RCBS Hand Priming Tool 90200 vs universal 90201

[HankC]

I have the universal hand priming tool (9201) and love it. Changing large vs small primers involves taking apart a few parts, not too bad but thinking of dedicated one for each. The old style one (90200) that use shell holder is $20 cheaper, how does it compare to the universal one? Are the trays and small parts interchangeable?

 

[beag_nut]

The universal one, assuming your cartridges are accepted by it, is MUCH preferable. I absolutely love mine, my BIL doesn't love his cartridge-specific one so much.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have four of the RCBS universal hand priming tools, two of the tray models and two of the APS strip models. I have tools dedicated for large and small primers so I do not have to change them. While I do not have the RCBS shell holder model, but I have a Lee Auto Prime (round tray model) and the bench top RCBS priming tool that uses shell holders.

I find the universal shell holder model much more convenient to use for the most part. You do not have to go scrounging for the shell holder to use with the priming tool. I do not know if the trays are interchangeable between the two styles of RCBS hand priming tools.

There are a few cases that do not work with the Universal shell holders, 25 ACP and brass .410 shot shell hulls are two that I have found so far. Also, occasionally when a primer is not lined up with the primer pocket, the case gets launched across the room if you apply too much pressure. This seems to happen most with 45 Colt cases for me.

 

[HankC]

I found my universal does not like 223 brass much, do fine with larger brass. When I seat primers to 223, it binds from time to time and I had to wiggle a bit. I wonder if the older version that uses brass specific shell holder may do better. have a spare set of shell holders for decapping, so finding shell holder to use with the priming tool is not a problem.

 

[Walkalong]

I have a plain RCBS hand primer that uses shell holders and is 30 plus years old. It works great, and don't find changing seater stems or shell holders a pain. I slide in a case, seat a primer, and let the case fall out of the shell holder. It's fast. The leverage is much better than the RCBS APS hand primer. I can do 600 cases easy with the regular hand primer, but 100 is tough with the APS and I need to use both hands to seat primers all the way. It has less leverage as the handle is much closer to the handle when the seating is done. I wanted to like it, but I rarely use it. I just pop the CCI primers out of the strips if I need to do very many.

I don't find the universal shell holder easier to use, and it isn't faster, as it takes just as much time to insert a case and I have to take the case out vs letting it just fall out.

 

[USSR]

I have a plain RCBS hand primer that uses shell holders and is 30 plus years old. It works great, and don't find changing seater stems or shell holders a pain.

+1.

Don

 

[HankC]

On the shell holder model, any part needs to be removed to change the shell holder or just pull and switch to a different shell holder if the same primer size? I found the manual, it is not clear to me.
http://rcbs.com/RCBS/media/RCBSMedia/PDFs/Instructions/English (EN)/HandPrimingToolInstructions.pdf

The L and S primer feeds have different P/Ns to the universal version, probably not interchangeable.

 

[larry7293]

Just received the rcbs shell holder version yesterday. I have not primed with it yet. It came set up for large primers and I want to use it for small primers. It was very easy to change over. There are several Ytube videos showing how it is done if the instructions are not clear to you.

 

[USSR]

While compressing the handle, remove the small bolt that holds the curved bar, and remove the bar. Remove the primer seating rod. Then, push the white or black plastic piece that holds the case holder out so that you can remove and replace the case holder. Reassemble. Takes longer to describe it than it does to do it.

Don

 

[Walkalong]

On the shell holder model, any part needs to be removed to change the shell holder or just pull and switch to a different shell holder if the same primer size? I found the manual, it is not clear to me

Screw out the pin that holds the piece that rides from the lever to and through where you prime. Dump the seater stem. Pull out the plastic insert with the shell holder. Change shell holder. Change plastic insert if changing primer size. Insert the correct seater stem.

 

[HankC]

push the white or black plastic piece that holds the case holder out so that you can remove and replace the case holder

Hmm, if still needs to remove the plastics piece to change the shell holder out, the only step saved is not removing and change the L/S primer holder stem. I thought no need to remove anything, just slide the shell holder out and change to another size! Not worthwhile to buy another priming tool unless another universal one. I am glad I asked before I buy.

 

[USSR]

Hmm, I don't see the problem. I can do this in like 40 seconds.

Don

 

[Decoy80]

I have primed over 20k case's with the RCBS shell holder type of hand priming tool with the only issue being having to smooth the rough edges of the plastic molded parts initially.
General cleaning and normal maintenance is to be expected from any tool.
I am never in a hurry handloading. If you are in a hurry you should just buy ammo handloading is not the most economical thing.
A great hobby and you can have better ammo handloading than sold in the store.
The new style handprimer holds the brass with the same jaws as the newer case trimmers RCBS makes and I find adjusting the case to center a pain with it in comparison to just placing the brass in a shell holder.
No experience with the new model but if it's half as good as what I am still using you have a good tool

 

[HankC]

Is the primer tray of the shell holder type big enough to cover primers in original package, so just flip over to transfer the primers? In the YouTube video seems like it does not cover the package completely.

 

[Walkalong]

I can do this in like 40 seconds.

Or less.

 

[Walkalong]

Is the primer tray of the shell holder type big enough to cover primers in original package, so just flip over to transfer the primers?

Some yes, some no, but a few shakes and they all tip over correctly.

 

[cfullgraf]

Old habits die hard sometimes.

When I got started in reloading back around 1980s, many gun scribes were praising the advantages of the Lee Auto-Prime hand priming tool. I bought one and liked it but found that I would wear out or break one about once a year. The failure seem to always happen on a Saturday night or Sunday and living in a Blue Law state (remember those?), I was dead in the water until Monday when I could buy a replacement.

The Lee tools were cheap enough that I got the bright idea of buying a second Auto-Prime and set one up for each size primer. The real advantage was I had spares on hand and used them many times.

I still tend to have two priming tools on hand, one for each primer size, although I will admit that I have not needed emergency spare parts in a couple decades or so.

 

[Zendude]

Got frustrated with the Lee hand primer and bought the RCBS hand priming tool - the one that uses the shell holders. One of the best upgrades I've made.

 

[GW Staar]

This thread needs color! I tried several.......2 Lees and my best and favorite RCBS APS model.

The little Lee single feed was first, and I was thankful to have it. It was a lot safer than the tube loader that came with my Rock Chucker, and Rock Chucker II.