So, I called CCI today. Asked their tech about how to seat a primer for best accuracy. I was told, Seat until you feel the anvil touch, then just a bit more until you feel it give. That should be 0.005-0.008. I asked if there was accuracy to be gained by controlling that to a high level. I was told, No. If it goes off, I'm getting the same thing seated perfectly, or just well enough to fire. It was purely a feel thing to the tech…..not a precision guided measurement.
I asked about hand vs bench priming tools. I was told both are fine, as long as I can generate the force to feel the anvil touch and then give beyond that point.
We started talking about breaking the compound. I was told that is a bad thing, but that it takes a lot of force. Maybe not possible with a hand tool, but possible with a bench tool if I'm putting my weight into it!
I called Holland's. I asked why they make the tool they make with a stop and depth measuring device. They said the std RCBS tool works, but some people use too much force and break the primer. They see that in their reloading class. So they made their adapter with a hardened steel handle. She warned me that if I put my body weight into it that I can still break something. (She doesn't know me, but I'm 330lbs. If I'm doing chin-ups on a priming tool, I've got some real issues!)
I reached out to Federal also. Waiting on a call back. I would like to get more info related to more benchrest mindset, so I will probably ask and refer to my 6PPC. It's all the same to me, but when you say hunting rifle, it is hard to communicate that my hunting rifle is built as well as my 6PPC! FWIW, my 6PPC is a Hall M, Jewell, Schneider barrel, Hall stock glue in with a Sightron 45x.