Historical Question: Hand Priming Tool

[Robert Glenn]

I'm a writer working on a chapter that, in part, describes handloading rifle ammunition in 1971. I need help answering the following question: In 1971, was there a hand priming tool that, like hand priming tools of today, had a primer tray that connected to the hand priming tool body and that had a handle or lever that you squeezed to seat the primer?

If the answer to that question is "yes," my research is done.

If the answer to that question is "no," my question becomes: In 1971, was there a hand priming tool of any kind? If so, can you identify who made it and describe it and how it worked to the best of your ability?

I have been unable to find much information about this topic on the internet, and I try to be historically accurate in my writing. I thank you in advance for whatever information you can provide and, especially, for your time.

Sincerely,
Robert Glenn

 

[blarby]

As far as I know Lee came out with the hand prime first in the early eighties, which RCBS promptly copied.

If there was a hand-primer before that, I'm certainly not aware of it. Thats probably why you can't find any info on it.

Someone reloading rifle in the seventies was almost certainly doing it with a press mounted priming system, barring that a lee "whack-a-mole" loader.

 

[JohnM]

I have one of those old original Lee hand primers. I was thinking I bought it in the early 70s at the latest.
They were made by Lee Engineering which was a different from Lee Loader.

 

[Robert Glenn]

John, can you describe how it worked?

Thanks,
RG

 

[rcmodel]

This is a hard question!

The first hand priming tool I can remember in the early 70's was when the old Lee company came out with one.
It wasn't tray feed though.
One at a time.

They worked just like the tray feeds do today.
Except you had to put the primers in one at a time by hand.

I went through two off them in the early 70's because the pot metal shell holder threads stripped out quickly with use.

I believe the RCBS was the first tray feed, and I bought mine probably about 1975 or possibly later.

In 1970, there were a couple of bench mounted priming tools by Bonanza and Lachmiller.
Both were tube feed though.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...s-Lachmiller&p=1372130&viewfull=1#post1372130


RCBS bought Lachmiller and continued making the bench tool.
Bonanza become Forster and it is still being made.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/141739/forster-co-ax-bench-priming-tool

rc

 

[JohnM]

John, can you describe how it worked?

Thanks,
RG

RC just described it. They took 1 primer at a time. The shell holders screwed into the handle.
I seem to remember there were actually a couple types of them around. One had problems breaking.
I had one of the "improved" ? models, anyway had a sturdier handle.
I used the thing for years before I got an RCBS that held a full tray of primers.
You can still find the things on ebay sometimes, the shell holders seem impossible to find.

 

[Robert Glenn]

RC, thank you for the information and the links. The hand priming tool that Lee Engineering made I assume worked this way: Screw the shell holder into the top of the tool, place a single primer--anvil up--into the hole in the center of the shell holder, place a case in the shell holder, squeeze the handle seating the primer. Can you tell me if that's how the tool worked?

Thanks,
RG

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, that's how they worked.

I'm not betting on 1971 for 100% sure though.

That's a long time to remember exactly when you bought something!!

rc

 

[Robert Glenn]

Thanks, RC and John. You were a tremendous help.

Best wishes!
RG

 

[jaguarxk120]

My 5th edition of the Handloader's Digest(1970-1971) shows three hand priming tools.

The lee, one at a time, $3.95, shell holders $1.50.

The Nuler $25.00, shell holders $2.50 ( bench rest tool)

The Jerry Simmons $25.00, extra heads $3.50. Reproduction of the Pope re-de-capper.

All others listed were bench or press mounted tools.

 

[rcmodel]

My 5th edition of the Handloader's Digest

What's the copyright date on that book?

Oh!
I see it now!

rc

 

[JohnM]

No kidding, I was just looking at a copy of the old First Edition Lee Reloading Handbook I hung onto. I thought it had a date in it, but I guess not.
I do have some notes written in it for reloading Alcan and Super X paper shells though.
The manual is marked 98 cents and inside is called Lee Custom Engineering Inc.

 

[Robert Glenn]

You guys are awesome! Thanks for breaking out the Handloader's Digest from 1970-71! I can't believe how inexpensive things were back then. $3.95 for the Lee. The shell holders are almost as expensive as the tool. I'll check out the Nuler and the Jerry Simmons on line. Thanks so much for that information. The Handloader's Digest is definitive proof that the tool existed in 1971, which is exactly what I needed. Thanks for the random acts of kindness, guys!

RG

 

[rcmodel]

I might add that I had never heard of the Nuler and the Jerry Simmons until today, so I doubt they were mainstream on every reloading bench then!

rc

 

[JohnM]

I just looked at the papers in my old 30-30 Lee Loader, it has a copyright of 1963, but I think I bought it about 1965. I don't remember if the hand primer was around then or not.

 

[jaguarxk120]

M c m l x x

 

[murf]

don't know who made them, but they have been on the shelf for a while.

is this what you are talking about, rc?

murf

 

[rcmodel]

Yes.

Those are Lee from the first Richard Lee company, Lee Custom Engineering, Inc.

rc

 

[Lost Sheep]

Sorry, late to the party, but here are some videos that might help your research

The hand priming tool in use
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t16cZbDNCK4

process from start to finish (but for straight-wall (handgun) cases, not bottleneck (rifle). The dies and consectutive steps are different between straight and bottleneck cases).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5lucuOPQmg

This is an EXTREMELY abbreviated description of the loading process for rifle (bottlenecked) cases.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwBFUgF4vEw

Good luck

Lost Sheep

 

[Don McDowell]

I'm a writer working on a chapter that, in part, describes handloading rifle ammunition in 1971. I need help answering the following question: In 1971, was there a hand priming tool that, like hand priming tools of today, had a primer tray that connected to the hand priming tool body and that had a handle or lever that you squeezed to seat the primer?

If the answer to that question is "yes," my research is done.

If the answer to that question is "no," my question becomes: In 1971, was there a hand priming tool of any kind? If so, can you identify who made it and describe it and how it worked to the best of your ability?

I have been unable to find much information about this topic on the internet, and I try to be historically accurate in my writing. I thank you in advance for whatever information you can provide and, especially, for your time.

Sincerely,
Robert Glenn

There were hand priming tools, that went way back into the 1870's but none of them had the priming tray as todays do. The Lyman 310 tool and those that preceded it could be considered hand priming tools.

 

[homatok]

Write, E-mail or call the makers of reloading tools and ask when they first put out these tools.

 

[jcwit]

There was also a red plastic "one at a time" hand primer I believe made by Lee, it also used the same screw in shell holders.

I have one of the "one at a time" Lee hand primers that is dedicated to most every shell holder size I regularly reload.

I solved the problem with the stripped threads by fastening the shell holder with JB Weld.

As far a the ones made by Jerry Simmons, they were always in short supply. He was a machinist for a local company and he made these in his spare time, order by order. He lived only a few miles from my home and he and a few others from the area would gather and go to the Ohio Gun Collector Shows, he was a very good guy.

Going back to the old Lee hand primers, many were part of the Lee Loader Target kit.

 

[Offfhand]

Though hand priming tool with auto-feed trays are relatively recent, one-at-a-time hand priming tools, by necessity, date back to the earliest primed cartridges of the 1800's. The old Ideal hand tools had a priming function, as did tools by Sharps, Harry Pope, etc. And don't overlook the long time popular Lyman "tong" tool used by several generation of handloaders simply for primer seating only.

 

[mdm]

I can't believe how inexpensive things were back then.

$4.00 wasn't that inexpensive in '71. I was paying around $0.30/gallon for gas, I could go to the movie for about $1.00, postage stamps were around $0.06, a loaf of bread was $0.25,....

When you look at overall prices, $4.00 wasn't that cheap, was it?

 

[Slamfire]

I can't believe how inexpensive things were back then.

$4.00 wasn't that inexpensive in '71. I was paying around $0.30/gallon for gas, I could go to the movie for about $1.00, postage stamps were around $0.06, a loaf of bread was $0.25,....

When you look at overall prices, $4.00 wasn't that cheap, was it?

Those $109 dollar pre 64 M70's would cost $859.50 in today's money. Politicians love to debase the currency. Normally, inflation is a slow process, but give it time, the value of money, and the savings of the middle class, become worthless over time. These same Governmental types want you to "save" for retirement knowing full well that your savings will be destroyed by their monetary practices. Firearms in the 70's seem to cost 1/3 of what they do today, but, the dollar is worth about a third of what it used to be. You live long enough, shooters of the future will think $25.00 for 20 rounds of centerfire to be a bargain. A cup of coffee will cost that much.