Hornady One-Shot Case Lube and Primers?

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

I recently bought 500 nickeled Starline 32-20 cases.  I have plenty of brass cases but thought I'd use the nickeled for BP only for easy visual ID.  Anyways, the primer pockets are TIGHT!  I load .45's and .38's on a 550 but everything else on a Lee Turret and use an RCBS hand primer.  I can only assume that the additional thickness of the plating is making it harder to seat the primers, though I've not had that issue with any other nickeled brass.  Arthritis in my hands already makes it so I can only hand prime 100 at a time, and with this brass I have to use both hands to squeeze the priming lever.  I tried a Lee primer pocket cleaning tool but it does nothing, it fits pretty loose in the pocket.  This is with Federal primers and I have not shot any yet to find out if primers seat any easier the second time (I'm not sure why they would).

 

So here's the question.  I'm thinking of filling a loading tray with 50 rounds, base up, and hitting it with a quick spray of One Shot at a 45 degree angle, then another from the opposite 45 degree, so some goes into the primer pockets.  After a reasonable wait, say an hour or so, install primers and continue.  A second technique idea would be to spray some on a Q-tip and then do a quick twist of that into the primer pocket - it wouldn't go all the way down to the primer hole.  That technique would be slower but not bad.  Has anyone done anything like this, and/or have an opinion on whether this could compromise the reliability of ignition? Since the One Shot isn't supposed to affect powder, I'm hoping the same can be said for primers.  And if you did try it, did primers seat any easier?  

 

No, I'm not interested in a different priming tool, table-mounted or otherwise, that gives more leverage.  Don't want to buy and/or install a new tool for a singular need.

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

Try the first method.  The lube won't affect the primers or the powder, especially if dry.  If that doesn't work try a different brand of primers.  You might try calling Starline and ask them for advice.

Edited September 6 by Tex Jones, SASS 2263

[The Surgeon]

Another option is to try a primer pocket swaging tool if you have one. 

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

1 hour ago, Tex Jones, SASS 2263 said:

Try the first method.  The lube won't affect the primers or the powder, especially if dry.  If that doesn't work try a different brand of primers.  You might try calling Starline and ask them for advice.

If these ideas don't work, I may call Starline.

 

6 minutes ago, The Surgeon said:

Another option is to try a primer pocket swaging tool if you have one. 

Don't have one, but thanks.

[La Sombra]

May not need a primer pocket swager. Since the nickle is a "coating",  just try a primer pocket cleaning tool or even a Dremel to remove the coating.

 

La Sombra

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

13 minutes ago, La Sombra said:

May not need a primer pocket swager. Since the nickle is a "coating",  just try a primer pocket cleaning tool or even a Dremel to remove the coating.

 

La Sombra

A new Lee primer pocket cleaner doesn't even touch the sides of the pocket.  I think a dremel (and not sure which bit I would need) used by hand would be something I'd try to avoid. 

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

I would suggest you contact Starline and see what they say first. Been using starline Nickel 38-40 for years with no problem.

[Widder, SASS #59054]

Abilene,

Many years back, I bought 2 bricks of CCI 'large pistol' primers that were sligtly oversized.   Trying to prime my brass

on an RCBS 'auto-primer' unit was nearly impossible.    I share this information because sometimes, although VERY rare,

primers can be over spec'd.

 

Before you proceed with all those other things, its an easy and simple check to mic your primers and see if they are

within specs.

 

..........Widder

 

 

Edited September 6 by Widder, SASS #59054

[Wild Eagle]

One Shot in the primer pocket will not harm the primer, just let it dry for a few minutes before you seat the primer.  I have done this before also.  You should also try a different lot of primer, or a different brand if you have them.  I have found some slightly out of round from time to time.  I find that Winchester primers usually seat a little easier than Federals.  They may be a couple of millionths smaller, I don't know.  Also, my primer pockets seem to slightly enlarge from shooting.  It's always easier to seat the primers the second time.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

ABILENE,

 

Is there some reason you can't prime your cases with your 550??  Lots of leverage there.  Should put them in with no real problem with your 550.  Personally, I have never use'd a "Hand Primer" and don't really see a need to do that.  Personal preference perhaps, but there is a really good reason I load on a pair of progressive presses.  I kind of see your problem as not really a problem.  Just use your 550 and be done with it.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

These are some Federal SPP that I've had for 5 or 10 years and have been fine in all other usage, so I'm pretty darn sure those are okay.  But it didn't even occur to me to measure the pockets...time out...okay, best as I can tell it is .171" at the bottom and tapers up to .172 at the top.  An old piece of unplated starline measures the same but hits .173 at the top edge, possibly from wear?  So, maybe there is no nickle buildup.  Maybe stickiness from new brass, like it can stick in expander dies and such.  Wild Eagle, glad to know the One Shot has worked for you.  Widder, it certainly wouldn't hurt to spend a few seconds re-checking those primers (they are elsewhere).  And Scout, I may send them an email, couldn't hurt to see what they say.  I might not matter so much if I was priming on a press with more mechanical advantage, and maybe getting decrepit with age is not a linear curve. 

 

Late add: Coffinguy, because I don't load enough 32-20's to justify (in my mind) another conversion for the 550.  Although, now that my 32-20 '73 is back in action, that may change.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Try different primers

[Kid Rich]

I have three 550's and sometimes have primers that won't seat. I just put them on my Lee single stage and they seat easily. The Lee single stage seems to have a slightly different leverage than the 550.

kR

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

On 9/6/2024 at 5:24 PM, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Try different primers

Lumpy, I tried a large pistol primer, but it didn't fit.

 

Okay, so here's the results.  I did a 2 samples of 5 each of spraying the pockets with One Shot, and giving the pocket a swap with a Q-tip with One-Shot on it.  Each worked about the same, huge improvement in force required to seat the primers.  I only did that many because Texas Red has very kindly offered to send me a 32wcf conversion for the 550!  I will probably spray the pockets anyway when I load them.

 

As for my original question of whether the One Shot might be harmful for primers, if I'd have read the fine print on the can (which I just recently got) it says safe for primers and powder.

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

Edited September 8 by Abilene, SASS # 27489

[Oak Ridge Regulator]

One thing I found on new brass and unprimed brass was tumbling the brass in corn Cobb or walnut media leaves just enough residue on cases so that primers set easier, after the first reload it was never an issue