Best hand priming tool
- Thread starter rodex
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shootstraight57
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Believe it or not I used a Lee hand priming too for years with success!
SunnySlopes
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I use this for bottleneck cases and like it fine. RCBS Automatic Bench Primer
bigpower491
Member
I've had an RCBS since Jesus was a kid and do all the brass I run single stage thru it.
Horskinator
Member
Same here until the handle broke... Now I have a Hornady and the Lee with a new handle...
LiveLife
Member
While I still prefer the original Lee Auto Prime (I bought several handles before they discontinued production) as I can "feel" primer seating, I have decided to bench prime when my hand dexterity becomes an issue.
Have you considered Lee Bench Prime for similar price as hand primer at $32? - https://www.titanreloading.com/product/lee-auto-bench-prime/
buck460XVR
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I have one of those too and it works very well. I also have had the RCBS hand primer for three decades and it is still doing an excellent job.
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
"Hand tool" or "Bench"?
For hand priming, the old Lee tool. The new Lee tool sucks.
For bench priming, the one on my Lock and Load AP works just fine.
For hand priming, the old Lee tool. The new Lee tool sucks.
For bench priming, the one on my Lock and Load AP works just fine.
lightman
Member
I use a tool from Sinclair. Expensive but is a solid quality tool.
.45Coltguy
Member
RCBS hand held. Been using it for years. Works.
I use the older 'shell-holder' version of the RCBS hand-held tool. I like that it can be operated quickly without having to manually remove each piece of brass from the tool once it's primed. Just stuff a case in the tool/squeeze/release/repeat
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
I like the RCBS non shell holder version of their hand priming tool. I have two of them. One for small and one for large. I use a Co-Ax so investing in shell holders is a non starter. It works; I have primed thousands with it.
murray brook
Member
I have used the Lee Ram prime system for years as well as the hand held RCBS unit. Both work great. Always good to have a back-up. JMO
I’ve heard this tool is the best you can get in a hand primer. Pricey.
https://21stcenturyinnovation.com/b...est-priming-tool/v/1206-128-w/shell holder 01
https://21stcenturyinnovation.com/b...est-priming-tool/v/1206-128-w/shell holder 01
gwpercle
Member
The absolute best Hand Priming Tool is :
A Lee Hand Press (#90685) with the Lee Ram Prime Unit (#90100) installed ...
and that is the most bestest hand primer you will ever have .
Gary
A Lee Hand Press (#90685) with the Lee Ram Prime Unit (#90100) installed ...
and that is the most bestest hand primer you will ever have .
Gary
westernrover
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The fanciest hand primers (Sinclair, 21st C., K+M) don't work with feed trays. That's fine for a few rifle cartridges, but a tough sell for volume handgun loading.
The Lee bench prime is based on plastic cartridges. They break.
The RCBS Universal hand priming tool uses a plastic piston guide. The piston will gouge and destroy the plastic guide.
The RCBS hand priming tool (with shell holders) uses a plastic primer feed chute but does not self-destruct. I've found it very durable. The only drawbacks are:
1. an occasional sideways primer (can be mitigated with technique to raise the primer and visually confirm prior to inserting brass -- seems hopelessly slow at first, but can be done very quickly with some practice.)
2. repetitive stress injuries to the tendon in the elbow. I mitigate this by not priming more than a tray of primers at a time (for me that's 150). Plan ahead, and plenty of primed brass can be produced.
The Lee bench prime is based on plastic cartridges. They break.
The RCBS Universal hand priming tool uses a plastic piston guide. The piston will gouge and destroy the plastic guide.
The RCBS hand priming tool (with shell holders) uses a plastic primer feed chute but does not self-destruct. I've found it very durable. The only drawbacks are:
1. an occasional sideways primer (can be mitigated with technique to raise the primer and visually confirm prior to inserting brass -- seems hopelessly slow at first, but can be done very quickly with some practice.)
2. repetitive stress injuries to the tendon in the elbow. I mitigate this by not priming more than a tray of primers at a time (for me that's 150). Plan ahead, and plenty of primed brass can be produced.
Offfhand
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The "Best" of anything always unleashes a cascade of opinions, especially anything reloading. How can anyone know what is best unless they have tried and compared everything? So, inspired with a crusading spirit, I set out several years ago to buy and try all then available handheld priming tools, as shown in attached pic. (I've bought and tried even more since then but you get the idea. ) The experience netted more than one conclusion, and suggestions to pass along: If you want to impress your friends and neighbors you can do no better than the elegant Magnum Metals' tool, which is beautifully machined from stainless steel, captures and centers the primer before seating, is adjustable for seating dept and fits in your shirt pocket. For $200. you get a beautiful tool that works as good as it looks and provides a satisfying helping of pride of ownership. But even so, in my opinion it's definately not the "best" because I don't like handling primers one at a time. Same with the nicely made, sweet working Sinclair hand seater and its pretty clones thereof. But if no auto primer feed it's no deal for me. Which is why I give high marks to the Lee tool of a generation ago, which set the standard for a lightweight, inexpensive, self-feeding hand priming. But alas, they are inclined to break, as if self-destruction is built into their DNA. Having said all this, my favorite "best" is the OLD STYLE Hornady hand tool. (Definatly not their current model, which I cannot say enough bad things about.) They are comfortably hand filling (as is the RCBS tool) have good leverage for easy primer seating and possess features lacking in all other hand tools: mainly being the 360degree three-way work positioning: (1) You can hold it at any angle that is most comfortable in your hand, then (2) rotate the primer tray at the angle that gives a smooth primer feed co-ordinating with the handle, and (3) rotate the shell holder so that you can position the shell entrance at an angle that works comfortably and effeciently. No other hand tool does all of this, which is why even used old style Hornady hand primers now fetch $100. or more, if you can find one for sale. Attached pics include the OLD Hornady BEST hand primer, and workings of the lovely Magnum Metals tool.
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Hugger-4641
Member
I use my RCBS hand primer for small rifle cases and most pistol cartridges .38 and larger. I find that the smaller rds like .380 tend to slip out of the jaws a lot and larger rifle cases like 300wm wear my hand out after a few dozen. I use my Lee auto bench prime for larger rifle cartridges and the smaller pistol. Due to the number of rds I'm usually processing, if I could only keep one it would be the Lee bench prime just because its easier on the hands.
I use the FA hand primer and it is a good one. Solid and gives a great feel for how much pressure is needed to seat the primer.
GeoDudeFlorida
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The original Lee hand primer for years for everything. Then a few years back I switched to the Frankford Arsenal hand primer. The round trays got a little annoying so I switched on the advice of a fellow reloader. I have always preferred the Lee Ram-Prime rifle and for tight pockets.
BIZERKO666
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Never used any of the others but I’m very happy with the F/A hand primer also
JT-AR-MG42
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- Mar 26, 2010
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Dang!, I think of it as my new hand priming tool. Guess if you are around long enough
everything you have becomes a collectors item.
As to the Lee, I used the old style screw in shellholder model until the new Auto-prime hit the
market.
I saw it as the future of volume reloading for the common man who could not afford a Star.
After wearing out a few of the auto primes, mainly the pot metal piece that worked against the priming punch,
I wrote to Lee and begged them to make the entire unit out of steel.
Never heard back.
JT
I have one of these that I use when I'm in a hurry...it is easy to dump a tray of primers in the tray.
If I'm not doing that many cases and taking my time for consistency, I usually go with the Forster Co-Ax Primer Seater - https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101268874
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