RCBS hand primer tool

[Tomme boy]

I have had this tool since about 1999 or so. I have had to replace several parts as they wore out. 2x the rods had to be replaced and once the pivot arm and plunger.

I have noticed lately the primers were not below flush anymore. And it reared its head with the Argentina primers in my 380. So I had to seat them on one of my presses that had an adjustable primer depth. Well that almost solved the Primer issue. It took them to almost 98% firing. I gave RCBS a call and they said they have been having all kinds of people calling with the same thing as me using them primers. So they wanted to send me the new updated internals for the hand primer.

This no longer has the plunger and pin separate from each other. The plunger and pin is one unit. It is more of a pain changing them from one cal. to another but not bad. But they now insert the primers below flush. So now I don't have to do them on the press anymore. I am tired of dropping them and never seeing them again.

So if you are having problems with the RCBS hand primer, give them a call and get the new internals. Here is the schematic that shows the parts.

https://www.rcbs.com/spare-parts-an...-tool-parts/rcbs-hand-priming-tool-parts.html

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I have two RCBS hand primers. (They made a APS too.) One used a universal shell holder and one conventional shell holders. Which do you have?

CW

 

[Tomme boy]

the conventional shell holder one.

 

[oscarflytyer]

Have to/hate to - LOL! My original RCBS hand primer was the version previous to the one you ref. AND was wearing out/needed new parts (worn out stems). No Joy! I ended up buying 2x old replacements! I LOVE the OLDer RCBS hand primer!

 

[Winelover]

Have two of the RCBS hand primers, One with the changeable shell holders and one with the Universal. The universal will occasionally eject both case and primer. The other one is better but PITA to change over. The changeable one is set for SPP, the universal for LPP & LRP. Used them that way till purchasing the RCBS Bench mounted tool. Now they sit idle, unless I'm only priming a few cases.

 

[Missionary]

I do lean to the old reloading tools also. They are a part of life I enjoy still being a part of.

 

[Luis]

I have the one using conventional shell holders. I have a problem with the primer seater/stem not coming down completely.

Once in a while, the primers do not enter into the seater. What causes the seater/stem to not go completely down every time?

 

[Brad]

I have the RCBS that uses interchangeable shell holder. Hate it. Dislike the Hornady too.

If Lee brought back the old round tray hand primer I would buy another, it was the best one I have used. Lever was prone to breaking but it was the tops in class.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Ooh yea... Bought the hornady ta try. Discovered it requires a Hornady shell holder... Gave it to my buddy who uses Hornady.

 

[358156 hp]

I have the one using conventional shell holders. I have a problem with the primer seater/stem not coming down completely.

Once in a while, the primers do not enter into the seater. What causes the seater/stem to not go completely down every time?

I don't believe the plastic piece the rod goes through is very resistant to wear. mine hangs up occasionally too, and the hole the rod goes through is oval on my primer. It was probably round when I bought it.

 

[358156 hp]

Ooh yea... Bought the hornady ta try. Discovered it requires a Hornady shell holder... Gave it to my buddy who uses Hornady.

Been there. the centers are different sizes IIRC. I had the same problem with LEE.

 

[fiver]

till the rat tail file hit it at 300 rpm. for 30 seconds.

 

[Brad]

I ground down the sleeves to fit. Damned shell holders are hardened and files didn’t touch them.

 

[462]

Ooh yea... Bought the hornady ta try. Discovered it requires a Hornady shell holder... Gave it to my buddy who uses Hornady.

Been there. the centers are different sizes IIRC. I had the same problem with LEE.

More than a dozen years ago, I bought a used Hornady hand primer and it came with two trays, one for the larger hole Hornady shellholders, and another for shellholders with smaller holes, like RCBS and Lee. I don't have any Hornady shellholders. Removing/replacing shellholders takes all of two seconds, and maybe 10 to convert from one primer size to another.

Several times I've thought about an RCBS hand primer, but would change my mind after reading the on-line instructions. Seems Rube Goldberg designed the original model.

The original Lee model had two faults:
1. Its thumb lever squeeze rather than a full-fisted squeeze.
2. Its thumb lever was very fragile.

 

[Walks]

I have the older style RCBS, it doesn't take the OLD Pacific shell holders or even the Lyman sometimes. I even have the Older RCBS that doesn't take a tray. Have the older round tray and newer square tray. One doesn't work any better then the other. Both require a bit of shaking to get them to feed. Changing from small to large is easy. Just lay everything out and keep a bit of tension on the thumb Lever. And keep the contact point greased.

 

[waco]

Hands down best hand prime tool I’ve used. Die cast zinc. Heavy. Quality.
Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Perfect Seat Hand Primer Seating Tool with Case for Reloading, Black https://a.co/d/43dMi0S

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

till the rat tail file hit it at 300 rpm. for 30 seconds.

Yea... Tried... they are VERY HARD.

Better choice was RCBS.

Those do not require proprietary anything.

CW

 

[fiver]

never had an issue with the few i had to open a touch.
but i can destroy about anything without hardly trying, heck i've worn out an rcbs press so there is that.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Yup me too. Wore out three LEE hand primers and one bench unit as well as the univ RCBS hand primer.

Difference is LEE didn't care and RCBS rebuilt the unit no questions. I ditched the LEE Hand press twenty years back but Im on my third Lee Be ch prime. Last one broke when I tightened the screw too much. First ir third case and frame cracked. I like how it works so @ 30$ its a consume able.

I do have two RCBS Bench prime units and with last bench re arrange have it mounted inplace of the LEE. I bought a second cause Amazon had some for 50$!

 

[300BLK]

I wore out a couple of Lee hand priming tools before switching to the RCBS hand primer. When that one broke-literally broke what retains the shell holder, I switched to the RCBS bench mounted tool and never looked back.