Lee Ram Prime?

[readyeddy]

I use the Lee Ram Prime and I have never had a hang fire or dud. You can feel when the primer is fully seated.

 

[greyling22]

I found that I had a ram prime in my stuff so I tried it today. After crushing a couple primers I read the directions (put a primer in the cup once it is sticking up through the shell holder, don't try and raise a full primer cup through the shell holder into the case. It tends to catch, flip and crush the primer) and it went fairly smoothly. However, when using a larger rifle caliber (257 bob) the ram is too tall to set and exact depth on the primers. I just had to pull the arm until it wouldn't pull any more. They all seated, but all with different amounts of primer flatness. I prefer the discontinued auto prime 2 because I could set the die to fully seat at the limit of the stroke, preventing inconsistent seats.

 

[GLOOB]

The last two posts highlight the two different schools of thought on primer seating.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I got mine yesterday in the mail and immediately took it to the shop and primed about 20 cases. It is simple and precise and inexpensive. I'm seeing this as the way I'll be priming from now one - not necessarily the Lee version, just this style of priming system.

Ram priming suits my style and I *really* appreciate all the comments for or against.

VooDoo

 

[fireside44]

Find yourself a old Lee Auto-Prime II, Beats the hell out of just about every other option this side of a progressive! I own both types but the AP-II is set up all the time on a dedicated C-frame.

I have that same unit. It does work pretty well. Two complaints:

1. Lee recommends CCI primers only for safety reasons (admittedly I have used other brands with no ill effects)

2. The last few primers in the tray don't leave enough down pressure to feed the ones at the actual ram itself all the way. I've had a few primers go in sideways so I usually take the tray off and use a small tool to advance them down the feed ramp.

Other than that mine has been a great unit.

 

[44vaquero]

Fireside44,

1. Never worried about Lee's legal ease. (Prudent and Cautious) When resistance is felt stop! Find out why? Do not push harder!! I use Federals for my .45 ACP

2. I never understood this one. Keep the tray full and shake it now and then. Problem solved.

My personnel opinion/experience is explosions are the result of ham handed operators forcing the equipment when resistance is felt and possibly static electric discharge. YMMV

 

[RussellC]

Im sure it would work fine...I deprime (and reprime) with the Lee hand held press! Very portable, can do it anywhere easy.

Russellc

 

[RussellC]

The last two posts highlight the two different schools of thought on primer seating.

I can relate to the difference. The poster who had problems with the primer flipping can correct that with a little practice. I was having that happen, every now and then I would feel something funny, and the primer was sideways or up side down. Readjustment of the parts will stop this. If the ram with primer installed is coming in contact with anything on the way up it can give the ram a little flip and that is when the primer flips....adjusting so that the up/down motion is clear stops this...for me anyway, YMMV.

Russellc

 

[RussellC]

I use the Lee Ram Prime and I have never had a hang fire or dud. You can feel when the primer is fully seated.

Ditto...but, I have ONLY used it for 9mm ammo, no rifle or large primer handgun rounds. Yet. the secret for my use is to adjust everything, turn the ram a little, etc such that it does not contact anything during its range of use. If it does, it has the annoying habit of flipping the whole assembly a small bit, just enough to cause the primer you carefully placed in the little seat to jump and flip a little, resulting in the primer being smashed sideways or partially so. for me, it happened all at once, several times in a row. I had lost the ram itself and had just installed a new one. Once I corrected the contact problem, all perfect install for my 9mm reloading.

I also agree about the excellent feel using the Ram prime. Its not the most expensive stuff, there are a lot of choices out there, but the Lee stuff is fairly priced and can do a good job. That said, obviously others prefer other brands and processes. Its all good, as long as we can all buy plenty of what we want when we need it!



Russellc