Size and Prime or Size then Prime

[bullzeye8]

I am currently using a RCBS Rockchucker to size and prime .223, .30 carbine, and .308 win. The priming unit on the press is a bit of a pain and loses a lot of primers that just flip out of the thing occasionally. I am contemplating getting something like the RCBS Auto Bench Priming tool to hopefully reduce lost primers and make priming easier but was wondering if others do this and if it slows down the process much or does it actually speed it up? Would this be a better investment that a hand priming tool at $62 on sale and after rebate from midway or should I use a hand priming tool instead?

 

[griff383]

Ive tried many methods but (for me) the best way to do it, and ensure its done right, is to prep my brass one step at a time. Basically what I do is get the brass all ready to load and then prime it. Then I can proceed by whatever process I want, whether it be on the progressive or one at a time. I typically have 500-1000 pieces ready to prime and take whatever spare time I have to do it. Then Ill load accordingly and stash it away for future range trips.

BTW, I use the RCBS hand tool. Hope this helps

 

[MDof2]

Kind of the same process I follow.

Decap / Size
Clean
Size
Prime (hand prime most stuff)
Put in stock until I load.
Adjust accordingly for rifle.

 

[billybob44]

RCBS Auto Bench Priming Tool.

I too load on an older RCBS RockChucker+it does well.
Years ago I used the primer arm on the press, and it did OK.

For the last few years I have used the Bench Priming Tool (With the tubes) and LOVE IT

Here is my .223/5.56 brass process:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=790113

Watch for them on E-bay==Sometimes you can save some $$$...Bill.

 

[Dudedog]

I do a quick clean
Deprime/resize
Trim
(remove primer crimp if necessary)
Clean some more
Clean up the necks inside/outside
Then handprime with my Lee handprime tool. I can do this at the bench or while watching TV. (wear safety glasses)
I then store the primed cases in ziplocks in plastic tubs from Wally World until I am ready to load.

 

[GRIZ22]

I never liked the lack of feel the primer arm on the has. I have always used a hand priming tool. Treat it as a separate operation.

 

[BinRat]

I also use a Rockchucker and do batch loads with loading blocks. I've had the RCBS Auto Bench Priming tool since I began loading in the mid 70s and I love the thing. Once you load the primers into the tubes, the priming goes smoothly, quickly, and you get a fantastic feel for the primers bottoming out in the pocket.

 

[oldpapps]

And the answer is yes.

I run my progressive and it sizes and deprimes in the first stage, then prims and charges at the second stage.

But when I batch load, most rifle loads and specialty loaded pistol stuff, I do a first clean (rattle tub), size and deprime, trim to length (I have a fixation on this), full clean with pins and water, prime (normally with a hand tool), charge and seat and finally most/some get a FCD.

So, yes, I do both, sometimes. It all depends upon just what I doing and what for.

If I'm just pumping out .40 S&W or .45 ACP loads, only a quick cleaning before a rapid loading process.
If I'm loading experimental 300 Blacks, the brass gets pin cleaned before being full length sized and deprimed, pin cleaned again, then trimmed. It all depends upon what I doing.

That was clear as mud. Do what is needed for your specific load needs.

 

[Shaq]

I never liked the lack of feel the primer arm on the has. I have always used a hand priming tool. Treat it as a separate operation.

Me, neither. I've been using the Hornady Hand Priming Tool. I really like it - no filling primer tubes one-at-a-time, just pour & shake. Hornady even sent me a new, upgraded model when I phoned them with a question. And it has excellent feel & seated primers look like factory ammo.

 

[bbqreloader]

I have the RCBS auto prime also, great tool. The only probem I have with it is that I have to tighten the primer holder head every couple hundred rounds, other than that it does what I want it to do and very well.
I work in batches:
deprime (lee c pres)
clean
case prep
size

 

[cfullgraf]

I prefer to clean my cases after resizing so I resize then prime.

I resize, prep and clean cases shortly after shooting and then store them for a future loading session.

I store cases un-primed. Then, I do not tie up primers in a cartridge that I may not load and shoot for a while.

I've used a hand primer for decades, first a Lee Auto Prime, the old round tray priming tool. Now, I use an RCBS Universal priming tool. As I have aged, my hands cannot hand prime large batches of cases so I have an RCBS APS bench priming tool when I plan on a big reloading run.

(Even with a progressive press, I prefer to not prime on the press.)

 

[Mauser69]

I guess I am in the minority - I use a 70s era Rockchucker for all my rifle and magnum pistol loading, and I LIKE the primer arm on the press. Usually I size/decap and place all the cases face down in the loading block so I can visually check all the primer pockets. This process also lets me follow the same method the very few times that I am loading cases that have previously been deprimed and stored for the future.

With the expander die in place, I manually place a primer in the arm at the same time I am placing a sized case on the ram, and my thumb pushes the primer arm in place while the ram reaches the top, then I seat the new primer as the shell is being lowered.

My powder measure is always mounted under the expander die (for handgun cases), which places the charge tube just an inch or two away from the ram. When I take the primed case off the ram I simply pause briefly under the powder measure, and my fingers on the press handle at the top are already on the powder measure handle to throw the charge without any excess movement of either hand.

I find this process VERY efficient, and I think the Rockchucker actually has very good sensitivity to feel the primers push home. I can easily feel any primer pockets that are a bit loose (or tight), and I have never considered even for a moment using a separate hand-held or bench mounted priming tool.

 

[jmorris]

If I am not using a progressive press I am most likely using a hand primer.

There are a bunch of folks that actually hand prime even using progressives, most seem to be Lee and Hornady users.

 

[OilyPablo]

The coming Lee standalone bench primer is intriguing to me. All I know is the RCBS Hand Primer and that thing does work but is miserable for feel and just swapping shell holders is too much pain. I mean it's not tough but still slow.

 

[Captaingyro]

I would have guessed that I'd be in the minority, because I size and deprime, then clean, then hand prime. I'm pleasantly surprised to read how many others do things in (approximately) the same sequence. I always have a supply of sized, primed cases ready to go on the LNL.

I have never liked the idea of using a machine designed to exert tons of force to seat a primer...seems a little like using a freight train to push a shopping cart.

 

[mdi]

I measure all my bottle necked cases after I size, so I don't prime until the cases are prepped (trimmed if necessary, which would be difficult with a live primer in place ) and ready to go; trimmed, pockets de-crimped, mouth chamfered/deburred, cleaned, etc..

 

[OilyPablo]

I deprime my brass first in the dirty bench area. Then wet tumble. Dry and store. When ready to make ammo: size die, hand prime, etc

 

[Trailduster79]

I prime all of mine by hand. I removed the priming tool off of my press and threw it in a parts box.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

For rifle I use a single stage press. I size, trim, clean again to remove lube, then prime. For most of my pistol loads I use a Dillon 550B and size and prime without removing the brass. I don't use lube on pistol brass so there is no need to remove it from the press to clean the brass again before finishing the load.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I prime as the very last step before actually loading them.
For rifle my recipes are set, so I include priming as the last step in case prep, so I end up with a bunch of primed brass.
For pistol, where I may or may not need a magnum primer, I prime as part of loading, per batch.
Either way, prime last.

 

[carbine85]

I use Rock Chucker presses and the primer arm mounted on the press. Typically I go one step at a time mostly because I want the brass clean and free of lube before I prime. Sometimes I set up the Progressive press and I will resize and prime pistol rounds.
I also use a Lee hand primer from time to time.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Although I have no use for most Lee stuff, their handheld auto-primer is pretty good. Just get additional parts for it as it is made of pot metal. So my answer to your question is: Resize, then prime.

 

[Steve in PA]

I've been using the priming arm on my RCBS single stage for almost 25 years now, loading all kinds of handgun and rifle calibers. Never had an issue.

I tumble, then deprime. For rifle brass, I'll re-tumble to remove any lube. For handgun brass, I go right to flaring the case mouth and priming at the same time. Then on to powder and bullet seating.

 

[Gravedigger56]

Kind of the same process I follow.

Decap / Size
Clean
Size
Prime (hand prime most stuff)
Put in stock until I load.
Adjust accordingly for rifle.

Pretty much the same process I use except I store after sizing and then prime just before reloading.

 

[AnselHazen]

I have a Hornady hand primer and liked it so far with 9mm. When I started doing .223 I had a lot of trouble priming that ultimately must have been an ineffective crimp removal process. In working all that out I moved to using the priming arm on my Lee Classic Turret and quickly afterward added the Lee Safety Prime gadget. I'm really liking priming on this press, it seems to have a good feel and one I'd say is as good as the hand primer. (used - gunbroker $25)

Currently I am sizing clean brass, wipe it clean, trim the case, prime on the press, load powder, seat bullet.