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Thread: Primer feeding issues with RCBS Hand Primer

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    Primer feeding issues with RCBS Hand Primer

    Has anyone else had a problem with the RCBS Hand Primer Tool not
    feeding the primers into the Primer Feed Tray?

    I have two of each size (large and small) Feed trays, Feed tubes. I had
    to use emery on the metal rods, which helps them slide through the
    Feed tray hole easier, but...
    the primers do not want to slide through the slot in the Feed tray and
    go under the shell casing.

    Very frustrating, I spend more time dismantling the tool than its worth.
    I'll be sending an email out to RCBS to their "Cheap Plastic Part
    Department" and see if that gets any results.

    Any tips?

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
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    yes I had a problem with one. I talked with customer service about the problem and we decided the white plastic part was the problem. They sent me a new one right away. Works great now. Give them a call.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    Is this the round one or square one?

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
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    The round one. Both large and small Feed trays are the problem.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    Hick's Avatar
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    Early on, I had to smooth out the inside of the plastic parts on my RCBS hand primers-- once I smoothed them out a little they worked fine.
    Hick: Iron sights!

  6. #6
    Boolit Master

    rancher1913's Avatar
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    never really liked my rcbs, used it until I found a replacement old style lee.
    if you are ever being chased by a taxidermist, don't play dead

  7. #7
    Boolit Master



    Bzcraig's Avatar
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    Mine is a newer square tray model and I'd flawless as long as I keep it tilted. Also RCBS is second to none in customer service and I'm convinced will make it right, post haste!
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  8. #8
    Boolit Master


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    I'm confused. The RCBS has only one primer tray, either old round or new square.

    The shell holder apparatus is small(white)primer or large(black)primer. The Tray has nothing to do it.
    The problem occurs when two primers meet at the junction where the feed tray narrows down to let only one primer enter the feed "ramp" this happens more readily with large primers then small.
    The "fix" is to twist your wrist side to side between taking a case out of the shell holder and putting one in.

    It's become a natural motion for me as about 999 out of a 1000rds I load is primed this way.
    That one thousandth is primed on an old RCBS single hand priming tool.
    I HATE auto-correct

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  9. #9
    Boolit Master

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    When I used to use mine, I'd make a habit of giving a little flick of the wrist to send the "next up" primer into the staging area. They sometimes wanted to bridge and that technique eliminated that problem for me. Many thousands of handgun and rifle rounds primes with that tool, and it still works. I agree with the above suggestion of contacting RCBS if a little technique mod doesn't help.

    Mine is the older type that uses shell holders and the round tray.

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy
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    I'll go try that technique right now.
    I did contact RCBS but as it was Friday I expect to hear from them early this week I hope.
    That side motion or flick of the wrist is worth a try. I'll let you know.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Walks View Post
    I'm confused. The RCBS has only one primer tray, either old round or new square.

    The shell holder apparatus is small(white)primer or large(black)primer. The Tray has nothing to do it.
    The problem occurs when two primers meet at the junction where the feed tray narrows down to let only one primer enter the feed "ramp" this happens more readily with large primers then small.
    The "fix" is to twist your wrist side to side between taking a case out of the shell holder and putting one in.

    It's become a natural motion for me as about 999 out of a 1000rds I load is primed this way.
    That one thousandth is primed on an old RCBS single hand priming tool.
    Mine is round one like that as well. I only use it for rifle primers and has never had an issue except having to disassemble to clean and lube the spring and plunger. I didn’t know they made a handheld primer tool with large and small primer trays.

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
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    Carrier,
    Yes, RCBS makes two Feed trays. A White one marked with the letter S and a Black one marked with L. Both come in two halves you put together. In my case, both will not Feed properly. When I look into the slot one side is slightly higher than the other.
    Which is why the primers will not Feed smoothly. They hang up on the lip caused by the high side.

    I tried filing the slots to smooth them out, but they still will not Feed in a steady rhythm.

    That's why I addressed the email to RCBS to the "Cheap Plastic Part Deparment".
    The entire tool is quality metal, but that one plastic part is their downfall.

    I can't imagine the cost of the tool being that much more by making it entirely out of metal.
    But I'd be willingly to pay the few dollars more for reliablity.

    Bottom line I guess.

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
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    Still waiting to hear from RCBS. I guess they didn't like my "cheap plastic part department" reference.
    I can wait...what is...is.

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master

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    The bean counter that initiated the cheap plastic dept, may read the mail also.
    Information not shared. is wasted.

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy
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    RCBS offered to replace the entire Hand Primer. Just sent the tool back to them.
    We had a long trial session over the phone with them asking me to try various fixes. Including the "Flick of the Wrist" technique.
    None would work.
    Ultimately, the Primer Rods would not Feed into the slide and when
    they did (both large and small) would create a small lip that prevented
    the primers from feeding.
    Looking down into the tool you could see the Primer Rods were just slightly shifted to either side and couldn't be pushed up.
    A bad manufacturing day when mine was built, I guess.

    Looking forward to the new revised model to come.

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy
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    Just received. From RCBS, I new replacement Hand Primer.
    The difference in quality is very noticeable. The Pivot assembly is much better desisined and the the Primer feeds are much sturdier.

    My hat's off to RCBS.
    Now I'm back in business and looking forward to it!

  17. #17
    Banned
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    I put a rubber band around the tray and the handle, holding the tray in tight. That solved my problem. Never thought of contacting RCBS cause it still worked well with the rubber bands.

  18. #18
    Boolit Master



    TNsailorman's Avatar
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    The only tray feed hand primer I ever used was a Lee and after a few tries I gave it up and went pack to my RCBS Posi-Prime and the old Lee Screw in type shell holders. I prime in front of a television with a good football game or baseball game going. I am in no hurry and it is not hard to place each primer in the tool. I rarely prime on my Rock Chucker either. Just my way anyway, james
    Last edited by TNsailorman; 02-28-2019 at 09:29 AM.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check