Time for a New Priming System

I went with a RCBS bench mouned unit and I am very pleased.

Lee priming die and punches mounted on a single stage Lee "O" press. Purchased the priming die over 30 years ago and have never looked back.

A friend uses the RCBS, I have not seen the Lee in action.
Forster makes one that I would consider if I wanted to pay $125 for a primer seater.
https://www.forsterproducts.com/product-category/case-priming/primer-seating/co-ax-primer-seater/

I might add about the RCBS. I didn't like the amount of effort the plastic tips of their pickup tubes required. My Dillon 550 pickup tubes were much easier to load. I added a hole to the Dillon tube and use it on the RCBS primer. Best of both worlds.

I 'bench prime' using the LCT with the auto-advance bar removed.

I have tried several hand priming systems as well and press priming systems. The best priming system I have used hands down is the RCBS bench mounted priming system. Its worked flawlessly for my with no flipped or damaged primers.

I agree with others that have said that the pickup tubes are a bit stiff. You can either remove some of the tip with an exacto knife or just use the pickup tubes from any of the presses. They are all interchangeable with the RCBS bench priming system.

I use the RCBS Ram Prime on top of the press with some calibers. Excellent feel and leverage.
Can be run at a pre-set depth, or to bottom them out (I always bottom them).
No pick up tubes to mess with.

I bought a Lee bench press system. I broke it the 3rd time I used it. The tolerances were so bad some cast part got in the way of the stroke. Did not take much pressure to break it. I did not like the little v shaped primer holders much when it was working. I then bought a Lee primer feed system for the press. But it would not fit on my older press. I missed that in the Lee description. Who knew they changed the Classic Press? So it is in the trash can. Right now I am priming with a ram prime on the press that mounts in the die holder and works on top of the press. Does a good job and feels good. Two fingers on the handle and it is sensitive. Primes at the top of the stroke. I use LNL bushings so setup is minimal. But I have to pick up each primer left handed and and drop it into the ram prime and that is getting old. I am thinking about getting a Boss 2 press just because of the priming system. For 9mm I am using a RCBS hand primer but I only do 50-100 at the time. I just leave that tool setup for 9mm. If I was going to order a bench prime I would get the RCBS.

I use the RCBS bench priming system and love it. I use the Frankford Arsenal Vibra-Prime Automatic Primer Tube Filler and use its tubes in the priming system.

I have both the RCBS bench primer and the Forster version. I greatly prefer the RCBS.

I have a couple of the older round Lee hand primers and love them. But some things can't be primed on them like the WSM series brass for that I use a CH4D ram prime. I purchased the set that included the primer pocket swager. That's the best swager on the market as far as I am concerned. I do load with the batch method so swapping the insertion rod is only done once a batch if that soon.

I have 2 rcbs hand primer (one older using shell holders and one universal) and a Lee bench primer.

The 2 rcbs hand primer have been relegated to backup duty.

The Lee bench primer does have its quirks, but it is much easier on the hand when priming more than 100 cases at a time.

Primer flow from the tray to the shute requires tapping once in a while to feed properly. Feeding from the elevator to the priming mechanism also is finicky sometimes. And once in a long while, the primer can flip sideways, so vigilance is needed before feeding a case and seating the primer.

That said, i still like it better than the hand primers because of the great seating feel and much less hand effort.

If I had to replace it, I might try the rcbs bench primer next...

When I chose between the Lee and RCBS bench primers, the plastic parts of the Lee turned me off. After getting the RCBS and finding that my Frankford Arsenal Vibra-Prime primer tubes worked with it, I am completely satisfied.

RCBS bench prime. Loading tubes is not so much fun, but the bench prime has lots of leverage and feel. Leverage is good if your hand/wrist/arm mechanics is worse for wear like mine. Feel is nice too as seating primers all the way prevents failure to ignite when the firing pin does the seating that the priming tool should have. It's a nice tool and a welcome addition to my bench.

I've been using the Lee Bench primer for over five years, had no trouble except for one time, the feeder stuck and Lee sent me a replacement
( no charge ) Lee is good that way, I have also a RCBS hand primer that I no-longer use ( that's up for sale ) thinking about getting another Lee bench
primer.

Bat Rastard said:

I might add about the RCBS. I didn't like the amount of effort the plastic tips of their pickup tubes required. My Dillon 550 pickup tubes were much easier to load. I added a hole to the Dillon tube and use it on the RCBS primer. Best of both worlds.

Click to expand...

Same here. Took a tubing cutter and cut the tip off and ordered tips from Dillon. Work great!

I just used a set of Number drill bits to open the plastic end up till I got the feel I was looking for. Works better than Dillon dumping 70+ primers out all over the bench and floor because the cheap plastic ends cant hold the primers back. Dillon sent be replacement ends but I'm still very leery of them

After priming on a RCBS hand tool for several decades, I got a RCBS bench primer last Christmas. I've been using it and am a little unnerved by all of the movement with the priming tube swinging back and forth. I also don't have the "feel" I get while hand priming. And filling the tube is an extra step that hand priming doesn't need. Those plastic tips are tight, I hope that they loosen up with use. I'm slowly warming up to it though.

My recommendation would be to get a hand priming system and use it until the carpal tunnel makes it impossible.

I have the RCBS bench primer and it has worked very well.

Milt1 said:

I have the RCBS bench primer and it has worked very well.

Click to expand...

Me too. I have since bought a Hornady iron press with the auto prime. Its not set up yet, but I hope to eliminate the need for the RCBS primer as well as a few presses.

Bill M. said:

I bought a Lee bench press system. I broke it the 3rd time I used it. Did not take much pressure to break it.

Click to expand...

I've broken 2 now, in a similar fashion. They're a pleasure to use but I sure do wish a more robust tool could be had at a similar price point. Definitely wouldn't suggest relying on it as your only method of priming.