Hi All,

I need some advice - which is better - Lee or RCBS?

I tend to 'prep' a lot of cases at a time... maybe 2-300, and then grab a few as I need. This makes life easier for me as I load for a few different cals, and setting up press, trimmers, and so on is a PITA - I don't load for fun, to me it's a chore that allows me to shoot more, and prvides better ammo for my needs.

Any input welcome.

I've used the Lee for years and thousands of rounds with no problems whatsoever. I tried the RCBS, but it just didn't feel all that comfortable to use. Maybe 'cause I'm so used to the Lee. Other opinions will follow, I'm sure.

I have used the Lee hand primer ever since I started reloading and love it. It's simple to use and works every time. I can't offer any opinions on RCBS, but you won't go wrong with the Lee.

The Lee is fine, but doing 300 cases is rough on the thumb, requires a special shell holder. The RCBS has more leverage, uses a std. SH but is overly complicated when changing from large to small.
I like the Hornady best of the three. Good leverage, uses the hand instead of the thumb, std. SH & simole to swap from small to large.

I had a lee and wore it out. Replaced it with a RCBS. Both work fine. I didn't like the extra shell holder requirement for the lee.

Both will wear your hand out doing 300. When I was loading that many I used a RCBS bench mounted primer tool. Lot less effort.

I own an RCBS, and I like it but like fredj338 said priming a large amount of cases with a hand primer is a little hard on the hand. I only use the hand primer for small amounts of cases. For large runs, 100 or more I prefer a bench mounted priming tool like the one made by RCBS. It’s much faster than a hand or press mounted priming tool.

I don't like any of them but IMO Hornady is the best because it allows the entire hand to work and not just the thumb.

I started out with the Lee autoprime, but as already mentioned, it uses only the thumb to actuate it, so it gets pretty tiring after a hundred or two at a time.

I then tried the new RCBS universal hand primer (with the square tray). It has a universal shell holder and uses the whole hand to actuate, so two to three hundred at a time is not a problem. The large square tray is easier to load from factory packaging, and it feeds more reliably from the corner than round trays do. The detachable tray also lays flat for loading (and makes storing the unit easier), and has a gate that closes off the chute so that primers don't spill out. The Universal's overall quality of design and build is much better than the Lee, and when you factor in the set of custom shell holders, the Lee is not that much cheaper than the Universal.

I still use my Lee for small primers, since I don't use too many of them, and it keeps me from having to change primer sizes on either one. I'll probably buy another Universal to keep setup for small primers some day...

Andy

I had a lee but like the rcbs better however its a pain in the ass at times when the primer wont feed at times took my dremel and smoothed out the inside of the plastic insert ( slowly with fine diamond abrasive bit . I would like to hear about the hornady anyone else using the hornady?

I use the RCBS press mounted Strip primer. I have a little LEE reloader press dedicated to the priming operation. I also have one dedicated to decapping. Cost $20.99 from Midway so not a big investment, and they are always ready to do their job,(no heavy work).
Lyle

I use two Lee autoprime tools, one for small primers and the other for large primers.
Part of the problem in priming a large number of cases with the Lee is the thumb lever. The thumb slips on the lever requiring a concerted effort to keep the thumb in the correct position, and your hand gets sore from use. I put some egrip material on both thumb levers and the job of priming got real easy. egrip material is used for holding cel phones and ashtrays in place on tables. It comes in small sheets and can be trimmed to fit the thumb lever. It has a sticky side (Really stickey), and the other side has a fine corregation on it, which is very thumb friendly. I bought mine at Radio Shack.

Don

Nice idea, I'll try that one.

I love the Lee Auto Prime for lots up to maybe 100. Lots larger than that calls for getting out my Lee Auto Prime II, on the press.

Lee sells a package of 11 shell holders that covers most common cartridges for not many dollars. That pretty well solves the case holder need.

I have a couple of real unsual cartridges to load for. I just bought an extra standard shell holder for each and ground off the lower portion so they can work fine in my Lee tools.

The only real negative responses to the Hornady I've ever heard (I've never tried one, so not sure what this is worth) is that the small and large primer chutes are on opposite sides of the tray, and (at least if you're seating small primers), the opening on the other side will spill primers if you're not careful.

I almost bought one, but RCBS came out with their Universal, and I bought it instead.

Andy

We used the Lee a long time ago.

But once we started loading a lot of cases, we changed to the RCBS bench mounted tool.

I would imagine the one we have must have primed several hundred thousands rounds, from 22 hornet to 600 NE.

I do have 2 lee 's, but use the RCBS bench mounted primer for a lot of shells. Lees advantage is, you can watch TV as you prime, and if something breaks, you just chuck it!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
We used the Lee a long time ago.

But once we started loading a lot of cases, we changed to the RCBS bench mounted tool.

I would imagine the one we have must have primed several hundred thousands rounds, from 22 hornet to 600 NE.

I have used the Lee, which is a good tool, but I much prefer the primer setup on my Co-ax press.

Sinclair...........

quote:

The RCBS has more leverage, uses a std. SH but is overly complicated when changing from large to small.

I have the RCBS and the LEE AutoPrime. The RCBS is overly complicated and expensive, although it works well when you have it set up. I also have the Sinclair which uses the Lee AutoPrime shellholders and it is good but way too expensive.

I guess I'm doing it wrong... When my thumb gets tired I just turn it around and use it backwards with my index and middle fingers. (Lee press)

quote:

The RCBS is overly complicated and expensive,

I’m sorry up front but I can't imagine why the RCBS Auto Primer would be complicated.

quote:

I’m sorry up front but I can't imagine why the RCBS Auto Primer would be complicated.

When you consider the simplicity of the Lee, the RCBS is "overly complicated". Now I have the earlier model of the RCBS, not the one with the universal shellholder, and that's what I'm basing my opinion on.

I have used the simple Lee Auto Prime for years. I lube it about every thousand rounds. No problems.

quote:

Originally posted by Masterifleman:

quote:

I’m sorry up front but I can't imagine why the RCBS Auto Primer would be complicated.

When you consider the simplicity of the Lee, the RCBS is "overly complicated". Now I have the earlier model of the RCBS, not the one with the universal shellholder, and that's what I'm basing my opinion on.

Compared to a Lee Loader, the Lee Autoprime is "overly complicated"... not necessarily a bad thing.

When "overly complicated" gives you significant, added convenience, which the RCBS Universal does, it is a good thing.

Andy