Hand priming tools

[biogenic]

Is the RCBS hand priming tool better than Lee ? Also is the RCBS square tray better in any way than the round one ?

 

[jerkface11]

My lee hand priming tool was so out of spec that not all the shell holders would fit in it. The RCBS I replaced it with doesn't use shell holders at all.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have the original RCBS hand primer and a new Lee Auto-Prime XR and I like both but I seem to use the RCBS more... Lee just released their new Ergo-Prime that looks really good but the price is higher which brings it closer to all the others.

 

[biogenic]

I have the original RCBS hand primer and a new Lee Auto-Prime XR and I like both but I seem to use the RCBS more...

Is the original one the more round shaped one and the newer version more square ?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Is the original one the more round shaped one and the newer version more square ?

The RCBS has a round tray and the Lee is square.

 

[biogenic]

The RCBS has a round tray and the Lee is square.

I was asking about these two...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have the second RCBS primer.

 

[cfullgraf]

I currently use the RCBS Universal hand primer, it has a square tray and uses no shell holder. It works fine but sometimes does not hold a case very well. A case will pop out or a series of cases just won't be gripped by the shell holder jaws. For instances, brass 410 shot shell hulls do not work in the RCBS Universal.

I also use, on occasions, the RCBS Universal APS strip hand primer.

I still prefer the old, discontinued Lee Auto-Prime but since I cannot get replacement parts for them any more, I am saving mine for instances where the RCBS primer does not peform, like the brass 410 shot shell cases.

I have one of the new Lee Auto-Prime XRs. It works ok and the primer feed works better than the old Auto-Prime or the RCBS square tray. I have kind of gotten used to not fooling with a shell holder, so the Lee is another back up.

I find round trays work better at flipping primers. There are no corners for the primers to get "stuck" in. But, not a big deal either way.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

i use the round style RCBS priming tool that uses shell holders. it has worked well for me. the only problem i've had with it is Lee shellholders don't fit it very well.

 

[USSR]

I also have the RCBS hand primer with the round tray. Have used it for about 30 years without problems.

Don

 

[helotaxi]

After loving the older Lee auto prime, I fell into complete loathing with the new Rube Goldberg version that conspires to confound simple operation at every step. I just bought a RCBS unit for the 2 rounds that I don't reload on the progressive.

 

[unknwn]

Besides the fact that the RCBS universal (square tray) just works -period- ,I like that if it ever breaks I only have to call the helpful folks over at RCBS and let them know my difficulty.
WaLaa! replacement parts in the mail box before I know it. Forever.
You most certainly can't accuse the other manufacturer of anything less than making excuses for why the customer gets to pay for any parts after their decidedly short warranty period.

 

[Walkalong]

Another happy RCBS old style round tray shell holder type hand primer user. Many years of trouble free service.

 

[Hesenwine]

I use both a Lee and a Hornady. Both are a pain to change from small primers to large so I use the Lee for small and the Hornady for large. Drawback for the Lee is their proprietary shell holders. Hornady uses standard shell holedrs.

 

[littlebob3]

The NEW Ergo-Prime is GREAT!

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I have the Lee auto prime and the major drawback to it is the shell holders you have to purchase for size of casing. I think I would like the square tray as it would make it easy to dump the entire tray of primers in without losing any. I usually reload in quantities of 100 and with the round tray I always end up chasing the corner primers as they all won't fit into the open tray.

 

[cfullgraf]

Both are a pain to change from small primers to large so I use the Lee for small and the Hornady for large.

Yep, I always have two of my current hand primer of choice on hand, one set up for small primers and the other set up for large.

Besides the ease of switching back and forth, I always have spare parts on hand should one break.

Not so much a problem these days, but in the early days of the Lee Auto-Prime (1980 or so) i would wear out an Auto-Prime a year. A real pain that it would shut down reloading on Saturday night living where Blue Laws kept the stores closed on Sunday.

 

[cfullgraf]

I think I would like the square tray as it would make it easy to dump the entire tray of primers in without losing any.

The square trays on the hand primers make it easier to dump primers from the packaging. The round trays make it easier to flip the primers. I find primers get "stuck" in the corners and have to be manually moved to the center of the tray before they will flip.

Not a big deal either way.

Older primer packaging was smaller and fit the older round priming tool trays.

 

[Walkalong]

I flip the round tray over with the square primer package against it and two or three will fall out. I just do it in one of my bullet/brass pans so I catch them.

 

[Bowfishrp]

My Lee hand primer is about 4 years old and is round. The handle design is bad because I break them often. I think Lee replaced a couple once.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

pretty much all primer packages except those stupid Federal packages fit my round RCBS tray

 

[Hondo 60]

Are 2 dimes & a nickel better than a quarter?

Same but different.
I think some will say, and honestly believe, each is better than the other.
It's a personal preference thing.

 

[Striker Fired]

I have been using the RCBS round hand primer since '98-'99ish(they didn't have the option of the square one then),it's been good,Most shellholders fit on it.The only ones that didn't were a couple Lee's,most of my shellholders are RCBS and Hornady ,those all have fit for me. I think the square version would be better,to keep the primers flowing down the shute better than the round. Haven't tried the LEE so don't know,as long as mine works,I won't need to buy any other,no matter the brand.

 

[kelbro]

I have two old style RCBS, one set up for small and one for large. Use only RCBS shellholders and never an issue in 30 yrs.

Bought one of the fancy new Universals a couple of years ago because I use a lot of Federal GMM primers and liked the square tray. Also the shorter throw and the idea of not having to mess with shellholders. I thought about selling the old ones to offset the cost of the new one. Let's just say that I am less than impressed with the new one and I am glad that I held on to the old ones as I use them more than the new one.

With the new one, shells tend to wobble a little when seating the primers and occasionally pop out. When they wobble, it makes the primers go in hard. The tray also does not fit as snugly.

I like the feel of the old ones.

 

[biogenic]

I like the feel of the old ones.

Same here most of the times... I think some of the older products are by far a better fit than the new ones.

With all that said, I'll get an older RCBS and hope for the best .