Priming Devices

[subijitsu]

Im relatively new to reloading but using my old single stage press to prime drove me crazy. I picked up a RCBS tool which saves a lot of time but it is a pain changing the shell holders. I did also have a problem with one of my RCBS shell holders that wouldnt let the primer seat deep enough. I happened to have an older spare RCBS shell holder that fits waaay tighter in the hand primer, but the primers seat fine with that one.

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

Sounds like I'm the only one, so far, who still used the old RCBS auto primer feeder and tubes on my single stage. It has worked wonderfully for years and only occassionally requires adjustment.

[Justintoxicated]

Sounds like I'm the only one, so far, who still used the old RCBS auto primer feeder and tubes on my single stage. It has worked wonderfully for years and only occassionally requires adjustment.

Nope, I tried my Hornady hand primer last night and I got super frustrated with it. 1 out of 5 primers looked right, I managed to crush one (turned sideways) and overseat the other 2, another one seated to the right depth but sorta mushroomed out a bit. I have to tap the thing around to get one to feed correctly, then hope that it lines up correctly with the shellholder.

I went back to my hornady single stage press and with the feed tube. Not only are does it feed more consistently, it also gives me the perfect primer seating every time. It's also much faster for me to use.

As an extra, I chucked a Lee decapping die in the top to ensure that no media was caught in the primer pocket hole as well on the upstroke.

Maybe my hand primer just sucks, or I was doing something wropng cause I can't see anyone choosing this method over using my press, I can get the same work done in a fraction of the time on the press.

[Divernhunter]

You were using it wrong. You cannot shake it unless a shell is in it or the primers will do as you said. If you learn to handprime you will be able to tell the tightness of the pockets easy. This cannot be done on a press. There is too much leverage. Also the accuracy of your loads should improve. Years ago American Rifleman did a test and showed that in a 30-06 and a 7mag that the seating of the primer effected group size more than 2-3grs of powder variation. Learn to hand prime and it is easy to do while watching TV.

[Justintoxicated]

You were using it wrong. You cannot shake it unless a shell is in it or the primers will do as you said. If you learn to handprime you will be able to tell the tightness of the pockets easy. This cannot be done on a press. There is too much leverage. Also the accuracy of your loads should improve. Years ago American Rifleman did a test and showed that in a 30-06 and a 7mag that the seating of the primer effected group size more than 2-3grs of powder variation. Learn to hand prime and it is easy to do while watching TV.

I dunno I can certainly feel the primers insert in 223 and 45 acp when used on my press. it is a very smooth insertion of the primer.
The press is very consistent the hand primer is not. It tends to press the primers in too far. If I don't grip it as hard, then the primers do not seat all the way. How can I rely on a primer system that will seat the primer to a different depth depending on exactly how hard I I squeeze the handle? Also other primers were simply marred but still not inserted all the way (slightly buldged out of the bottom). It also seems to take about 3 times longer than on the press.

I prepped all the brass with sinclair primer pocket uniformers on a drill press, and when the same brass was used on the press everything went smooth and all primers were seated consistently.

My friend that reloads tried it as well with the same results (primers seated too deeply, marred etc).

[GetBulletsandBrass]

Two thumbs up for the hand primer from Lee, especially the new XR version. I use this for my single stage set up (for my rifle loads). I use the hand primer for the turret press as well.

For the Dillon I use the primer feed on the press, get primer feed issues from time to time on the press, lose about 2-3 primers per 100 loaded.

[Divernhunter]

If that is what works for you then I would do it that way. Want to send the hand primer to me ????

[All Nav]

I prime all my handgun brass on the press now, but used a Lee hand primer for a long time. Worked fine, but after a hundred rounds or so, my aged hands couldn't hack it.

[WILDMAN442]

I use the lee Safety prime I think. The one thats on the press.

I had the hand primer from Lee and didnt like it.

Justin