Ram Prime

[gspn]

Does anyone use a Ram Prime setup for primer seating? I have a Lee Classic Cast turret press and I'm trying to determine if a Ram Prime setup would add a material difference to the quality of my rifle loads. The issue I'm getting at is the consistency of primer seating depth. The Lee uses the "do it by feel" method.

I'm not a bench rest shooter. I'm making hunting loads for shots 300 yards and under. Heck MOST of the shots will be 120 yards or less. I know that I don't need to chase the last 100th of an inch of accuracy but I do take pride in my work and I'd like the ammo to be as accurate as reasonably possible.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Offfhand]

forget the ram prime

 

[lgbloader]

gspn,
How do you prime right now?

I have a ram prime that I got with my cheap little old Lee Challenger press without the breech locks (I love this press) and I sometimes use it for rifle. I will say that the ram prime is slow; I never had an issue with it but I prefer my RCBS Universal hand primer.

LGB

 

[gspn]

Right now I just use the system that's built into the turret press. After I raise the brass into the resizer I put a primer in the primer cup and then lower the brass all the way down until the primer goes in. The priming happens as you return the operating handle to it's normal position (the handle is moving up and the ram is moving back down to it's starting position)...you just have to force it a bit once it gets back there.

 

[Floppy_D]

I have the RCBS equivalent, and it works. It's slow, and you have to handle the primers individually. For the same cash, the Lee Auto Prime does the same job, but faster, with less primer handling.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I have both the Lyman Ram Prime, and the RCBS unit. Yes, they're slow. They are also very precise in seating primers. They have to be set up for each caliber, but I prefer to use them, since I consider priming very important in the process.

I've tried the hand priming tools from Lee and Hornady. The Lee broke after a short time, and when priming in large batches, the Hornady hurts my hand after awhile. I tried wearing a glove and that didn't help, so I went to the Ram Prime and never looked back.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[The Bushmaster]

Lee's Auto Prime II is a press mounted priming system and is what I've been using for over 20 years. It is a die that has two manderals for large and small primers.

 

[cougar1717]

I've got a friend who uses the priming system with his Lee Classic Turret. He does have the primer dispenser that works ok, but it is slower than using a hand priming tool. It is harder to feel when you've hit the bottom of the primer pocket with a press mounted priming tool.

 

[The Bushmaster]

No it's not. At least not with the Lee Auto Prime II...

 

[Noveldoc]

I think the Lee hand prime gives a better feel and more uniform seating than the on press ram. Extra step is a PITA though.

Tom