Best Hand Primer

Status
Not open for further replies.
Got the old round Lee one years ago after using the Lee single primer. Soon got a second round one so to not to have to swap primer sizes. Broke handle and no parts available. Watched and found a NOS old style and paid twice what they originally cost. Now got the new curved handle to fix my first one. Should last me forever.
 
Someone already beat me to it, but the Frankford Arsenal Platinum hand primer is fantastic! I highly recommend it. Also, funny you should mention the priming system on the All American 8. I had the same press and had the same thoughts and feelings about the priming system. I actually ended up selling the press altogether.
 
I now use the RCBS Automatic Priming Tool. Not sure why they call it “automatic” but I really like it.
https://www.rcbs.com/priming-and-powder-charging/bench-mounted/automatic-priming-tool/16-9460.html

And one of these, you’ll need it:
https://www.rcbs.com/spare-parts-an.../replacement-parts/primer-tray-2/16-9480.html

I used to use the Lee old style priming tools with the round trays. I gave them to my son-in-law.
I bought a Lee “Breechlock” set and it came with the new style primer tool. I bought an extra. One for large and one for small primers.
What pieces of garbage these things are. :confused:

I then bought an RCBS Hand Priming Tool. It worked great for small pistol primers but large pistol and rifle primer kept getting hung up. The plunger was a tad too long. Grrrrr :mad:
The same day I discovered this I bought a second RCBS priming tool. Weird coincidence, this one worked great for large primers but not small.
RCBS, if your listening, your Chinese QC ain’t cuttin’ it!

My hands / wrists bug me (arthritis) so the bench mounted priming tool is a godsend for me. The QC is just fine on this unit.
Note: if you ever get one of these make sure you always put the clip pins back in the primer tubes...leaving it out results in primers al over the floor. :( Guess how I know. :D I only did it once. Lesson learned.
 
Pat Riot said:
I now use the RCBS Automatic Priming Tool. Not sure why they call it “automatic” but I really like it.
https://www.rcbs.com/priming-and-powder-charging/bench-mounted/automatic-priming-tool/16-9460.html

And one of these, you’ll need it:
https://www.rcbs.com/spare-parts-an.../replacement-parts/primer-tray-2/16-9480.html

I used to use the Lee old style priming tools with the round trays. I gave them to my son-in-law.
I bought a Lee “Breechlock” set and it came with the new style primer tool. I bought an extra. One for large and one for small primers.
What pieces of garbage these things are. :confused:

I then bought an RCBS Hand Priming Tool. It worked great for small pistol primers but large pistol and rifle primer kept getting hung up. The plunger was a tad too long. Grrrrr :mad:
The same day I discovered this I bought a second RCBS priming tool. Weird coincidence, this one worked great for large primers but not small.
RCBS, if your listening, your Chinese QC ain’t cuttin’ it!

My hands / wrists bug me (arthritis) so the bench mounted priming tool is a godsend for me. The QC is just fine on this unit.
Note: if you ever get one of these make sure you always put the clip pins back in the primer tubes...leaving it out results in primers al over the floor. :( Guess how I know. :D I only did it once. Lesson learned.
Click to expand...
I feel your frustration! I like the RCBS hand primer tool. It starting getting clunky, so I took the ball pusher rod out, polished it, and greases it with AR moly lube. I’m going to look for a old Lee hand primer
 
I have a K&M hand priming tool. It uses the Lee priming shell holders, and is a great replacement for those units. Extremely heavy duty, and has a good feel. Have to load primers one by one. No square or round 'magazine'. Popular in the bench rest world. I have the plain one... not the one with the micrometer. Not that expensive... especially if you already have the shell holders. $69 and all hardened steel that will last forever. Spare parts are also available.

https://kmshooting.com/product-category/general-prep-tools/primer-tools/

https://kmshooting.com/product/primer-deluxe/
 
Olympus said:
Someone already beat me to it, but the Frankford Arsenal Platinum hand primer is fantastic! I highly recommend it. Also, funny you should mention the priming system on the All American 8. I had the same press and had the same thoughts and feelings about the priming system. I actually ended up selling the press altogether.
Click to expand...
I’m going to make the press work as a turret press without priming, decapping is a mess too . I had to put gaffing tape on the big slit because the old primers would not go in the tray. lots of flaws on this press, but it holds 8 dies and is solid and cost me $100-ish on sale

C209A075-023D-4CFD-9284-4F3A26CAA291.jpeg
 
Mark_Mark said:
I’m going to make the press work as a turret press without priming, decapping is a mess too . I had to put gaffing tape on the big slit because the old primers would not go in the tray. lots of flaws on this press, but it holds 8 dies and is solid and cost me $100-ish on sale.
Click to expand...

I have one of these as well. The priming system is a complete 'fail' and the spent primers do indeed tend to miss the catch tray... but those are not deal breakers for me. I prime off the press, which gets the presses primer system out of way, which is nice. Plus, I don't mind sweeping up a few missed primers.

Outside of that, it is a very nice, very solid turret press. If you want some of those items better addressed, the Redding it was copied from is likely better. It will just cost a little more money. I caught the Lyman on sale, and am very happy with it. Just do not expect it's priming system to be all that user friendly... and ditch it from the beginning. You'll be much happier. Lol
 
n2omike said:
I have one of these as well. The priming system is a complete 'fail' and the spent primers do indeed tend to miss the catch tray... but those are not deal breakers for me. I prime off the press, which gets the presses primer system out of way, which is nice. Plus, I don't mind sweeping up a few missed primers.

Outside of that, it is a very nice, very solid turret press. If you want some of those items better addressed, the Redding it was copied from is likely better. It will just cost a little more money. I caught the Lyman on sale, and am very happy with it. Just do not expect it's priming system to be all that user friendly... and ditch it from the beginning. You'll be much happier. Lol
Click to expand...
I like hand priming because I can see the primer is upright, and inspect each prime case as I go. and it’s fast!
 
I've got the Frankford and I like it. Mine was not perfect though because the pin that contact the primer was radiused too much. It was as if the pin was a much smaller diameter than the primer and it would deform the primer, especially on tight pockets. I faced .015 or so off of the pin, polished the corner to a .002 radius or so and it's all good now.
 
Hartkopf said:
I've got the Frankford and I like it. Mine was not perfect though because the pin that contact the primer was radiused too much. It was as if the pin was a much smaller diameter than the primer and it would deform the primer, especially on tight pockets. I faced .015 or so off of the pin, polished the corner to a .002 radius or so and it's all good now.
Click to expand...
I’m going to get the Franklin! it has good reviews, and has a case. I don’t mind filing and polishing at all.
 
Mark me down for the old round lee hand primer. My RCBS hand primer I bought in the early 90s is in the deep brush around my gun room. Mebbe the newer one is a better unit, but that old one was terrible. The RCBS bench mount unit is pretty good as well. Fortunately I've had good luck with priming on an old Hornady Projector press and a RCBS Piggyback press with the strips. Hmm,.. starting to ramble,...
 
swg1 said:
Mark me down for the old round lee hand primer. My RCBS hand primer I bought in the early 90s is in the deep brush around my gun room. Mebbe the newer one is a better unit, but that old one was terrible. The RCBS bench mount unit is pretty good as well. Fortunately I've had good luck with priming on an old Hornady Projector press and a RCBS Piggyback press with the strips. Hmm,.. starting to ramble,...
Click to expand...

I have ones (RCBS hand primers) from the 80's and ones from the 10's and don't especially like any of them. The best I can say for them is that they get the job done, eventually. And I still prefer them over any of the others I've tried!
 
n2omike said:
I have a K&M hand priming tool. It uses the Lee priming shell holders, and is a great replacement for those units. Extremely heavy duty, and has a good feel. Have to load primers one by one. No square or round 'magazine'. Popular in the bench rest world. I have the plain one... not the one with the micrometer. Not that expensive... especially if you already have the shell holders. $69 and all hardened steel that will last forever. Spare parts are also available.

https://kmshooting.com/product-category/general-prep-tools/primer-tools/

https://kmshooting.com/product/primer-deluxe/
Click to expand...

Here is a video of setting up the K&M hand priming tool, and how to use it. Again, I have the basic one. See no need for the one with a gauge, but this shows how it works. It's a really slick piece, and is built to last forever.

Excellent replacement for a Lee (uses same shell holders) or the RCBS.

https://kmshooting.com/how-to-kms-hand-priming-tools/
 
Mark_Mark said:
that’s very slow
Click to expand...

The standard one without the gauge is not slow. Put the primer in the holder, insert the brass... and presto. Done.

The shell holder holds the spring loaded stuff in place. Height of shell holder is adjustable. Really easy to use and solidly built.
 
Ru4real said:
Yes. When I wore out my Hornady (no longer seated small pistol or small rifle fully) I bought the one below. It has a seating depth adjustment to allow for both wear and case variations. I suspect it won’t wear out in my lifetime. So far I have probably 5000 cases through it.

And the shell holders will work in your Rockchucker press - for about every case known to man.


index.php
Click to expand...

I have the same setup. REAL happy with it. I also have an older Lee and it's good but the Frankford is better.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
Using the RCBS Universal Hand Priming tool leaves depressions in primers.
Replies
16
Views
591
Shovel
Shovel
B
  • Locked
What is the best way to prime 338 Lapua brass
Replies
6
Views
2K
45lcshooter
4
F
  • Locked
Tried the new RCBS "Universal" Hand Priming Tool?
Replies
10
Views
912
OneFireStick
O
F
  • Locked
Hand Primer suggestions??? I have issues??
2
Replies
49
Views
5K
rskent
rskent
D
  • Locked
Hand Primer Smashing Primers
2
Replies
33
Views
3K
JohnM
J
Back
Top