Looking for opinions on ram primer units as manufactured by Lee and RCBS. I have a RCBS unit, and really like the consiscent primer seating. The biggest 'con' is the fact that you need to reset the unit for each cartridge, unless you have a ram primer unit for each cartridge that you load. Which, in my mind is'nt all that bad, as I like tools, the more the better. Have'nt had any experience with the Lee unit, has any of you used both? And if so, what are the pros and cons of each, other than the Lee is about half the cost of the RCBS? Thanks for any opinions.

Since you have so many nay sayers about Lee, I bought 3 (at the price why not). I set up one for LR primers, one for SR primers, and one on the shelf as a back up. That was a long number of years ago and the back up is still sitting on the shelf.

Q?: do these ram primer units require you to load the primers in a dispenser or tube or strip before you can prime the cases.

I inherited a Lee ram primer and it works fine.
I think it is a better setup than the typical primer arm on a press. I use mine based on feel and not based on some setting. Since I have other tools that I prefer the only time it might be used of for a really odd ball case. I only have two ways to prime 50-70 and .405 Win since I do not have the ancient screw in shell holders for my old style Lee tools.

richj
I dod not have a primer feed on my ram prime. I am a rifle shooter so I do not mind handling each primer. My ram primer came with the Lee hand press and was never made to use a primer feed.

quote:

Originally posted by richj:
Q?: do these ram primer units require you to load the primers in a dispenser or tube or strip before you can prime the cases.

With the Lee, you have what is a primer flipper that has a primer sized hole in the side that fits on the ram prime unit. You dump your primers in the flipper and jiggle it around to get the primers oriented and then put the top on the primer flipper and start priming. It helps to hold the unit kinda tipped so the primers will naturally flow toward the unit. Also, especially with SRs. you want to shake the whole thing gently every so often to keep the primers from bridging at the hole.

I bought the universal rcbs hand primer. I gave away the Lee unit with the flat shellholders.

I still use the press unit for rifle sometimes.

Found one of these units that mount on top of the press in a box of parts I inherited. The shellholder mounts on top of the die. You have to load one primer at a time in it.

RCBS Universal!
+1 no shell holders. Square primer trays to match the square primer boxes.

richj: The Lee unit you picture is a very handy little unit that works much better than the priming arms supplied with most presses. It uses a standard shell holder head, so if you can load for it, you can prime it with the Lee unit.

However, with any cartridge for which I do a volume of reloading, I much prefer a handheld Lee Auto Prime. It's a fraction of the price of the competition and just feels better in my hand. Others feel differently, but then we're probably married to different spouses, too, so there is room for personal preference.

quote:

Originally posted by richj:
I bought the universal rcbs hand primer. I gave away the Lee unit with the flat shellholders.

I still use the press unit for rifle sometimes.

Found one of these units that mount on top of the press in a box of parts I inherited. The shellholder mounts on top of the die. You have to load one primer at a time in it.

Is the unit pictured a RCBS Ram Primeer Unit or a Lee, I have the RCBS, but the body looks a bit longer than your pic, which could be the angle. ALso, no-one has really awnsered my original question, do you need to re-adjust the unit for each differnt cartridge that you load, since shell holders will hold several differnt cartridges, would'nt the difference in rim thickness change the depth of the primer set?

I think the depth of the primer pocket should be the same, so when you hit bottom you're good.

There are no markings on the unit.