Seating Primers

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 6:25 pm Post subject: Seating Primers

Howdy. I use to use the feeding tube for my rock chucker but It's a pain in the butt Sad

to switch from large rifle to small. I always shoot that little spring and cup across the room trying to switch it. wtf

. So a few months back I got three of the Lee auto primers off ebay for cheap. Set one up for each and have spare parts if needed Very Happy

. I can't believe it took me this long to get one, these things are sweet, I like it alot better than the tube and press method. was curious what you guy's use.
Joe

1895ss · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 6:47 pm Post subject: Re: Seating Primers

I use the feeding tube for my rock chucker and have had no problems changing, but I don't switch from large to small very often. In fact I don't have anything that I need small primers for. A couple of my buddies do but not me.

coyotehunter_1 · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: Seating Primers

Joe,
Lee Auto Prime here. Like you I use two, one setup for large & one for small primers. The built in flip tray really helps speed up the process.
As far as extra parts, it may be many years before you need any. One of my auto primers is over 20 years old... the clear plastic cover has turned yellow with age but still works just fine.

Very Happy

Bushmaster · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: Seating Primers

Shrpshtrjoe...It took you how long to discover Lee's Auto Prime? Like Coyotehunter_1 i have been using mine for 20 years and my clear cover is also yellow with age and have never had to replace any parts...It's quick and easy to change to different primers and easy to operate or change out to a different die holder. As I have a 3 hole Lee Turret I keep my Auto Prime II in a die holder that has other specialty dies...

sniper · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 9:20 pm Post subject: Re: Seating Primers

Joe: until recently, I used the Lee Auto Prime with complete satisfaction. I wore out three of them. Then, occasionally, my last one started loading both large and small primers sideways, so I bought an RCBS unit.

The first one would not seat the primers below the surface of the case head, and RCBS replaced it, under warranty, so I was back in business, but needed to replace my old shell holders, which are of slightly different design, with current ones that fit. I did some parts switching, and the Lee seems to work better now. I have my RCBS set up for rifle, and the Lee for pistol.

They are a goodness, compared to the press mounted priming tools, IMO. I figure I may have switched parts on the Lee, like using the rifle for pistol primers, so now they are plainly marked.

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

I use the RCBS one, its nice and gets the job done.

-DallanC

Blaine · Member Joined: Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: Maine

I don't use one. I set the primer with my fingers and set them with a Lee Ram Prime.

Blaine

Bushmaster · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 9:47 pm Post subject: Re: Seating Primers

That's got to be a long and tedious job...It takes me all of 10 to 15 minutes to prime 100 cases of any pistol/revolver with my Lee Auto Prime II...Of course not counting set up time...About 5 minutes...

Jack · Member Joined: Oct 19, 2005 Posts: 98

Another vote for the Lee Auto Prime. I have one each set up for small primers and large primers. The darn thing works great, and it'll last a long time if you lubricate it once in a while.
Lee sells all the Auto Prime shellholders in a kit- if you reload a lot of cartridges, it's a great buy.

Blaine · Member Joined: Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: Maine

Bushmaster,

Yes it does take a while, but I enjoy my time at the bench, and it really doesn't bother me. I usually only prime about 30-50 cases at a time, just prior to charging and bullet seating. My basement is not all that dry, and I don't like to have a bunch of primed cases sitting around, so it's "prime as you go" for me. Never saw the need for an auto-prime with my set-up.

Blaine

Gil Martin · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 6:55 pm Post subject: Better late than never

I started using a Lee Auto Prime years ago and never looked back. The only problem is the limited warranty period. If the tool is one year old or less they will replace it at no cost. Older than one year and it breaks, you are on your own. All the best...
Gil

Bushmaster · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 6:59 pm Post subject: Re: Seating Primers

Gil...If mine breaks now I would probably be very willing to purchase a new one. In fact I deffinately would without a doubt. Mine's 20 years old now and it hasn't broken yet...Besides I don't remember it costing that much in the first place. The only pieces that might break are the plastic parts and I believe you would have to deliberately be careless to do that...

calsibley · Super Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 317

I use the long handled RCBS tool which works quite well. You just change the short cylindrical tube according to large or small primers, and of course you have to change the shell holder as well but it's not a big chore. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

squirrelbait · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 7:03 am Post subject: Re: Seating Primers

Bushmaster, I am with you. Bought mine in California some 23 years ago. No problems, no fuss, and like to "feel" the primers go in. I can easily screen out cases with loos primer pockets.

1895ss · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 7:48 pm Post subject: Re: Seating Primers

I can feel them seat using my rock chucker press with drop tube as well. I have never used anything else in all my years of reloading.