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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - I hate loading primer tubes.... (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 12/17/2016 10:44:07 AM EDT
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Its one of the worst part of reloading for me. I looked online and found that Hornady and Frankford arsenal sell vibrating automatic tube fillers. They have mixed reviews so I figured I would ask here. Anyone have either and if you do, do you like it?
Frankford Hornady |
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You left out the blue one. https://www.dillonprecision.com/dillon-rf-100-lg-primer-filler_8_116_23473.html
Only 324.00. Only saw the dillon in use once, and it was a beautiful thing. I have never tried any of them, but for the price I am tempted. Both the ones you linked look like they need a bit of patience and possibly a bit of work to get running smoothly. I too have filled far too many tubes by hand. I'm going to get one of those this winter for testing. Pretty simple concept, a flip tray with a hole and a way to fit in a fill tube and a vibrator to keep primers moving to the hole. Seems like the angle the thing is held at is critical to proper functionality. The hornaday approach is hold the "gun" level and the angle is proper. |
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You left out the blue one. https://www.dillonprecision.com/dillon-rf-100-lg-primer-filler_8_116_23473.html Only 324.00. Only saw the dillon in use once, and it was a beautiful thing. I have never tried any of them, but for the price I am tempted. Both the ones you linked look like they need a bit of patience and possibly a bit of work to get running smoothly. I too have filled far too many tubes by hand. I'm going to get one of those this winter for testing. Pretty simple concept, a flip tray with a hole and a way to fit in a fill tube and a vibrator to keep primers moving to the hole. Seems like the angle the thing is held at is critical to proper functionality. The hornaday approach is hold the "gun" level and the angle is proper. Yeah I saw the dillon one and it was a little out of my price range... 
I agree. I think it all has to do with the angle of how you hold it. |
| I have been using the Vibra-Primers for a long time now. They work great for me, I don't use the adapter tube that comes withe the unit. I just stick my dillon primer tubes in the opening , pull the trigger and rock it side to side. Fills the tube in probably 10 - 15 seconds. |
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I use the Frankford, it works well for me. I shake it a little while it vibrates to keep primers flowing smoothly. I also hold it at an angle to keep the primers sliding down to the hole.
You may need to clean up the plastic flashing at the entrance of the primer tube. I use a case deburring tool for this. It can also be used to bevel the entry of your primer tubes for your press or rcbs bench primer. |
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Hands down, once you have the Dillon unit adjusted correctly for the primers you are using, it the fastest and easiest one to use.
Just dump the primers in, hit the button, and it will fill the tubes quickly isntead. Hence the last thing you want in the reloading room long term just sitting around, it a bunch of filled primer tubes sitting around when you are not using them. So really, your just trying to keep just enough tubes loaded that your going to use, and with the dillion unit, it just the one tube that is loaded and waiting for you to use. And when your done reloading, the loaded tube in it not being used, just gets dumped back to a primer box to store the primers unit your ready to reload another day isntead. Next would be something like the Frankford unit since it does not cost an arm and leg, and not bad for filling the tubes that you are going to be using that setting instead. Note, when you are done reloading for the event, dump all the primers out of the extra tubes, since you don't want to have a bunch of loaded primers tubes sitting around on the bench when you are not reloading. Granted that is a long shot, but all it take is one static spark to the tube to set the primers off in the tube, so again, don't leave tubes filled with primers when you are not reloading!!!! P.S, why RCBS moved away from the APS primer strips is beyond me. They where the safest way to deal with primers loaded and read to go, and even if you do have a primer blow in one of the strips, it did not do a chain reaction in a tube to cause secondary damage to the machine and your self isntead. One last thing that kills me, on the 1050, the station above priming is not threaded for a tool. No that is not that you want to thread a standard tool into the machine there, but it would have been nice for Dillon to have installed a blast type baffle there in case you did have a primer go off on insertion to the case. This way the primer spark would be contained with a spark baffle system, instead of possible flair up to maybe set the powder dispenser off in a chain reaction of loose powder ignition isntead. As for if you have some tallent and a couple of extra lee hand primer trays sitting around,  Failed To Load Title |
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Quoted:
Hands down, once you have the Dillon unit adjusted correctly for the primers you are using, it the fastest and easiest one to use. Just dump the primers in, hit the button, and it will fill the tubes quickly isntead. Hence the last thing you want in the reloading room long term just sitting around, it a bunch of filled primer tubes sitting around when you are not using them. So really, your just trying to keep just enough tubes loaded that your going to use, and with the dillion unit, it just the one tube that is loaded and waiting for you to use. And when your done reloading, the loaded tube in it not being used, just gets dumped back to a primer box to store the primers unit your ready to reload another day isntead. Next would be something like the Frankford unit since it does not cost an arm and leg, and not bad for filling the tubes that you are going to be using that setting instead. Note, when you are done reloading for the event, dump all the primers out of the extra tubes, since you don't want to have a bunch of loaded primers tubes sitting around on the bench when you are not reloading. Granted that is a long shot, but all it take is one static spark to the tube to set the primers off in the tube, so again, don't leave tubes filled with primers when you are not reloading!!!! P.S, why RCBS moved away from the APS primer strips is beyond me. They where the safest way to deal with primers loaded and read to go, and even if you do have a primer blow in one of the strips, it did not do a chain reaction in a tube to cause secondary damage to the machine and your self isntead. One last thing that kills me, on the 1050, the station above priming is not threaded for a tool. No that is not that you want to thread a standard tool into the machine there, but it would have been nice for Dillon to have installed a blast type baffle there in case you did have a primer go off on insertion to the case. This way the primer spark would be contained with a spark baffle system, instead of possible flair up to maybe set the powder dispenser off in a chain reaction of loose powder ignition isntead. As for if you have some tallent and a couple of extra lee hand primer trays sitting around,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_4xPm0U2jMDillon is out of the question. I'm not spending that kind of $ |
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I've got the Frankford and typically load 2 or 3 hundred rounds at a session so it works fine for me. As stated earlier, the hole where the primers drop can get a bit flakey sometimes, but keep it clean and watch for burrs.
I'd love to have the Dillon and would probably spring for it if I were loading a couple thousand every weekend. |
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I've got the Frankford and typically load 2 or 3 hundred rounds at a session so it works fine for me. As stated earlier, the hole where the primers drop can get a bit flakey sometimes, but keep it clean and watch for burrs. I'd love to have the Dillon and would probably spring for it if I were loading a couple thousand every weekend. Yup. If I loaded a lot it would make sense. I just don't reload that much to justify it. |
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Yup. If I loaded a lot it would make sense. I just don't reload that much to justify it. Quoted:
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I've got the Frankford and typically load 2 or 3 hundred rounds at a session so it works fine for me. As stated earlier, the hole where the primers drop can get a bit flakey sometimes, but keep it clean and watch for burrs. I'd love to have the Dillon and would probably spring for it if I were loading a couple thousand every weekend. Yup. If I loaded a lot it would make sense. I just don't reload that much to justify it. I have 6 small primer tubes, I load them all up takes maybe 5-6 minutes. Then load up my 650 with Mr. Bulletfeeder even with loading the primer tubes I run out 600 rds 9 mm in an hour. I just load the primer tubes off of the brass Dillon primer tray. I really don't like any primer tube fillet since I really don't trust them getting the primers upside down. I did buy a Frankford primer loader, never really liked it even after breaking all the sharp edges and flash. So I never used it to load primer tubes to load. |
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I used to think that, until I tried one. Yep, since you just working with the one tube over and over again, when it comes time to end the reloading session, your only have to dump the one tube out/ have not wasted a bunch of time loading primers into tubes that your not going to use them, and have to dump them out as well. |
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I have both. I started out with the Frankford I got it to work but after 1000 primers loaded I had 6 flipped. This is something I could not have, and put it under my bench.
When the Hornady one came out I bought that one too. I found it to be just as fast as the Frankford, but you have to hold it at just the proper angle, hold your head at a 30° angle to the right and your left foot 2" off the ground. But no flipped primers. Now both of them will fill the primer tube twice as fast than picking them by hand, but it is not worth the frustration. |
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I suspect the older one's hands are, the more important these devices become. I have both the VibraPrime and the 1911.
Over the years VibraPrime quality apparently suffered from batch to batch variability . . . if you are to believe the forum posts over that time lol. The most frequent problem encountered is that primers hang up right at the drop point. Some folks reported they could ream out the burrs there and others reported success beveling and/or enlarging the trays' holes. I was unsuccessful in doing either which may be nothing more than an anecdote. The 1911 worked much better right from the start. But for me there was a different problem . . . you might enjoy the added safety feature but for me the blast shield was a PITA. So I opened up the "gun" and found that the blast shield simply activated a second in-line contact switch to allow power to the vibrator. A twist tie closed that contact switch "permanently" and allowed the trigger alone to power the device without using the blast shield. This "mod" is a 5 minute job and obviously can be reversed. IMO the key to using these is to make sure there isn't too much pressure on the primer that's about to drop. That means the tray angle cannot be too steep, and there shouldn't be too many primers lined up and pressing against the one ready to drop. The 1911 is designed so that is largely accomplished by holding the gun itself level. A little practice and things go very smoothly on the 1911. When a primer DOES hang up at the drop, the simplest thing to do is to turn the device upside-down. The primers in the tube will drop down and force the stuck primer out of the hole. Overall, in my experience the performance nod goes to the Hornady. |
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Camp out on ebay and be patient and you can get an RF100 fairly cheaply. I paid $150 for mine, and it's the newer model with the rheostat.
You have to change it for different brands (a fairly simple adjustment) but I have never had it mess up even once with federal primers. Had it flip a couple winchesters but I barely use them. That said, it's not worth the price it goes for brand new. |
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Me either. I have the Franklin tool, but load primer tubes manually, goes fast for me. Quoted:
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What problems are you experiencing filling them the old fashioned way? I never thought it was that big a deal. I have the Franklin tool, but load primer tubes manually, goes fast for me. After loading 600 rds. I ready for a 5 minute break from reloading. |
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Quite happy with my franklin... some primer brands work better than others. Doesn't hurt to add a taper with a chamfer tool on the tube.
I use the following primers: CCI Remington S&B Federal Winchesters Picking by hand is tedious, time consuming, and unnecessary. |
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Does it really take that long? I can do all 4 of my tubes in a couple minutes... I guess if I had a fancy 1050 and was a volume loader it might matter. Exactly. I won't setup the 1050 unless I can run at least 1-2k rounds. When primer tube is empty, I fill the FA tube then transfer to press. I then fill FA tube again. That gives me 200 rnds almost without pause. Top off powder and turn the Autodrive back on. It really does matter to me. But hey, some people run pistol on a single stage. Everyone has their needs. |
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Well, I guess we are all different. I have just the one pickup tube and MIGHT upgrade to a second. What I do is load it, put those in the primer tube on the press (LnL), then reload it for the second 100. When I have done 200 rounds I get up, go to the kitchen, grab a drink, etc. Just take a 5 min. break. Keeps my eyes fresh and prevents "highway hypnosis" of watching the press. No case feeders or bullet feeders and I'm still good for 3-400 rounds an hour- which is plenty for us. I know after 300 rounds I'd have to walk away for a minute.
Again, that's just me. |
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Does it really take that long? I can do all 4 of my tubes in a couple minutes... I guess if I had a fancy 1050 and was a volume loader it might matter. I even have the dillon flip tray(huge tray btw), I can do 1 tube in a couple minutes. That is my least fav part of reloading, I'll have a solution like the OP wants soon. |
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You guys must be machines. I load 9mm on a 1050. Half a dozen primer tubes and my arm is starting to get tired. My days of loading 2000 rounds in one afternoon are over.
Its easier just to get early every day for a week and load a a quick 300. If I bought an automated primer filler, i would be obliged to either go all out for an autodrive or adopt a college student to help reload. |
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Dillon is out of the question. I'm not spending that kind of $ Quoted:
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Hands down, once you have the Dillon unit adjusted correctly for the primers you are using, it the fastest and easiest one to use. Just dump the primers in, hit the button, and it will fill the tubes quickly isntead. Hence the last thing you want in the reloading room long term just sitting around, it a bunch of filled primer tubes sitting around when you are not using them. So really, your just trying to keep just enough tubes loaded that your going to use, and with the dillion unit, it just the one tube that is loaded and waiting for you to use. And when your done reloading, the loaded tube in it not being used, just gets dumped back to a primer box to store the primers unit your ready to reload another day isntead. Next would be something like the Frankford unit since it does not cost an arm and leg, and not bad for filling the tubes that you are going to be using that setting instead. Note, when you are done reloading for the event, dump all the primers out of the extra tubes, since you don't want to have a bunch of loaded primers tubes sitting around on the bench when you are not reloading. Granted that is a long shot, but all it take is one static spark to the tube to set the primers off in the tube, so again, don't leave tubes filled with primers when you are not reloading!!!! P.S, why RCBS moved away from the APS primer strips is beyond me. They where the safest way to deal with primers loaded and read to go, and even if you do have a primer blow in one of the strips, it did not do a chain reaction in a tube to cause secondary damage to the machine and your self isntead. One last thing that kills me, on the 1050, the station above priming is not threaded for a tool. No that is not that you want to thread a standard tool into the machine there, but it would have been nice for Dillon to have installed a blast type baffle there in case you did have a primer go off on insertion to the case. This way the primer spark would be contained with a spark baffle system, instead of possible flair up to maybe set the powder dispenser off in a chain reaction of loose powder ignition isntead. As for if you have some tallent and a couple of extra lee hand primer trays sitting around, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_4xPm0U2jMDillon is out of the question. I'm not spending that kind of $ 
Buy once cry once. Mine is the most valuable piece of reloading gear I have. However, I'm loading a LOT of ammo on a 1050 (9MM IDPA match loads) so the Dillon Auto Primer is essential. |
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Buy once cry once. Mine is the most valuable piece of reloading gear I have. However, I'm loading a LOT of ammo on a 1050 (9MM IDPA match loads) so the Dillon Auto Primer is essential. Sure. If I loaded a lot that would be a no brainer but I don't. I want something I can use once in a while that makes my life easier. |
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I use the VibraPrime. A few tweaks on it here and there and it will fill a 100 primers in 15-20 seconds.
I dont think even the much vaunted Dillon units work that well. Maybe it is because you paid so much for them that they work so well? I dont know, lol. I kid guys, buy what you want. Different stokes for different folks. I actually fill a tube every 100, as its a short break for me every 100 rounds. Gives my shoulder a moment to rest. Im never in that big of a hurry, and even on my LnL I can run about 500 an hour, without rushing. |
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The Dillon primer filler sucks ass. DO NOT BUY IT. Some primers will jam and will give you fits. I bought a used one, sent it in for repair, used it some more, and found it was more frustrating than just filling them manually. Even when you get it running well, it will still manage to flip primers the wrong way. I used to stand over it with good lighting and a magnifier and watch it happen. I am an extremely mechanical guy, and have even serviced vibratory loaders on a larger scale. Maybe you can find one primer type that it will run with, but I use too many types.
It is best to buy a bunch of extra tubes and just fill them in front of the TV, or have your personal assistant fill them. The worst thing about needing to fill is the interruption of your loading operation. Having extra tubes negates that. |
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I hate loading primer tubes also, but it's a nice break for the shoulder/back.
It takes me under 60 seconds to load on tube. I'll load up 3 primer tubes at a time then start progressive reloading ammunition, usually a minimum of 500 - 1000 round session. It's a nice break as three hundred round count is my shoulder/back fail limit. |
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I have the Frankford Arsenal thing, works perfectly but I don't use it much since I only load 2-300 per sitting.
As for the Dillion, I'm sure it works amazing, but I honestly don't know how something need to work better than the FA one. Maybe it loads a tube in 5 seconds instead of 10? |
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I stumbled on this primer filler tonight. Seems like it's in between the FA and Dillon in terms of both price and perhaps reliability. Sure looks nice.
I will stick with my FA though... PAL primer filler |
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I stumbled on this primer filler tonight. Seems like it's in between the FA and Dillon in terms of both price and perhaps reliability. Sure looks nice. I will stick with my FA though... PAL primer filler Looks nice but 220$ 
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Looks nice but 220$ Quoted:
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I stumbled on this primer filler tonight. Seems like it's in between the FA and Dillon in terms of both price and perhaps reliability. Sure looks nice. I will stick with my FA though... PAL primer filler Looks nice but 220$ But compare to Dillon... |
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I wish that my Frankford Arsenal thing would work with Winchester primers. Try chamfering out the black plastic hole of tube. Also play with direction of rotation of tube into the holder. Some primers like the tube fully seated into holder.. some like it when i slide tube in but dont turn it 90deg to lock it in. I just hold tube. No idea why but still saves me lots of hassle so I live with it. I have run almost every brand.. each likes it differently. |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - I hate loading primer tubes.... (Page 1 of 2)
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