I use the RCBS primer, so the action would be similar, something I am used to. I had an old Lee primer, and I liked it. I am not sure what happened to it. My Sinclair uses the thumb to seat, but it is slow. Worked great for Benchrest loading 15 or so cases at a time.
Hand priming or Press priming?
- Thread starter silver2525
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I have an Auto Prime hand primer. I threw it away. The press gives me more leverage, feel, and it's way faster.
The feel may vary with the particular press and method. With my Breechlock, I'm able to adjust the handle length to where I can squeeze the primer in by reaching my fingertips around the front of the O-frame with my hand still on the ball. The primer slips and seat in right at that point. So I'm seating with my fingers/grip, not my arm and/or body weight. Same as with a hand primer, but with more leverage. I can say I have more feel, even, because I actually use both hands. My left thumb goes on the stick, and my left fingers also wrap around the O frame. Not that I need any more leverage, but it does give me more feel.
I'm sure on many presses, you wouldn't have quite this much feel. I have no idea what the feel would be like on a system that primes on the upstroke.
With the Lee Breechlock, sizing/decapping/priming all happens at once. And even when priming previously sized/decapped brass, it's nice to prime on a press because it clears the flash holes. Another nice thing is when a primer gets in sideways or stuck in a crimped pocket, all you have to do is raise the ram and decap it. On a hand tool, you jam up the whole thing, and you have to crush the primer in just to get the case out of the holder. That's not fun when you're holding a tray full of primers.
After seeing a lot of other presses in action, I think the Breechlock might be the ultimate press for sizing and priming. Even if you use a progressive press, you might want to pick up a Breechlock if you like to size and/or prime separately from the rest of the stages.
The feel may vary with the particular press and method. With my Breechlock, I'm able to adjust the handle length to where I can squeeze the primer in by reaching my fingertips around the front of the O-frame with my hand still on the ball. The primer slips and seat in right at that point. So I'm seating with my fingers/grip, not my arm and/or body weight. Same as with a hand primer, but with more leverage. I can say I have more feel, even, because I actually use both hands. My left thumb goes on the stick, and my left fingers also wrap around the O frame. Not that I need any more leverage, but it does give me more feel.
I'm sure on many presses, you wouldn't have quite this much feel. I have no idea what the feel would be like on a system that primes on the upstroke.
With the Lee Breechlock, sizing/decapping/priming all happens at once. And even when priming previously sized/decapped brass, it's nice to prime on a press because it clears the flash holes. Another nice thing is when a primer gets in sideways or stuck in a crimped pocket, all you have to do is raise the ram and decap it. On a hand tool, you jam up the whole thing, and you have to crush the primer in just to get the case out of the holder. That's not fun when you're holding a tray full of primers.
After seeing a lot of other presses in action, I think the Breechlock might be the ultimate press for sizing and priming. Even if you use a progressive press, you might want to pick up a Breechlock if you like to size and/or prime separately from the rest of the stages.
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USSR
Member
Not really. I simply place my Universal Decapping Die over the case, hit it with my hand, and the primer comes out and I can remove the case from the case holder. Takes a matter of seconds.
Don
Hmmm. Interesting idea. i will have to give it a try. For various reasons I am planning to dust off my Lee Auto Primes to make some comparisons with. This may come in handy, thanks Don.
I rarely have a turned primer as I check the primer before inserting the case into the shell holder. I do not insert a case into the shell holder unless a primer is present.
I do miss a crimp once in a while though.
One of the advantages of the RCBS universal shell holder is the errant case can be removed from the tool even though something is extended past the base.
All pistol and plinking 223 gets primed and loaded on the Hornady LnL AP. I've never had a problem with it. In fact, I like it so much that I will probably start using it to batch process and prime (still measure load and seat individually) the bigger rifle loads.
The LnL AP priming systems works much better than my RCBS hand primer.
The LnL AP priming systems works much better than my RCBS hand primer.
silver2525
Member
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Thank you all for taking the time to share your opinion. it was good to read....
dickttx
Member
I presume all you who only hand prime also drive a three speed manual transmission auto.
I presume all you who only hand prime also drive a three speed manual transmission auto.
It is not worth driving if it does not have a clutch!
jcwit
member
Yup three on a tree, was the way to go till my knees gave out.
JohnM
Member
Naw, four on the floor with a six banger under the hood.
Only people who drive slush boxes don't like hand primers
Only people who drive slush boxes don't like hand primers
Grayrock
Member
Just this evening I snapped the lever off my Lee Auto-Prime. I have been using it about 6 years. Went to the Lee website to order a new lever and found out it is obsolete now. Their new XR replaced it and the levers do not interchange They will offer me 1/2 off a new one if I send in the old one. I may spring for a new Ergo-prime - IF they have it. Website says "out of stock". I'll call them tomorrow.
They will offer me 1/2 off a new one if I send in the old one. I may spring for a new Ergo-prime - IF they have it. Website says "out of stock". I'll call them tomorrow.I cant drive an automatic.I presume all you who only hand prime also drive a three speed manual transmission auto.
blarby
Member
Press for me.
Arkansas Paul
Member
Depends. If I'm doing load development and only loading 10 rounds or so of each, I just prime on the press. If I'm loading something like handgun batches of 100, I use the Hornady hand priming tool.
Grayrock
Member
I sent off my broken Lee Auto-Prime to exchange (+ $20) for the new Ergo-Prime yesterday. Hope it gets here soon- I have cases to prime and don't like using the one on my press.
Grayrock,
Get a second Ergo-Prime. Set one up for large primers and one for small. No change required normally.
Then, when on fails or breaks, you have a spare on hand and can keep loading until you get a replacement.
Lee hand primers are inexpensive enough to do that.
Get a second Ergo-Prime. Set one up for large primers and one for small. No change required normally.
Then, when on fails or breaks, you have a spare on hand and can keep loading until you get a replacement.
Lee hand primers are inexpensive enough to do that.
I bought one of the Auto Prime XRs after breaking the handle on a second old style Auto Prime. I primed 100 cases with it and it was more of an exercise in patience than teaching my 2 year old to do something. The old Auto Prime had one design flaw and that was the weak handle. The newer design fixed the handle issue (yeah!) but dorked up all the rest of it. The square tray is nice if you use Fed primers but wasn't "needed". The extra little maze that the primers have to negotiate to get from the tray to the "elevator" means that you're constantly shaking the thing to make sure that primers are going where they need to and the angles involved mean that gravity isn't helping you. Then there's their *patented* (by Rube Goldberg probably) safety mechanism that lifts a primer into the "on deck" position from the maze. Great in theory except it isn't covered and the primers have a tendency to hang up halfway in, get flipped and/or ejected from the device into your lap or onto the floor. Assuming the stars align sufficiently to allow you to get a primer past that point, they also hang up or get flipped sideways going into the seating position. The end results of my experience with the new (now intermediate since the Ergo Prime is out) model is that what took me 10-15 minutes before took me more than 30 and added to my stress level.
The Ergo Prime "fixed" the one strong point of the previous design, the improved handle, and left all the frustrating bits intact. Way to go Lee! You took one of the gems in your product line and totally FUBAR'd it. The good news it that the only concern you will have with breakage on the two newer designs is you venting your frustration on them with a hammer. At that point I don't think that having a spare or spare parts will matter...
The Ergo Prime "fixed" the one strong point of the previous design, the improved handle, and left all the frustrating bits intact. Way to go Lee! You took one of the gems in your product line and totally FUBAR'd it. The good news it that the only concern you will have with breakage on the two newer designs is you venting your frustration on them with a hammer. At that point I don't think that having a spare or spare parts will matter...
Grayrock
Member
Once I get my new Ergo-Prime, I'll take a look and maybe I can dremel it a bit to "fix" it- dunno. We'll see.
I suppose there are two schools of thought on hand primers. Seat with the thumb or squeeze with the hand.
I used the original Auto-Prime for about 30 years and I am probably used to the thumb method. Around 1980, the Auto-Prime was it when it came to hand priming. I would wear out or break about one a year, usually on a Sunday when everything was closed in the then Blue Laws state of South Caroline. So, the units were cheap enough that I kept two on hand, one for large and the other for small primers. Except the handle, Lee did correct over time some of the 1980 reliability issues.
I bought an RCBS Universal when Lee put out their warning to only use certain brands of primers in their Auto-Prime and to do away with using shell holders. The RCBS units prime by squeezing with the hand.
Probably due to decades of Auto-Prime use, I prefer to seat primers with my thumb. Recently I bought the Auto-Prime XR to try and I agree the primer maze and elevator is a bit Rube Goldberg. I do not like that the primer in the elevator is not captured at all times. I can see myself groveling on the floor looking for a dropped primer. I do that enough without the priming tool helping me.
So, I will stick with the RCBS unit for now.
There are a few instances where the RCBS Universal will not prime a case, brass 410 shot shells is the main one, so I keep an Auto-Primes around for those.
There is alot of personal preference when it comes to which priming tool to use. But, if you are budget minded, the Lee tools are reasonably priced so that having two is not a big hardship.
Final note, I do have two RCBS Universal priming tools, one set up for large and the other for small primers. I dislike changing the primer tools over and I have spares on hand in an emergency.
sniper5
Member
Using a Lee Classic Turret, I use the press to prime pistol ammo. When loading rifle, I disconnect the auto advance and use as a single stage and handprime the rifle casings. For no real quantifiable reason. I just feel better about it that way. Realistically, both probably work equally well.
Nevmavrick
Member
When I started reloading, I was using a Pacific C-press, and learned with the press-mounted primer tool. It was alright for the .30/30s I was loading.
When I got my .222, I bought my Lee with the screw-in shell holder(I still have it!)
About the time I bought my RCBS Super Rockchuker, I got a Lee single tool(no tray) It has more leverage than the older one. I was happy! Then...I got an Auto-Prime...I was as happy as ..(pick your favorite expression) Over the years, I got a couple more..broke a few, and got more. Currently I have two, one Large, one Small. Through time I picked up an RCBS bench-mounted.
I like my Lee(with the round tray), but decided to get a new, square-tray model, so I can use the accursed Federal boxes. Ya STILL have to remove the little lock-tabs from the box before dumping them.
Yup...I got a Lee XR... This is ME. P...ed to the max!!!
I've never had so much trouble with something so simple in my life! Inverted primers...jams...over spills. This NOT relaxing. I've got enough stress in my job, without more being added by my hobbies!! WHY.. do we need an elevator??? A flat floor works just great.
It's back to my bench-mount. I did shorten the handle so I'd have less leverage, tho'. I stand over the bench when I use it, so my weight is easy to put too much pressure against the tool. It works better with the shorter handle.
So... for the last about 50 years, I've mostly used hand prime tools. I always use single-stage presses, eventhough I shoot quite a bit of competition, my favorite being Steel Challenge with an auto-pistol "(.40 S&W)
I have a steel plate bolted to my bench so I can change tools quickly, and only have one tool at a time, press...primer tool...powder measure...bullet swage press(Corbin) or lubrisizer, whatever.
I'm looking forward to the Lee Ergo. I prefer thumb pressure, but Oh, Well!!
The only progressive I've used is for the shotgun when I'm shooting trap.
Have fun,
Gene
I used to reload so I can shoot more...now I shoot so I can reload more
When I got my .222, I bought my Lee with the screw-in shell holder(I still have it!)
About the time I bought my RCBS Super Rockchuker, I got a Lee single tool(no tray) It has more leverage than the older one. I was happy! Then...I got an Auto-Prime...I was as happy as ..(pick your favorite expression) Over the years, I got a couple more..broke a few, and got more. Currently I have two, one Large, one Small. Through time I picked up an RCBS bench-mounted.
I like my Lee(with the round tray), but decided to get a new, square-tray model, so I can use the accursed Federal boxes. Ya STILL have to remove the little lock-tabs from the box before dumping them.
Yup...I got a Lee XR... This is ME. P...ed to the max!!!
I've never had so much trouble with something so simple in my life! Inverted primers...jams...over spills. This NOT relaxing. I've got enough stress in my job, without more being added by my hobbies!! WHY.. do we need an elevator??? A flat floor works just great.
It's back to my bench-mount. I did shorten the handle so I'd have less leverage, tho'. I stand over the bench when I use it, so my weight is easy to put too much pressure against the tool. It works better with the shorter handle.
So... for the last about 50 years, I've mostly used hand prime tools. I always use single-stage presses, eventhough I shoot quite a bit of competition, my favorite being Steel Challenge with an auto-pistol "(.40 S&W)
I have a steel plate bolted to my bench so I can change tools quickly, and only have one tool at a time, press...primer tool...powder measure...bullet swage press(Corbin) or lubrisizer, whatever.
I'm looking forward to the Lee Ergo. I prefer thumb pressure, but Oh, Well!!
The only progressive I've used is for the shotgun when I'm shooting trap.
Have fun,
Gene
I used to reload so I can shoot more...now I shoot so I can reload more
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