Auto Prime Woes

[DonHowe]

I am on my second Lee Auto Prime. Other than the 2nd one being decidedly more sloppy than the first one,, they have generally done a satisfactory job. Except for priming .223 cases. With #4 shellholder installed this thing will not fully seat primers. The case pushes up far enough that about 1/4 of the primer protrudes from the pocket. So what gives?
I don't recall this problem before but it has been a long time since I reloaded .223.

[Adam20]

did you check to make sure crimps were removed from your 223 brass.

[DonHowe]

I found some cases with crimps that I did not think would so. But I dug out my stash of LC brass with swaged pockets and had the same problem. As I did with a few R-P cases. These and LC allowed primers to slip in with normal feel, just not far enough. What happens is the case pushes up in the shellholder far enough the Auto Prime plunger just does not reach far enough.
Guess I can pick up another #4 to see if that is the problem.

[Winger Ed.]

I've had problems like that with GI brass that was even 'processed'.
And some odd ball head stamps where the primer pocket was just too small.

What I do now is when ever I get fired 5.56/.223s- even the cheap stuff made for the civilian market
is to hit the unprimed pocket with a de-burring too.

My weapon of choice is the one that is for inside and out side neck de-burring, and is about the size of your thumb.

If that shell holder is a gonner anyway, maybe you can beat the top lip down that holds the rim.
Even if it doesn't work, it might make ya feel better about it.

[DonHowe]

That makes sense. Guess all this is why I bought a Wilson reamer for large primer pockets. The reamer cuts away the excess metal plus gets rid of that sharp edge in one operation.
Looks like I need another primer pocket reamer.

[Sasquatch-1]

Have you tried putting them in a press that has a primer seater to see if they will seat the rest of the way? If you are using a regular shell holder you may need the type that are made specifically for the Lee priming tools.

[Baltimoreed]

I’ve made a brass sleeve that goes around the pin the the handle rides on to give me a little more height in the ram. Also might turn the round piece around where it wears.