auto press priming vs hand priming

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oldgunclub

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I have hornady lock n load press & lee turret press. Hand priming
is always deeper than auto and more reliable. Is it worth the extra effort to shoot paper?

Thanks Sam
 
I've loaded literally hundreds of thousands of rounds on a Dillon 550 using the on the press priming feature. I could always shoot excellent groups with my reloads.

Disclaimer: Back when I could see the sights that is...
 
I gave up with on press priming.
I hand prime and that works so much better for me.
No reloading press jams.
No fail to fire on first hit.
No high primers jamming the cylinder.
I sawed the priming system off my last two used presses.
YMMV
 
It hasn't made any difference, as far as hand priming with my RCBS, single priming on my Redding single press, or auto on the Dillon 650. I do check every cartridge for proper setting of the primer. When cranking them out by the hundreds on the Dillon, there will most likely be a few that didn't seat properly. Very few at that, but I just pull them from the pile, and recycle them later. I'd never hand prime any casing that's going through the 650.

edit: And I've also reloaded thousands on the Dillon. Every completed cartridge, that I've inspected has fired. Every single one!
 
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Personally, I rather prime separately using my RCBS bench mounted priming system. I like to inspect my cases after resizing and depriming anyways, so it's no big deal for me to prime separately. But that is my personal preference and I know that millions of rounds have been loaded on progressives without priming as a separate priming operation.
 
I'm with muddocktor. I prime with my RCBS bench primer exclusively....not so much for accuracy but for ease in reloading. I have given up press priming altogether....too sloppy IMO.
 
Looking at the Lock & Load, I see it's a single press. I do prefer the RCBS hand loader for most ammo that I run through the single press. Much quicker, and works well. I'll just watch TV, and run a hundred or so at a time.
 
I've not primed on my RCBS press - ever. Currently I'm using a Sinclair priming tool that I really enjoy using. I've had it for about 20 years I think. It's my favorite loading operation. Needless to say - I'm happy. Mike
 
oldgunclub said:
I have hornady lock n load press & lee turret press. Hand priming is always deeper than auto and more reliable. Is it worth the extra effort to shoot paper? . . .
Click to expand...
Assuming that either way the primer is safely recessed, IMO it will make no difference except perhaps for extremely precision-prepared ammo. Prep for that might include neck-turning, measuring neck tension, annealing, and more. Even then you probably won't notice the difference, if any. (If you doubt that, by all means test it. Testing is fun!) So pick the method that best suits your overall process and preference.

If the primers protrude when on-press priming, either fix the issues or hand-prime.
 
I'm using the Lee Classic Turret and I prime on the press (downstroke after sizing/deprime). It too a little practice to get the "feel" for their autoprime, but I've pretty well got the motion down now and only miss dispensing one about one out of every 50 rounds or so, and pretty much always get it on the second try wen I do.

I've never failed to seat one deep enough or had one fail to fire on the first hit of the firing pin (knock on wood)...
 
I've never loaded with a single stage press. I learned on Dillon 450, then used 550 for 20 years and a 650 then last 18 years.

If I want to use 'single stage function' as when loading the Holy Black, there a process I can do such.

If I want to load 308, I also modify my process accordingly.

Recently compared some 308 targets an old Single stage loader made up for me, with some I loaded on my Dillon. No difference in the target groups at 100 yards.

Each station at the 650 essentially is a single stage operation, it just happens in close temporal relationship to all the other 'single stage operation' going at nearly the same time.

It's good we all have our own special enjoyment to get the same job completed.

I know guys with cap n'ball or front stuffers that don't care much for even having a brass casing to mess with.

Vive la difference!
 
I always have primed off press with a RCBS bench primer for large primers and the old Lee Auto Prime for small primers. Not an issue.

Have a blessed day,

Leon
 
oldgunclub said:
I have hornady lock n load press & lee turret press. Hand priming
is always deeper than auto and more reliable. Is it worth the extra effort to shoot paper?

Thanks Sam
Click to expand...



Sam,

When I started reloading 14 years ago I used hand priming tools. When I bought my Lee Turret press, I got the priming attachment which, as you know, utilizes the press itself to seat the primers. Since then I've used it exclusively. In thousands of rounds I have not had a single jam, high primer, failure to fire, or any other problem(I'm not sure that this system qualifies as "auto"; maybe you're referring to progressive presses in using that term.). I also had no trouble getting a feel for how much pressure to apply when seating the primers, and no noticeable variability in the result. Consequently, I don't see this system as any less reliable than hand priming.

I hope my experience is somewhat helpful to you.

Regards,
Andy
 
With primer pockets I've uniformed using the appropriate tool, I have absolutely no difficultly properly seating primers with my Dillon 550.

For cartridges that I seldom reload and for which I don't want to invest in a Dillon set-up, I use my RCBS Rockchucker but with the Lee priming system that loads primers at the top of the down stroke. It allows a much better feel when seating primers.
 
Is that extra measure of reliability worth your time. That's a question only you can answer.
Personally , I don't like the hammer falling on a "click" , it messes with my concentration, therefore it is worth the effort.
I sit in my easy chair , feet up and prime cases , beats standing over that press any day and I get reliable ignition.
Gary
 
I've used the Lee hand primer for a few years while relaxing in my Lazy Boy and enjoyed the priming success coupled with the finger exercise.

I recently bought some S&B pistol primers on sale at Cabelas that are a hard push to seat in some of my cases so I'm priming them on a Lee Classic Turret Press but so far they've all gone bang
 
robertrwalsh said:
I hand prime and use a single-stage press. For me the process is therapeutic, speed is not terribly important. For others it is probably different.
Click to expand...

Ditto. I use a Lee hand press and prep handgun cases in my recliner. Gotta do something to fill my time.
 
oldgunclub said:
I have hornady lock n load press & lee turret press. Hand priming
is always deeper than auto and more reliable. Is it worth the extra effort to shoot paper?

Thanks Sam
Click to expand...

Well only because you have those two presses. The weak link of any progressive is the priming system. I have no issue priming on my 550 or 650. Hand priming with a progressive negates the point of the progressive, to do less work. There probably is no better priming progressive than a 650 & 1050. Just sayin.
 
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Auto Prime vs Hand prime

Thanks for your response. Someone said the decision is up to me. Hand prime is better but more work.

Thanks Sam
 
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