Rcbs hand primer

[Dusty Stevens]

The main reason I don't want to handle individual primers is that I sometimes sit in front if the TV with my wife in the dark and prime cases.

Im sure shes so proud!

 

[bgblue1978]

Im sure shes so proud!

Not quite sure what that means but thanks to everyone who gave input. I am going to pickup the cheaper rcbs with the shell holders for now

 

[walker2713]

In my experience you can't beat the quality of a 21st Century adjustable hand priming tool....



Plus, you don't have the concern of a primer somehow getting jammed up in the device and having an explosion.

My friends thumb after the Hornady unit he was using blew up on him this past February.



YMMV

 

[JimSC]

Plus, you don't have the concern of a primer somehow getting jammed up in the device and having an explosion.

My friends thumb after the Hornady unit he was using blew up on him this past February.

thats why RCBS uses a metal gate mechanism between the primer being inserted and the rest of the tray

 

[Dusty Stevens]

thats why RCBS uses a metal gate mechanism between the primer being inserted and the rest of the tray

I doubt that metal gate will help by the way the other tools looked after very few primers going off. It is way more violent than youd expect.

 

[JimSC]

I doubt that metal gate will help by the way the other tools looked after very few primers going off. It is way more violent than youd expect.

think about the overall design. The only primer(s) that would be getting physical pressure and could possibly go off would be the one being inserted. If the handle has been double stroked possibly two. Pressure waves are like water, electricity, and lazy people in that they follow the path of least resistance. I suppose it is possible for a entire tray to explode but it would have to involve a lot of operator error and with the number of units sold and tens of millions of primers seated using one it would be one of those struck by lightning events

Excuse me if I am skeptical but I have also been warned on a forum how a whole tube of primers on the RCBS bench mounted unit "went off". The forum poster insisted it happened to him and supposedly the primer tube went off like a bottle rocket and penetrated the ceiling drywall. Owning the same unit and knowing how it operates I would say that would be improbable at best and more likely impossible seeing as how the tube is over an inch behind and above the case as primer in the cup is being inserted not to mention at a being at a 40 degree or better angle to the bench.

At any rate after 10 - 20 K rounds primed using a RCBS hand unit I am not going to toss my RCBS just to order a overpriced one at a time tool. I have had a few go in sideways and a few more get double stacked and I use safety glasses when priming and in the event I need to punch one out I take the time to do it safely

I would be willing to bet the picture above occurred when a primer went into the case sideways which would prevent the case being removed. Then the operator was attempted to get it out of the shellholder by forcing it out with his bare hands. The proper way to clear that situation would be remove the shellholder and use a hand punch to punch out the sideways primer while wearing gloves and safety glasses. Been there done that once or twice. But even with a sideways primer a punch and a hammer I have never had a primer explode

If it worried me that much I would just use my bench unit exclusively, or drop my primers one at a time into the hand unit, or just use my press to prime

 

[walker2713]

Jim: as I said in my post: YMMV.....it's a free country.

However, your imagining of what might have happened when my hunting partner's Hornady primer unit went bang is purely that: imagination.

He was processing brass/primers through the unit as prescribed, and the initial primer and 45 others exploded. When you're working with a large number of explosive devices in close proximity to each other, it's not a likelihood, but it is a possibility that under pressure one explosion may initiate others.

I prefer the 21st Century tool....and safety is by no means the only reason why.

Good shooting!

George

 

[JimSC]

Jim: as I said in my post: YMMV.....it's a free country.

However, your imagining of what might have happened when my hunting partner's Hornady primer unit went bang is purely that: imagination.

not saying it could not have happened as it was told to you, I was replying to Dusty's post about the metal gate. I have no idea of how the Hornady is constructed. But I have mangled a couple of primers pretty badly in my day, and inserted a few more upside down and never even had one go pop on me

I think the point is that considering the number of primers that are inserted into cases by the sheer number of tray style tools that are used daily chain reactions and injuries caused by them would be more rare than lightening strikes. It's a small community and word would spread pretty fast if it it was serious problem. I don't think any of us want to lose a hand or finger

 

[Dusty Stevens]

not saying it could not have happened as it was told to you, I was replying to Dusty's post about the metal gate. I have no idea of how th Hornady is constructed.

I think the point is that considering the number of primers that are inserted into cases by the sheer number of tray style tools that are used daily chain reactions and injuries caused by them would be more rare than lightening strikes. It's a small community and word would spread pretty fast if it it was serious problem. I don't think any of us want to lose a hand or finger

Youre right it is pretty rare. By all means use them if you want im not trying to stop you at all. The lee priming tools that ive seen explode dont have the metal gate but the primer in the case is about the same distance away from the tray. Im not willing to take that chance. Its not an urban legend that they do explode and its not pretty. Short range benchresters that have been around 20+ yrs have seen it twice and youre almost as likely to see sasquatch at a match as a tray type priming tool being used

 

[Roach]

I've made it a habit to look at the primer before putting the case in the shellholder. Never had an issue. I think it's worth the extra time to check before you seat and after. At least that's what I do. Never anything sideways or upside down.

 

[Bc'z]

I'm using a older Lee hand primer and needing a new unit. As when seating small primers the ram isn't retracting far enough, maybe it's a spring thing.
But for the life of me I can't figure out how you can get a primer in sidways.

 

[JimSC]

I've made it a habit to look at the primer before putting the case in the shellholder. Never had an issue. I think it's worth the extra time to check before you seat and after. At least that's what I do. Never anything sideways or upside down.

That's a good habit that I need to develop, thanks

 

[JFrank]

In my experience you can't beat the quality of a 21st Century adjustable hand priming tool....

View attachment 1061357

Plus, you don't have the concern of a primer somehow getting jammed up in the device and having an explosion.

My friends thumb after the Hornady unit he was using blew up on him this past February.

View attachment 1061358

YMMV

That looks very painful

 

[Ccrider]

I use the Lee round tray type primer. You can feel if the primer is not lining up properly.

I missed depriming a case and knew it immediately when trying to prime.

The Lee is a lots faster than using my Coax to prime. Never thought about it being unsafe.

 

[walker2713]

Although I use a different tool....I'm sure your RCBS, Lee and Hornady priming devices are safe when used properly.

My friend was very fortunate that he had no eye or facial damages since he was NOT wearing safety glasses.

 

[Monte F]

I was priming with the priming arm on my Rockchucker press without incident (minus a few that got inserted upside down somehow) since the early 80's. Upgraded to the Summit press which does not have a priming option and got the RCBS hand primer with shell holder for large rifle (.308, .45ACP, .243). Find this has better feel and I can prime sitting on the couch. Just ordered the RCBS tool with the universal shell holder on clearance from Midway to use mostly for small pistol brass. I believe the safety gate on these to be a good thing in reducing the chance of setting off the whole tray.

 

[Gary O'Neal]

Not quite sure what that means but thanks to everyone who gave input. I am going to pickup the cheaper rcbs with the shell holders for now

I can't figure that one out either.

 

[hothands56]

frankfort arsenal in the reloading world is the best money you will spend, the shell holders are worth the price. very heavy duty and ive loaded at least 20,000 rounds without any problems so far buy it u wont be sorry

 

[3Ackleys]

frankfort arsenal in the reloading world is the best money you will spend, the shell holders are worth the price. very heavy duty and ive loaded at least 20,000 rounds without any problems so far buy it u wont be sorry

Been using a Frankford a couple years now I like it way more than Hornady, RCBS, or the LEE that I have also used

 

[Rsadams]

The one thing that makes the rcbs hand primers last , is regular cleaning and using a very very small amount of lubricant on the moving parts... I also have the old style rcbs primer with two pins and inserts and after thousands of primes it still as nice as when it was new.... They do get gritty with dust and carbon over time but only takes a minute to clean one up....

When I have everything loaded up , I take a day occasionally and clean and oil everything , this also includes disassembling the rcbs powder droppers and cleaning them out with alcohol and q-tips then running some powder through it just to get it seasoned up again , it cures it when your powder drops start getting out of wack... And the press itself needs much more cleaning than most people do.... If you want long life out of any piece of equipment you have to do regular maintenance....