Primer tube loaders

[rabid wombat]

To All:

I run a Dillon 650. Great press. The big downside is loading the primer tubes. I typically load 500-1000 primers in tubes before a reloading session. I would appreciate your comments on the Franklin Arsenal Vibra Prime. Does it work for you? Reliable? Keys to success?

If not the Vibra Prime, what about Dillon's primer loader? I would still want to "pre-position" 500-1000 primers in tubes prior to starting to load. I would do this instead of letting the machine run while loading.

Thank you for your input.

Best,
Rabid

 

[redneck2]

I have a Vibra-Prime. Works great with my 550. I'd never go back to picking them up one at a time. Highly recommended.

Never used a Dillon.

 

[joem1945]

I have the vibra prime. It works OK but mine is hand held so you sit there while it works. If money was no object I'd get the Dillon bench type primer loader.

 

[skeet028]

I have both.. The Dillon machine is good..but very expensive. but I got mine at an auction very cheaply..(75 bucks). The vibra prime may need a little smoothing up at first but I use mine most of the time. I have 20 tubes for the Dillon super 1050s and when in a long session of loading..consider the time loading the primer tubes as somewhat therapeutic. 2000 rounds at a stretch loading is more than I can usually take these days. Those machines just load oh so many round so quickly.. Glad I have 'em...esp the 223 one. It will do at least 900 an hour without hurry. Pistol rounds like the 45 are faster.. Buy the Viraprime..especially considering the outlay of cash when you do.

 

[rdtompki]

I'm also thinking about a Vibra-Prime. How long does this take to load a single primer tube. One tube is less than 1 minute loading manually.

 

[medalguy]

You know, I've been reading about the Vibra Prime for a long time, and finally decided to time myself in hand loading primer tubes. I took 500 primers, used a Dillon brass primer tray, and found I could load those 5 tubes in 7 minutes flat. Is it really necessary to spend that much money to save a few seconds loading primer tubes? I can't see it.

 

[wmurphy]

I've got the Dillon model, and just not very pleased. At best flips one or two out of every 100, but usually more. Of course you don't know they flipped until you're inspecting finished rounds. Dillon has sent me parts and have even sent it back to Dillon twice, but it's about as good as they say they can get it. I've went back to loading tubes by hand...

 

[9mmepiphany]

I have the Franklin filler and must say it works better than I thought it would...although I am glad that I got it when it was Clearanced priced at Midway; well worth the $24 I paid.

I never timed how fast it is to use, but I have noticed that it takes longer to flip the primers than to fill the tube. I'll never go back to filling primer tubes by picking up one primer at a time

My tray's Small primer feeder hole was a bit tight for CCI 500 primers and I had to open it up with a 3/32" drill bit.

 

[jmorris]

I sold my first vibraprime after they discontinued them and they were selling for $150 and bought the Dillon.

I picked up a few of the new vibra primes to see if they were and different and they both were quieter but didn't seem to vibrate as much as I remember. One had issues with one size primer (don't remember what size though) the other works fine.

 

[wally]

I had the Vibra-Prime before they were discontinued, worked great once I got the hang of it, and used it for many years. Eventually it got worn to the point the primers would hang on the exit instead of dropping into the tube. I quickly ordered a replacement as they'd been re-issued but I could never get to work right

Back to playing primer pac-man. Can't see paying the price for the Dillon primer feeder since I'd need both small and large as I've a pair of Dillon 650 to feed and yes I spend almost as much time loading primer tubes as I do loading ammunition But the specs on the Dillon primer feeder don't seem to make it that much faster if you want to load up 500-1000 in tubes. Where it would win out is dump in the primers reload while the tube is filling and repeat after you refill the press.