Ram Prime vs. Press Prime. vs Hand Prime Debate away!

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bdb.hunting

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This is a discussion I have failed to find in the search bar -_- but it wouldn't be the first time it hasn't worked for me.

I Recently changed presses to an RCBS Rockchucker I am not a huge fan of how the on press priming happens and am looking for a different method. It seems everyone under the sun makes a hand primer tool but seeing as I cannot handle any locally I was looking for opinions. On makes and models.

This also goes for any bench mounted options people are using.

Another option I have stumbled upon is RCBS Ram Prime unit. (I believe Lee makes one as well) An this looks quite intriguing and like it would be fairly simple to replicate any results as far as primer setting depth and primer setting force.

Let me know your thoughts before I purchase another tool :D.

Cheers,
B
 
For feeling primer seating I don't think you can beat a hand primer. The on-press types just have too much leverage to give good 'feel'. In a pinch I once had to use my Rockchucker to prime cases and it was, frankly, impossible to tell if the primers had seated without actually looking at it. Since improperly seated primers are probably the leading cause of misfires in reloaded cartridges it is critical that you be able to tell if the primer has been properly seated and I believe that hand priming is the best way to determine that.

I still use one of the old (now discontinued) Lee hand primers and while they were typical Lee quality (pot metal parts, etc.) I found that if you kept it properly lubed it will last a long, long time and do a good job. Supposedly the Frankford Arsenal hand primer is pretty good (not cheap, though) and if I ever break all my Lee primers (I have several plus lots of repair parts) I might try one.

If you check a website like Midway USA (ht tps://www.midwayusa.com) they have lots of customer reviews on several makes and models of hand primers which might help to guide your selection.
 
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I used an on-press type Lee system and two different Lee hand primers - they worked to get primers installed. But sometimes I did not have the specific shell holders for one or the other. Was my main thing when I got an RCBS bench mount "Automatic Priming Tool" - it uses the same shell holders as my press does. If I am reloading a particular cartridge in my press - then I have the shell holder that I need. Is 24 sets of loading dies on the shelf here - pretty sure that I have the correct press shell holder in each one, except .41 Rem Mag, and I have never reloaded that cartridge.

I have elderly "Blair" brand flipper trays - so dump box of primers in there - shake it - cap on and flip and all primers ready to pick up with the primer "magazine tube" for that RCBS bench mounted tool - I do not touch or handle a primer until they are seated in a cartridge case. And just old habit I guess - I do look and feel that the seated primer is always at least flush or below flush in the case - is only centre fire rifle that I reload on a single stage press - so my practices might not work well for other situations.

In a box of stuff that I bought, was more or less complete "RCBS Auto Primer Combo" - seems to work about same as the bench mount tool, except goes onto and feeds the primer arm on a RCBS type press - if you do not like priming on the RockChucker, is NOT the thing for you. I have never used that Auto Primer Combo unit - not finding a small primer head to go onto the press. I find that bench mount tool has much LESS leverage than the compound presses, and it does come with both large and small size primer heads.

When I had one version of Lee hand held priming tool - I had to handle primers one at a time - did not like that, for some reason - same with loading on RCBS press - did not like to handle primers one at a time, although I probably loaded thousands of rounds that way. I can not show on targets that any system worked better than another - hence I just stayed with that bench tool - I have it, and always have shell holders for it - and nothing that I have tried for priming tools has showed a difference in my group size with my rifles and my shooting, so did not worry about it too much more ... I have read many theory and explanation why one system should be better than another - but I can not show myself that on targets, with my stuff - maybe others can.
 
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I went ahead and purchased the Forster bench primer seater. Works as a great supplement to the co-axe press I use with it.

No shell holder required, no manual single primer loading like the RCBS one. Run 50 primers in no time. I never have a need to get the shell holders, and I like it that way.

Sits on a block of finished plywood next to the deburr tool base, and moves easily out of the way on the bench. Does not require to be clamped down, sitting on a 10" x 12" pc of wood.
 
I use an RCBS hand held unit, it works great and takes any make of standard shell holder. It comes with swappable assemblies for small and large primers. I was lucky to get mine at a significant discount but if it got smashed I'd buy another.
 
+1 for the handprimer
Started with the rcbs "regular" that uses the shell holders and now have two "universal" models, one for S and one for L :)
The regular has a longer stroke and requires quite large hands. I do have large hands so no big deal but do like the shorter stroke of the universal better.
Hand primer gives you better feel for seating them than on a press.

Relaxed priming on the couch while watching tv : )

@dubious; make sure you uniform the primer pocket depth on your brass when using the adjustable depth on your FA hand primer.
If you have a deeper pocket and you set the primer not fully seated / bottoming out you can get a failure to ignite when the primer
absorbs some of the impact by moving deeper or the back of the anvil backing out from not being tight to the bottom of the primer pocket so the compound does not ignite.
 
I loved my old Lee hand held primer. I’d say it lasted 15 years or so. Simple and it had a good feel to it. When it finally failed after probably 10k+ rounds, naturally I replaced it with the newest Lee unit… What a piece of crap! It barely functioned and when it did, it felt like hot garbage.
I thought at that point I’d pony up and try the frankford unit as it was in stock literally everywhere. Again disappointed. It was heavy and super awkward. Did not feel good in the hand or while installing primers. I for sure couldn’t see myself seating 10k primers with it.
In the end I bought a 21st century primer tool. By far the best I’ve ever used! Definitely on the top end budget wise, but it just feels worth it when you hold it! Very nice piece. I bought the popular shell holders for it in the hopes of future proofing somewhat, but I could see that becoming an issue as far as availability goes. Will cross that bridge when I come to it. For now though, it’s fully adjustable, lightweight, and very high quality! Highly recommend!
 
I'm still using my '80s vintage Lee hand held primer.....
I tried a couple of cases using the press priming arm (no bueno) on my RCBS Rock Chucker, but only because I didn't have the correct shell holder for the Lee hand held.
 
-I have two of the Lee hand held w/ primer hopper. One setup for LP and the other for SP. They've seated 1000s, without fail. As a previous person mentioned, keeping lubricated.
-However, I now have more time on the bench, and need something to occupy my time, I've been using the Lee Ram Prime doing one primer at a time. (I have 2 so I don't need to change out the cup size continuously).
-I have the RCBS ram prime, only used it a couple times, for no other reason than I didnt like the rod sitting in the cup. If you own one, you'll know what I mean.
- I'd also bought the Lee Breech Lock Challenger press when first introduced 16?? years ago. I only first mounted it last December. I had bought that same month the Lyman 8 hole turret. I size and prime on the BL using the built in priming arm, then move the brass to the lyman to finish the remaing 4 steps to load either 308w or 303B with cast projectiles.
 
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Model: 9460
AUTOMATIC PRIMING TOOL
$129.99

I have had and worn out several hand primer tools (Lee, RCBS). I also used the one on my RCBS rock chucker for years. I wish I had bit the bullet 40 years ago and just bought the right one first, (Thought it was to expensive, and who needs a good tool JUST to seat primers) It would have saved me a lot of cash in the long run and it seats primers much more consistently then the other tools.
 
im a rookie so to speak, used big press primer deal but it broke so i went a hand held one, i really dont mind hand priming at all but im not doin massive amounts.

a very positive seating feel to hand
 
I have an RCBS ram priming unit. It takes some fiddling to get the seating depth right, but once you have it, the seating is very consistent. I've had very few issues seating large rifle primers, but it likes to flip small rifle primers around the wrong way for some reason.

I also use the built in priming unit on my Forster Co-ax, and that also works well.

When I first started out in reloading, the only way I had of priming was the arm provided with the Rock Chucker. Almost anything is better than that.
 
For rifle, I like a hand primer. Just sit and concentrate on doing a large batch, store them and have them ready to load when I need them. I have a large number of 223 and 308 already primed, ready to fill with the power and bullet of choice.
 
I had one of the older Lee hand primers and I liked it.
I broke one of the pot metal pieces and was able to get it replaced the first time. Now those pieces are no longer available.
So I bought an RCBS model that uses shell holders.
I hate it.
Primers don't feed properly.
The push rod linkage comes out of the socket it is supposed to stay in.
I seem to spend too much time taking it apart to clear primer problems and getting the linkage back together.
 
I use the Lee that came with my kit… not great if you ask me, but usable! I would like something better but don’t know what yet! I don’t mind hand priming, I don’t do big amounts so no big deal!
 
Tried nearly all of them, old Lee round tray is the 2nd favorite still. Round Lee tray in a 21st Century body is the favorite, but, discontinued.
THe RCBS universal and the shellholder style work OK, I did have to use a Hornady shellholder on the one as an RCBS wouldn't go over the nub in it, tray is OK. Universal jaws #### brass under initial pressure, trays sucked on the one I have.
Hornady is, try it before leaving the store with it.
I have a new Lee that won't feed a primer, safety gate issue of some form. i's up when it shud be down on mine.
Franklin seems OK, haven't done a lot with it, heavy though.

Forster bench unit takes a bit of a learning curve, do need allen wrench to set up jaws, but it is really easy to do. For tube loading, get the Forster tray to do it, and that is a bit of a learning curve. Mounting unit on an angled board is a good idea, easier to see and adjust, primers seem to feed better. You can shim the plunger to change depth.
Have an RCBS bench mount now, being as they were on sale dirt cheap a few weeks back, landed here under 100.00. Haven't used it yet.
There is an adjuster kit you can gat aftermarket, not cheap though, 170.00 US. I didn't bother with that kit, if I really decide I need it, I'll go whole hog on a CPS first. BUt my 21st Century and the FA are adjustable and the Forster can be adjusted in a fashion as well, so, that's a last resort to go to CPS.
And I have enough spares to build 3 old round tray Lee's still, plus scored a brand new one last year.

FA seems to be the best buy in the hand units at present.

Lots of people like the RCBS bench unit, can't speak to that yet, I have no real issue with the Forster, just had a bit of a learning curve to it, for me.
 
ted_dent said:
The new style Lee hand primers do not work a well as the old round container style.
Click to expand...

A few months ago I replaced a worn out Lyman Turret press with a Rock Chucker supreme (great press BTW); I have never used the little priming thing it came with, no provision for a feed tube. So, at the same time I ordered a Lee Auto Bench Prime. It came with the new square/triangular tray. I have some of both the old round and new square (I used in my Pro1000s) and tried both. The new style works much better on the bench primer, but no difference on the Pro1000s.

I mounted mine on one end of a board and my powder measure on the other, and I clamp to the bench; when I'm done priming, I just turn it around and the powder measure is right there.

Mine works great, and I have enough square trays I can have 500 primers ready to go. Occasionally they do hang up, but a bit of a tweek with a finger gets them flowing again. Priming feel is great!
lee-90700__22367.jpg
 
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