I have had the pictured RCBS Bench auto prime for 30 years, it works well. For hand priming I have used the old style RCBS that takes shell holders, and need one primer insertted at a time. It works well. I just purchased a RCBS hand auto prime that take primer strips, I load on a RCBS Pro 2000 for progresive loading so I have lots of primer strips.
What is Your Preferred Hand-Priming Tool?
- Thread starter shanesymyrozum
- Start date
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta
Another RCBS Universal Hand Priming tool user here. Nothing falls out of mine.
As much as I have a distaste for Lee products, their hand primer is the one I use.
Slick and easy.
A fellow buddy has that corny RCBS hand primer that comes in a kit and I told
him I could fix it for him.
Go git me a hammer...........
Slick and easy.
A fellow buddy has that corny RCBS hand primer that comes in a kit and I told
him I could fix it for him.
Go git me a hammer...........
I have no problem paying once for quality that lasts a lifetime.And you have to pay for it
I have the L.E. Wilson/Sinclair trimmer with all the options and it's a fantastic product.
As they say "The bitter taste of poor quality lingers long after the sweet taste of low price is forgotten"
Wild_Thing
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- In the thick of it!
Older version of the Lee hand primer. No complaints.
Less poetic but frankly, I've learned I can't afford cheap tools.
You will get no arguments from me. I got the Rockchucker to replace my last piece of Lee crap on my bench. I can't tell you how much using that garbage made me grumble. I have changed it out piece by piece over the years. But the reality is we buy what we value, and more importantly, can afford.
Having said all of that, Lee does make a few things that are clever and do work.
X2 for me
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Lee Auto prime is cheaply made, has loose tolerances, but works OK. I have worn out two of them after many thousands of rounds loaded. My biggest compaint of the Lee is the loose lids. I find it helps to put one of those 3/8" thick flat steel paper clips with the fold back arms on the Lee so that the loose lid won't allow primers to flip upside down.
I have two of the older RCBS hand primers, both allow the ram rod to fall out but I don't mind that much, good to hear the new ones fixed that defect. Otherwise mine are well built and durable. I like the cut off feature that won't allow a crushed and detonated primer to detonate the rest in the feed tray. A Lee can do that, and as a result the Lee company does not recommend the use of primers from Federal for instance.
I have two of the older RCBS hand primers, both allow the ram rod to fall out but I don't mind that much, good to hear the new ones fixed that defect. Otherwise mine are well built and durable. I like the cut off feature that won't allow a crushed and detonated primer to detonate the rest in the feed tray. A Lee can do that, and as a result the Lee company does not recommend the use of primers from Federal for instance.
I also use the Lee auto-prime as well. I have two, one of which is set up for small primers that is 28 yrs old.
About 2 yrs ago I purchased a Lee hand press for taking to the range to develop some loads at the bench. Using it with the Ram Prime works like a charm, but is a one at a time proposition!
It is slower than other systems, but it certainly is a fun, different way of priming.
I don't recommend it if your fingers are cold, trying to load in an unheated shack!
About 2 yrs ago I purchased a Lee hand press for taking to the range to develop some loads at the bench. Using it with the Ram Prime works like a charm, but is a one at a time proposition!
It is slower than other systems, but it certainly is a fun, different way of priming.
I don't recommend it if your fingers are cold, trying to load in an unheated shack!
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my RCBS hand primer is new and the ram does fall out if turned upside down [MAKE SHURE WHEN YOU PUT IT BACK IN THAT THE FLUSH END IS FACING UPWARDS BECAUSE IF THE BULL NOSE END IS USED FOR PRIMING THERE IS A CHANCE IT WILL FIRE THE PRIMER OFF ,VERY DANGEROUS ]
I have had no issues with the old round tray Lee unit. I think I broke either a handle or a link once. As I still had all the pcs from a couple of the worn out units, and apparently can't get links for them anymore, I splurged for a 21st Century unit that reuses the round trays. They also make one to work with the new square Lee tray. Or will supply their tray.
They really are a good unit, All the benefits of the Sinclair or K&M, but---you have the tray, so you don't have to handle primers.
Reuse the Lee shellholders, the old trays and spring.
They are not cheap, under 100.00 landed here though. I've used the RCBS universal and a Hornady, still have the RCBS, but the Hornady got file 13'd. I should have sent the Hornady back, but, I tried to fix it instead, and gave up on it after an hour or so's work. I couldn't hone the barrel of the body far enough down to fix it with tools at hand, and that bore and the tray install groove needed a lot more work to keep the neck from sticking in the body when trying to get the shellholder in or out. It was pretty sad.
Their QC on that one was non-existent.
I would definitely recommend taking a look at the 21st century unit though. It's worth the money.
They really are a good unit, All the benefits of the Sinclair or K&M, but---you have the tray, so you don't have to handle primers.
Reuse the Lee shellholders, the old trays and spring.
They are not cheap, under 100.00 landed here though. I've used the RCBS universal and a Hornady, still have the RCBS, but the Hornady got file 13'd. I should have sent the Hornady back, but, I tried to fix it instead, and gave up on it after an hour or so's work. I couldn't hone the barrel of the body far enough down to fix it with tools at hand, and that bore and the tray install groove needed a lot more work to keep the neck from sticking in the body when trying to get the shellholder in or out. It was pretty sad.
Their QC on that one was non-existent.
I would definitely recommend taking a look at the 21st century unit though. It's worth the money.
