Priming a case without a priming tool...

Mark_Mark said:

All this effort to save $30

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Top raman, beans and rice for a few days would about cover it. Or the backside of a shovel with one's foot.

I have used several different hand priming tools, some of them quite expensive. But I've never been disappointed with the results of priming on my press. I hand prime because it allows me to spend more time around the Wife and family.

Telling a member to "just go look for a job" is, in my mind, an insult. I was unemployed for 8 months due to a motorcycle accident and another 12 months because I was a white man looking for a job in the '70 and '80s, in So. CA. Many times $10.00 felt like a hundred and $30.00 felt like a million and food/lodging was way more important than a reloading tool or a few components. What recreation I had during this time did not include much shooting/reloading. What little reloading I did was with the absolute basic, cobbled together, tools. I had a Lee Loader but the priming base was bent and didn't give me much sense of security. So I had to make do. The depriming punch was broken so I used a nail or a small pin punch. I had to make do. All this was pre-web and I knew no "experts" to ask so I figgered out how to make do. If there were any forums available on line (way pre web and before I got a computer) I might have asked. My only source was Shooting magazines and the library. I had no reloading manuals so I went to the library and copied info and load data. The Library Lady was helpful and didn't just tell me to "get a job and buy some books" or "eat some baloney sandwiches for a week and you could buy a book"...

I understand the OP wanting info that would save him a few dollars and keep him reloading, and telling him to dig a few ditches just don't get it in my mind...

What kind of reloading press are you using? My RCBS Pardner came with a frame-mount priming arm I will never use. I will mail it to you if it will fit your press or you can make it fit.

I use a modified version of what Archie described about currently to reload primers into my 20ga brass for bunny and dove hunting. One modification i did it find a dowel the same diameter as the casing, and then drilled a hollow on the primer end of the dowel. I put a primer correct side up on a metal plate, put casing ontop on primer, insert said dowel into the casing and whack with a wooden hammer. Seats perfectly and no issues after loading about 400 rounds. Safety glasses are worn, but that goes without

Mark_Mark said:

All this effort to save $30

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Not sure it’s even funny but I’ve done more work for less. I try not to but if I said I hadn’t, it would be a lie.

A couple hours bending over to pick up bullets in the berm and easing the back later on, sometimes makes me think skipping the whiskey medication after and instead spend the money on a day laborer to pick it up for me, would leave us both better off.

I don't think the priming arm off the RCBS would work. The ram prime setup or a hand primer would be your best bet with the ram prime being the less expensive option.
Is your Lee press a newer one with the Breech Lock setup? I have one, works better than I thought it would.

Chopstick and a stop block.

Bore out the case hole through a piece of 2" lumber, and have a flat sanded piece aside.

Set the boxer primer between the two pieces of material and casing, and use a broad head chopstick for pistol primers, and a .24 dowel for rifle.

One good whack flat, and as long as there is nothing between the primer face and the stop block, in a clean pocket, it'll seat flush.

After a few, thanks to the wood compression, they'll seat sub flush for revolvers- not just bolts.

Dead blows are great: this is basically a qood version of the lee load all recep primer.



You can cast slugs and bullets based on bore diameter and sizing die the same way.

barnfrog said:

Hey, I'm famous now!

Do you have one of these? Probably need something solid between the face of the case head and the pad. Maybe just take the pad off the clamp.

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I love this, btw

Awesome!

Mark_Mark said:

All this effort to save $30

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"Never underestimate the amount of toil and angst someone...."

Meh, look the rest up, but true.

Bush Pilot said:

If he trades away his primers he won't need the tool, it's a vicious circle.

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But if he sells 7 primers on Gunbroker he can buy a new priming tool that’s on 9 month back order and wear out the new Lamborghini he bought with the rest of the money while waiting for his priming tool to come in the mail.

sorry, couldn’t resist.

blarby said:

"Never underestimate the amount of toil and angst someone...."

Meh, look the rest up, but true.

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I think $30 is worth a priming too because op is using it to put meat in the freezer

I don't usually prime on the press. It is time consuming. If you have bunch to do, your welcome to stop by the house to use my tools. I don't get back from Germany until the 27th so you might have to wait a bit.

dh1633pm said:

your welcome to stop by the house to use my tools. I don't get back from Germany until the 27th so you might have to wait a bit.

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You need to give him your address and where you hide the key. LOL I had to do this.

Drillpress with a dowel

Encoreman said:

You need to give him your address and where you hide the key. LOL I had to do this.

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He knows the way. He's a good man. Had him over to the house last summer. He is welcome anytime.