|
Forum Rules | Firearms Safety | Firearms Photos | Links | Library | Lost Password | Email Changes |
Register | FAQ | Calendar | Today's Posts | Search |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
August 10, 2017, 08:30 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 22, 2016
Posts: 3,888
|
Fastest way to prime cases?
I've been doing a lot of loading lately (have the time while in between jobs) and I think I've finally had enough of the Lee Ram Prime system on a Lee hand press. It's nice, I can feel how deep I put the primer, but it's far too slow.
What's the fastest way to prime cases with either a handheld priming tool or a bench mounted one? For a bit more information, I don't plan on getting a progressive press anytime soon. I plan to get a Lee Classic Turret press soon, but I don't like the hokey way it primes, so my ideal situation is a non-press mounted priming system that will work best with a turret press, but also work well for single stage loading.
__________________
"We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."
|
August 10, 2017, 08:44 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 23, 2008
Posts: 1,091
|
I have a Lee Classic Turret and love the Safety Prime system. It's the fastest way to full cartridges without separate steps unless you move to a progressive. When I'm not priming on the LCT, then I'm using a Lee handprime, which I suppose is as fast as any other.
|
August 10, 2017, 08:48 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 20, 2014
Location: Kinda near Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,254
|
I've only used three different hand primers (Lee, Hornady, RCBS Universal), and far and away I like the RCBS Universal. I know a lot of folks on here like the RCBS Hand Primer (not the Universal), and I have no experience with that one, so I can't say which is better. But I really like the Universal. It doesn't require shellholders. It operates in what I think is the most efficient of the three I've tried, for a human hand. It's fairly ergonomically designed and it functioned fairly smoothly.
Cons: It has several small parts which are just begging to get lost. Also the primer boxes (small plastic rectangular pieces) have a seam, which after some time (for me about 5,000 primers) might split or break. I got RCBS to send me a pair of new ones for free, and I used a strip of duct tape wrapped around the primer boxes to prevent future issues along that line. Other than those two issues, the thing works great and it's pretty fast. While watching TV I can easily prime 100 cases every 11 minutes. Probably if I was in a hurry I could do 150+ every 10 minutes. Again, I don't have a lot of experience with other systems, so maybe that's slow. |
August 10, 2017, 09:15 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 1, 2009
Posts: 4,232
|
I started to say my fastest was the progressive, but playing pick up the primers with the feed tube, cleaning and setting up the unit takes time.
I would have to say a hand primer similar to the Lee Autoprime or the one of the RCBS units. I have the older RCBS with the round tray and older Lee model with a square tray. They both do a ok job but I prefer the ergonomics and overall operation of the RCBS
__________________
“How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek |
August 10, 2017, 09:53 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 22, 2016
Posts: 3,888
|
Yeah, I'm feeling good feels about hand priming tools more than bench mounted ones because it seems the bench primers use tubes that I have to load with primers while the hand primers use trays that I can just carefully dump a 100 primers into the tray in under 15 seconds while the tubes take minutes to load.
So, which hand primers are the best and fastest? I see a lot of love for the RCBS stuff...
__________________
"We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."
|
August 10, 2017, 10:06 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 22, 2006
Posts: 3,077
|
A case fed progressive. Not only can you prime 100 cases in under 4 minutes, you can deprime/size them, add powder after priming, check for high or low powder charges, seat a bullet then crimp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl63cR9Y_Y0&t=4s Of course you have to stop every hundred to top everything off, so you are looking at closer to five and a half minutes to load 100 then get ready for the next hundred. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WTZ-_v6Mks&t=6s I can't come remotely close to that with any of my standalone priming tools. |
August 10, 2017, 10:10 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 11, 2013
Location: Near Heart of Texas
Posts: 870
|
My favorite the RCBS Automatic Bench Priming Tool
__________________
Visit my fictional blog "The dr Chronicles" about a laid-back Texan named dr - Enjoy! Last edited by BumbleBug; August 10, 2017 at 10:19 PM. Reason: added picture |
August 10, 2017, 10:23 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 23, 2014
Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA
Posts: 1,753
|
Yes as indicated above, the RCBS bench mounted auto prime tool. The "auto" part will be obvious once you start to use it. Standard RCBS type shell holders are used with it.
__________________
Ouch, the dreaded "M-1 thumb", you just know it will happen eventually, so why not do it now and get it over with?? Last edited by condor bravo; August 10, 2017 at 10:29 PM. |
August 11, 2017, 01:20 AM | #9 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 12, 2002
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 5,313
|
Quote:
Note: this system might be discontinued by RCBS but as long as you get thise two items and the strips you'd be set for quite a while. The priming tool: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/10...h-priming-tool The strip loader: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/10...r-strip-loader RCBS APS strips: http://rcbs.com/Products/Priming/Acc...er-Strips.aspx P.S. If you go to the Midway site you just might want to read the reviews...a kind person might say the reviews are "mixed". I still think it looks like a neat system. Last edited by DaleA; August 11, 2017 at 01:30 AM. |
|
August 11, 2017, 01:34 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 22, 2016
Posts: 3,888
|
What's the benefit to the strips over a tray fed priming system?
As I said, I'm liking hand primers more and here's the RCBS that uses strips over trays: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/27...d-priming-tool
__________________
"We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."
|
August 11, 2017, 06:32 AM | #11 |
Junior member
Join Date: February 2, 2010
Posts: 6,846
|
I've tried all types and truthfully, can't say that "fast" is a good term when it comes to priming or charging cases. Consistency is more important to me than speed.
|
August 11, 2017, 07:16 AM | #12 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 11, 2013
Location: Near Heart of Texas
Posts: 870
|
Quote:
__________________
Visit my fictional blog "The dr Chronicles" about a laid-back Texan named dr - Enjoy! |
|
August 11, 2017, 08:13 AM | #13 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 22, 2006
Posts: 3,077
|
Quote:
|
|
August 11, 2017, 08:18 AM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 29, 2015
Posts: 387
|
I've only been reloading for 1.5 yrs, so. I've got an old Lee hand primer with round tray, and like it best so far. They don't offer it anymore and you can only find them used on ebay, etc. I got a RCBS universal earlier this year, and it works fine but I have to spin/twist the brass case in the holder to get the case centered over the primer/plunger to be able to press the primer into the pocket. I have to spin the brass on the majority of the cases, doesn't matter the brand of brass.
Anyone else have this issue with the RBCS universal primer?? I'm still new to this game, so speed is not a concern for me, just being safe, learning stuff about reloading and making some good hand loads. |
August 11, 2017, 09:10 AM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 15, 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,566
|
The fastest is a progressive press. I also use Lee and RCBS hand primers. All 3 work well.
Taint rocket science. |
August 11, 2017, 09:12 AM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 17, 2012
Posts: 247
|
I have a Lee Pro 1000 and use that for 30-06, 8MM using the 45ACP shell plate because the base of 45ACP =and 308 based brass (or close enough). Getting the primer system to function properly is not the voodoo some people bitch about . With that setup I can prime extremely fast. The speed is limited only by my hand-eye coordination to feed the cases onto the shellplate. The primers are all set to the same depth with that way of priming.
__________________
The blood runs free, the rain turns red, give me the wine, you keep the bread. |
August 11, 2017, 10:46 AM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 18, 2008
Posts: 7,249
|
I do not get into mortal combat with reloading. There are not many primer systems I do not have and there is no shortage of Federal primers around here. EVENTHOUGH I own and have read R. Lee's book on modern reloading.
One day I started out to bust a primer in one of my primer systems, the only thing I did not try was double clutching my Lee because I can not find anywhere on any reloading forum information that would suggest a reloader would know what I am talking about. After about three hours I busted one off in my RCBS auto hand primer. F. Guffey |
August 11, 2017, 10:49 AM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 7, 2009
Location: Southern Oregon!
Posts: 2,891
|
I have a couple methods to prime my brass; I have a Lee Bench Prime and after I read the directions I can dump 100 primers into the tray and prime 100 cases non stop (been doing that for about 18 months, and about 2,500 cases primed). I also installed a ram prime on one of my Lee turrets and get a good, positive primer seat...
__________________
My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees... |
August 11, 2017, 10:52 AM | #19 |
Member
Join Date: December 4, 2016
Posts: 76
|
I use the RCBS APS bench priming system with the strips. I can load the strips in just a minute or two, and I have bought extra strips so I usually load 500 primer strips and once, and then prime 500 cases at a time. I can finish all of that in less than an hour, probably MUCH less, but I never really timed it. I will try to remember to time how long it takes to get 500 cases primed next time and post back.
I think the APS priming strips are safer than the priming tubes where every primer is sitting on top of each other, but that may be a sense of false security, who knows? Obviously the fastest way is on a progressive press. I have the Dillon XL650, but I tend to prime off line just because I worry about the safety and accuracy of priming on the press. I also have the Lee Classic Turret Press that I use for load development, and I do prime on that press using the Lee Safety Prime System which I find to work very well. |
August 11, 2017, 11:31 AM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 22, 2016
Posts: 3,888
|
Okay, progressive is the fastest way to prime. Well, I'm not buying a $200 to $500 press to prime cases really fast.
Someone want to explain to me the pros and cons of hand priming tools and bench mounted priming? Is it just that the bench mounted ones have better "feel" when seating primers?
__________________
"We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."
|
August 11, 2017, 11:51 AM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 13, 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 12,453
|
Not convinced there is a fast way with any tool other than a progressive press.
There are 'best' ways that depend entirely on what tool you have. Most of 'em are more about technique than anything else. The strips you have to fill. Adds yet another step.
__________________
Spelling and grammar count! |
August 11, 2017, 12:12 PM | #22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 3, 2017
Posts: 1,583
|
I wore out a Lee hand primer and switched to the RCBS hand primer. How many hundreds of rounds do you want to prime and in how much time? How sure do you want to be that there aren't any primers left high or inserted upside down?
Unless you are reloading more than 500 rounds a week a progressive press is a waste of money in my opinion. |
August 11, 2017, 01:06 PM | #23 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 22, 2006
Posts: 3,077
|
Quote:
A branch mounted tool can give you more leverage if you have arthritis or other hand issues that would make a hand tool less than ideal and worth the extra money for a bench mounted unit. |
|
August 11, 2017, 01:09 PM | #24 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 22, 2006
Posts: 3,077
|
Quote:
|
|
August 11, 2017, 01:18 PM | #25 | ||
Senior Member
Join Date: October 22, 2016
Posts: 3,888
|
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
"We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."
|
||
|
|