Priming 56-50 or 50-70 cases

[YippyKiYay]

I have a few pieces of 56-50 brass, dies, and a mold.
I've been reloading for decades, but the 56-50 is new.
I use a Lee Hand Prime for most everything, but I don't think they make a 56-50 or 50-70 priming tool shell holder.
So... how do y'all prime your 50-70 or 56-50?
Thanks.
YippyKiYay

[Bad Ass Wallace]

I use an RCBS priming tool with a correct shellholder for all my 50/70, 577 and 12ga brass cases.

[dtknowles]

I prime 50/70 and 450 BPE on my reloading press

Tim

[Jedman]

I searched the internet and it says , RCBS no. 31 or Lyman no. 22
I load 50-70 but was to lazy to go look what I have in my die box, usually most of my shell holders are Lee but I don’t see anything listed by Lee ?

Jedman

[R-71]

I think the RCBS is 22x or something. I loaded the spencer round and currently load 50-90.

[15meter]

RCBS Bench prime with Lyman x-22 or RCBS 31 shell holder.

[YippyKiYay]

I was hoping to use my lee prime. I ordered an RCBS #31 shell holder. I'll need it for the dies anyway.
Maybe I'll cast some boolits tomorrow.

[Gewehr-Guy]

I've primed plenty with a hardwood block and a steel punch.

[dtknowles]

I've primed plenty with a hardwood block and a steel punch.

Same here but that only seats them to flush with the case head. If the primer pockets are deep, the primers are not properly seated.

Tim

[John in PA]

Any priming tool that uses standard shell holders will work. Your reloading press will also work, assuming you have the priming accessory kit, and the proper shell holder for .50-70. But many of the priming tools use their own proprietary shell holder (Lee, Frankford Arsenal, others), in which case you have to make certain they offer one for .50-70/.56-50/.50-90.

[elk hunter]

The modern 56-50 brass I bought had smaller rims to fit reproduction firearms. I ended up using 50-70 brass in order to get extraction. Like others above I use RCBS #31 for both the 56-50 and the 50-70. I don't remember what shell holder I used for the modern 56-50 cases.

[HumptyDumpty]

There is some old Starline 50-70 brass floating around out there, with a significantly smaller rim diameter; the headstamp says 50-70, but they may have originally been made for 348 Winchester. Regardless, the difference is obvious. If you have any of that brass, you might find a 45/70 shell holder to work better. You also may experience extraction problems. Current Starline brass is much closer to original cases, but still a hair smaller. I prefer Dixie Gun works or vintage brass, if at all possible.