Need a new priming tool

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The F.A. is my favorite hand priming tool. Comes with shell holders and they are the same as the Lee if you ever lose one. Nice case that holds the tool, shell holders and primer tray. Nice feature that you can adjust seating depth by turning a dial.
 
What type of press do you have? Can you use the "on press" capability? I know people sometimes find turret/progressive press priming lacking.

I have a Pacific single stage, and have always used the "on press" priming capability. Never felt the need to multi task (watch TV, attend family) while priming. 35+ yrs, no upside down, sideways or crushed primer.
 
I have the FA and feel it still needs a firm squeeze. I think that's probably true of most/all hand primers. For a real mechanical advantage - bench-mounted. Which will be just as easy three years from now.
 
Have used the Lee, Lyman and RCBS hand priming tools. The Lee did work on my thumbs too! I like the RCBS just a tad more than the Lyman and have a standard RCBS and a Universal one and they are "hands down" better than the Lee if you have arthritis. That being said, I could see how the bench mounted RCBS tool would be good too.
 
As I have aged, my hands do not do well with hand priming tools for large batches of cases.

So, I use an RCBS Universal hand priming tool when I have small batches of cases to prime then break out an RCBS bench mounted tool for large batches.

I'm sure other manufacturers tools work as well as the RCBS models, when Lee discontinued their old round tray Auto-Prime, I tried the RCBS models first ans they worked well for me.
 
CoalCrackerAl said:
I had the lee one that mounts to a board. The plastic parts break. I upgraded to an RCBS bench mounted one. It uses the shell holders that you would use in the press. I have arthritis too. The RCBS one does not aggravate it.
Automatic Priming Tool | RCBS
View attachment 1005426
Click to expand...

Add another big fan of the RCBS bench mounted auto priming tool to the list ... I've used them all, still do, but my favorite is the RCBS auto bench primer. I have an auto prime attached to one of my Rock Chuckers and an auto prime that I really like attached to my Redding T7 (of course the 650 has a priming station but that doesn't count with what we're talking about here.)

Now, with that said, there is a caveat in the form of a learning curve when it comes to the RCBS auto bench priming tool and it is this ... take heed, pay close attention.

When you first get it you'll soon find yourself going fast. It's not unheard-of to seat 50-60 primers a minute once you get in a groove and get the feel for the thing but ... beware.

So here is one very important thing I suggest you do immediately when you first get your RCBS auto bench prime. You cushion the pivot arm between the seating pistol and the drop tube so the tube does not bounce on the backstroke and cause a primer to get sideways. It's easy to do when you're new and moving fast and next thing you know you've rammed a primer home sideways and now its stuck in the case shell holder and there is no banging that thing outta there ... it almost always has to be drilled-out.

Take the bounce out of the primer tube on the backstroke and your problems are solved, move as fast as you want-to once you get the feel of the thing. It's a great priming tool. I have one permanently installed on a RCBS accessory plate and that is installed on a custom Inline Fabrication quick change plate ... that's how much I depend upon and put to use that bench auto primer ... I've actually got about $200 total in the setup and it was worth every penny.

9mm or 5.56 ... I can consistently prime 500 cases of either one easily (most of my range runs are done in 500 count lots) in under 20 minutes if I already have my tubes loaded with primers which - btw - is another plus. That being that if you already have spare RCBS autoprime tubes for your Rock Chucker or Rebel or whatever, those will also work in the bench prime system.
 
that new lee press, called their ACP is very similar to the APP press, but made for primers. it looks perfect. It will prime or deprime (for an extra $10), no shell holders to worry about either. and I f you have any other lee kit with a case feeder, you can add that in, so you just chuck all your brass in, shake and away you go!
 
I haven’t used a hand prime . I do have the rcbs auto prime . But I don’t think it is any better than just using your press . I now like to ram prime . I can get the primers seated deeper and a consistent depth with it , but it is slower . I usually prime on a separate day .
 
Northborder...I have and still use the older Lee hand held and have the same issue with a damaged tendon in my thumb. I have learned to use it with palm part of my hand right below the thumb if that makes sense. I just like using it cause it is so much faster than the bench mounted types...
 
CoalCrackerAl said:
The doc said he will set it slightly bent. Thay way ill be able to grip stuff. And the back and front knuckles will function. I can't bend the middle knuckle now much with the swelling. It's also starting to point toward my ring finger. And cortisone shots to help are not lasting more than 2 weeks now. I been working on left hand shooting too. My trigger finger is going too. I figure i have a year yet with it before i need something done.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear that. I have degenerative arthritis but it isn't that advanced yet. I blamed it on turning wrenches and screwdrivers as a machinist and typing too much working with computers but the doc's all say it's hereditary. I use the Frankfort Arsenal hand prime and keep the spring tension low to ease the work load. It's not terrible. So0unds to me like the RCBS bench mount is what you need, tho.

I've always switched hands when shooting so I'm a better shot left handed now than right but can still shoot right handed just fine. For now. Cortisone is a mixed curse and blessing. I didn't go far down that road, I just chew more ibuprofen but that's giving me ulcers. Oh well. :)

Best of luck. It's amazing what they can do in medicine these days.
 
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I have always wondered about the statement "primers seated by feel". I no longer have the requisite fine motor skill to seat primers by feel, either the result is a high primer or one possibly seated too deep. Normally I use a Lee bench primer, once one has understood the limitations and quirks of the system, it has served admirably. Of late I have been using the RCBS ram priming tool on the RCBS Rebel. I can adjust precisely the depth to which a primer is seated. It is slow and tedious, but each primer is seated the same, and due neuropathy of the hands I must visually ascertain that each primer is positioned anvil up. I went with method to load 50 2 1/2 Sharps
By the way the only primer I have ever detonated was when I used the Original Lee Loader(whack-a-mole). I then went with the Lee hand prime, then the Lee auto Prime.
I have rambled on sufficiently.
Thank you
 
W/Vickers1938 said:
no longer have the requisite fine motor skill to seat primers by feel, either the result is a high primer or one possibly seated too deep
Click to expand...
For people with serious grip problems and mobility issues, I have to wonder if the Lee Hand Press might be a good solution. I have used mine to prime in the field and at the range and it is very simple to operate. I've gone from freshly-fired to ready to shoot at the reloading bench. Very little finger dexterity is required. I have done it with shooting gloves on without dropping a primer. The amount of leverage and larger-than-normal controls are easy to manipulate.
https://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-hand-press-kit.html
90180-01.jpg
Just a thought. I still have the hand press in my rifle bag along with my spotting scopes and tripods. It's a useful little tool. Mine is pre-breech-lok tho. Not sad or happy about that, just don't plan to upgrade or replace it.
 
I am still using the old round Lee Autoprime for most cases. Did not have the shell holder for 45ACP. Some years back I did buy an RCBS hand-held unit that used 'regular' shell holders (with the 'blast shield'). The ones I had did not fit, then I discovered the RCBS one only works with RCBS shell holders newer than 1980. OOPS, mine are older than that. Bought a new shell holder and primed a bunch of 45ACP LPP cases, no problem. (I'm new to loading 45ACP).
 
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NorthBorder said:
I have to old classic Lee hand priming tool and it works well. Except the arthritis in my thumb really flares up after about 50 times.
Can anyone turn me onto a friendlier priming tool? And can it use the same shell holders? I saw one by Lee that is mounted on a board that looked pretty nifty but I think I need other shell holders if I understood what I read? As usual, your help is muchly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
I use the “toy surprise” plastic thing from Lee that hooks onto the top of the press, and it works surprisingly well. It takes about 3-5 seconds per prime. It was in my kit, but it probably costs less than ten bucks

It uses the “idle” downstroke that follows the upstroke that pops the primer out, so it adds no muscle effort to the process
 
pairof44sp said:
I use the “toy surprise” plastic thing from Lee that hooks onto the top of the press, and it works surprisingly well. It takes about 3-5 seconds per prime. It was in my kit, but it probably costs less than ten bucks

It uses the “idle” downstroke that follows the upstroke that pops the primer out, so it adds no muscle effort to the process
Click to expand...
My two biggest gripes with the RCBS Partner press: the primers have two paths to follow and neither is straight down; and, the priming arm is flimsy, in the way, and doesn't fit the raceway cut for it. Other than that, it's one of the best small presses I've ever used.
 
How do you seat a primer too deep unless you have conciously deepened the pocket to deep?

The primer should be bottomed out in the pocket to set the anvil. To do otherwise invites possible misfire as the firing pin seats the primer before going off or requires a double strike or a slamfire.
 
Just ordered the RCBS bench priming tool. I have 2 types of Lee shell holders, the ones that go onto the press and the ones specifically for the Lee hand primer. Hope one of those works. Thanks again for all the input. I looked at the Lee bench priming tool on Youtube and it actually looked easier to use. But a lot of comments, and some here, said the plastic parts break easily so I passed on that.
 
Airborne Falcon said:
Add another big fan of the RCBS bench mounted auto priming tool to the list ... I've used them all, still do, but my favorite is the RCBS auto bench primer. I have an auto prime attached to one of my Rock Chuckers and an auto prime that I really like attached to my Redding T7 (of course the 650 has a priming station but that doesn't count with what we're talking about here.)

Now, with that said, there is a caveat in the form of a learning curve when it comes to the RCBS auto bench priming tool and it is this ... take heed, pay close attention.

When you first get it you'll soon find yourself going fast. It's not unheard-of to seat 50-60 primers a minute once you get in a groove and get the feel for the thing but ... beware.

So here is one very important thing I suggest you do immediately when you first get your RCBS auto bench prime. You cushion the pivot arm between the seating pistol and the drop tube so the tube does not bounce on the backstroke and cause a primer to get sideways. It's easy to do when you're new and moving fast and next thing you know you've rammed a primer home sideways and now its stuck in the case shell holder and there is no banging that thing outta there ... it almost always has to be drilled-out.

Take the bounce out of the primer tube on the backstroke and your problems are solved, move as fast as you want-to once you get the feel of the thing. It's a great priming tool. I have one permanently installed on a RCBS accessory plate and that is installed on a custom Inline Fabrication quick change plate ... that's how much I depend upon and put to use that bench auto primer ... I've actually got about $200 total in the setup and it was worth every penny.

9mm or 5.56 ... I can consistently prime 500 cases of either one easily (most of my range runs are done in 500 count lots) in under 20 minutes if I already have my tubes loaded with primers which - btw - is another plus. That being that if you already have spare RCBS autoprime tubes for your Rock Chucker or Rebel or whatever, those will also work in the bench prime system.
Click to expand...

Pictures on your bouncing fix please.
 
NorthBorder said:
Just ordered the RCBS bench priming tool. I have 2 types of Lee shell holders, the ones that go onto the press and the ones specifically for the Lee hand primer. Hope one of those works. Thanks again for all the input. I looked at the Lee bench priming tool on Youtube and it actually looked easier to use. But a lot of comments, and some here, said the plastic parts break easily so I passed on that.
Click to expand...

Love my lee bench prime. I've seen a lot of the issues people have had with it...many are simply not following instructions. It does have a couple 'quirks'...the primer feed requires a finger flick every so often to keep em flowing, and the one everybody seems to ignore, you must complete the upstroke to load the next primer consistently (cam-over) if not primers jam and that's what is stressing the plastic pieces. Do those 2 things it's reliable and a pleasure to use.

That said gratz on the rcbs unit...also very good...I just hate the tubes, lol.
 
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