How are Dillon's primer tubes filled?
- Thread starter bofe954
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primer fill
Have had a 550b for two years and love it, except filling primers.
I have been using a Franford Arsenal Vibra-Prime for about two years and like it.
I think it comes with just one small and large primer tube, but you can by packs of 3.
I don't like to stop and fill primer tubes and have about four filled when loading.
Takes about a minute to load a tube with this device.
Got it at midway, but they list it as "Discontinued by Manufacturer"
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=656090
thanks
rich
Have had a 550b for two years and love it, except filling primers.
I have been using a Franford Arsenal Vibra-Prime for about two years and like it.
I think it comes with just one small and large primer tube, but you can by packs of 3.
I don't like to stop and fill primer tubes and have about four filled when loading.
Takes about a minute to load a tube with this device.
Got it at midway, but they list it as "Discontinued by Manufacturer"
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=656090
thanks
rich
Outlaws
Member
This video shows you how.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZuaihzGiSU&mode=user&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZuaihzGiSU&mode=user&search=
Jim Watson
Member
Agreed. A flipper and the pickup tube, no need to handle a primer at all. Not that it is much likely to hurt them.
People talk about filling a crate of primer tubes and sitting at the loading press for hours at a time. Not me. I use a progressive to turn out a hundred or two whenever I have a few minutes to spare. Filling the primer tube is a good break and a chance to fill the bullet tray, case feed or tray, and check the powder measure.
People talk about filling a crate of primer tubes and sitting at the loading press for hours at a time. Not me. I use a progressive to turn out a hundred or two whenever I have a few minutes to spare. Filling the primer tube is a good break and a chance to fill the bullet tray, case feed or tray, and check the powder measure.
Interesting post from taliv.
I was looking into a Dillion primer filler and talked with a friend that has had one for years. he said he went back to the manual method - too may primers went in the tube sideways and upside down.
A different friend with the midway product said it's not perfect but pretty good for the price.
I was looking into a Dillion primer filler and talked with a friend that has had one for years. he said he went back to the manual method - too may primers went in the tube sideways and upside down.
A different friend with the midway product said it's not perfect but pretty good for the price.
it takes some tweaking to the adjustments to get it just right to keep the primers from going in upside down. you have to watch it, too. it's MUCH MUCH quicker than doing it by hand, even if you include dumping a tube out and doing it over after you saw a primer go in upside down.
Dirtypacman
Member
I also just use the primer tray method... but then again sitting down to push out more then about 300 rounds would be unlikely for me.
redneck2
Member
I've got one of the Frankfort vibrator thingys. Works pretty slick. Actually, it's kinda interesting to watch the primers fill the tubes, but I've got a pretty dull life and am easily amused.
Shell Shucker
Member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2006
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- 189
I use the flip tray. It's not a big deal to me.
Alright seriously....
So I'm going blind this morning loading up about a dozen tubes, gonna do some real cranking on the SDB this morning, and the usual thoughts occur to me.
Primer tubes are the freaking devil.
Why the heck don't any of the mfr's just sell the darn things in tube already.
Why the heck is the vibra-prime discontinued?
How come Dillon can't make a primer loader that costs less than a press?
Bloody hell.
So I'm going blind this morning loading up about a dozen tubes, gonna do some real cranking on the SDB this morning, and the usual thoughts occur to me.
Primer tubes are the freaking devil.
Why the heck don't any of the mfr's just sell the darn things in tube already.
Why the heck is the vibra-prime discontinued?
How come Dillon can't make a primer loader that costs less than a press?
Bloody hell.
"Why the heck don't any of the mfr's just sell the darn things in tube already."
Primers are the one thing in reloading that is a high explosive (some contain a small amount of TNT among other things).
A tube full of primers can go off and there will by sympathetic ignition of many of the primers.
Shipping would be an absolute nightmare.
It would be very hard to pass the DOT tests.
I use Dillon tubes that hold an entire 100 pack (the RCBS tubes are shorter) and load as many as I plan on using at the start of a session.
I think I have about 10 tubes of each size around (maybe more).
The RCBS tips seem to work better, so I use those on the Dillon tubes.
I did have to machine them to fit my RCBS bench primer though.
Primers are the one thing in reloading that is a high explosive (some contain a small amount of TNT among other things).
A tube full of primers can go off and there will by sympathetic ignition of many of the primers.
Shipping would be an absolute nightmare.
It would be very hard to pass the DOT tests.
I use Dillon tubes that hold an entire 100 pack (the RCBS tubes are shorter) and load as many as I plan on using at the start of a session.
I think I have about 10 tubes of each size around (maybe more).
The RCBS tips seem to work better, so I use those on the Dillon tubes.
I did have to machine them to fit my RCBS bench primer though.
Filling primer tubes is not my favorite reloading task, but I insist on doing it by hand with a flip tray and several fill tubes for my SDBs.
The main reason why I stick with the tedious manual method is that I KNOW the primers are all in the tube right-side up. I have several small and large primer tubes so that I can fill several tubes at once and then reload as long as I care to. That is usually between two and three hours, and at about 200-250 per hr I'm ready to stand up and walk around a bit, and refill tubes.
Noah
The main reason why I stick with the tedious manual method is that I KNOW the primers are all in the tube right-side up. I have several small and large primer tubes so that I can fill several tubes at once and then reload as long as I care to. That is usually between two and three hours, and at about 200-250 per hr I'm ready to stand up and walk around a bit, and refill tubes.
Noah
dmazur
Member
+1 on filling several primer tubes from a large flip tray.
I label each one with the type of primer in it, even though I set up the 550B for one caliber and then load & break down everything after. If Murphy ever gets into the room, I don't want to grab CCI350 primers when I want 300's...
When the "out of primers" buzzer sounds, that was 100 and I need a break.
I label each one with the type of primer in it, even though I set up the 550B for one caliber and then load & break down everything after. If Murphy ever gets into the room, I don't want to grab CCI350 primers when I want 300's...
When the "out of primers" buzzer sounds, that was 100 and I need a break.
CollinLeon
member
I don't find it a big deal to take a break and load up some more primer tubes... Gives me an excuse to drink a beer while filling up the tubes...
Build one using a primer tray from a handheld priming tool. It's not pretty but it works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPcowugB030
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPcowugB030
Filling primer tubes makes me feel like a chicken pecking at dirt in the barn yard.
I removed the priming systems from my progressives and hand prime. I can hand prime 100 cases in about the same time as pecking at 100 primers.
I'd rather clean my cases between resizing and priming anyway.
I removed the priming systems from my progressives and hand prime. I can hand prime 100 cases in about the same time as pecking at 100 primers.
I'd rather clean my cases between resizing and priming anyway.
They do, sort of. The RCBS APS system exists. Safe packaging, Primers already ready to use on an auto feed priming system. Strips can be filled by had if the loader wants.
Because its a Dillon. Barnum was right.
And I own not one but two Dillon presses.
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