I use CCI almost exclusively and problems are rare. When I do have a primer that doesn't fit it's almost always the brass.

Same here

[David2011]

It's not the primers, it's the brass. I have old and new cci primers. It's the s&b brass that causes all my issues. Same issues with winchester and federal primers in s&b brass.

Yep, it's pretty bad. I also saw Amerc mentioned and have to agree, it's worse than S&B.

I have two sets of primer pocket reamers (not uniformers), Lyman and Hornady. I can't tell that the Lyman does much but the Hornady is ground tool steel and does a great job. I highly recommend the Hornady to anyone with primer pocket issues. As they remove the crimp ring they also chamfer the primer pocket so primers enter smoothly.

[ioon44]

I use the LE Wilson primer pocket reamer and it chamfer's the crimp ring of the primer pocket that have been crimped.
I use mostly WLP primers and have used CCI which did not run as smoothly as the WLP.

[CraigOK]

I use CCI almost exclusively and problems are rare. When I do have a primer that doesn't fit it's almost always the brass.

Ditto. Is the problem with a particular headstamp?

[kmrra]

I mostly use CCI but sometimes I have to buy Winchester primers and it seams like they are too soft , I never crush a CCI but I have a lot with Winchester.