New v. Old Shell Holders -- RCBS Hand Prime Query

[der Teufel]

I am just starting to reload. I had been thinking about it for a while, and recently I acquired a bunch of reloading equipment at an estate sale. The price was too good to pass up so now I'm jumping (wading slowly) in. Here's my question du jour . . .

I have an RCBS Special 3 press. I need to get a primer tool. I'm thinking the RCBS hand prime tool sounds good (I don't want to have to buy and track separate shell holders for the Lee tool), but I've read that older shell holders won't work with the RCBS tool.

My understanding is that the newer shell holders (which work okay) have a bevel around the center hole. Does the holder on the left in the picture below look like it should work? These are two of the shell holders that came with the equipment that I bought.

Or, am I completely out in left field ??

Thanks in Advance !!

[pnut]

Did your press come with a "Positive Ram Priming Unit" ?
They work pretty well on that press that you have.
You can get them off ebay for less that $20 - here's one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/RCBS-Ram-Prime-S...item2a05a8e076

[der Teufel]

As a matter of fact, I do have one of those gizmos.

The box has lost its identifying sticker, so I had no idea what it was. I found instructions on how to use it on the RCBS site, so I'm another step closer now.

Meanwhile, THANKS!
You're my new best friend for life, whether you like it or not !!

[pnut]

Good deal, Here is the manual if you haven't found it already.

http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/instru...rimingUnit.pdf

[fguffey]

In time RCBS has had 3 changes to their shell holders, the shell holder on the left was the first design, the one on the right is the second design, the third design has more bevel, the only shell holder that fits the RCBS automatic hand primer is the third design.

I called RCBS years ago and informed them my shell holders would not fit their hand primer, they offered one shell holder with just an address and would exchange all of my shell holders one for one if I would mail them the old shell holders, with 2 lathes and a mill I could modify the shell holders with a bevel before I could get them boxed up and delivered to the post office, I have a few shell holders that do not have the standard .125 deck height and am not willing to give them up.

F. Guffey

[fguffey]

sorry about that, the one on the right is the first design leaving the other one the second design...

F. Guffey