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Thread: RFI - Bench Priming Tools

  1. #1
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    RFI - Bench Priming Tools

    I often load small batches of various calibers on a single stage press, 20-200 rounds of each. I've noticed that my hands no longer appreciate me using the Lee or RCBS hand priming tools, of which various copies have served me well for 33 years. This leads me to wanting a bench mounted tool. There seems to be three out there:

    1. RCBS https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012932670?pid=457599
    2. Forster Co-Ax https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101268874?pid=141739
    3. Lee https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1017749087?pid=978504

    Does anyone have a favorite? If so, why? Bonus points if you've used more than one and can make a comparison, or have loaded thousands of rounds using one.

    It's a given I would also get the Forster tube loader (https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101987669?pid=290737) if I went that route. I already have all the Lee shellholders. I'm slightly leaning toward the Forster over the RCBS, but I'm open to any of them.

    Thanks,

    Toonces

  2. #2
    https://leeprecision.com/ram-prime.html

    This works a lot better than I thought it would. Especially with large primers, they are easy to handle from the flip tray.

    Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Sample of one, but the RCBS is easy to use and works well for me.

    https://www.brownells.com/reloading/...prod33573.aspx
    #RESIST

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Toonces View Post
    3. Lee https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1017749087?pid=978504

    Does anyone have a favorite? If so, why? Bonus points if you've used more than one and can make a comparison, or have loaded thousands of rounds using one.
    I only have the Lee, I've yet to prime even a thousand cases with it, and generally due to lack of good kit don't reload all that much. So this might be a total shitpost. In which case, my apologies.

    That said, I find the Lee tool bloody marvelous despite a few annoyances. For context, all I've had for reloading is a Lee hammer set and a Lee scale, so it could be that I'm just not used to the luxuries of proper reloading gear. Still, I've found it very easy to prime over 350 cases in a single session.

    The tray for the primers is a bit fiddly. Instructions say to dump the box of 100 primers onto the tray and gently shake until all the primers are the right way up, but that just doesn't seem to happen. I found it easier to turn the damn things manually with tweezers. And the latch is a bit fiddly as well. Once you get your primers situated and the tray closed, you have to move the latch to its middle position so the tray is closed but the feed tube is closed as well. It doesn't really want to do that, so you have to be careful to get the latch into its proper position. And once you get the tray in place, it doesn't feed all that well, requiring the user to tap the tray every once in a while. It is very easy to feel when there isn't a primer in place though, and a quick tap fixes this issue.

    So all in all a pretty convenient tool to use, unfortunately refilling it is a little bit fiddly.
    IDPA SSP classification: Sharpshooter
    F.A.S.T. classification: Intermediate

  5. #5
    Partially related, you've reminded me of some key facts:

    *I have a Lee AB Pro which came cursed with the "New and Improved" folding primer tray
    *I also have a Lee turret that has the old round one that worked
    *I have a 3D printer

    I'm going to try some ready-to-print models to start. I don't see any round-style models, only square, and it will require some testing. If I'm successful, this is something I could make available to the P-F. They would be cheap to produce and probably really quick to print.

  6. #6
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    I have the Lee bench model and I don't care for it.
    I had trouble with primers not feeding well and not getting picked up by the lifter.

    Just looking at the other 2 I would think they would be more reliable since the primers look to be gravity fed.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by mmc45414 View Post
    https://leeprecision.com/ram-prime.html

    This works a lot better than I thought it would. Especially with large primers, they are easy to handle from the flip tray.

    Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
    I’ll second this product. I’ve been exclusively using this for rifle calibers for a couple of years now.

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by mmc45414 View Post
    https://leeprecision.com/ram-prime.html
    This works a lot better than I thought it would. Especially with large primers, they are easy to handle from the flip tray.
    Quote Originally Posted by TOTS View Post
    I’ll second this product. I’ve been exclusively using this for rifle calibers for a couple of years now.
    I actually use this Breech Lock version:
    https://leeprecision.com/BreechLock-Ram-Prime.html
    Since doing the conversion:
    https://leeprecision.com/1-1-4-12-bl-update-kit.html

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