Man I hate the RCBS APS strip loader and small primers

Well everything on the planet is now 3d printed so you might end up getting lucky that way.

Years ago I ended up buying 5k CCI 500 LPP on APS strips from Midway. Didn't know a thing about APS, but had to get the tool to use them. Works great with rimless cases like the .45 ACP but if I use it with .45 LC, the case holder has a hard time hanging on to the thin rim and they will often pop completely out when applying seating pressure. Have yet to use it on SPP, may have to try that sometime.

I have used the APS system for years with very few issues.
I use the bench mounted tool and it helps with small primers if you put the small primer sleeve inside a large primer sleeve in the shell holder.
I have re used the primer strips for large and small pistol primers hundreds of times until the primer strip became worn or damaged. I bought several packs of replacement strips years ago.

Heh, whelp, I decided to load 200 SPP into 8 strips. First time ever loading the small primers. It was a little challenging at first. Thought for a minute that by the time I got them all into the strips I could have just gone ahead and hand primed 200 cases with my Lee ram prime

Getting them to line up wasn't too bad, but when you tip the unit back to get the excess primers away from the strip, primers that were in position would often slide back out too. It takes a bit of finesse for sure. I think if I did it all the time I would get the knack and speed up the process quite a bit. It did get more intuitive by the 8th strip.

Do a search on google or wherever for Improving RCBS’s APS strip loader it will bring up a older thread on here that may help.For some it doesn’t show up when I do a search on here.Maybe it will help.

GW Staar has made some good modifications to the APS strip loader. Search the forum on his name and you should find the info.

I only put 50 primers on the loader at a time. It makes things easier to get the primers lined up with the strip pockets as there are not too many primers to get in the way.

A plastic stylus like tool can be useful for moving primers around that are under the loading area.

While I have a Pro2000, I prime off the press with an RCBS hand APS priming tool.

I load the strips with primers just before using them. I load them in two colored strips and then alternate the colors as they go through the priming tool. It helps to know when one strip stops and the next strip starts.

I know this violates RCBS color convention but I just make sure all the strips are empty at the end of the loading session.

I have a lot of SP primers I bought on strips for $18 per thousand. I use a small screwdriver to push them out and then load my tubes. I have tossed a lot of those strips in the trash.