press ?

[RichardKCMo]

I have a ?. My bro just came into about 6 presses of diff. make.
I think theres a pacific a couple of c&h s and the others i can't remember.
Question is since i'm going to use at least 3 single stage presses.
I already have an rcbs jr3 i wonder which of the others would be best for priming? I've heard that a press that primes on the upstroke is best. Any and all replies are appreciated.
Richard

 

[FROGO207]

I use a Lee Auto Prime handheld primer with a shell holder set. LOTS faster than your method. Some say that you can feel the primer insertion better with press but I think I do a better job with the handheld tool. I even purchased two tools so that I do not have to convert from small to large primers all the time. I would sell one of the presses and buy this above mentioned tool and some other stuff with the funds received from said sale and never look back. Just choose the weakest or most inexpensive or outdated press to sell.

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

The other option is to get a die that is used for priming, it is slow but will out last ten hand tool regardless of what make. Great score, don't start selling stuff to quick, I bet you can find all kinds of little jobs to do with them. It is nice to set one up then not have to deal with swaping back and forth, for little jobs.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I use the Lee Auto Prime II. A die and pushrod priming tool that requires a press. Slow? Wonder where you got that idea? Mine is mounted on a Lee Classic Cast single stage press. How long will it last? Mine is over 20 years old and still going...

 

[RichardKCMo]

Will this fit other presses as i have an rcbs now and soon a lee and probably a pacific?

I use the Lee Auto Prime II. A die and pushrod priming tool that requires a press. Slow? Wonder where you got that idea? Mine is mounted on a Lee Classic Cast single stage press. How long will it last? Mine is over 20 years old and still going...

 

[The Bushmaster]

It has 3/4 X 14 thread and will fit any press that uses the same thread. As far as RCBS? Yes...

 

[ranger335v]

I prefer to use my Autoprime II in a little Lee "Reloader" press. Doing it with an iron press is vast overkill!

 

[RichardKCMo]

Does the little lee loader prime on the upstroke?
Richard

 

[Shoney]

I've heard that a press that primes on the upstroke is best.

I've loaded on about a dozen different presses over the past 5 decades, and I can't recall any that prime on the upstroke????????

I loaded almost exclusively on a Pacific single stage (Pacific is forerunner of Hornady) for 30 years, priming on the downstroke. No problems.

I then purchased the Lee AutoPrime for all the pistol cases I was shooting, but still continued to prime rifle on the press.

Today, I do almost all my reloading, rifle and pistol, on a progressive where I also deprime and prime, on the downstroke of course..

 

[The Bushmaster]

Lee Classic series all have the capacity to prime on the handle up stroke. You do have to feed them one at a time by hand though.

Yup...Some say that using a press is not "sensative" enough. Well yes...You do have more power to prime, but you DO learn how to feel every primer being seated. If you don't then you are falling under one of my most pet peeves. "NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING"...

 

[Maj Dad]

Upstrokers and Downstrokers

My RCBS Rockchucker and Herters U3 prime on the upstroke of the handle as does my 550B. You push the primer in versus levering it in on the handle downstroke, like my stand-alone RCBS primer seater that mounts on the bench. I have crushed primers with all of them, and there seems to be plenty of force in any setting, especially the primer seating tool. Bushmaster restates the eternal truth: PAY ATTENTION. Everything else will follow.

 

[FROGO207]

Just goes to show you we all will do it a little differently but still wind up with the same good results. Looks like I am in the minority however. I also have a RCBS rockchucker that has that primer arm and do not like way that it primes. I will use it for my 300 WSM rounds as the bases will not fit in the Lee hand primer even though the #5 base works in the press correctly. I have been thinking about getting one of the Lee ram prime setups.
Sounds better as time goes on.
I have crushed primers with the RCBS but never yet with the Lee hand primer (had it 12 Years)

 

[ranger335v]

"Does the little lee loader prime on the upstroke?
Richard"

No. In fact the little Lee "Reloader" press doesn't prime at all, at least not of itself.

The Lee Autoprime II is an entirely differerent system from any other. It's based on a special "die body" with slots on top for a special shell holder and a plastic primer tray that sits to the side of the "die" when it's used. Primers slide from the tray into a hole where a short ram mounted on the press ram rides up with the press down stroke, the short ram pushes a primer into the case held at the top of the die. All of the functioning parts except the priming ram itself are well above the press, attached to the "die."

 

[RichardKCMo]

ranger335 said"I prefer to use my Autoprime II in a little Lee "Reloader" press. Doing it with an iron press is vast overkill! "
What i wanted to know is with the autoprime does it prime on the upstroke?

 

[The Bushmaster]

As you pull the press handle "down" the ram goes "up" and seats the primer. [Lee Auto Prime II].

 

[RichardKCMo]

The more you guys chime in the more this ignorant soul knows , i thank you fellows for your input.
I'm saving a lot of what i read.
Does anyone know where to get parts for old presses? I need a ram for a pacific press for universal shell holders, if i can't find 1 i guess it's a trip to the machine shop. Oh well!!!
Richard

 

[RichardKCMo]

Wow!!, the lee auto prime is where it's at.
Did my 1st box of .38s in about 6 mins.. Didn't even make my hand sore, as my son said it would.
I really would like to know what you guys think of a press mounted primer though. I'm getting a small lee c press and wonder what is thought of that as a decapping sizeing and priming tool?
Richard

 

[FROGO207]

If you are just building .38s and not many this will be fine. If you are trying to go for larger bottleneck brass and/or volume a beefier press will soon be in your future. An O press will serve well for it will take lots of abuse. Who knows you may even pony up for a progressive if you need the volume. I still use a single stage and weigh every charge, even for 9mm I use in my MP-40. Once you have a good routine it becomes second nature and goes quite fast.

 

[jal5]

Finding parts for a Pacific might be difficult. did you try to post a wanted ad here or on other boards?

If Hornady bought Pacific it might be worth it to call their customer service and get some ideas too.

 

[The Bushmaster]

For priming any case (except .50 BMG) the Lee "C" press will work just fine. For resizing/decapping cases, especially rifle, the "O" press is much better. I have busted two "C" presses on .30-30 and .30-06. I now use a Lee Classic Cast "O" press for resizing/decapping and priming. All the rest of my work is done on a Lee Classic Cast turret.