Old RCBS Press Priming Die Dating and Modification

[Danderdude]

The gunstore I used to work at called me the other day to tell me that they bought a lot of old reloading equipment from an older gentleman.

It was all run-of-the-mill, nothing special, and priced too high for what it is. Call this a bust, right?

I bought a box of primers, a pound of powder, a used RCBS case lube pad from the box, and hidden under the pad was this gem.





It's an RCBS press-mounted large priming tool in fair shape with only superficial rust. They threw it in for free because it was rusty.

I'm curious about two things:

1. There is a hole drilled through the side of the primer seating pin and the sleeve, but they only line up if the sleeve is held down under spring tension some. What is the function of this?

2. What is the date range of manufacture and value of this old thing? The instruction sheet is mimeographed onto RCBS letterhead. RCBS still makes a new and improved version of this tool for $25.

What I would like to do is figure a way to convert this for seating berdan primers, if at all possible. However, if it's a valuable piece of history or extremely rare, far be it from me to destroy it.







The sleeve must be held back part way to line the holes up.
Any information is welcome, especially about the hole in the last picture.

Thanks in advance

[Pressman]

The hole is to insert a small pin to remove the punch and change to the small primer punch.
Ken

[RACWIN375]

The hole is to insert a small pin to remove the punch and change to the small primer punch.
Ken

that's what I say too

[Bent Ramrod]

The modern version of the RCBS press primer has two separate priming stakes for large and small, which fit into a socket in the shell holder ram insert. I imagine the change eliminated the possibility of chasing small parts and springs around the loading room during the changeover from large to small primers. Short of that, they ought to work the same.

I would think you could just use it as-is for Berdan primer seating. Getting Berdan primers out is the problem; they seat like regular primers otherwise.

The RCBS Press Mounted Primer Seater was first reported on in the 4th Edition of Handloader's Digest, 1968. The description said it worked with Berdan primers.

[Danderdude]

The hole is to insert a small pin to remove the punch and change to the small primer punch.
Ken

Occam's Razor in action.

Bent Ramrod,

I plan on turning a hydraulic decapper assembly for popping them out. The only question left is how to build a stop-block to avoid overseating.

Thanks for the info. Late 60's - 70's. Neat.

[ReloaderFred]

With the Ram Prime system you adjust the primer depth by the amount you screw the die body into the press. I adjust mine for Boxer primers to seat at .004" below flush.

Hope this helps.

Fred