Primers on progressives- differences between brands?

[stilly]

Yeah so since it looks like Hornady and Dillon and RCBS all use those tubes on their presses, is there any system that is better than the other or do they all seem to follow a general path or design?

I like how I can load up about 200+ primers in my Lee Loadmaster, but the priming chute and the arm did not impress me but it could have been due to the 9mm shell plate being made for .40 and 9mm so if that one retainer is NOT lined up you get jacked up primers.

But I was thinking about the possibility of getting another press when I am hopefully soon in a position to do it and I have only two issues that I need to deal with. It seems that Primer tubes/ systems are weak spots in all presses and the second issue I have is how fast/easy the caliber changes are (as well as cost).

Rather than just go out and buy a PC7 maybe I should have a look at the other setups and see if the PC7 has a good priming system.

Someone bought a PC5 recently but I have not heard anything else on that really.

Anyways... I guess it will come down to Dillon vs Hornady vs RCBS, but maybe more like Dillon vs RCBS...

[Bumslie]

Buy the pro 2000 and packs of aps strips

[stilly]

I have about 50+ aps strips in various colors. Was the pro 2000 really a decent press? I thought it was a progressive and it did not sell so hot. Also, isn't it a 5 station as well? I was thinking of getting a 7 station if it was not too hard or expensive to change calibers on it as well...

THAT leaves me with a Dillon 1050 or a PC7...

But if I can live with a PC5 then I have other options too like a 650, LNL, 550 or hell, I was even thinking of getting a little pro-1000 since they are so tiny. They are just cute in a way that seems to work... :\

But really I DO want to see how RCBS puts together a progressive press. Even a piggyback on an RC would do it...

[the86d]

CCI are my favorites on the XL 650.

The Winchester and Remington primers I have used don't have the slick coating that help them slide into brass like butter.

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

I've used CCI, Winchester and federal SPP on my 650 without an issue. Yes it uses tubes you have to preload but 5-600 rounds is all I want to load without a break. Reloading tubes provides that break. After that many, it's usually time to refill the powder hopper anyway.


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[Eljay]

THAT leaves me with a Dillon 1050 or a PC7...

If the 1050's really an option it has a much nicer primer seating system than the other presses. You don't do it by feel - you dial it in and it just does it.

[jericho89]

on the Dillon 650 I never had any issues with different primers, they have a nice priming system that uses a metal disk that rotates the primer under the case. I never had a jam or back up of primers getting to the case. They hold just over 100 primers in the system, have a low primer alarm, and if you have multiple tubes you can reload the system in a few seconds.

[stevec223]

I think a piggyback on a RC is a pro -2000 basically... I have a pro-2000 manual index and really like the APS strips... Caliber change overs are quick and easy with the removable die plates and shellplates... Yes it is a 5 station press,, with the powder measure staying on the press during caliber changes... I have recently heard talk of changing the position of the uni-flo to a different station,, but havent looked into it... If the PC-7 changes calibers as easy as the Pro-2000 that would be a plus.. Not having the APS priming system would be a minus to me though... I think I will check out u-tube about several questions I have.. I won't be parting with my Pro-2000 though.. Good luck... Cheers...

[bruce381]

get a dillion 550 or 650 and use winchester or CCI or even the russion tula stuff and sell all other press's.

They (do not know who) say that federal are too soft for a dillon but I have used them with no problem.

And yeah going from a lee anything to a dillion is like comparing whoopie goldberg to Kim K, OK

[stilly]

Yeah, THAT is what I am afraid of.

I like the idea of the 1050 primers, but This is looking to be a showdown between a 650 and a PC7... The PC7 IS the favored one here but I want to see how tough their primer system is first.

I REALLY want to use APS, but it is not a dealbreaker and I doubt that any manufacturer would budge on using them in any new presses or current setups.

If I have to go with a primer tube then so be it, I will just have to figure out something on handling the pickup tubes. It would be nice if they could be made out of carbon fiber or resin or something that will not throw a spark. Or a spork for that matter...

[bubbala]

the primer tubed are aluminum, so no sparks. and extra tubes are pretty cheap if you wanted to fill a bunch and have em ready.

although,,,,the high road had a tread a few months back about a guy that had a problem with his dillon. his fix was to somehow jimmy his primer tube to get them unstuck.
well they went off like a shot gun and blew a few holes in his hand.lucky he wasn't looking down the tube.

[jericho89]

The Dillon primer pick up tubes are aluminum with plastic pickup tips on them. The back side has a pin that you pull when you put the tube on the top of the primer system, pull the pin and they all go in. As for the primer system there are two different internal tubes, one for large primers and one for small primers. As long as you have the correct internal tube in you will not have any problems such as bubbala talked about. I had put over 50,000 primers into a 650 press and never had a primer issue in the tube or the primer disk.

[stilly]

Yeah I rely on my fingers and hands for a lot of things, playing the keyboard, guitars, accordion and fiddle to name a few and then there is also the pc tech part and the reloading part and powdercoating and removing with hemostats etc etc etc. Oh yeah, and stringing glass bead necklaces and all plus my daily crotchet and friendship bracelets with DMC floss. On top of that my new garage work center will be based on a VR glove and goggles so I will certainly need my fingers and hand dexterity so yeah, I am excessively paranoid about blowing the **** out of my hands via stupid primer mistake. Okay that is good to know. Any links to extra safety nets while using these things or not needed and only a bonehead blows thier **** up like that?

[jericho89]

only a bonehead blows thier **** up like that......

[Eljay]

Actually in terms of safety nets, if you get the $300 Dillon primer filler (RF-100) it puts them into this extra robust tube, doesn't it? It's sort of a big double walled magazine, not the usual thin primer tubes.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ds_ZpW2L_c - he dumps them into the press at 7:30 and you can see the tube there.


Personally I haven't had any trouble with the 650. I think the whole idea of the primer tube system is backwards and weird but it does work. I preload the tubes with a vibra prime and when the alarm buzzes I dump in another 100, throw some more cases into the hopper, throw some more bullets into THAT hopper, and get back to pulling the lever.