Ram prime trial .

RBHarter

RBHarter

West Central AR
After a lengthy delay fraught inconvenience , crashed A/C , dogs in the fowl , run away fowl , a couple of deceased barn cats (see dogs in fowl) , misc life hassles , and a pack rat , I got to try out the new ram prime . I settled on the Lee unit after a lengthy look at the offerings and complaints of owners and in some ways against my best judgement I bought 2 . The Lyman description wasn't clear as to whether it included or required separate purchase of the second ram . Purchase was another $16 . Reviews were vague but suggested it .
Honestly the RCBS has floating rams that reviews suggested were difficult . Also I bought before the rush , so prices were stable , at Midway they were $11 , 21 & 23 , with the extra Lyman was the most expensive . I bought from Titan Reloading and had 2 them in hand quickly . I promptly set up the ram portions for large and small in each kit and got side tracked . Enter the pack rat . The second kit was found when the couch with the snake in it left the living room ....... appearently the black rat snake (and I will continue to believe it wasn't a cotton mouth thank you) followed the mouse into the pack rats den ..... I'm better now , never really like that couch and it was starting to break down anyhow .
Tonight I primed 150 45-70 and 30-30 . The shell holders held tight and stayed aligned with the worn Partner and ram .
Complaint . I wish it would adjust up high enough to set for the cam over . Probably however if misadjusted in say a Big Max I can see where you might just pop a case or even a shell holder out .
The aluminum 7/8-14 to shell holder adapter is off putting but will the the press handle stopped at the start of the leverage curve more strength probably isn't needed .
Praise .
The assorted shell holders fit properly , Lyman , RCBS and Lee were handy priming was done with RCBS and Lyman . There didn't feel to be the usual tolerance slop . The stop was nice on the press the arthritis that plagues my grip in my wrist for extended press and hand primer sessions .
Points of interest . I got 2 whole sets for the price 1 . I can leave each anvil set up for large or small and I have a spare bushing , primer pin , and cup of each size . I don't have the floating pins to lose in the RCBS and I don't have to buy a spare rod for the Lyman . Aluminum adapter . I do have a spare . Unlike other Lee tools there was zero futzing .
 
CZ93X62

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
The RCBS Ram Priming Unit is simplicity itself. Mine is at least 30 years old, and YES the rams "float". So does a shell holder in a press ram, then. Both depend on die seating depth to "finesse" the depth settings. Once the ram runs inside the die it is centered and supported freely. The way I use the tool, the ram never leaves the die's support column.
 
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CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I have also used the RCBS RAM for decades. Its solid and I have zero complaints. For decades it sat in a tiny press waiting use. That press was delegated to pc bullet sizing before living under the bench now with a few others. I have a Tiny little RCBS Bench prime there now. Almost never use it. I have been using the newest LEE bench primer. I am on my second one in a year... (Typical LEE pot metal and plastic junk) But I liked it enough to chock it up as a disposable 30$ part.

I wish the RAM had a feeder.
I have run the gamut with prime tools I have used many from Most makers most all work.

Good luck The RAM prime has been one very solid unit for me.
CW
 
462

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
CZ93X62 said:
The way I use the tool, the ram never leaves the die's support column.
Click to expand...
That's the way I use the RCBS ram prime, too.
Bought mine used (dated 69) but the small primer gizmo was missing, called RCBS, they wouldn't take my money, but shipped new small and large gizmos nonetheless. Typical RCBS customer service!

Last night, I was loading some .45-70s and decided to re-test Lee's 4 hole turret's priming system, only to rediscover why I like the RCBS ram primer system so much.
Still haven't figured out how to get the turret to seat a small primer at least flush, even using different three primer arms. After a lot of fiddling, I gave up on this particular Lee end user quality control project.
 
RBHarter

RBHarter

West Central AR
I've gotten by for some time with only the large seater on the Partner .
I didn't like the Lee priming arm on the turrets either . I've never had tubes available for the fittings on the RCs so it's been a one at time thing and I'm in no real hurry so it works .
I actually had the RCBS in the basket but there was a swarm of poor shipping , packages through Memphis , and the shipping was half of the package total cost .......... I hedged for some time hopping for a break .

For now with the snake gone and the pack rat having fed a couple of chickens I'll make do . Maybe I'll find one of the others in a junk shop or get one for Christmas .
 
462

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
The only usefulness of the Lee turret primer arm is to aid ejected spent primers finding their way down the hole in the ram, though it's not 100% certain.
 
RBHarter

RBHarter

West Central AR
I've had several Lee presses and just never could warm up to them . I tried I really did . I had a 4 hole turret and put 2 EA size and flair dies in it for about 1000 45 ACPs I wanted to do as a batch prep , it was faster over all but I had a lot of short stops I had to really lean on . At the end I had to bump one station to often and simple lube/wash wasn't doing the job ....... 2000 strokes is a fair run .......

I'm sketchy on Lee tools beyond the moulds but I figured this one was a no brainier with a finite number of places for failure .
 
Ian

Ian

Notorious member
I used the RCBS for many moons and still like it. I'd just leave the press handle dropped, poke a primer in the raised cup, lift the handle just enough to slide a case into the shellholder, seat, rinse and repeat. I had it set to almost, but not quite, cam-over so I could feel the seating pressure as the anvil crushed the pellet and the cup bottomed in the pocket. Lee system is similar.
 
W

Walks

Well-Known Member
Another one for the RCBS unit.

Simplicity itself, 30yrs and counting.
And it also works with Lyman, Hornady, Redding, old Pacific shellholders.
The Lee shellholder for .44Russian will NOT fit, but the one for .38 Short & Wimpy will. Go figure ?
 
L Ross

L Ross

Well-Known Member
I must be the luckiest guy on this forum. I use my Lee 4 hole turret press the most of all of the "stuff" that I have. I really enjoy the priming system. I only use the large primer cup with either large of small primers and it works just fine. I keep an eye on alignment issues if it even hints at balkiness.

On the other hand I have ancient Lee hand priming tools, (grey Zamak), single primer at a time, (works as intended), I have a couple of the chromed Lee hand primer tools, (great tools), I have a bench mounted RCBS priming tool that takes tubes that has excellent feel, and my used gun show Dillon works slick as two eels makin' love in a bucket of snot. I have even primed a few hundred rounds with Lyman 310 tools without complaint. Oh yeah, there even one of those re-de capper thingies I use for BPCR. They all work.
 
Glaciers

Glaciers

Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
L Ross said:
I must be the luckiest guy on this forum. I use my Lee 4 hole turret press the most of all of the "stuff" that I have. I really enjoy the priming system. I only use the large primer cup with either large of small primers and it works just fine. I keep an eye on alignment issues if it even hints at balkiness.

On the other hand I have ancient Lee hand priming tools, (grey Zamak), single primer at a time, (works as intended), I have a couple of the chromed Lee hand primer tools, (great tools), I have a bench mounted RCBS priming tool that takes tubes that has excellent feel, and my used gun show Dillon works slick as two eels makin' love in a bucket of snot. I have even primed a few hundred rounds with Lyman 310 tools without complaint. Oh yeah, there even one of those re-de capper thingies I use for BPCR. They all work.
Click to expand...

"Slick as two eels makin' love in a bucket of snot."

Now that paints a picture.

Well that makes 2 of us in the LEE luck department, my LEE turret press priming works great. Very happy with it. For all other priming I use the RCBS bench mounted priming, like it, works with consistent feel. All the hand priming tools sit in a drawer gathering dust.
 
W

Walks

Well-Known Member
John G.

I understand what you mean when something that works well for you works like crap for everyone else.
The Lee Auto-Prime worked great for me when they came out. By the time I wore out the 2nd, RCBS had come out with their version. The 1st RCBS is still going strong.
And I started priming 9mm brass with 310 tong tool when I was four years old.

I'm constantly amazed at what works for some, doesn't work for others.

I often use the Ram Prime because my RCBS hand priming tool is left in the house. I often take primers and shellholders inside to prime cases while I'm watching TV.
I don't prime on the Progressive Press.
 
CZ93X62

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Walks nailed it. Some folks just can't wrap their minds around some processes: others take to it like ducks to water.

E.g., the Ruger Mini-14 rifle's magazine insertion sequence. I have had at least one Mini-14 in the safe since 1979, and while they are not the most accurate gas gun on the face of the earth--they are utterly deputy-proof devices. Indestructible--unlike the AR-15s that are now coin of the realm at my old shop.

The former GIs had the greatest trouble, likely due to instilled M-16 training and the straight-insertion regimen of same. They just couldn't "get" the idea of "rocking" the magazine into place. Early in the adoption process for the rifles (1980) I brought some of my 5-round OEM mags from home, demo'ed the "rocking" action with those short flush-fitting mags, and let the guys having problems play with them unloaded. THEN the concept took hold.
 
Rick H

Rick H

Well-Known Member
When in ROTC we drilled with Garands.....only took once.....and you remembered every time thereafter. The rifle had a way of making a permanent impression on you.
 
CZ93X62

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
There were a few such guys, for sure. Most former servicefolk were M-16 era vets by 1980.
 
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