mikemyers
Member
Life was very simple 30 years ago - my friend showed me how to re-load, I followed his instructions exactly, and everything went smoothly until I packed my stuff up to move to Florida. What follows below is prompted by what I've read in these forums, and other internet discussions. I'm reading about different ways to load primers; on multi-station re-loaders, the choice seems to be between "strips" and "tubes".
As I read more, I became aware of problems with tubes, in that if one primer was set off unintentionally, a lot of primers would instantly follow. I have no idea how commonplace or rare this occurrence is, just that it's a potential concern. I then read how Dillon has built a heavy tube around the primer tube, to protect the operator were this to happen.
Back to today - I currently have two Priming tools, the "RCBS Standard Priming Tool" which I used 30 years ago, and the "RCBS Automatic Priming Tool" which I never tried to set up - it's been in the box since the 1980's. I also have some parts I'm trying to understand, which may allow me to load the primers right on the Big Max press.
Once I get it set it up, I'm sure the "Standard Priming Tool" tool will work as reliably as it did 30 years ago, no fuss, no muss, maybe not as fast as others, but as I recall, very reliable.
Now that I think I understand it, the RCBS "Automatic Priming Tool" seems like an improvement over the basic tool. I watched the following video about it many times until I think I understand it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deH26I5aZ_4
.............all of which leads to the following question. If there is any concern about the tube type primer systems, which Dillon must take seriously if they provided a guard around the tube, why don't all these concerns also apply to the RCBS Automatic Priming Tool, which also has the lightweight tube sticking out the top of it? Isn't that a reason to avoid using the RCBS Automatic Priming Tool???
As I see it, until when/if I get a new press, I have three options:
Anybody here feel like sorting the above out into some logical conclusion as to which priming tool to use?
As I read more, I became aware of problems with tubes, in that if one primer was set off unintentionally, a lot of primers would instantly follow. I have no idea how commonplace or rare this occurrence is, just that it's a potential concern. I then read how Dillon has built a heavy tube around the primer tube, to protect the operator were this to happen.
Back to today - I currently have two Priming tools, the "RCBS Standard Priming Tool" which I used 30 years ago, and the "RCBS Automatic Priming Tool" which I never tried to set up - it's been in the box since the 1980's. I also have some parts I'm trying to understand, which may allow me to load the primers right on the Big Max press.
Once I get it set it up, I'm sure the "Standard Priming Tool" tool will work as reliably as it did 30 years ago, no fuss, no muss, maybe not as fast as others, but as I recall, very reliable.
Now that I think I understand it, the RCBS "Automatic Priming Tool" seems like an improvement over the basic tool. I watched the following video about it many times until I think I understand it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deH26I5aZ_4
.............all of which leads to the following question. If there is any concern about the tube type primer systems, which Dillon must take seriously if they provided a guard around the tube, why don't all these concerns also apply to the RCBS Automatic Priming Tool, which also has the lightweight tube sticking out the top of it? Isn't that a reason to avoid using the RCBS Automatic Priming Tool???
As I see it, until when/if I get a new press, I have three options:
- use the RCBS Standard Priming Tool
- use the RCBS Automatic Priming Tool, or
- use the RCBS dies that mount on the press, and insert the primer.
Anybody here feel like sorting the above out into some logical conclusion as to which priming tool to use?
Last edited: