Herter’s Primer seating Arm

[Rochester]

Hi all! Hoping someone might be able to help me out! I would like to trade, or purchase (for a reasonable price) a small primer seating arm for a VERY old Herter’s press. I don’t need a large one, I’ve got a few as you can see from the picture. I inherited this press from dad, who passed away at 92 a couple of years ago. He only used large rifle primers, so who knows what happened to the small one. I remember him using this press when I was about 4 years old, and I’m 69, so this press goes way back in our family. Thanks for your consideration!

 

[Soonerpesek]

Could you have one of the lg primer stems turned down to sm primer dimensions.....?......could be your only option at this point...?

 

[Rochester]

No. Unfortunately that won’t work. There is a stem that pushes through a tube. The primer sits in the tube, and is seated by the stem. On a large primer arm the stem is larger, and the tube wall thickness is thinner. On the small one, the stem has a smaller diameter, and the tube thickness is the same diameter on the outside, but the wall is thicker resulting in a smaller diameter on the inside.

 

[FROGO207]

Those are similar to a RCBS type. You may be able to use parts from the RCBS one or modify it to fit your press. Good luck finding an origional though.

 

[Atavar]

The simple answer is going to be to use an off press priming tool for the small primers.

For the more complex solution perhaps you could use bits from an RCBS priming arm to convert one of the large arms you have to small.

 

[hoardingthemanual]

Lee Precision’s priming arms look similar and work the same way with the tube and stem.

 

[Rochester]

Those are similar to a RCBS type. You may be able to use parts from the RCBS one or modify it to fit your press. Good luck finding an origional though.

Ordered an RCBS small primer plug off Amazon for $5. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! LOL Hope to still find an original, but I do have a Lee Ram primer that will work on any press, and the handheld priming tool made by Lee too. However, I’m a little paranoid about using it with Federal primers after Richard Lee says it’s not safe. I was thinking it would be nice to resize casings and prime them right after resizing them without having to remove them from the shell holder, and handling them twice. But if need be, I can resize all the casings, then prime them all.

 

[Bob Meyer]

There's a pair (large and small) of Herters priming arms for sale right now on Ebay.

 

[Rochester]

Thanks for the heads up! I knew about the stuff on EBay, just thought the prices were out of line. I have other options so not willing to pay that much, especially when I already have three large primer arms. Thanks again!

 

[lash17]

Thanks for the heads up! I knew about the stuff on EBay, just thought the prices were out of line. I have other options so not willing to pay that much, especially when I already have three large primer arms. Thanks again!

I just happened to acquire a Hester's Primer cam with what appears to be both Large and small Primer arms and springs. Let me know if you are still looking.