Bench mounted priming tool

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Viss

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Hello fellow forum members. With your help I have been reloading for a couple years now. I have been using the Lee auto prime hand held priming tool.
I like the price and preformance of the wolf primers but they are a pain to fully seat with this tool not to mention my hands get fatigue when doing several hundred cases.

Does any one have experience with the RCBS automatic bench-mounted primer tool? My wife is asking for gift ideas and who doesn't like new reloading gizmo's. Thanks and God Bless. Dave
 
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I have one and love it.

My process is to prime prior to loading on my RL550B press. I have used the Lee hand prime for many years and it served me well. Mine were the really old ones. I was interested in having the barrier in case I had a primer go off. I tried the RCBS hand priming tool and it just didn't work for me.

I got the RCBS auto prime tool and mounted it on a poplar board I built. This way I can prime about anywhere I want.

The feed tubes load easily, it uses my standard RCBS shell holders, the feel is great when seating primers, and if you have some that are difficult to seat in new brass, it has the muscle to do the job.

It really isn't that much more than the hand prime tool and is so much easier to use.
 
I used to have the old RCBS bench priming tool which was much smaller than the current model. My daughter stole it and I have never been able to find another. I never bought one of the newer ones as I thought it too big and less useful. I finally settled on the very small Lee C press with the RCBS ram priming unit. Not quite as handy as the first unit but ok, and with good speed and feel. Plus I can use it for other light duty chores like old Lyman 310 dies with a 7/8" adapter.
 
What press are you using?

I just prime on my Lee turret press. I used to use the Lee hand primer (round version) and still do for some rifle ammo.

Unless you just prefer to hand prime which a lot of folks do. Maybe try the RCBS Universal Hand Primer? It is more substantial than the Lee with less hand fatigue.
 
I recently bought the RCBS Automatic Priming Tool (bench mounted) and wouldn’t use anything else. Also works well if you have some issues with arthritis. Very fast and seats primers well. I've used 2 types of primers (both small pistol), CCI and Federal, and noticed it takes more pressure to seat the CCI (because they are harder) then the Federal, which seat much easier. Since I pick brass at a local range, sometimes I get one that seats high. When loading this type of brass I have a little trick to sort out the high primers. I use a hand mirror, about 5 x 6 inches with a handle, and after seating the primer place the brass on the mirror, primer down obviously. When it's full, about 20 casings, I jiggle it slightly. If there are any primers seated high they are quickly noticeable. If they are OK I simply slide them into a box. I also have the RCBS hand primer and that would be my second choice.
 
I have this model:

2011-11-27_15-52-15_379.jpg


It works very well, but don't miss if you run out of primers. The part that pushes in the primer can become lodged in the primer pocket.
 
Thanks for the replies, sounds like this is just what I need.

Rule3, I am using the Lee Turret Press, I use it more like a single stage.

Great tip on using the mirror for seated primers, I'll be trying this.

Thanks again for your input.
 
Just convince your wife a Dillon 650 is a bench mounted priming system, which it is.
 
Rule3, Thanks for the heads up on the safety prime.

I looked at a couple videos of it on utube and it looks really slick.

On the video it appeared that there was a lever type mechanism on the ram, do you know if that comes with it or do I order it seperately.

Today on my lunch hour I ordred the RCBS bench mount, but for the price I think i'll get the Lee as well.

The Rcbs fits my current process better, but as I gain experience and confidence the Lee seems like it will be faster. Thanks again.
 
I use the RCBS bench mounted also, and have been using it for probably 40 years now. It's great, and after a little while you'll develop a "feel" for the seating and won't even need to use the mirror trick. You'll be able to tell as soon as you seat the primer if it's right or not.
 
I have been using the RCBS bench primer for approx. 14 years and as stated when you get use to it you will develop a feel for it . It takes little pressure and with practice it is very fast.I use a Dillon 550 for handguns but all my rifle is primed with it. I don't think you will reget your choice.
 
Another fan of the RCBS Automatic Bench priming tool. Real big help with my arthritic hands. Glad I made the investment over a hand priming tool.

ReloadingBench008.jpg
 
Last edited:
Viss said:
Rule3, Thanks for the heads up on the safety prime.

I looked at a couple videos of it on utube and it looks really slick.

On the video it appeared that there was a lever type mechanism on the ram, do you know if that comes with it or do I order it seperately.

Today on my lunch hour I ordred the RCBS bench mount, but for the price I think i'll get the Lee as well.

The Rcbs fits my current process better, but as I gain experience and confidence the Lee seems like it will be faster. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

There are two primer levers. One large and one small. I do believe they are included.
The only thing is the bracket that comes with it does not fit the turret press.(it's for the single stage) If you bought the Classic Turret new, the bracket should be with the all the "stuff" if not you will need to by the bracket. (just a piece of nylon/plastic.)

The unit it a bit tricky to initially set up. But once set it works great. There is a great you tube video that shows a guy setting it up. Just a fraction left or right make all the difference. More to the left.

I use Wolf primers and just pull the ram down forcefully and no problem. Using Winchester they just slide right in. After a while you can get a good feel for seating them. I just seat primers as hard as I can. Even Wolf and S&B brass are no problem.

If you get it and have any questions, just let me know.
 
I use a Forster Co-Ax primer seater. The price is good for a bench unit. I like the fact that the case is pointed sideways when seating a primer instead of straight up at my face. Primers sit side-to-side in the tube instead of being stacked on each other - safer? maybe. Also the tube(s) are open on one side so you can verify that all primers are facing the right direction.

The downside? The "built in primer flip tray" is awkward to use at best. Also, the universal jaws don't fit .45 Auto Rim cases.

If money weren't important, I'd probably get the RCBS APS Bench Priming Tool. For me, the Forster works.
 
I started out with the Lee handheld auto prime but I found it to be tough on the fingers after a batch of 100 or so. Plus, I had issues seating the primers deep enough. I was afraid of crushing them initially and found that getting them flush or a tad lower required more pressure than I wanted to expend. I'm using Win Primers and my own once fired brass and that could be part of the issue. I did notice on the second or third loading on my brass the seating got easier with the Lee.

But, I recently purchased the RCBS Auto Bench prime and I'm in love. I've read lots of guys like the handheld primers and that's cool, but the RCBS makes it easy and fast. :D
 
HUH?

jepp2 said:
I have one and love it.

My process is to prime prior to loading on my RL550B press. I have used the Lee hand prime for many years and it served me well. Mine were the really old ones. I was interested in having the barrier in case I had a primer go off. I tried the RCBS hand priming tool and it just didn't work for me.

I got the RCBS auto prime tool and mounted it on a poplar board I built. This way I can prime about anywhere I want.

The feed tubes load easily, it uses my standard RCBS shell holders, the feel is great when seating primers, and if you have some that are difficult to seat in new brass, it has the muscle to do the job.

It really isn't that much more than the hand prime tool and is so much easier to use.
Click to expand...



Why not simply prime with your 550B press?


FN in MT
 
Why not simply prime with your 550B press?
Click to expand...

  1. better feel
  2. quicker caliber changes by not having to change primer setup
  3. never a primer seated upside down or sideways
  4. avoid the "potential" adjustment issue with different brand primers

I'm not saying my way is better, but it suits my process better. The OP wasn't asking for opinions of priming on the press or offline. So I was just sharing my experience with the RCBS tool. Fair question though.
 
There is a large and a small primer seater. They should have came with the LCT, not the Safety Prime.
 
Frank, I don't have a Dillon, I think one of the members suggested to put that on my Christmas list.
 
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