Priming Ensures Quality

Priming is the first step in preparing a loaded cartridge after preparing the casing. It's often overlooked in reloading, but its impact on precise and consistent cartridges is significant.

Critical to successful priming is the preparation of the primer pocket. This step should always be kept to a minimum, so if only cleaning the primer pocket is necessary, it should suffice. Modifying the primer pocket should be reserved for cases with a 'crimp' on the pocket edge that interferes with priming. While such crimps are used in some factory loads, most European cartridge manufacturers don't employ them in their cartridges. When reloading cases, it's essential to accept that some cases may require more work to ensure precise loading.

In modern high-pressure cartridges, the durability of the primer pocket is crucial for the casing's lifespan. This durability is enhanced by minimizing interference with the primer pocket or intervening only when necessary. This is also one of the main reasons why many high-pressure cartridges prefer small rifle primers over large rifle primers. The smaller primer required by small rifle cartridges leaves more material in the primer pocket, preventing it from spreading when loading high-pressure cartridges. So, it's not necessarily about the superiority of different primer sizes but rather about preserving the durability of the casing.

Primer selection

When selecting primers, it's crucial to choose the right size and then select the primer type in proportion to the cartridge's characteristics. This means, for example, opting for a magnum primer when necessary for igniting the powder.

Choosing primers doesn't require rocket science; it can be easily determined from loading manuals. Testing the differences between primer characteristics can be its own challenge, yielding benefits or not, but in the early stages of reloading, it might only result in a headache. It's advisable to stick with well-known and reliable primer brands such as Federal and CCI and European brands like RWS.

Primer seating tools

The priming process is closely linked to the primer seating tool being used. When loading small batches, hand priming tools are the absolute top choice. Press-mounted priming tools are cumbersome, and bench-mounted priming tools take up space, so a hand primer is the most convenient option for loading both small and slightly larger batches.

There are significant differences in the feel of priming among hand priming tools. In some priming tools, the initial force required for seating the primer is significant, but the feel becomes almost non-existent as the primer is pressed deeper. In others, the primer seats lightly at the beginning, and the feel tightens towards the end. Among these options, I recommend a primer seating tool where the feel tightens, as it is easier to achieve precise priming results with them. You can feel the primer seating into the pocket and bottoming out more distinctly.

When using priming tools, it's worth noting that the less primers are handled by hand, the better. Grease is one of the surest ways to spoil powder ignition, so it's advisable to get a primer seating tool where the primers can be poured onto a feeding tray and flipped over without touching them. This way, contamination of the primers is avoided.