R.C.B.S. Hand Priming Tool

[Ala Dan]

R.C.B.S. hand priming tool, does anybody use it~? Please explain. for rifles
or handguns. I have been using the R.C.B.S. auto primer feed on my Rock
Chucker press; but a co-worker says that is too dangerous, cuz your face
is right over the primer tube with 100 primers in it. Any detonation could
cause all primers in the tube to fire; impaling the tube right into your fore
head~! :banghead:

 

[Eric H]

I purchased a rcbs hand primer the other day and I like it alot. I am new to reloading and have a rosk chucker . so the hand primer realy sped things up for me. I do have the piggy back attachment, But my friend I got it from said I should Start at the single stage. so the hand primer is definatly the way to go. plus you know every primer is set perfect. hope that gives you the info you were asking

 

[Flash!]

I have the hand primer from RCBS and love it...... I can prime brass while I watch tv...... I use it from everything from 9mm to 7 Rem mag and everything in between....

 

[ThumperACC]

It works just fine. I've loaded 2-3000 rounds with it, both rifle and pistol.

Put the tray that the primers come in on the bench. Put the primer tool tray upside down over the primer package tray. Pinch the 2 together and invert. Now you have 100 primers on the primer tool tray, mostly rightside up. You gently shake the tray back and forth, the groovs on the primer tool tray catch the ends of the primer anvils and flip them anvil side up. Put the primer tool tray cover on, slip a shell holder on the primer tool and you are ready to go. The primer tool takes 1 primer and moves it up a short tube up to the bottom of the case, squeezing the handle moves a steel barrier between the primer being seated and the rest of the tray, making the possibility of detonating the entire tray of primers really unlikely. Keep squeezing and the primer is seated in the case. Let the handle open again, remove the primed case, put another in its place ... repeat.

ThumperACC

 

[Ala Dan]

Great and speedy replies guy's, many thanks for the information. I too, just
recently purchased this tool; but haven't used it yet. Just getting everything
set-up; and thinking of trying 5.56 Winchester virgin brass with CCI small
rifle primers as the first order of business~! Thanks again fella's~!

 

[918v]

Get a Hornady tool, much better quality.

 

[jcwit]

Get a K & M or better yet a Sinclair. For the price I think the K & M is hard to beat.

 

[clutch]

I recently purchased the RCBS tool after owning all generations of the Lee hand priming tools. I'm very happy with the RCBS.

Clutch

 

[RidgwayCO]

I've got two RCBS hand priming tools (the older, "non-universal" type), one set up for large primers and the other for small. Everything I load goes through them first. I guess I could prime on the press, but why do that when I've never had a problem seating primers in over 20 years of reloading?

(And I like the bar that helps prevent a detonating primer from setting off all the other primers in the primer tray. I'm pretty sure the Lee and Hornady units don't have that feature. Luckily, I've never had to test it to see if it works properly!)

 

[Funshooter45]

I have used m ine for several years and have no major complaints. I see they now have a model called the Universal hand primer. That would eliminate my biggest hassle with the one I used. My problem was that for the most part I would only need to prime 20-50 cases in one caliber and then later on that evening prime another 20 of a different caliber. You have to take the dang thing apart to put your shellholder in and then take it apart to switch to the next shellholder. It's more efficient if you have 300 cases of pistol brass to prime. The new model doesn't suffer from that problem.

But it does work. It seats the primers consistently which is the main thing. Now I mainly prime on the press with my Lee Turret with the Safety Prime system. Much more efficient, but it lacks the "feel" of the RCBS hand primer. No way will I ever git rid of the hand priming tool.

 

[Cop Bob]

I recently purchased the RCBS tool after owning all generations of the Lee hand priming tools. I'm very happy with the RCBS.

Clutch

I have had just the opposite experience, however my RCBS tool was a 1st generation at best. It's all personal preference..

I like the Lee Auto Prime, and the Hornady tool, I just never could get used to the arm swinging in and out on the RCBS, and it tended to fail to pick up from time to time, had to be more careful in its use...

I liked the Lee and the Hornady because I could set in front of the TV in mindless stupor and still get the job done.. Very consistent.. Good hand feel, lets you know without thinking about it..

any of the mentioned tools are marked improvements over doing it with the press..

 

[DM~]

I recently purchased the RCBS tool after owning all generations of the Lee hand priming tools. I'm very happy with the RCBS.

Clutch

Me too, except i've had the RCBS longer than you... I have nothing but good things to say about my RCBS primeing tools.

BTW, i wouldn't be afraid to use the primeing attachment on my press either, i just prefer not too, as the primeing tool is a lot more comfortable for me to use.

DM

 

[HJ857]

I also switched from the older Lee hand primer to the RCBS Universal and have not regretted it. Very durable piece of gear. I also vastly prefer to hand prime and I also do it in front of the TV. The thing I like best about hand priming is that you can tell right away if the primer pocket has been enlarged too much, allowing the primer to seat with almost no force at all. That kind of feedback is priceless.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I've got two RCBS hand priming tools (the older, "non-universal" type), one set up for large primers and the other for small. Everything I load goes through them first. I guess I could prime on the press, but why do that when I've never had a problem seating primers in over 20 years of reloading?

(And I like the bar that helps prevent a detonating primer from setting off all the other primers in the primer tray. I'm pretty sure the Lee and Hornady units don't have that feature. Luckily, I've never had to test it to see if it works properly!)​

+1 on this w/ my Universal for large primers since I load .45 and .45 rimmed and .30-06/.308/.45 ACP and the older style for small primers.

RCBS seems to be a good balance of design, price and quality.

FH

 

[45ACPUSER]

Get the Universal one so you don't need shell holders. If you want a precision too then K&M is best deal for about 50 bucks....they use Lee AP Shell Holders...

 

[brainwake]

Once you get used to the tool...switching out shell holders and between the large and small really take little time and effort.

 

[Walkalong]

I use it for everything (Except 6 PPC where I used a Sinclair hand primer) I have only used the Lee and the RCBS for general priming, so I cannot comment on it vs the K&M or the Hornady. I have a K&M neck turner and it is top notch.

 

[cfullgraf]

When Lee recommended not using their Auto Prime with certain primers, I purchased the RCBS Universal, actually two. I use the RCBS priming tools for virtually everything except they will not prime brass .410 shot shells. I keep the Lee for that.

I recently got the RCBS hand APS Universal tool to play with. It was on sale and I needed a new "toy" to try out. I like priming with the strips, it is more efficient than the tray primer except I have not figured out an efficient way to charge the strips. Pre-loaded strips cost more than standard primers.

I cannot comment on the Hornady or the K&M.

 

[dbro822]

Just got the RCBS hand primer, 500 rounds of 9mm, 50 rounds of 25-06, so far I like it better then using the priming set up on my rock chucker, it seems like you can feel the primer sliding in the pocket better. Never gave much thought to the primer feed tube stuck into my for head before, but I also never kept my head right over it before.

 

[tryNto]

I got the RCBS hand primer in January this year, I like it better then using the priming set up on my rock chucker that I had to sell in 2009.

 

[clutch]

I have had just the opposite experience, however my RCBS tool was a 1st generation at best. It's all personal preference..

I like the Lee Auto Prime, and the Hornady tool, I just never could get used to the arm swinging in and out on the RCBS, and it tended to fail to pick up from time to time, had to be more careful in its use...

I liked the Lee and the Hornady because I could set in front of the TV in mindless stupor and still get the job done.. Very consistent.. Good hand feel, lets you know without thinking about it..

any of the mentioned tools are marked improvements over doing it with the press..

Have you tried the 3rd generation autoprime with the square trays? The tray cover breaks off, the handle is not ergonomic as it was built to be pushed by the thumb which in my case has succumbed to arthritis. Not to mention the primer gate didn't seem to work.

The second generation with the round tray was a joy to use but somehow I misplaced mine. Maybe it will show up some day.

The first gen was the one with the screw in shell holders and no tray.

Clutch

 

[GW Staar]

When Lee recommended not using their Auto Prime with certain primers, I purchased the RCBS Universal, actually two. I use the RCBS priming tools for virtually everything except they will not prime brass .410 shot shells. I keep the Lee for that.

I recently got the RCBS hand APS Universal tool to play with. It was on sale and I needed a new "toy" to try out. I like priming with the strips, it is more efficient than the tray primer except I have not figured out an efficient way to charge the strips. Pre-loaded strips cost more than standard primers.

I cannot comment on the Hornady or the K&M.

Pre-loaded strips don't cost more everywhere....Grafs for instance....

5000 count CCI 400's $146.

Same thing Loaded in Strips $145.

Have you tryed the RCBS Strip Loader? After a short learning curve it works just as fast as loading the old tubes, but you can safely store them.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I had the hand primer and didn't like the idea as I have carpal-tunnel syndrome. I sold the entire hand primer unit that came with the kit and bought the bench-mounted press. I really like the bench-mounted, it gives me much more leverage if and when I need it (like on some military cases).

At least the tube is not aiming at you when you are seating the primer.

 

[chrt396]

This is one great, fast way to prime and better feel!!

 

[cfullgraf]

Pre-loaded strips don't cost more everywhere....Grafs for instance....

5000 count CCI 400's $146.

Same thing Loaded in Strips $145.

Have you tryed the RCBS Strip Loader? After a short learning curve it works just as fast as loading the old tubes, but you can safely store them.

Thanks.

I recently availed myself of the special Mid South had on primers and stocked up on the APS stripped primers. The APS primers were similar in price to the non-stripped primers. Of course, I will keep the strips for future use.

Yes, I have the strip loader, it was also on sale at the time I bought the priming tools. Large primer strips load pretty quick but small primer strip loading has a quirk or two that slows the process down that I have not developed a solution or method for.

In general, I am happy with the system.