RCBS vs Lee shell holders

[Racinbob]

I purchased the Lee Anniversary kit along with their carbide dies for 9mm and .38/.357. I didn't care for the Safety Prime system so I purchased a RCBS hand primer. I figured I'd use my Lee shell holders. RCBS and Lee shell holders interchange fine in the press. I wasn't thrilled about how the Lee holder fit in the RCBS hand primer. It almost had to be forced on. On a hunch, I picked up a RCBS shell holder to see if it made a difference. The 'cone' angle underneath on the two differ. The RCBS has more taper than the Lee and fits the primer feed post a lot better. Now the minor problems I was having with the Lee holders installed are gone. Just thought I'd pass that on.

 

[rcmodel]

I use nothing but Lee shell holders from the Green box "universal set" in my RCBS hand primer. The Lee set stays in the box with the RCBS hand primer tool so I always have the right shell holder without digging one out of a die box.

I think I may have modified the RCBS plastic inserts years ago by sanding them down slightly though.

rcmodel

 

[utk]

Try RCBS new universal hand priming tool. It doesn't use shellholders at all. Instead it has two jaws that will fit anything from .32ACP to 45-70.

 

[Racinbob]

I thought about sanding but for no more than the shellholders cost I figured I try one for 9mm. Now I'm just going to pick up a #6 for my .38/.357. That's all I load. If I ever have any issues with it I'll try that RCBS universal.

 

[_N4Z_]

i bought a rcbs press "kit" and dies, and stuff for my x54r reloading. works well.

i then bought a set of lee dies for .38/357. i noticed that my aguila brass had issues getting into the shell holder. i blamed the brand, put them in the back of the closet and thought no more of it. then one day while brewing up a couple hundred rounds, using pmc, remington, and starline brass, the shell holder chipped on the rim. would no longer hold a case in place.

went to the shop and bought a rcbs holder so i could continue on. upojn close inspection i found that the rcbs holder has more material around the rim, and looks a bit beefier in build.

*here's the kicker ... those aguila cases that i thought were out of spec pop right into that rcbs holder without a hitch! glad i didn't toss them out with the trash.

so... i am of course going to keep on using my lee dies as they work just fine, but i will not be buying any of their shell holders.

 

[scrat]

Try RCBS new universal hand priming tool. It doesn't use shellholders at all. Instead it has two jaws that will fit anything from .32ACP to 45-70.

Really this is something new to me. very interesting

 

[Uncle Chan]

The shell holders for my lee hand primer aren't all that wonderful. The one for the 223 is junk. 20% of the cases won't fit in it. I find myself using the 9mm shell holder and it works.

Still, I'm looking at the RCBS universal.