RCBS hand priming tool

Are you talking about the standard hand primer or their "universal" hand primer ?

I have used an RCBS Hand Priming Tool (#90200) for a number of years, with both CCI and Winchester primers, and never experienced any problems.

GBExpat said:

I have used an RCBS Hand Priming Tool (#90200) for a number of years, with both CCI and Winchester primers, and never experienced any problems.

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That's why I asked which one. I have used the standard one for twenty some years and never had an issue unless I don't have the tray lid on tight.

I use the same tool and I have no problems with primers flipping when priming. You are saying after everything is correct and you start to prime some primers flip in the tray, correct? If yes your top clear cover might be slightly bent out so that the primers can flip.

I have the RCBS Universal unit... every once in a blue moon a SP will roll on top of the ram, but not in the tray. I don't have any problems with LP's.

I have both the standard and the universal. I prefer the standard because shells will fall out when you tilt it down. With the universal, I have to pick them out which takes more time and occupies my hand which could be loading the next shell.

It does flip primers, usually sideways but sometimes upside down. It flips them after they've left the tray and gone into the chamber above the ram.

The way I've found to avoid problems is to squeeze to raise the primer on the ram to where it's easily visible. Confirm it's oriented correctly. Slide the shell into the shell holder, and squeeze to seat the primer. I tilt the tool to drop the shell, and tilting it may be what causes the primer that's free from the tray to tilt over in the chamber. It certainly doesn't happen every time, but about 2 out of 100 at the most.

brutus51 said:

In my case they are flipping in the tray as the unit is tilted and all the primers are up against the feed port.

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So ... perhaps you could alter your methodology so that you do not tilt the tray so much? Just a thought.

I had similar issues with the stock round shaped primer case. I just purchased two of the larger square cases and they seem to snap together much tighter. No issues since.

The larger case will also hold 400+ SR primers.

It is not just you. My somewhat older RCBS flips primers on occasion. These days, I prime on press.
OTOH, I found a Winchester primer anvil side up in the tray the other day.

I started having the same primer flipping problem but fixed it by using a pair of long rubber bands, criss-cross, over the top and bottom. Problem now fixed. Sometime I need to upgrade to the new style square primer carrier.

labnoti said:

I prefer the standard because shells will fall out when you tilt it down.

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Huh. I never tumbled to that trick.

Sounds good but I doubt my ability to break myself of the habit/need to drag a finger across each seated primer as I remove the case.

I will give it a try next time, though. Thanks.

GBExpat said:

So ... perhaps you could alter your methodology so that you do not tilt the tray so much? Just a thought.

Click to expand...

A problem I have is with primers log-jamming in the tray. They should funnel down to 1-across and slide into the tool, but they tend to get stuck two or three-across and not feed. To fix this, I have to tilt to slide them away from the mouth, and tilt back to slide them back toward the mouth, hoping they will not jam. This is with small primers. So long as the lid is on tight, they won't tumble in the tray, but they can tumble once they've entered the tool's chamber due no doubt to the shaking I'm doing to get them to feed.

I have both the round and square trays. I agree the square tray lid is tighter. The problem with it is it snags when closing so if I bothered to right all the primers before closing it, a bunch of them will flip again and I have to shake it with the lid partially closed until they're all righted and then finish closing the lid. But this is a small hassle once every 150 or 300 primers. I find both the round and square trays will log-jam, and this is a much more annoying problem as it requires frequent shaking of the tool to get primers to feed.

I use 2 Binder Clips.
Round tray lid started getting loose. RCBS sent square tray. Didn't seem much better.
Currently using original round tray with a binder clip @ 3 & 9.

I'm spoiled. I have an APS version, but that's only for calibers I'm testing on a Summit or RC2. My favorite priming machine is also APS but on-press on my Pro 2000. It has an adjustable seating depth bolt and nut and infinite leverage. So once adjusted for a primer brand, I don't ever have to check, unless I short stroke the press during a moment of insanity. There's no feel involved just stroke the sucker all the way. For obvious reasons I don't shift primer brands, unless I'm hand priming. Usually CCI.

During the learning curve on my latest press, the PC7, I thought I might start priming off press again, but I find I'm too lazy and impatient for that in my old age. The Pro Chucker also has the adjustable stop feature, but scary feed tubes and notorious plastic slides that people break. I was surprised to find that it wasn't hard to learn to not break primer slides. You have to learn any press.....and maybe change a habit or two. I was pleased not to have to go back to doing it by hand except while developing loads.

I have both, i prefer the universal, as I don’t have to hustle the shell holders.

Just my $0.02
dg