Ok, I am ticked off at CCI and RCBS BOTH!

[Peter M. Eick]

got off the phone with Brian at Powder Valley and he called to ask if I still wanted to order CCI APS primers. I usually order between 25,000 and 50,000 primers at a whack to get a good price and CCI threw a wingy at us.

CCI primers in APS strips are now a "special order" option from CCI. Also the price per box of 1000 is about $2.00 over the price without the APS strips. Brian called CCI and was told that the APS strips are not moving so they are going to charge more for them. Brian also "suggested" that I start collecting my strips because they "may be" discontinued in the future. I did order another 25,000 primers, but heck that is an extra $50 for the pre-loaded APS strips.

When I bought my pro-2000 the APS strips were advertised at the same price as normal primers so it was not a big deal, but now 3 years later they are charging an extra $2.00 per thousand.


THIS REALLY REALLY STINKS!!


Tomorrow I will call both CCI and RCBS and ask what the heck are they thinking?

First they promote and push the APS system and now they charge more for it and may in the future discontinue it. Great just what I want to hear for my pro-2000.

I guess I should have bought a dillon 650 instead.......

So to fellow APS users, what should we do? Email/letter/phone initiative????

 

[JohnK]

I'm sorry to hear about that Peter, but glad you shared it. I've been thinking about getting either a Pro 2000 or Hornady LnL to keep the Dillon company (yes, it would be cheaper to get another 550, but I want to experiment) but if they're going to discontinue the APS strips I'll get the Hornady.

 

[Black Snowman]

Hmm, I did just notice that RCBS came out with an APS charging tool for re-adding primers to the strips not long ago. I guess now I know why.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I bought one of those strip primer seaters and some primers. They looked like a good idea, but in actual practice, they're slower and less reliable. As soon as the last of my primers on plastic strips are gone, I'll go back to the old method.

 

[Master Blaster]

Can you replace the priming system on the 2000 with a non APs version?

I know thats not the point, but what choice have you got?

You may want to call RCBS and see if they are offering a retrofit special on the priming system.

 

[Thirties]

Peter, may I suggest that part of your anger may be over your decision to buy in to CCI's primer system?

I was one of those suckers who bought a Sony Betamax VCR. I know the feeling.

 

[MoNsTeR]

the APS strips are not moving so they are going to charge more for them.

..........

 

[Yo]

I've loaded over 10,000 rounds with the APS system now (in a half-dozen calibers), and I've found them extremely convenient, very reliable, and easy to store. I can either use pre-loaded CCI primers or load any other brand with my loading tool.

I wouldn't worry about the system being outmoded. As long as you have a couple dozen large and small strips you can keep loading forever.

One thing that hasn't been noted is the versatility of the system. If I want to prime (but not load) a large bunch of new brass, I can use the strips in a press-top or bench-mounted tool. Very fast, very positive. If I'm doing load dev for a rifle I can just pop the strips into an APS handtool, prime 10 cases, then switch to another primer brand and do another 10. Then just tuck the partly-used strips back into a box.

I don't have to fill and unfill tubes, or, worse yet, empty tubes and then try to replace individual primers into little slots in a plastic tray.

If you're a Dillon 1050 style reloader, i.e. 700+ rounds at a time, filling tubes with a Vibraprime or like accessory is the fast way to go. If, on the other hand, you load a lot of different calibers 100-200 cases at a time, the APS strip system is far more convenient. It also allows you to store thousands, ready to go. How many primer tubes would you need to have 1000 each ready to go in small pistol, small pistol mag, large pistol, large pistol mag, small rifle, small rifle mag, small rifle BR Federal, small rifle BR CCI, Large rifle, large rifle mag, large rifle BR Federal, large rifle BR CCI, small rifle BR (Russian)? I have all that, ready to roll, and they all fit in a large shoebox.

For a small job, I pull one strip. Makes it simple to prime a couple dozen match rounds at the range. For a large job, I just pick up a full box of CCI preloaded strips. Takes me 5 seconds to add another stick of 25 to the press. Couldn't be easier....

Oh and I've used the primer system on a Hornady LnL. Trust me, you'll prefer the APS system.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I like the aps system, and I like the Pro 2000. That is my problem here. I bought into the concept of the APS and for me it works perfectly. The few problems I have had with it are all operator (me) errors. That is what irritates me the most. The system works, but it is not commercially successful.

I think the betamax analogy is perfect.....

 

[KP95DAO]

That system always seemed like a solution in search of a problem. Much like putting a safety on a Glock.

 

[HankB]

Whatever floats your boat.

A buddy of mine got the APS stuff. His experience mirrored Standing Wolf's.

From the beginning, it looked to me like a ploy to lock you into one brand of primer, as using others required the extra step of loading the strips.

 

[Bob F.]

If I'm not mistaken, CCI and RCBS both belong to Blount, Inc. FWIW