RCBS APS Priming Tool User Manual

APS Bench-Mounted Priming Tool APS Press-Mounted Priming Tool

PRODUCT INSTRUCTIONS

APS

TM

PRIMING TOOL

IMPORTANT

Before using the APS Priming Tools
from RCBS, read this instruction
manual carefully to learn how to
safely operate the products. Failure
to properly operate the tools may
result in personal injury and/or equip­ment damage. If you have read these
instructions and still do not under­stand some operation, call us at 800­533-5000 or 530-533-5191 and a
technician will assist you. Our cus­tomer service hours are listed on the
back side of this instruction manual.

These instructions contain specific
safety and operating information. It
should be considered a permanent
part of your reloading equipment and
remain with the equipment at all times
for easy reference.

SAFETY

Reloading is an enjoyable and reward­ing hobby that can be conducted
safely. But, as with any hobby, care­lessness or negligence can make
reloading hazardous. This product
has been designed from the begin­ning with the user’s safety in mind.

When reloading, safety rules must
be followed. By observing these rules,
the chance of a hazardous occur­rence causing personal injury or
property damage is minimized.

GENERAL

• Use all equipment as the manu­facturer recommends. Study the
instructions carefully and become
thoroughly familiar with the oper­ation of the product. If you do not
have written instructions, request
a copy from the equipment manu­facturer.

• Don’t take short cuts. Attempting
to bypass established procedures
is an invitation to an accident.

• Observe “good housekeeping” in the
reloading area. Keep tools and
components neat, clean and orderly.

Promptly and completely clean up
any powder spills.

• Reload only when you can give
your undivided attention. Do not
reload when fatigued or ill. Develop
a reloading routine to avoid mis­takes. Don’t rush – load at a
leisurely pace.

• Always wear adequate eye pro­tection to protect your eyes from fly­ing particles. You assume
unnecessary risk when reloading
without wearing safety glasses.

PRIMERS AND POWDER

• Store primers and powder beyond
the reach of children and away
from heat, dampness, open flames
and electrical equipment.

• DO NOT use primers of unknown
identity.

• Keep primers in the original fac­tory container until ready to use.
Return unused primers to the same
factory packaging for safety and
to preserve their identity.

• DO NOT store primers in bulk. The
blast of just a few primers is suf­ficient to cause serious injury to
anyone nearby.

• DO NOT force primers. Use care
in handling primers.

• DO NOT smoke while handling
powder or primers.

LOADING DATA

• Use only laboratory tested reload­ing data. We highly recommend
the use of the SPEER Reloading
Manual.

• OBSERVE ALL WARNINGS
ABOUT THE USE OF MAXIMUM
LISTED LOADS.

RECORD KEEPING

• Keep complete records of reloads.
Apply a descriptive label to each
box showing the date produced,
and the primer, powder and bul­let used. Labels for this purpose are
packed with SPEER bullets. Never
attempt to guess at the identity of
your ammunition.

2

• This product is intended for use
by persons familiar with proper
handloading practices and their
own loading equipment. If you are
uncertain as to the operation of
any of your equipment, contact the
equipment manufacturer for addi­tional assistance.

Because RCBS has no control over
the choice of components, the man­ner in which they are assembled,
the use of this product, or the guns
in which the resulting ammunition
may be used, no responsibility –
either expressed or implied – is
assumed for the use of ammunition
reloaded with this product.

GENERAL INFORMATION
ABOUT APS PRIMING

The APS Priming System is an entirely
new way to prime cases. It’s fast, it’s
safe and it’s convenient. This revo­lutionary system eliminates the han­dling of loose primers and the
contamination that goes with it. Plus,
it insures a smooth feed and a highly
sensitive feel with every primer seated.

There are two APS tools; one is

bench-mounted

and the other is
press-mounted. Each one is designed
to fit specific reloading needs. The

bench-mounted

tool is for the reloader
who likes to prime cases on a sep­arate dedicated piece of equipment.
This way the priming tool is always
ready to use when you need it. The
press-mounted tool works the same
way as the bench-mounted tool except
it attaches to your reloading press.
It has standard 7/8x14 threads to fit
in the die station.

Both tools use the new APS primer
strips. Each strip is color-coded for
identification and holds 25 primers.
With each handle stroke, a fresh
primer is seated into the case and
the primer strip advances through
the APS body to position another
primer for seating. The primer strips

are designed to connect to each other
for continuous feed. See photo #3.

Please call us if you have any ques­tions at any time while assembling or
operating this equipment.

APS BENCH-MOUNTED
PRIMING TOOL INSTRUCTIONS

Carefully unpack the priming tool
and look for the following items:

• APS bench-mounted tool

• APS handle

• One small bushing

• One large bushing

• Small primer plug

• Large primer plug

• Cam lock pin

3

Photo #3

• Hex key wrench, 3/32

• Hex key wrench, 3/16

• 1/4-20 socket head cap screw (2)
Securely fasten the APS tool to a

sturdy bench using the four slots in
the base. This APS tool can also be
mounted to an RCBS Accessory Base
Plate-2. Mounting the priming tool
to a solid surface like the base plate
gives the tool added stability.

Using the two cap screws attach the
operating handle so it is in a com­fortable position. The mounting holes
allow you to position the handle from
below horizontal to vertical. See
photo #4.

Now, select the correct size primer
plug for the primer size you will be
using. There is a small primer plug for
seating small primers and a large
primer plug for seating large primers.
Each primer plug has a shoulder on
it and is bigger on one end. See photo
#4. IMPORT ANT: LOWER THE HAN-

DLE ON THE PRIMING TOOL
BEFORE YOU INSERT THE LARGE
END OF THE PRIMER PLUG INTO
THE HOLE ON TOP OF THE TOOL.

If you tried to install the primer plug
before you read these instructions, you
probably did not first lower the han­dle. And if that’s the case, you’ll notice

that the primer plug has disappeared
down inside the body of the tool. If that
happens, you’ll need to disassem­ble the tool to retrieve the primer
plug. To do this, remove the four flat
head screws on the top cap. Lift off
the top cap and the top plate and
then remove the plug. Reinstall the top
plate correctly for clearance and
safety and replace the top cap and the
four flat head screws. And the next
time, remember to lower the operat­ing handle before installing the primer
plug. Make sure you seat the primer
plug firmly in the cam hole.

Next, select the correct size plastic
bushing for the primer size you will
be using. There is a small bushing for
small primers and a large bushing
for large primers. Here’s a quick way
to tell which is the large bushing and
which is the small. Just remember
the small bushing has a seam, the
large bushing is smooth. These bush­ings center the primer when the
primer rod pushes a primer up through
the shell holder.

Take the correct size plastic bushing
in one hand and the shell holder you
will be using in the other and place
the bushing into the bottom of the
shell holder. See photo #5. Then
raise the handle and insert the shell

4

Photo #4

Photo #5

holder and bushing into the slot on the
tool. By rotating the shell holder
counter-clockwise while pressing
unit firmly to the rear of the slot.

Peel a strip from the package of APS
primers and take a look at the ends.
One end of the strip is cut square
and the other end has two little hooks
on it. See photo #6. The end with the
hooks is the end that feeds into the
tool. Hold the strip so the primers
are anvil-side-up and insert the strip
into the tool until it clicks in place.
See photo #6. If the strip does not
slip in easily, it is probably because
the “step” where the hooks connect
to the strip is hitting the face of the tool.
To help it into position, you may need
to lift up on the square cut (left) end
of the strip to get the step under the
edge of the tool. If the strip is inserted
backwards (square end first) the
primer plug can wedge in the strip
and you will have to disassemble.

Insert a case into the shell holder
and lower the handle to seat a primer.
Then STOP with the handle down!
Insert the the cam lock pin to adjust
the primer depth. See photo #7. The
cam lock pin will stop the strip from
advancing while making this adjust­ment. Use the primer adjustment
screw on the base of the priming

tool. Raise the handle and remove
case and check for primer seating
depth. Turn screw clockwise for
deeper seating depth and counter­clockwise for less seating depth. See
photo #7. The adjustment screw lim­its the handle travel at the seating
depth you want (flush – .004 deep)
and prevents crushing primers. If
you did not use the pin to stop the strip
from advancing, another primer is
in place to be seated. Do not return
the primed case to the shell holder
and try to seat the primer deeper
without clearing the second primer
from the machine. Remove and dis­card the second primer.

Once you are satisfied with the primer
seating depth you are ready to prime
cases. With the handle down, pull
the cam lock pin out of the tool and
start priming. Be sure to operate the
handle through the full stroke – all
the way up and all the way down.
Remember, the primer strips are
designed to connect to each other. So
for continuous primer feeding, just
connect another strip onto the end
of the strip in the tool when there is
at least one inch of the ramp available
to support the new strip. See photo
#8. The strip can be removed at any
point in the process by pushing or
pulling the strip through the right-hand
side of the tool.

5

Photo #6

Photo #7