Dillon Press dimpling primers?

bamiller · March 7, 2012, 10:28 AM

Just started reloading with my new Dillon RL550B a couple of weeks ago and noticed it is putting small indentations in the primers. Is this normal/OK?

Scharfschuetzer · March 7, 2012, 10:40 AM

Check you primer ram and see if any foreign matter is on the face of it. If no foreign material like a flake of carbon from de-priming is on it, check to see if the metal face itself is flat and smooth.

kalevatom · March 7, 2012, 02:29 PM

What primers are you using? I found that the harder CCI primers have a tendency to shave off little slivers when seating in the case. Sometimes they're hard to see in the cup, but, they'll leave halfmoon indentations in the next primer. I use a small artists brush to get them out. Sometimes I miss them, but I don't worry about the indentations all that much. I'm going to dent them good when I shoot them!

FrankenMauser · March 7, 2012, 03:00 PM

If you notice the indentations in your primers while the finished rounds are dropping from the press, there's an easy way to check the primer stem:
Advance the shell plate, as usual.
Leave station 1 empty.
Press forward on the handle, as if you were priming.

It makes the primer seating stem visible, and allows easy cleaning.

If the primer seating stem is not dirty, check the other stations for debris on the ram platform. Lots of different contaminants like to find a way to get stuck to the platform. Some of the most common particles are carbon chunks, lead shavings, brass shavings, and tumbler media.

Lastly... make sure you are using the large primer seating stem for large primers. Using the small stem will leave dimples, crescents, and other funky shapes.

3kgt2nv · March 7, 2012, 06:01 PM

also check that you do not have the small primer seating ram installed for large primers as they can dent in the primers as you seat them

BigJimP · March 7, 2012, 07:24 PM

What you're seeing is not normal ....

Check your setup ...make sure you are not using a small pistol primer system - for a large pistol primer round...( I've done it by mistake ...forgot to change it out )...as well as the primer punch you have installed - make sure its for small pistol vs large pistol ...

I keep a can of "compressed air" on my loading bench ...squirt a little air around the shell holder once in a while to make sure its clean.

Check your setup ...

Remove the primer system from your press - disassemble it / clean it out - make sure there is no debris in there...

Call Dillon ...and discuss with them ...they're good folks ...

bamiller · March 7, 2012, 08:20 PM

Checked the setup and it is indeed the large pistol primer system.Took things apart, rubbed the face of the ram lightly with some emery paper, cleaned everything, and put back together. So far so good.

Toolman · March 8, 2012, 08:37 PM

I've had a 550B for 4 years. Debris (foreign matter) on the primer ram will do it everytime. I don't have a problem with that little crescent shaped sliver mark on the primer unless I'm running military brass & didn't get the primer pocket swaged before priming.
Toolman.

Edward429451 · March 9, 2012, 12:50 PM

Even a flake of powder will dent your primer if you seat a primer against it. I give it an occasional wipe with my finger while loading to ensure it stays clean.

As for the crescents, oddly enough, this does not happen to me with my 550B. It does not happen to me because I make sure that I am using the proper size primer slide, and that I seat the cases all the way into the shellplate.

If you're getting crescents on your primers, slow down or develop better handling habits of your brass as you feed in a new case.

velocette · March 9, 2012, 01:50 PM

I've been using a Square Deal B for many years. One of the common little problems are that a particle of tumbling media that remained in the brass case drops down on the anvil that seats the primer. This causes dimples or small dents on the primer. I just periodically wipe off the top of the anvil to clear the detritus. Not a real problem, just something else to look for while reloading.

Roger

Danny38fp · March 9, 2012, 02:33 PM

Aside from all of the things mentioned above (powder, case cleaning media, shavings, etc.) I had a manufacturer induced issue. The large primer ram I received had "tit" about .03 dia. and .015 or less high (didn't measure) right in the center of the ram where it had not been machined flat. Of course this caused dimples in every primer seated. Being a "do it yourself" type like most everyone that reloads, I simply removed the ram and carefully filed the tit flush with the rest of the ram's primer contact surface.....problem solved.
Just wanted to offer another possible cause for the dimple problem.....it can happen.

March 7, 2012, 10:28 AM	#1
bamiller Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2010 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 455	Dillon Press dimpling primers? Just started reloading with my new Dillon RL550B a couple of weeks ago and noticed it is putting small indentations in the primers. Is this normal/OK?

March 7, 2012, 10:40 AM	#2
Scharfschuetzer Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2012 Location: Puget Sound Posts: 293	Check you primer ram and see if any foreign matter is on the face of it. If no foreign material like a flake of carbon from de-priming is on it, check to see if the metal face itself is flat and smooth. __________________ Scharfschuetzer US Army Distinguished Rifleman Washington State Distinguished Rifleman NRA Police Distinguished Expert

March 7, 2012, 03:00 PM	#4
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	If you notice the indentations in your primers while the finished rounds are dropping from the press, there's an easy way to check the primer stem: Advance the shell plate, as usual. Leave station 1 empty. Press forward on the handle, as if you were priming. It makes the primer seating stem visible, and allows easy cleaning. If the primer seating stem is not dirty, check the other stations for debris on the ram platform. Lots of different contaminants like to find a way to get stuck to the platform. Some of the most common particles are carbon chunks, lead shavings, brass shavings, and tumbler media. Lastly... make sure you are using the large primer seating stem for large primers. Using the small stem will leave dimples, crescents, and other funky shapes. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

March 8, 2012, 08:37 PM	#8
Toolman Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 514	I've had a 550B for 4 years. Debris (foreign matter) on the primer ram will do it everytime. I don't have a problem with that little crescent shaped sliver mark on the primer unless I'm running military brass & didn't get the primer pocket swaged before priming. Toolman. __________________ Crime Control. NOT Gun Control.

March 9, 2012, 01:50 PM	#10
velocette Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 924	I've been using a Square Deal B for many years. One of the common little problems are that a particle of tumbling media that remained in the brass case drops down on the anvil that seats the primer. This causes dimples or small dents on the primer. I just periodically wipe off the top of the anvil to clear the detritus. Not a real problem, just something else to look for while reloading. Roger __________________ Trigger control + Breath control + Sight alignment = Gun Control. http://www.hrpclub.info/ NRA Smallbore Prone Master, High Power Master

March 7, 2012, 02:29 PM	#3
kalevatom Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2010 Location: northwestern Michigan Posts: 198	What primers are you using? I found that the harder CCI primers have a tendency to shave off little slivers when seating in the case. Sometimes they're hard to see in the cup, but, they'll leave halfmoon indentations in the next primer. I use a small artists brush to get them out. Sometimes I miss them, but I don't worry about the indentations all that much. I'm going to dent them good when I shoot them!

March 7, 2012, 06:01 PM	#5
3kgt2nv Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: hudson valley NY Posts: 517	also check that you do not have the small primer seating ram installed for large primers as they can dent in the primers as you seat them

March 7, 2012, 07:24 PM	#6
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	What you're seeing is not normal .... Check your setup ...make sure you are not using a small pistol primer system - for a large pistol primer round...( I've done it by mistake ...forgot to change it out )...as well as the primer punch you have installed - make sure its for small pistol vs large pistol ... I keep a can of "compressed air" on my loading bench ...squirt a little air around the shell holder once in a while to make sure its clean. Check your setup ... Remove the primer system from your press - disassemble it / clean it out - make sure there is no debris in there... Call Dillon ...and discuss with them ...they're good folks ...

March 7, 2012, 08:20 PM	#7
bamiller Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2010 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 455	Checked the setup and it is indeed the large pistol primer system.Took things apart, rubbed the face of the ram lightly with some emery paper, cleaned everything, and put back together. So far so good.

March 9, 2012, 12:50 PM	#9
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Even a flake of powder will dent your primer if you seat a primer against it. I give it an occasional wipe with my finger while loading to ensure it stays clean. As for the crescents, oddly enough, this does not happen to me with my 550B. It does not happen to me because I make sure that I am using the proper size primer slide, and that I seat the cases all the way into the shellplate. If you're getting crescents on your primers, slow down or develop better handling habits of your brass as you feed in a new case.

March 9, 2012, 02:33 PM	#11
Danny38fp Junior Member Join Date: March 9, 2012 Posts: 1	Aside from all of the things mentioned above (powder, case cleaning media, shavings, etc.) I had a manufacturer induced issue. The large primer ram I received had "tit" about .03 dia. and .015 or less high (didn't measure) right in the center of the ram where it had not been machined flat. Of course this caused dimples in every primer seated. Being a "do it yourself" type like most everyone that reloads, I simply removed the ram and carefully filed the tit flush with the rest of the ram's primer contact surface.....problem solved. Just wanted to offer another possible cause for the dimple problem.....it can happen.