Priming on the press...?

[Bill M.]

The biggest con for me is that the Lee primer feed will not fit on my Lee Classic Press. Heck, I ordered it and had to toss it. The fine print tat came with it says they changed the press at some point after mine was made.

 

[Bartojc]

I prime on press exclusively. Primary press is a Lee Classic Turret. I've thought of getting the RCBS or Lee or other hand primer but never felt it important. If on press was an issue I'd go for a hand primer.

-Jeff

 

[JFrank]

For myself correct seating when priming is such an important step in creating accuracy that loading for my rifles is only done on hand primer tools such as K&M or 21st century click adjustable. Both have outstanding leverage for excellent feel and while touching a primer has no ill effect at all I still wipe the grease off my hands before i start.

 

[sugarmaker]

I find the press mounted upstroke prime systems to be sort of a blunt instrument, especially with federal primers. They still work OK and I use them, usually I give the case a quarter turn and re seat. I have an RCBS hand primer that provides a nice feel, I seat the primer, do a quarter to half turn, seat to feel. Very good results with tight pockets and everything else but slow. On the lnl-ap I have a Lee deprime die with the rod upside down on station 2, set up to press the case down onto the ram so no high primers. Then charge and depending on what I’m doing seat then crimp or powder check then seat.

 

[243winxb]

I’ve gathered that federal was a problem in Dillon primer tubes the past but that might not still be the case these days. What is the latest consensus on that?

No Dillon issue/warning. More operator error. If it jams, don't force it.
LEE started it years ago, because Federal was a problem using a Lee hand priming unit. Federal primers may contain nitroglycerin. It is listed in Federals SDS.

 

[JimKirk]

The Forster/Bonanza press has one the best on press primer system ...

 

[vsteel]

I have done priming on the press for many years but when I got a hand primer it made things easier. If you want to do it on the press I see no issue but if you want things to go a little smoother without having to place a primer in the little cup every time, I say get a hand priming tool. I use the RCBS tool.

 

[243winxb]

I seat the primer, do a quarter to half turn, seat to feel.

Is what i do also, using an RCBS Ram Prime on the press.

On my old Dillon RL-450, 45 acp, WLP, primers get seated & done. No turn & seat again.

 

[Milt1]

To each his own but I haven't seen anything that would get me to change from my RCBS Automatic Priming Tool.

 

[webrx]

When I started I wanted to reload as inexpensively as possible and just some hard to find or expensive rounds to save a little cash. No special gadgets for priming, single stage RCBS partner press, original priming setup, wash my hands before and after each reloading session to make sure no oil or grease on them, hand place primers and prime on the single stage press. I did everything in batches, clean, deprime, resize, wipe off sizing lube, prime, powder, bullet, crimp.

I got the turret press when I started reloading 9mm due to volume, no lube on these so I clean the brass, set up the turret and have at it, still prime on press, one at a time. maybe I am a bit OCD but I like the built in checks and balances doing everything one step and one bullet at a time affords me. Even with the turret, clean case, universal deprime as prep work, then size, prime, powder, bullet, crimp on the turret for 9mm

I did buy a safety prime for my Lee classic turret, and a hand primer since that time, but TBH I have not taken them out of their boxes because the process I have works so far with no issues. Some day I probably will, but, for now, if it aint broke ...

d

 

[BigGee]

Finally got the time to quickly clamp my new RCBS Automatic Priming Tool to the bench and try it out.
Definitely a "Why didn't I get this earlier" moment.
Coupled with my Dillon flip tray - another totally worthwhile purchase, priming isn't so bad !