Thread: RCBS Summit Press - on press priming solution

I've posted a review previously on my RCBS Summit Single Stage Press...https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....ing-one-76479/

Here I want to show two on-press priming solutions that work very well. The Summit does not ship with any RCBS on-press priming solution. No doubt because many reloaders prefer off-press priming especially if volume is required. And there are excellent hand held and bench mounted systems available.

The priming systems on nearly all early single stage presses required placing individual primers by hand in the primer cup. Then along came no-touch systems like for example the various Lee tray and slide auto-feed systems and the Dillon tube feed. I came to hate the Lee ones as found, for instance, on their Pro 1000 because any stray grit or powder in the slide stopped the feed, often with flow-on effects requiring stripping and cleaning the press if one was not attentive and powder got spilled, primers got jammed up, rounds got made with no primers etc. The Dillon tube system as found on the 550 series press, I've found very reliable and I mostly use this for volume Pistol calibre loading.

For rifle case reloading, and especially load development, I like to pay close attention to individual rounds and this includes priming. Often I'm making in small volumes and using on-press systems requiring hand placing primers has been my preference with precise feel for primer seating.

Lee SS presses come with a simple and effective primer arm. I have the Lee auto feed systems but stopped using them...first because I've never had an issue with fouling primers by handling them, second because Lee slide feeds and their clicker type primer placer are still finicky. On a longer run it is just so easy to drop a primer or get a miss-feed.

There are two Lee products that can be fitted to the Summit. The Lee Auto Prime is, I believe, their original tray feed system and is a hand held. Correct if I'm wrong here. They were " the thing" when I started out and when Lee went to the newer square tray to mitigate chain detonation (true) I, like others, stocked up on spares of the original and still use one frequently if I have a volume of cases to prime.

The Auto Prime II carried the tray feed idea to the Press, and it garnered a solid reputation.
I picked up a used Auto Prime II, many years ago, had a play with it but mostly it's sat on a shelf. Now it has a place on the Summit as required. The second Lee product that works well on the Summit is the Lee Ram Prime. I don't know which came first, the excellent and still available Lee Ram Prime or the Auto Prime II. They are very similar systems except the former is hand fed with single primers, the latter is tray fed via the iconic, and in some iterations often frustrating, Lee slide.

Both have a stem which is placed in the top of the ram where a shell holder goes. And an adapter which screws in where a die normally goes. This takes the shell holder and houses a primer cup on a spring loaded shaft.

The primer cup is loaded by hand on the Ram Prime, or by tray and slide/chute on the Auto Prime II. A case is seated in the shell holder, the Press handle is lowered and the primer is seated, with clear and precise feel.

The tray system on the old Ram Prime II actually works very well. It is easy to eyeball check that a primer is correctly presented each time before placing the case just by pausing momentarily on the down stroke, then placing the case and completing the seating by feel. It is as fast as any off-press handheld priming system. Good luck however on finding an Auto Prime II today.

With the Ram Prime I use a plastic box as my "primer tub". The required number of primers get tipped in the tub where my old (grease free) fingers can easily pick them up. Really its almost as fast as the auto feed for me.

A note on the Ram Prime. I have an older one that won't slide into the Summit shell holder slot. I have some Lyman shell holders that don't fit either. My newer Ram Prime, that shipped with a Lee Hand Press, is not an issue.

Here's some photos.

The Ram Prime II







The Lee Ram Prime (current product)





Note the optional short handle on the press. The Summit ships with the long handle and the short one is an optional extra. Its nice for seating bullets and priming..Handles can be placed on left or right. I am right handed but have it placed left to operate the ram with my left hand while my right hand feeds cases and primers. Works very well for me.

I've been using the ram prime for a very long time and find it really good. Very simple so less to go wrong.

Been looking at them for a while. Think i will keep one eye open when next i visit the LGS.