To set the tone... I hate to fill the primer tubes for the progressive presses I have...and the bench mounted priming tools. I do have a Dillon primer tube filler I got at an auction a couple of years ago. I have never really used it. I tried loading some tubes with it but it did have about 20% that did not turn up correctly. I must say I only paid 35 dollars for it. I also have one of the battery powered FA primer tube fillers. Also an auction buy(7.50) new in the package. I have used it but just have to say it is not the most reliable thing I have ever used. Some primers turn over and it gets hung up on some primers. Never looked for a how to but I do understand there is a fix for them. Has any one here used any kind of primer tube filler that works? Reliably I mean. I have about 7000 223s to load and I'll spend more time loading primer tubes than loading, filling the tubes singly. Are there any primer tube fillers out there that work??

I use a little primer flipper I think I paid $3.50 many many moons ago(red plastic but not made by Lee;the cover is smooth and the bottom is full of small lines.Dump the primers on the lined part,shake a bit and all primer turn anvil side up.Put cover on top,reverse the whole thing,remove the bottom part that is now the top and fill tube)The total time to flip them the right side up and to fill my Dillon tube takes aprox 1 1/2 minute/100.With a minimum of attention,the ratio of right side up is 100%.

FOR YEARS/DECADES I loaded primer tubes 1 at a time by hand, rather than use the split plastic end to pick them up/into the tube by pressing the tube against them. DOI All you need is a few $ shaker tray that makes all the primers the same side up.

I have the Hornady primer tube filler shaped like a 1911, and I'm very underwhelmed. It is faster than filling them manually, but not consistent and primers frequently get stuck and flipped. If I keep working with it maybe my technique will improve, but I'm not terribly inclined to do that.

I got a Dillon RF 100 Primer filler for my birthday last month. Dillon RF 100 Sm. Primer Filler (97111): Priming Systems & Accessories at Dillon Precision I have been skeptical for years about needing one of these, recently my hand has been cramping up using the "chicken pecking" method of filling the tubes. The Dillon has worked 100% since I've gotten it. I understand that it has undergone some re-designing since it was originally offered. Biggest problem I have with it is after I dump the primers in, I get fascinated watching the primers go round and round, getting flipped when needed and then dropping down the tube. Not saving much time yet, but I'll probably get bored with the show and then I'll let it do it's job while I'm loading.

Here's a link to a video of mine in action
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Minimize the variables

I played with the FA a little bit today. Hotter than the hinges of H so I was inside for a while. The darn thing works a bunch better after smoothing some places with fine steel wool. I also played with the Dillon with the steel wool. Didn't have time to try using it but it does look better. I had bought a bunch of Dillon stuff at the auction including an older 550. Sold the press. Also got one of the Dillon trimmers mounted on an old RCBS Jr press. Set up for 223: Paid $50 for it and it works perfectly. Gonna try the primer tube filler tomorrow after I get back from Billings. Might be better if I download the instructions for it. Many of the newer tubes have a white plastic tip that looks like a hollow point bullet and in my opinion they are hard to pick up primers with. I do like the Dillon primer flippers. Everyone seems to want the brass colored ones but the newer black ones are easier to see primers on. I think I must have 4 of the brass colored ones. Much better than the plastic flippers. I usually give them away

Holy Crapo. I just clicked on that link you posted. That Dillon automatic tube filler is expensive. Honestly never looked it up. I figured it would be maybe $125-$150. I got the one I have with 2 blue tubes and one red. When I saw that FA filler I thought it looked like the cat's meow. I must admit I can be a gadget freak!

And your posts about your 'auction buys' are downright depressing. Nothing in reloading equipment shows up here in auctions. Friends & Family always get the stuff first.

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S&WHF 366

The blue tubes are small primers, the red one is large primers. You also have to change some stuff on the machine too. I only use small primers so I'm not sure what has to be changed, I know at least the little insert at the end of the primer ramp is color coded for size (blue for small).

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Minimize the variables

Well some of the reloading stuff is becoming a bit more expensive lately. I let the bid go on a Redding T-7 at an auction not too long ago. It sold for 250 but only one other fellow bidding on it against me. But I already have 2. I did get 600 rounds of Lapua new 308 brass at the auction for 15 cents each. I don't even load 308 any longer..,.and I did buy a really nice RCBS A2 press at a gun show a month or so ago for a 100 bucks. Off to Billings this morning. Will try the Dillon filler later today and see if the clean up helps. I lightly chamfered the FA filler at the hole where the primers drop through with a VLD neck reamer. Lightly was the key word. It loaded a primer tube in under 45 seconds with no screw-ups an hour ago. I already primed a 100 222 Rem brass this AM with the bench mount priming press. I was using S&B small rifle primers. Found that the S&B primers have the anvils sitting a tiny bit proud. Have another 150 of them to prime. Hopefully the Dillon machine will work right after the cleaning and polishing. Hey thanks for all the answers. I didn't even know Hornady had a primer filler.

I have a Dillon pretty hit or miss depending on primer brands. Really not needed Imo. I can fill a tube in 90sec from dump to done. Sit in front of the boob tube & fill tubes at my leisure. I really need to sell the Dillon.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I have the (now) FA and the Hornady 1911. The Hornady worked better from the gitgo. But any individual sample of either device might need exactly the kind of deburring you gave yours in order to work well.

Some other tips that may be helpful:

1) If a primer refuses to drop down the hole, turn the entire device upside down. Primers already in the tube will smack it in the butt and, now properly motivated, it will drop down for you.

2) I've found primers will fail to drop more often when there are 3 or more touching the one about to drop. Try to hold the device at an angle that puts less weight against the one about to drop.

3) Some primer brands have a skintch larger diameter than others. Those brands are likely to hang up.

4) The Hornady 1911 has a "blast shield" that will give you some protection, but obscures your view of what's happening in the tray. The device will not operate unless the blast shield is pulled up into position, but it can easily be defeated if you want. Take the device apart (a couple of screws) without losing any small parts Then use a twist tie to lock down the micro switch arm. The device now works without the blast shield and the mod is simple to reverse should you choose.

I use 10 pick-up tubes per size and load up all the primers and begin loading. By the time the primers are gone, I'm ready for a break! (that is about 2:15 total time). The mention of a batch of 7000 223's brings back memories of a 20,000 batch I did in 1984 with my then new Dillon 450. The powder and primers were not automatic!. From beginning to end that batch took 2 months of removing primer crimps and cleaning brass and load 500 a night and 1500 on a Saturday. I wiped Central Ohio out of once fires brass and CCI small rifle magnum primers. Now many stores keep 50,000 brass in stock or you get it on-line in a few days. Primers are often sold by the 5000 case (I keep 5000 of each size on hand at all times and will buy 20,000 a month sometimes! My F-I-L loads only 38 special and 45 ACP, and buys his primers 100,000 at a time- about twice a year!)

With all the improvements to presses and priming systems; loading takes no time at all. It is the case prep that is time consuming! When I was active in Cowboy Action I shot about 8000+ a year of 45 Colt and 4000 a year of 44-40. I owned enough brass to only load twice a year! and spent more time practicing than loading! At one time I had 12,000 45 ACP brass and only loaded once a year. But I was buying bullets instead of casting them myself. Now I plink with large bore single shot rifles, and lovingly build each round like it was my only child! It takes a lot more time but the results are worth it!

Ivan

That Dillon RF100 does look interesting, but my little Dillon Flip Tray and pick up tubes are just so easy and reliable, and more importantly affordable. Maybe one day...

I have Dillon RF which I don't trust anymore (too many cases when primer was flipped); I have FA which kind of prone to the same problems but you have to jerk it around; so after trying automation I'm back to flip tray.

Got to make a follow up report on the Dillon RF. I got the instructions and studied them. The machine I have looks essentially new...especially after my "polishing up" routine. It really does look about unused. Taking my time I loaded 8 small primer tubes with three different primer brands.(Winchester, Alcan(S&W) and S&B).Watching the machine is somewhat dizzying for me but in the whole batch I had 2 primers load upside down. One was a Winchester the other was an Alcan. I doubt either was brand specific but the sample was too small anyway. So even with the small sample I would have to say the Dillon is more reliable than I feared. I also loaded 7 more small pistol primers with the FA. They were a mixed bag of individual boxes of "older" CCI primers that I have had for years. One was a partial box with 68 primers. I still have many more left and am going to try to use them up. As well as I could say they all loaded correctly. Seems as though technique is the word with the FA filler. Especially after the little smoothing and tinkering I did. Looking through the primers I have here right now I will never have to buy another Large Rifle primer ever again. Just in the Small Pistol Mag I may be good for life too. But think I will load the loose boxes I have in 38 Sp. mid range loads just to get them gone. I think the FA filler is going to be my go to. The Dillon looks more like a commercial machine to me. I have at least 20 small and large primer tubes in each size for Dillon and about 8 of each for the Hornady machines. I probably have enough for a while.....but going to a gun show this weekend at Bozeman...so ya never know.