Reloading primer pickup tubes...

[Maximumbob54]

There has to be a better way. I'm stuck in chicken pecking mode still. All the speed of a progressive is moot if I still have to spend all this time hunting and pecking at each little primer. I've seen what is surely the top of the line in the Dillon machine but holy $$$$$$$$$$ that thing is not cheap. I've returned two of the Frankfort Arsenal Vibraprimer toys and they didn't work for me worth a darn. I've seen some people have modded trays to do the same by hand but I'm so terrible at building and fabricating that I'm not yet ready to try ruining stuff that works just fine. Is there really nothing else????

 

[growr]

I just set down while a tv show is on and load 8-10 tubes and call it good for the next session....might work for you as well. Randy

 

[Maximumbob54]

No way. For me that makes it even worse. The most distraction I can do is set at the desk with the radio or youtube playing music while I peck away.

I'm looking for something to speed this up or I'm starting to doubt the progressive is really as fast as I say it is when I have to spend an hour filling tubes in the first place.

Anyone with no idea what the two machines I was talking about:

Dillon:
Dillon Precision: Reloaders, Reloading Equipment, Bullet Reloading, Bullet Reloaders

F/A:
Frankford Arsenal Vibra-Prime Automatic Primer Tube Filler

The F/A kind of worked but was a pain enough that it didn't really want to work. I dunno. You would have to play with one to get what I'm saying. I suspect that like many things the previous generation version of this thing worked better and I know it cost less. Now it's way more expensive and doesn't work as well.

This is from a review at MidwayUSA:

"Not worth the money
Small primers work better than large primers and there is a technique to using this thing requiring lots of attention from the operator.

In short, if you want to dump the primers in, get them flipped anvil up, snap it together, press the trigger and viola! This isn't your bag.

If you like fidgeting with a gizmo to do something in twice the time it would take with a flip tray and pickup tube, this is your bag baby!

Ups: ran, all the parts were there, it does do what it says it does, eventually.
Downs: Had to clean up the primer holes on the tray due to molding flash and it still requires me to shake, tap and generally beg, plead and baby it to get the job done."

------

This guy knows exactly what I'm talking about. Maybe with tinkering I could have made it work but once again I'm thinking with my luck I would be out almost $50 and have nothing to show for it.

 

[chipking]

Frankford arsenal primer tube filler. $56 sound better. Just remember most times you get what you pay for.
Frankford Arsenal Reloading Tools Vibra Prime Tube Filler FREE S&H 855712. Frankford Arsenal Reloading Tools Reloading Tools and Gauges.
I have heard mostly good about them once the initial kinks are resolved. I consider the chicken pecking a welcome break from sitting at the loader for an extended time.
Always remember to make sure the clip pin is fully inserted! ;o( Such a pretty golden waterfall if only I did not have to pick them all up.
Chip King

 

[mosquito]

I have 2 Dillon RF-100's. One for small primers and one for large. I would never go back.

G

 

[Engineer1911]

Be patient, coming to a store near you, the Lee Ultimate Primer Tube Filler, everything you need and nothing extra for only $27.95 .

Filling six tubes is a nuisance but with the press tube full and 6 reloads, I have almost 2 hours of reloading. Definitely don't need a $325 tube filling gizmo.

 

[AveragEd]

I honestly fail to see the problem. I have three primer tubes of each size for my Dillon 650 and can load all three of a size in well under 10 minutes. Another gadget taking up bench space isn't worth having if it only saves that much time, especially for what Dillon charges for theirs - and I would need two of them.

But then, I'm kind of used to filling primer tubes. For 30 years, I primed my cases with an RCBS bench-mounted priming tool and until they came out with APS strips, you had to fill tubes to use that tool. About 10 years ago, I switched to RCBS hand priming tools but now I use the 650 for my handgun loading.

When I was ordering my Dillon equipment, I was asked if I wanted their primer fillers. I told the person taking my order that I considered them a solution for a non-existent problem. And he agreed!

Ed

 

[fredj338]

I think guys make waaay to much about reloading primer tubes. I have timed myself, going slow, watching tv, from tray to full in 90sec. It is just not a big deal, certainly not worth the price for the Dillon, but to each his own. Filing tubes & putting them into the press, I can still load 700rds/hr on my 650.

 

[Twoboxer]

There has to be a better way. I'm stuck in chicken pecking mode still. All the speed of a progressive is moot if I still have to spend all this time hunting and pecking at each little primer. . . .

Despite assurances that a tube can be filled, going slow, in 90 seconds, while watching TV . . . I agree it's a PITA. The whole process for is about 3 minutes a tube for me . . . when using CCI primers that all go same-side up into the tray.

The time wouldn't be so bad if my old hands didn't start to cramp up on the third tube Oh, well . . . maybe some day I'll go the youtube DIY route to fill those primer tubes.

But then I'll be looking for some help on the OTHER end too . . . geting those finished cartridges to fall neatly into 100-slot ammo boxes without extra handling

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have a 550B. For large primers I have 8 tubes. These are kept filled on non loading days/evenings so when the need arises I'm ready to go. Usually 800 rounds is about 2 hours of loading, If I need more primers, I need a break too. My F-I-L has 2 1050's (one for 45 ACP and one for 38 special) and he owns 20 tubes for each size primer. But we load in 2 person teams. Load 500 and move to the support position (keeping primer, powder, brass and bullet positions full). Plenty of time to wizz, drink coffee, and and do the job. We can maintain a 1000 round an hour (or better) load rate for 4-6 hours. If you get stressed out by filling your primer tubes, lay off the caffeine, your jerky motions may be effecting the quality of your ammo. Ivan

 

[Jeff423]

I have 2 Dillon RF-100's. One for small primers and one for large. I would never go back.
G

What he said! I shoot about 80% SPP so I only have one. I'll get another if I start to shoot more LPP. It was expensive, but so was the 650 and you only do it once. Also since it's a Dillon it works great. I've never regretted it.
Like the OP I just hate filling primer tubes.

Jeff

 

[Maximumbob54]

I must just suck at hen pecking. There is no way I can fill a primer tube in less than several minutes. Several time stands still galling nails on the chalkboard standing in the DMV line kind of minutes.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Maybe it is technique. I don't have Dillons primer tray, but F-I-L dose. But I have found, the bigger the diameter the tray the better. I only put in 1 pack of primers into the half with all the little ribs and shake it around (gently) until the primers are flipped anvil side up. If we're down to 2 or 3 stubborn primers that won't flip, I pick them up at this time. Then place the non-ribbed side tightly on the tray and flip it over, placing it firm on the table remove the ribbed side and all the primers should be smooth side up. The primers should slide easily into the pick-up tube. If they don't. Call for a warranty replacement! Having the flipping tray in you hand or lap or anywhere but a solid surface will be difficult at best. Ivan

 

[blujax01]

Bob, you're right. There really should be a choice somewhere between $50 and $325. It sounds like an enterprising fellow could invent something in the $150 range and sell more than a few.

 

[mosquito]

This whole debate really centers around how much you load and the machine and time it takes to load. Yes, I have the two Dillon RF-100 primer fillers. I also have 2 Dillon 1050's (and a 550) the 1050's load rate is very fast. If you are loading on a single stage, then yes, 8 tubes loaded is a whole reloading session. For me, 8 tubes is less than an hour of loading.

G

 

[*chris*]

What brand of primers did you use with the Frankford arsenal vibra-prime? I hate filling primer tubes as well, even with the awesome heavy metal Dillion primer flipper in my arsenal. I recently bought the "new" version of the vibra-prime probably a year ago. CCI and Federal large and small primers feed perfectly with the vibra-prime. My technique is to rock the unit back and forth to get it to feed primers and tap the primer tube on my bench of one gets sticky. Winchester and Fiocchi primers are quite a bit sloppier made with flash around the anvil side and some primer material or varnish "leaking" out of the inside. These are both harder to load with the vibra-prime and sometimes the primers get stuck at the top of the tube. That being said, a quick tap on the bench seems to alleviate those issues.

Chris

 

[H Richard]

I only load for myself, and seldom more than a few hundred at a time. I keep a few thousand rounds of each caliber loaded on hand and just keep adding to the pile. I agree with whomever said "it is a solution to a non-existent problem".

 

[arjay]

I only load for an hour or so at a time ( the novelty is long gone),but if you keep enough supplies on hand,you can get pretty far ahead of the curve.I loaded up some 45 acp last night and enjoyed it.I had so many loaded the last time,it's taken 3-4 years to use them.

 

[Aticus]

I reload for 3 reasons: 1) it's cheap, 2) I can get the loads I want an 3) most important to me, it relaxes me. Time? who cares. I load 50 rounds of 45 ACP in 8 minutes if I want but I don't care if I do. I'll generally load 2 or 3 hundred then take a break and box up what I've done, record the loads and relax my back for a minute or two then go back and do some more. Like I said it relaxes me.

If you don't have time to load a couple primer tubes when reloading, when do you have time to shoot? Some have said they can load 1000 rounds per hour. That is fantastic! But, if you load 1000s per hour and load for 4 or 5 hours when do you have time to shoot those 4 or 5 thousand cartridges? Seems to me if time is such an important factor you wouldn't have time to shoot all the ammo you make.

.

 

[Neumann]

It helps to have a good flip tray. The Dillon version is over 6" in diameter, all metal, with sharp rings which make it easy to flip primers.