Stand-Alone Priming Systems

Status
Not open for further replies.
Havok7416

Havok7416

Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2012
Messages
3,640
Location
Kentucky
Who here uses a stand-alone priming system? All thoughts and comments will be appreciated. I am looking at the RCBS APS Bench Priming Tool and the RCBS Auto Bench Priming Tool but I am open to ideas.
The volume I have begun to turn out is exceeding my ability to prime cases by hand. I do not like to use my press for priming which is why I am looking at bench-mounted systems.
 
I've used my RCBS Auto Bench Priming tool for many years and many thousands of rounds. It has perfect leverage and feel. Have to pick up primers in the tubes but it feeds one onto the punch and cup perfectly. I bought a few extra shellholders since I often have another in one of my presses. Wouldn't prime any other way. Highly recommend the bench priming tool by RCBS. Don't know about the one that uses strips but buying primers in strips may be hard to find and loading the strips doesn't seem easy. For small batches I often just place the primer in the punch cup by hand one at a time. I think you'll like this tool.
 
although its not a dedicated priming tool, I have a Lee challenger breechblock with safetyprime, and you could pick one of those up pretty cheap. I've had really good luck with the safetyprime. It jams once in maybe 25 shells, and is super easy to clear a jam, takes 5 seconds.

All the primers go into the safetyprime disc, so you don't touch them, and it could easily be set up as a dedicated priming tool, without taking up too much space. You could use it as your dedicated deprimer and primer.

I can prime cases as fast as I can get them into the shellholder. The leverage is perfect, and can be adjusted by just moving the position of the ram handle if you like.

I know a lot of guys talk smack about Lee, but i've had good luck, but then again, I am not reloading large shells (9mm and .223 only right now.

Not my video, but shows how it works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKoye93KgnY
 
I use one of these.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/556149/lee-auto-prime-2-press-mounted-priming-tool

It mounts on top of the press and uses the top of the stroke to insert the primers. It guarantees all primers are inserted to the same depth. I've been using one of these for over 25years and they are a pain sometimes but they do prime really well.

I'm not recommending you buy one because I'm sure there are better systems on the market like the RCBS and others including the hand priming systems.

What I am saying is it can be worth priming in a separate process instead of priming on the press with a less sensitive or less accurate methods that come with the press.

The only press I do prime on is my LNL-AP and only for 9mms. I've developed a feel for them. Everything else I load goes to the old Lee Auto Prime 2 system I've had forever.

Yes, it can very well be worth looking for alternative priming methods other than the on board systems on the presses.
 
I have done quite a lot of research into this subject. It seems like the APS system would be faster to load with overall since the strips link in together. They make a strip loading tool that loads a whole strip with one push of a handle and that only costs $30, so I wouldn't have to buy the APS strips.

On the other hand, I have actual hands-on experience with the RCBS Auto Prime. It seems very simple to operate and as a plus it uses regular primer tubes, of which I have 4 or 5.

Thefish and tightgroup tiger: I have nothing against Lee products and in fact use their dies exclusively. I don't think they offer what I am looking for in this category. Also, the press-mounted tool appears to be discontinued.

Definitely keep the ideas and comments coming!
 
If it uses tubes for the primers, I ain't interested.

I did that for several years.
And it takes longer to fill the tubes then it does to use them up.

I use an RCBS hand priming tool and it is very fast, and Mobil.
Dump a primer flat in the trey, and go priming at the kitchen table, or couch.

rc
 
RC, that's exactly what I have been doing (hand priming) and it's getting to the point that I can barely open my hand when I'm done. It has started to cause problems when I am at work also, with soreness and blisters developing on my hand. My other option would be to prime fewer cases but that will slow things down to a crawl.
 
I've used the RCBS Bench Mounted Priming unit for over 35 years. This is an excellent tool that makes seating fast and easy. Excellent leverage that eliminates any effort on your part. Mine uses primer tubes which I still prefer over the APS strip version.
 
rcmodel said:
If it uses tubes for the primers, I ain't interested.
I did that for several years.
And it takes longer to fill the tubes then it does to use them up.
rc
Click to expand...

That's what I like abut the Lee Safety Prime. Give the disc a shake, and start priming. No tubes, no mess, no spilled primers all over the place.

For less than a hundred bucks, you can have a spare press that you use as a priming press only. It's quick and easy.

The safetyprime system is pretty well thought out IMHO
 
same as BYJ04
Used a Dillion 450 & 550 while the kids were home
When they left ( not far enuf) & went back to the RCBS auto prime tool----has worked great since about 1975 if I remember right
 
I have been hand priming for decades, first with the round tray Lee Auto-Prime, now with the RCBS universal hand priming tools, both with tray and with the APS strips.

My hands are getting tired for long runs with the hand priming tools and I recently bought the RCBS APS bench priming tool. Works well.

The only issue I have had with the RCBS bench primer is getting the wrong primer punch installed with the wrong sleeve in the shell holder. A learning experience to say the least. The primer punch is quick and easy to replace so I remove it when I am done priming so that at the next session, I do install the correct primer punch and sleeve combination.

I agree with rcmodel that tube primer tools are not safe and I have no interest in them. I have completely removed the priming systems from my Hornady L-N-L and Dillon SDB presses preferring to hand prime.

I find I can load 100 primers into strips faster than into tubes. Of course, if you buy pre-loaded strips, no time spent filling strips.

Hope this helps.
 
Another vote for the RCBS bench mounted priming tool. I've had mine for decades. My only expense has been replacing the loading tubes a few times. Over the years I've primed over 100,000 cases on this little machine.
 
I use the press mounted RCBS APS system and love it. It mounts right up on top of my Rockchucker. My old tired hands won't allow for hand priming, and I never really liked it, anyway.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
Hands down my all time favorite dedicated priming system. Lee no longer sells the Auto-Prime II, but it can be found on E-bay from time to time. It has a good feeling ,plenty of leverage and positive seating. One has been set up on my bench on a C-Frame continuously for 10 or 15 years!

My next favorite would be the RCBS APS system, it's not as convenient as the Auto-Prime II.
 

Attachments

  • __00001_Amorceur-LEE-auto-prime-2.jpg
    __00001_Amorceur-LEE-auto-prime-2.jpg
    14.3 KB · Views: 7
  • autoprime2.jpg
    autoprime2.jpg
    47.9 KB · Views: 5
There is no rod. The primers sit in the little disc, drop down the chute, and when you push the lever over, it drops a primer in the cup.

Just watch the vid I linked.

The only difference between the safety prime that comes with the breechblock press and the discontinued model is the discontinued model sits atop the press and primes on the downstroke.

The one that comes with the press kit primes on the upstroke. I like the feel of the priming on the upstroke because when sitting, you have just he right amount of leverage. I also like that one because you are loading the shells in the same location you would when seating bullets. So if you prefer to sit while reloading everything is at the same height.

You can pick up the lee challanger breechblock kit for a little over a hundred bucks, sell the scale and powder thrower, and have a pretty nice set up that is easy and fast to use.

I never timed it, but I'm guessing I can prime a case in about 2 seconds. I do about 200 at a time as a batch.
 
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-qqeU6hPXSk

Skip to 3:45 . This guy explains it pretty well.

You don't have to have the flaring die installed if you don't want, but why not kill two operations in one step? Edit: you do need the flaring die installed, it sets the case height.

To comment on the video, I put a drop of gun oil on the little priming arm where it pivots in the ram, and it has never failed to reset back into place. Also, the guy in the vid uses two hands, one to hold the press and one to use the lever. I suspect because his bench isn't solid. You don't have to hold the press when priming, just push up on the ram handle with a little push.

I also activate the primer button with my left hand, reaching around the back of the press, works a little faster.
 
Last edited:
Oh, I didn't see the video link. I watched it and it makes a ton of sense now. I have a Lee hand press but I would rather not invest in a new press (I currently use a Dillon). Other than that it looks fool-proof.

Looking at the numbers though, it would cost about the same as a dedicated RCBS priming tool, but I could potentially use the single-stage for some unforeseen loading.
 
thefish said:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-qqeU6hPXSk

Skip to 3:45 . This guy explains it pretty well.

You don't have to have the flaring die installed if you don't want, but why not kill two operations in one step? Edit: you do need the flaring die installed, it sets the case height.

To comment on the video, I put a drop of gun oil on the little priming arm where it pivots in the ram, and it has never failed to reset back into place. Also, the guy in the vid uses two hands, one to hold the press and one to use the lever. I suspect because his bench isn't solid. You don't have to hold the press when priming, just push up on the ram handle with a little push.

I also activate the primer button with my left hand, reaching around the back of the press, works a little faster.
Click to expand...
The flaring does me nothing as I use a progressive (550b).

I actually don't secure my press and use two hands on it when pulling the lever also. I haven't finalized my bench yet nor have I made my final move. Hopefully that will all change in the next year or so.
 
Ill have to look at mine, you may not need to have the die installed to prime. I just always do.

If you catch it on sale, and sell the parts you dont need, it would probably be less than the rcbs. And take up less bench real estate.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against rcbs. The lee just works very well for me.

Plus, you load the primers just like your hand prime. A little shake to flip them and your done. No strips to load.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
  • Locked
Press or Bench Priming Tool??
Replies
21
Views
2K
ericbc7
E
1
  • Locked
Time for a new priming tool.......
2
Replies
41
Views
2K
SWThomas
S
hanno
  • Locked
Okay, RCBS APS true believers, I’m waiting to be converted
2
Replies
37
Views
4K
Peter M. Eick
P
J
  • Locked
  • Poll
What Tool Do You Use for Priming?
2 3
Replies
63
Views
3K
9mmepiphany
9mmepiphany
B
  • Locked
Size and Prime or Size then Prime
2
Replies
34
Views
2K
styles
S
Back
Top