ColtPythonElite
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- Joined
- Jan 8, 2011
- Messages
- 10,481
Separate sizing, then hand priming, and finally running them thru a press and loading at a rate of 300 an hour sure is some fast hand moving.
I prime with a hand priming tool or a bench mounted priming tool. No press mounted priming for me.
When I got my Hornady L-N-L and later my first Dillon SDB, I tried priming with the press. I did not like that I could not inspect the primer seating at least until I was confident that the priming system was functioning reliably. Both presses, I abandoned the priming system after about 800-1000 primers seated.
But, I really prefer to clean cases after resizing so it allows for priming by hand either with a hand primer tool or a bench mounted priming tool. I resize and clean the cases shortly after shooting. Small batch sizing goes quick as I do not worry about the rest of the process and I only have a "few" cases to process. I can set dies in the press and resize 100 handgun cases in less than five minutes. They tumble most of the night and it takes a few minutes in the morning to separate them from the media. The cases get stored for a future loading session.
As far as priming, I have found I can prime 100 cases with a hand priming tool (RCBS universal shell holder tool at present) in less time than it takes me to fill a priming tool so no time lost there. My bench tool is an RCBS APS tool. With pre-loaded strips, priming time is fast but if I have to load the strips, strip loading takes about the same time as filling primer tubes.
During loading, since I do not resize or prime, I have eliminated two major problem points for me on the progressive press and I have fewer stoppages and jams than when I was running fired case to loaded case.
I figure with my separate sizing and priming operations, my average reloading rate is about 300 cases per hour using hand case and bullet feeding.
More power to the folks that have straightened out their priming systems but I load more ammunition than I can shoot, I enjoy reloading and am happy with the trouble free time I spend in the reloading room. I have NO interest in spending time straightening out the press mounted priming systems.
I too prime off the press but I use the Lee hand primer.
I wasn't happy when I learned that it used special shell holders. Otherwise I love that I can relax, and do a hundred or two shells while watching TV.
As far as priming, I have found I can prime 100 cases with a hand priming tool (RCBS universal shell holder at present) in less time than it takes me to fill a priming tube so no time lost there
Priming on the CO-Ax is prohibitively slow. I had a lee, but sold it for an RCBS. It doesn't need shell holders. Its about $10 more expensive than the Lee. The Lee is nice. This one is a hair better.
https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-Univers...=1502296372&sr=1-2&keywords=RCBS+Priming+Tool
Zendude,Please tell me why you like the RCBS better, I may need to buy one
That too was my experience - the last few primers won't feed as there's not enough weight on them from others. Got sick of live primers bouncing off the tile floor (I load inside). Chintzy.I use a Lee Classic turret press but hate their primer feeder - the 'Safety Prime'. It uses the same folding plastic tray as the bench tool but expects you to dispense into the cup on the seating lever via a tube with the structural integrity of a wet noodle with a pez dispenser on the end. I find it cruelly effective - at putting primers on the floor. The flex in the tube, or 'trough' as they call it, frustrates my attempts to get it feeding reliably. The best I can get it to do is be decent for the first 50 primers at which point the lessening weight of the column of primers in the system takes what was barely good enough alignment into barely not good enough and they land on the floor.
you mean the primers won't work upside down? The priming tool put them in that wayI get far fewer flipped primers
Also the numbering system for the shell holders is different than the Lee system (I found out the hard way)
Will Lee press shell holders work on the RCBS hand primer or are they special priming shell holders like Lee's?
The RCBS hand priming tool (not the universal type) will not take Lee shell holders. The mounting hole on the bottom of the RCBS shell holders is larger than the Lee.you mean the [roimers won't work upside down? The priming tool put them in that way
Unless I watch closely I always seem to have a couple that get flipped over and a few that think they are going to try to get to go in sideways. PITA
Will Lee press shell holders work on the RCBS hand primer or are they special priming shell holders like Lee's?