Time for a new priming tool.......

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I am looking for a priming tool to replace my Forster bench priming tool. The Forster is a good product but is too finicky for my taste. The slightest mistake upsets the process and the tubes are kind of a pain to load. The priming system on my LNL AP has no shortage of issues either. I've done the tweaks and tunes but it still leaves me with high primers now and then. I've even broken the toggle from the force needed to seat primers fully.

Bench or Hand prime?

For bench priming, I am looking at the RCBS Automatic bench priming tool. It seems really nice.

Hand priming interests me because I'd like to prime sitting on the couch for a change. A tray is mandatory for me because I don't want to single load the primers. So far the RCBS Universal seems to be at the top of the heap.

What are your practices and choices of equipment?
 
I hand prime all my cases with the hand primer I got when I bought my Hornady SS Classic kit. I like to be able to feel how much pressure it takes to seat the primer. Then I'll know if the primer pocket is getting loose and whatnot, so I'll know whether or not that'll be the last loading for that case.
 
hand primer tool is the way to go.

I use an RCBS I have had since 1970 something and am still perfectly happy with it.

If it has any drawback at all.
The primer trey is too small for those huge Federal primer boxes.

rc
 
The only issue and experience I have with hand priming is the Lee Hand Primer, and it wore out in about 10000 primers.
The post that rides in the handle cratered from the constant pivoting leaving high primers. Then I replaced that, and the handle just shattered.

I then went to hand priming with an older Lee Hand Press with a Lee Ram Prime. A form of hand priming I guess. It works good and is fairly fast. Allows me to do small batches of priming off the Progressive. I really don't like priming on the Progressive Press. It isn't that I can't feel the seating of the primer on the Progressive. I just feel safer priming off the press, and then performing the rest of the loading on the Progressive press.

Possibly the RCBS or the Hornady hand prime systems are sturdier than the Lee was. I guess that would go without saying though.
 
I've always primed on the press. Currently using a Dillon 550b and a RCBS rockchucker. I have tried hand priming and it's OK, but never understood why people couldn't "feel" the priming operation on a press.
 
I use the Lee Autoprime hand thingy.
I prefer it to the press for two reasons, one it's great to be able to be somewhere else in the house while seating primers, and two using the lever prime is annoying once it becomes even a little dirty after resizing. (The lever arm has to be present to redirect spent primers into the primer drop tube) and if it binds, it will drop suddenly and fly out of the press usually landing on the weakest part at the wrong angle. And even though I clean that area frequently and compulsively, it will still happen every once in a while.
However, having said that, I actually MUCH prefer the feeling of priming on the press.
But hey, at least you aren't stuck to the bench if you want to prime a bunch of cases.
 
I have the RCBS Hand priming tool with the universal shell holder. I have both styles, one with a tray, the other that uses the APS strips. it works great.

It does have a draw back though, some cases do not fit the shell holder very well like brass .410 shot gun hulls. Sometimes a case will pop out of the spring loaded shell holder.

Both are minor inconveniences. I got the universal shell holder model so that I did not have to fool with shell holders.

I used and like the Lee Auto Prime before the RCBS unit but Lee has screwed up their priming tool. I saved my old Auto Prime for difficult cases like the brass .410 hulls.
 
I started with the round LEE hand primer, then bought the RCBS Universal. I now just prime on the press.

The RCBS is better made than the LEE but to be honest I do not think it works any better. I have not tried the new LEE versions the ERGO or square one, The old round one works fine.

I would say the RCBS just for the quality and warranty. It is a bit of a pain to switch over but once you do it a few times you get the gist of it.

http://www.brownells.com/reloading/...87_a_7c1021_a_7c100010299_d_100010299_d_21274
 
Another happy RCBS hand primer user.

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Really like my RCBS Bench Mounted Automatic priming tool. Still have to pick up primers in tubes though or place them in the cup by hand. It has just the right leverage and feel. Automatically takes a primer from the tubes. Mine is totally reliable. Uses standard shellholders and you might want to have extra just for the priming tool that is if you use the only one you have in the press at the same time you want to prime. Myself, I don't want to be squeezing my hands perhaps hundreds of times at a sitting.
 
Really happy with my rcbs universal hand primer
No shell holder needed works great
 
I've been using the RCBS bench mount priming tool for about 40 years and think it's the best priming tool on the market. The leverage is excellent and primers always seat perfectly. You can get it with either primer tubes or set up to use primer strips.
 
rg1 said:
Really like my RCBS Bench Mounted Automatic priming tool. Still have to pick up primers in tubes though or place them in the cup by hand. It has just the right leverage and feel. Automatically takes a primer from the tubes. Mine is totally reliable. Uses standard shellholders and you might want to have extra just for the priming tool that is if you use the only one you have in the press at the same time you want to prime. Myself, I don't want to be squeezing my hands perhaps hundreds of times at a sitting.
Click to expand...
+1 here..I REALLY like my RCBS Bench primer..Bill
 
Lee Autoprime - older one with the round tray. Works fine for me & I like to feel them seat so I can tell if the primer pocket is OK.
 
So for those suggesting the hand primers, how many cases can you prime before it begins to cause cramps or fatigue?
 
I had moderate to severe carpal tunnel.

Never caused me any problems hand priming though. (Use Lee, Old, new, and Ergo)
 
Another +1 for the RCBS bench primer. No more hand cramps. (Some of us more "mature" folks ain't bullet proof anymore. ;)) I use mine for priming rifle brass. I bought the APS strip version since I also use strips to prime pistol rounds on my progressive.
 
Original Lee Autoprime

I really like my old style Lee Autoprime although as I get older, the thought of a good bench primer gets more appealing.

Lee is usually excellent on warranty work and supplying parts for obsolete models, but they totally washed their hands of the old style Autoprime. They won't even sell replacement levers anymore, they just offer 50% off on the new style Autoprime if you send in your old one.

The new style Autoprime is nowhere near the tool that the old one was.

It has only ONE redeeming feature.

Its priming lever is far sturdier than the old style lever.
And the new levers fit the old machines perfectly.

Even though Lee says they don't... :evil:

You still run across the old Autoprimes for sale occasionally, if you see one, I suggest you snap it up.

The two outstanding Lee products of all time, are, in my opinion, the original Autoprime and the RIFLE Factory Crimp Die.
 
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