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Posted: 10/20/2015 5:38:16 AM EDT
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I'm looking at the RCBS bench priming tool, seems like a pretty slick unit. Getting tired off My LEE handprimer.
Part of it got broken when it got knocked off the bench, looking to replace it, wondering if the RCBS unit is worth the extra coin for loading up test ladders, some more precise loading I plan on doing down the road. Thanks, Dave. |
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I have a touch of arthritis so the hand priming tools are less than ideal. Having said that, I do have and use the RCBS bench priming tool. Levers are great.
Nice tool, simple to use. It is my go-to for priming 5.56, .45acp or any brass that I had to remove a crimp. |
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I got an FA primer filler for the 1050. Another reason I'm looking into it is problems with My hands. Will LEE shell holders work with it? The press style, the ones that come in the die kits? It is a great tool, just make sure you get the height right or it can be a little tough on the wrist. Keep the fasteners tight and the primer rams at the right length, they can loosen, if you start having issues check these two things. The Lee shell holders will work, however, you may want to break/bevel the edge of the primer bore, the ram has a tendency not to fall freely back down using the Lees. Reports I've read are RCBS holders don't have this problem. |
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The RCBS Bench Primer is awesome. It is well built and functions as it should. If I have one concern with it, it would be that if you release the lever too quickly, the loaded primer tube snaps back rather fast. I fixed that by putting a towel over a box, letting the tube come to rest against it. |
| The only way to prime. The RCBS Bench model has just the right leverage and feel. Don't want a squeeze tool with my older hands. I often just place a primer in the punch by hand rather than using the tubes especially for small batches of cases. I'd recommend buying extra shellholders as you may want one in a press and the priming tool at the same time. I've had mine for many years, maybe 20 years and no issues. I did have another brand of shellholder once that the hole in it was too large and the priming punch didn't line up with the pocket sometimes. Well worth the money. |
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Once you get into a good rhythm it goes quick with great feel.
You can feel the primer enter, slide till the anvil touches, then the final little movement as the anvil moves to compress the primer pellet. I can hold the new shell between to fingers and pick off the primed one with two other fingers of the same hand. A little stutter to drop a primer onto the ram and then seat. Get a tube loader and lots of extra tubes. |
 RCBS original bench primer works fine. You have to place each primer in tool before priming. I set up mine for use with Berdan primers, works great.  Current model works well and has the RCBS primer mags that are the same as other RCBS primer mags. (Rockchucker)  Put a Dillon follower in the mag for best results. |
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I don't know about the bench tool, but I can heartily recommend the Frankford Arsenal tube filler as a couple others have mentioned. I snagged one on sale at Cabela's this spring, and wow, I never thought it would work that well or save that much time!
(I'll also suggest the RCBS Hand Primer over the Lee Hand Primer, much more comfortable for those needing a hand primer.) |
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I use the RCBS bench priming tool, good unit. Once in a while it'll drop a primer but it's quite rare.
Good feel for seating a primer. My first press had a ram priming unit. Same guts as the bench priming tool but no auto feed tube. Much better with a tube feed. |
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I prime on a single stage (Co-Ax) and although I like the precision for lower volume, I too am interested in a quicker system for larger runs. A concern I had was where this tool was made. There are reports on Midway and others that these are now made in China. Rather than take that as gospel, I decided to get clarification directly from RCBS. The helpful gentlemen said there was a short time when they were getting some castings from China to keep the products flowing but now, "all" castings (including the bench primer) are made right there in the CA plant. I am very happy about that. I'm sick of being forced with the options of either buying new junk made in China (I know this is very general and doesn't always apply) or searching far and wide for an older piece of well made equipment that is still in good shape. Buying well made equipment, even if it costs a little more is worth it to me over a less expensive inferior product. Anyway, thats a long way of saying, if you are concerned about it being made in China then you can rest easy because it isn't. |
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Quoted:
I'm looking at the RCBS bench priming tool, seems like a pretty slick unit. Getting tired off My LEE handprimer. Part of it got broken when it got knocked off the bench, looking to replace it, wondering if the RCBS unit is worth the extra coin for loading up test ladders, some more precise loading I plan on doing down the road. Thanks, Dave. I like priming on the press quite a bit, and recommend trying it. While I can't comment on the RCBS on press system, I will vouch for some of the things I like about priming on the bench. I have a Lee single stage press that I use for this, and utilize the LEE Safety Prime Here is a video of it in action (video not mine) Integral primer flip tray holds 150 to 200 primers ... built in flip tray, and no tubes to mess with. Other than getting perfectly seated primers .... one of the benefits I enjoy about priming on the downstroke is that it leaves the press open to do something else on the upstroke/top of press (ex charge or seat). It appears the RCBS primes on the downstroke too, so you would have that benefit. I use a chargemaster and/or other methods to individually weigh powder charges for rifle reloading. So I take my fully processed and ready to prime/load brass and put my bullet seater in the single stage press along with the primer system. I prime a case on the downstroke, remove and charge, reinsert and seat bullet/reload primer tool on top of upstroke. Repeat. I have plenty of time to do this (dump powder and seat bullet) and periodically measure coal between chargemaster dumps on 223 or larger loads. One way to do it, thought would share. Again, not familiar with RCBS's system you asked about .... but do like the benefits of priming on press on downstroke..encourage you to try it. |
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I know, I really like how My Dillon Super 1050 primes on the downstroke. Quoted:
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Again, not familiar with RCBS's system you asked about .... but do like the benefits of priming on press on downstroke..encourage you to try it. I know, I really like how My Dillon Super 1050 primes on the downstroke. This is likely a silly question then (because I don't own a progressive)...but as you have that machine, with a case feeder, and a prime system on the press......... Please help me understand why you don't throw the brass in and prime them there. I am not picking .... Just trying to understand the disadvantage of using the machine you have to do the job? (Because one of these days I am going to snap and buy a progressive too) |
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Quoted:
I'm looking at the RCBS bench priming tool, seems like a pretty slick unit. Getting tired off My LEE handprimer. Part of it got broken when it got knocked off the bench, looking to replace it, wondering if the RCBS unit is worth the extra coin for loading up test ladders, some more precise loading I plan on doing down the road. Thanks, Dave. Because I want to be able to do large or small primer in smaller batches, without having to switch over the machine. And when I load for precision, I'll be doing it all on My SS press. |
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Quoted: This is likely a silly question then (because I don't own a progressive)...but as you have that machine, with a case feeder, and a prime system on the press......... Please help me understand why you don't throw the brass in and prime them there. I am not picking .... Just trying to understand the disadvantage of using the machine you have to do the job? (Because one of these days I am going to snap and buy a progressive too) Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Again, not familiar with RCBS's system you asked about .... but do like the benefits of priming on press on downstroke..encourage you to try it. I know, I really like how My Dillon Super 1050 primes on the downstroke. This is likely a silly question then (because I don't own a progressive)...but as you have that machine, with a case feeder, and a prime system on the press......... Please help me understand why you don't throw the brass in and prime them there. I am not picking .... Just trying to understand the disadvantage of using the machine you have to do the job? (Because one of these days I am going to snap and buy a progressive too) |
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