RCBS APS Press Priming Tool

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Magnum Shooter

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2012
Messages
406
Location
Just East Of Cleveland, OHIO
Anyone use the RCBS APS Press Priming Tool? I just ordered one along with the RCBS APS Primer Strip Loader got the birthday price and everything was in stock. It was kind of an impulse order, but I have been looking for another priming method since my old hands can’t use hand primers for long anymore. Looking for any opinions so I can decide if I should cancel the order or not.
 
They work just fine.

But if you think finding normal primers in stock is hard?
Try finding ASP primer strips already loaded with primers in stock.

Loading the ASP strips to use the ASP priming tool is a PITA if you have to hand-load the ASP primer strips first.

rc
 
rcmodel said:
They work just fine.

But if you think finding normal primers in stock is hard?
Try finding APS primer strips already loaded with primers in stock.

Yeah! I wish you guys with tubes (and Peter Eick) would quit horde buying them.:D In Peter's defense, he only bought a year's worth. (of course for me it would be 5 years worth) The strip primers were the last stock to disappear.

Loading the APS strips to use the APS priming tool is a PITA if you have to hand-load the APS primer strips first.

rc
Click to expand...

PITA? Perhaps a bit, but no worse or slower than pecking tubes full. The advantage is that I can load strips while watching sitcoms, and store them away for use months from now. Something I've heard isn't advisable with tubes.

I predict the O.P. will love it once he learns the system. He just won't have it in full "technicolor" until this stupid unnatural demand fades away. Using preloaded primers is a joy... a safe fast joy.

While the strip loader isn't perfect, it is quite easy to improve. I'm preparing a video and thread to present an idea or two on that. Magnum Shooter, you might want to watch for it.
 
Last edited:
GW Staar

Would you let us know when you finish it with a link? I have used your suggestions before and found them quite helpful.
 
I've been using the press mounted APS system for a couple of years for the same reason. The hand priming devices are too hard on my old hands. In fact, I gave three of them away, just to get rid of them.

I really like the APS system, since it's so easy to get proper seating depth with it. I can pick up five primed cases at random and they'll all measure .004" below flush.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
Hard to find? Odd, I just called up Powder Valley and asked to custom order them. 3 or 4 of us got together and ordered up something like 100,000 of them all loaded and ready to go. I have a picture of me sorting them out with something like 70,000 pre-loaded primers on the bench.

The nice thing about buying in bulk like that is I got a good price. $16.85 if I remember correctly per 1000.

I still have about 40,000 primers distributed around at friends and neighbors. You have to keep in mind the local ordnance and fire codes on the number of primers you store. I have a list of who has what stored where and as I need them I just ask for them back.
 
You know what I hate about you Pete? That you live too far away for me to get in on those orders!!!:D I don't have any APS users besides me in my little town.....that I know of. Nuts!
 
You just need to encourage a few. I got the other loaders I am working with to buy pro2000's after I sat them down and trained them. It worked well and now the 4 of us go in on group purchases. That way we can buy in bulk.
 
Good idea Pete. Now all I've got to do is find 4 friends.:D I have two Lee 1000 friends....and one who bought a Dillon 650, loaded 10,000 rounds of 9mm and then put it (most likely permanently) in storage.:rolleyes:

I'm about ready to post an APS Loader thread.....thought I'd get it done today, and maybe I still will, but my video making skills aren't what they ought to be....keep screwing it up. All the stills are done....just need to upload them to photobucket. If not today hopefully tomorrow.

APS really is nice.....even when you have to use the loader. (which admittedly is the weak link of the system. RCBS could have built a better one, but I'm sure they were worried they might discourage more than encourage buyers of APS with a higher-priced loader. It works adequately as is, but you have to make sure after loading that no primer edges are high, because proud edges are the only source of jams in the system that I have found. (the most common user hiccup when first learning the system...take note O.P....load your strips then run something smooth over the anvil sides to push down any proud edges...I use a wallpaper roller and roll three strips at once.)

With just a little work on the loader, I now NEVER have a proud edge to cause a jam or to push down in a separate step, and no more having to feel for just the right lever-push to slide strips in smoothly (I dislike that feature a lot). I decided to modify mine since I have a lot of primers not in strips. When you buy a brick of 1000 every time you walk into a fun (gun) store for years....it adds up. CCI and Winchester mostly. Now that preloaded strips are out of stock along with regular primers, I am now most interested in filling strips with the loader.
 
I've found that with the APS Strip Loader, the key is a soft touch when shaking the primers into the loading position. At first I would just tip the loader and all the primers would jam against the loading strip area. Now I just gently shake the loader and feed the primers into the loading area gently and it goes much faster, with fewer double feeds.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
GW Staar, Frist time I have seen your modified strip loader. It`s Great.
With the shortage, I am loading a lot strips, and have gotten really fast, got the touch, but think I might copy it.
 
The best part about the recesser is that you don't need a separate step to make sure the primers are down. Even if you are fast, just that mod will make you faster. :)
 
Looks very nice. I am quite impressed at how you fixed one of the little quirks of the APS strips.

I think I will stay with just buying them filled though. I am lazy....
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

hanno
  • Locked
Okay, RCBS APS true believers, I’m waiting to be converted
2
Replies
37
Views
4K
Peter M. Eick
P
D
  • Locked
RCBS APS Bench Priming Tool question,
Replies
0
Views
420
dcbridgwater
D
S
  • Locked
Press or Bench Priming Tool??
Replies
21
Views
2K
ericbc7
E
C
  • Locked
APS Priming tool
Replies
11
Views
842
Standing Wolf
S
C
  • Locked
APS Hand Priming
Replies
8
Views
623
edfardos
E
Back
Top