Need help with my lee classic turret

[millhouse961]

Set up my first reloading press this weekend, the lee classic turret based on many recommendations here. Everything seems to be working great except when i tried to prime my first piece of brass. i am reloading .223, have CCI #4 small primers, and the lee safety prime. Double checked to make sure I am using the correct primer holder on the press and the issue is when i lower the ram all the way down to press the primer in, it doesn't go. I tried more and more pressure, each time I raised it back up the primer was still sitting on the holder. Finally I tried to slam the handle forward which got the primer about 2/3 of the way in and looked to be crushed on 1 side. What am i doing wrong?

[edrex]

If you are using brass with crimped primer pockets they will need to be swaged.

[sofa88]

Yes, double check to make sure it's not a case that had a crimped primer pocket. If so it'll need to be swaged or trimmed

[Bill Steele]

Set up my first reloading press this weekend, the lee classic turret based on many recommendations here. Everything seems to be working great except when i tried to prime my first piece of brass. i am reloading .223, have CCI #4 small primers, and the lee safety prime. Double checked to make sure I am using the correct primer holder on the press and the issue is when i lower the ram all the way down to press the primer in, it doesn't go. I tried more and more pressure, each time I raised it back up the primer was still sitting on the holder. Finally I tried to slam the handle forward which got the primer about 2/3 of the way in and looked to be crushed on 1 side. What am i doing wrong?

Are you saying the primer won't seat in the primer pocket, or are you saying the primer arm won't rock all the way in under the shellholder, to the vertical position?

[Dark Mod]

90% sure your brass is crimped dude, try a different peice of brass without a crimped primer pocket.

[Sosoomi]

Make sure the casing is fully in the shell holder...if it isn't lined up its a no-go...

[Bill I Am]

I've done that..or come close anyway. When you go to seat the new primer, push the brass all the way into the holder. Sometimes it moves a tad and the anvil can't raise up and seat it properly.

[russt]

Crimped primer pocket as mentioned above.

[Spanky8601]

Sounds like crimped pockets. If the brass is marked with the NATO symbol crimped pocket for sure. Look at the primer pocket and see if it looks like there is a extra circle just outside the edges of the primer pocket.

[millhouse961]

Good replies here, i will have to check the brass when I get home. Yes it is an issue of the primer not seating not the arm. So if the primer pockets are crimped, what do I do? Will these primers not work? i dont know what "swagged" means

[Bill Steele]

Good replies here, i will have to check the brass when I get home. Yes it is an issue of the primer not seating not the arm. So if the primer pockets are crimped, what do I do? Will these primers not work? i dont know what "swagged" means

Crimped primer pockets (usually on military brass, but not just military) means after the primer is set at the factory, they crimp the side of the pocket to assure the primers won't back out. These crimped pockets keep your primers from seating properly.

The best way to fix crimped primer pockets is to swage it with a primer pocket swager, RCBS sells one for press mounted and also sell a separate spring loaded swager, as does Dillon. Another approach is to take a counter sink style cutter and remove the edge which is the crimp on the pocket. I don't favor this approach as primer pockets lossening up is the number one reason I have to recycle my brass, so removing brass to get rid of the crimp is not ideal, to me. Others love it, YMMV.

Anyway, however you get rid of the crimp (or pick up some commercial brass that didn't have a crimp), you will start getting good primer seats.

Have fun, good luck.

[millhouse961]

Crimped primer pockets (usually on military brass, but not just military) means after the primer is set at the factory, they crimp the side of the pocket to assure the primers won't back out. These crimped pockets keep your primers from seating properly.

The best way to fix crimped primer poickets is to swage it with a primer pocket swager, RCBS sells one for press mounted and also sell a separate spring loaded swager, as does Dillon. Another approach is to take a counter sink style cutter and remove the edge which is the crimp on the pocket. I don't favor this approach as primer pockets lossening up is the number one reason I have to recycle my brass, so removing brass to get rid of the crimp is not ideal, to me. Others love it, YMMV.

Anyway, however you get rid of the crimp (or pick up some commercial brass that didn't have a crimp), you will start getting good primer seats.

Have fun, good luck.

ok, did a little research on this; does anyone have an opinion on the lyman pocket reamer?

[gunboat]

It is a bit slow but an ok tool -
Remember, you just want to "de-burr" the mouth of the pocket, not bugger up the pocket bore --
If you have a case mouth deburring tool, you can usually do a satisfactory job on the primer pocket with it - Just a few turns is all that is usually necessary.
I also prefer swagging --
my tuppence

[millhouse961]

It is a bit slow but an ok tool -
Remember, you just want to "de-burr" the mouth of the pocket, not bugger up the pocket bore --
If you have a case mouth deburring tool, you can usually do a satisfactory job on the primer pocket with it - Just a few turns is all that is usually necessary.
I also prefer swagging --
my tuppence

Oh, i did not know that; thats fantastic news. i am going to try that tonight with my deburring tool.

[millhouse961]

Went home at lunch and grabbed a few cases; furthering my knowledge here, in the picture below, #1 is not crimped and 2-3 all have crimped primer pockets, correct?