RCBS hnad primer issues

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  • Archeryrob

    Undecided on a great many things
    Mar 7, 2013
    3,062
    Washington Co. - Fairplay
    I am new to using it and did a bunch of LPP with it and never had an issue. Twice now I was priming SPP's for 9mm and I have them primer occasionally turning sideways in front of the ram rod. I look down in each time and see one squeeze lightly and start it moving then seat the shell while the primer is mid path and then seat it once the shell is in. When I was not checking one time I seated 6 out of hundred sideways. Now I just push them out and sit on the work bench to be added back into the tray, if they start coming up sideways.

    Yesterday I had once turn sideways and only had 15 primers left in the tray, so I pulled the tray, put it back in and put the top back on. The jiggle to get it back in the hand primer and one primer was upside down, after the lid was on and they were all in the correct orientation. I was not sure how it could flip with the lid on. I measured the small to large primers and they have the exact same depth

    Anyone else have this issue or know what it happens? I though maybe the edge of the primer was catching on the sidewall of the feeder tube when being push initially and turning it sideways. That is just a rookie guess though. I figured I would inquire here before ask RCBS if it is a stupid rookie or a problem with my tray.
     

    mtlcafan79

    Ultimate Member
    Sep 11, 2008
    1,279
    PG
    Did you change the white plastic primer feed piece? There's one for small and one for large. Other than that I don't know how else you'd get one to turn sideways and actually feed.
     

    Archeryrob

    Undecided on a great many things
    Mar 7, 2013
    3,062
    Washington Co. - Fairplay
    Yes Black one is for LPP and White one for SPP. I figured someone probably tripped over this problem before. I figured it is quite possible it is a user issue, but did not know yet.
     

    larr

    Active Member
    Apr 1, 2011
    232
    Easternshore
    I had that problem once and discovered that when I was squeezing the grip and seating the primer the top would pop up ever so slightly. The primer would then turn sideways and sometimes flip. I started using a rubberband around the tray. Not sure if that's happening in your case but you could give that a try.
     

    Archeryrob

    Undecided on a great many things
    Mar 7, 2013
    3,062
    Washington Co. - Fairplay
    My primers, when wrong, seems to be sideways all the way down already.

    I never have an issue if I look down the throat and the the three wings of the primer top and squeeze to have it up the tube, seat the shell and squeeze the rest of the way. If I see it coming sideways up the tube I just don't seat a case and squeeze all the way and eject the primer for putting in the tray again.

    I seem to have to keep he tray tilted up to flow and yesterday had one clog the feed slide from the tray to the tube and was sideways in it. I did not want to contact RCBS until I was sure it was not me cause the issues. ;)
     

    Archeryrob

    Undecided on a great many things
    Mar 7, 2013
    3,062
    Washington Co. - Fairplay
    Well it seems I had the same problem as Larr, the tray cover won’t stay down and let’s then be too loose but this clip fixed it. They need to redesign the top to have more locking points. Mine is just about brand new
     

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    Archeryrob

    Undecided on a great many things
    Mar 7, 2013
    3,062
    Washington Co. - Fairplay
    I contacted RCBS about adding locking spots on the tray lid to keep it from popping up. They are sending me a new tray. I think I'll still use the clip but compare both together. They probably do not wish to alter the mods for such a cheap part.

    Add a larger paper clip with each unit would be cheaper. ;)
     

    Sticky

    Beware of Dog
    MDS Supporter
    Mar 16, 2013
    4,500
    AA Co
    I still use the old Lee AutoPrime hand primer. I bought a couple spares on ebay years back just as backups. They just work and I see no need to change. I have tried a couple newer ones but went right back.

    I even found some replacement covers as some of my old ones were yellowing... they all look brand new now lol
     

    byf43

    SCSC Life/NRA Patron Life
    I still use the old Lee AutoPrime hand primer. I bought a couple spares on ebay years back just as backups. They just work and I see no need to change. I have tried a couple newer ones but went right back.

    I even found some replacement covers as some of my old ones were yellowing... they all look brand new now lol


    I've used the same Lee Auto-Prime since '79.
    Unfortunately, they're not still made.
    There is a POS 'Red' "new and NOT improved" version out, that I started using, a couple of weeks ago.

    The Large unit on the OLD Auto-Prime is now worn out, and won't seat Large Magnum primers below flush. (I thought the shellholder was defective, and bought another. I was wrong.)

    The new 'Red' Auto-Prime works fine, but, after seating FIVE primers, the primers are getting hung up between the feed tray and the 'plunger' that seats the primer............... EVERY time.

    IMNSHO, it's JUNK.

    I need to find/buy a new and VERY GOOD primer tool.
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    My RCBS hand primer was acting up last night.
    I usually seat with the hand primer first, and then with my Lyman press mounted seater.
    I think it was the primers, outside Dia. +dd. WLR's, didn't write the lot number down didn't measure killed them in a chamber.
    I also leave the lid loose/not captured even though its ill fitting at times.
    If you ever had an oversensitive primer detonate you know what I mean.
    They'll vaporize on there own individually, a tray you might find some residuals in your face or ceiling.
    Happy priming, wear eye pro. Especially if you want to push them out when still live which is stupid.
     

    Archeryrob

    Undecided on a great many things
    Mar 7, 2013
    3,062
    Washington Co. - Fairplay
    The new RCBS tray showed up in the mail and inspecting it the front, where it feeds into the hand primer, doesn't seem to always lay down, or stay down. I think I am staying with the paper clip on it and now I get an extra tray I am not sure I need.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,724
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Well it seems I had the same problem as Larr, the tray cover won’t stay down and let’s then be too loose but this clip fixed it. They need to redesign the top to have more locking points. Mine is just about brand new

    My RCBS tray cover turns about an inch and locks into a tab. I have never had it come loose. The new ones may be different, mine was made 25 years ago.
     

    Archeryrob

    Undecided on a great many things
    Mar 7, 2013
    3,062
    Washington Co. - Fairplay
    No locking tabs on the new tray and I suggested they should have them in my communication to them. The center pin has a flared center to hold it tightly on, but the tray can wobble and pop up near the spout. All problems went away when I added the binder clip, so it just shows they are not getting the close on the top they need. I have not tried the new tray, but I can easily lift on the tray near the spout.

    It seems like a very quality product except for this small issue.
     

    Bikebreath

    R.I.P.
    MDS Supporter
    Jun 30, 2009
    14,836
    in the bowels of Baltimore
    I am new to using it and did a bunch of LPP with it and never had an issue. Twice now I was priming SPP's for 9mm and I have them primer occasionally turning sideways in front of the ram rod. I look down in each time and see one squeeze lightly and start it moving then seat the shell while the primer is mid path and then seat it once the shell is in. When I was not checking one time I seated 6 out of hundred sideways. Now I just push them out and sit on the work bench to be added back into the tray, if they start coming up sideways.

    Yesterday I had once turn sideways and only had 15 primers left in the tray, so I pulled the tray, put it back in and put the top back on. The jiggle to get it back in the hand primer and one primer was upside down, after the lid was on and they were all in the correct orientation. I was not sure how it could flip with the lid on. I measured the small to large primers and they have the exact same depth

    Anyone else have this issue or know what it happens? I though maybe the edge of the primer was catching on the sidewall of the feeder tube when being push initially and turning it sideways. That is just a rookie guess though. I figured I would inquire here before ask RCBS if it is a stupid rookie or a problem with my tray.

    First thing that comes to mind: Safety Glasses. Carry on.
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    The Large unit on the OLD Auto-Prime is now worn out, and won't seat Large Magnum primers below flush. (I thought the shellholder was defective, and bought another. I was wrong.)

    When my original Lee primer stopped seating primers flush, it drove me nuts for a while. Then I noticed that the shell holder was moving up as the primer seated.

    The cast metal had cracked on the side away from me, and when you applied seating pressure, the shell holder would move up a bit.

    I ended up getting a 21st Century replacement handle, which is MUCH better. But no longer made. :(
     

    BeoBill

    Crank in the Third Row
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 3, 2013
    27,058
    南馬里蘭州鮑伊
    I've used the same Lee Auto-Prime since '79.
    Unfortunately, they're not still made.
    There is a POS 'Red' "new and NOT improved" version out, that I started using, a couple of weeks ago.

    The Large unit on the OLD Auto-Prime is now worn out, and won't seat Large Magnum primers below flush. (I thought the shellholder was defective, and bought another. I was wrong.)

    The new 'Red' Auto-Prime works fine, but, after seating FIVE primers, the primers are getting hung up between the feed tray and the 'plunger' that seats the primer............... EVERY time.

    IMNSHO, it's JUNK.

    I need to find/buy a new and VERY GOOD primer tool.

    Have you tried lightly lubing the ram mechanism?
     

    byf43

    SCSC Life/NRA Patron Life
    When my original Lee primer stopped seating primers flush, it drove me nuts for a while. Then I noticed that the shell holder was moving up as the primer seated.

    The cast metal had cracked on the side away from me, and when you applied seating pressure, the shell holder would move up a bit.

    I ended up getting a 21st Century replacement handle, which is MUCH better. But no longer made. :(

    It's strange.
    The small primer unit on the old Lee Auto-Prime still works perfectly.

    I wound up buying the RCBS hand primer, but, I've not tried it. It's sitting on the bench, waiting for it's turn.


    Have you tried lightly lubing the ram mechanism?

    Oh yes! I use lube on the moving parts. Always have.
    I believe that's why it's lasted so long.
    A good friend bought an Auto-Prime after seeing mine, and he's had to replace some of the parts (a couple of times!) because he never lubed the moving parts (pivot points), etc.



    The 'new' Auto-Prime (IMNSHO) is a step DOWN, from the original ones.
     

    PaFrank

    Member
    Apr 2, 2020
    75
    I gave up on the hand primers (as much as i like them) a few years ago. My arthritis in my hands was killing me.. now i use the RCBS bench prime. no more pain.. no more upside down or sideways loaded primers.. I had use a couple versions of the Lee autoprime and none were as good as the original
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    One thing I found out is that when repriming LC-Hxp cases even after multiple reloads and primer seat properly swaged/ squared- steady even pressure is needed on some but not all cases.
    Once primed , I still seat with a Lyman seater die to make sure primer is below the case head.
    If you get on a roll and begin to prime to fast like with ordinary cases, the RCBS hand primer can become fiddly at times due to primer variances.
    The seater plug in the hand primer I have will give inconsistency for depth with differing lots of cases.
    Could be from case rim from not true or slightly bent from Semi auto extractors. (Garands)
    At best with other types / brands of cases, never has a primer been seated below flush but that’s probably wear or tolerances of the plug or shell holder.
     

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