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

[jwrowland77]

So for those suggesting the hand primers, how many cases can you prime before it begins to cause cramps or fatigue?

Depends on what I'm priming. Pistol brass, I can prime a bunch. Normally I prime several hundred without getting fatigued at all.

7mm Rem Mag a couple before hand gets tired.

.308 Winchester brass, a couple hundred. .308 win Lapua brass, about 100. Lapua brass seems to have tighter primer pockets than others.

 

[119er]

Thank you all for your input. I will probably get both! A hand primer for smaller runs of bolt gun brass and the RCBS bench primer for high volume. It will take longer that way but my LNL AP has "progressively" gotten worse about priming and I despise having a click instead of a bang. Heck, for a while now I've been running nearly every loaded round through my bench primer anyway to fully seat primers and I guess a few that "feel" good get by and FTF. Good thing it's a hobby and not a business!

 

[James2]

Liking the RCBS hand priming tool. (not the Universal)

 

[tdoyka]

lee autoprime since 1993

 

[Tom488]

RCBS press-mounted APS priming tool handles all my off-press (well, is it really off-press, if you still use a press to actuate it?) priming needs:

 

[toiville2feathers]

I have the Hornaday hand primer. I tried my friends Lee hand primer and a RCBS hand primer. IMHO the Hornaday is much smoother than the others. What I really like is that it uses the standard shell holder that the press uses. No problem with the large primer boxes either.

 

[BGD]

I have 2 of the RCBS universal hand primeing tools. I have on set for large primers and 1 set for small primers. I don't like changing the plunger in them so I bought another. I like the RCBS since you don't have to buy case holders.

 

[lee1000]

I have a Lee Ergo prime and it's okay. I pull a rubber band from the red handle over the tray top as it makes it more reliable.

I've also taken it apart and polished the contact points, it may have helped but only marginally.

This is the only way I've tried priming.

 

[Crashbox]

I'll toss in a BIG +1 for the RCBS Bench-Mounted Priming Tool.

I bought mine a couple of years ago as priming on my LnL AP aggravated an ancient on-the-job injury. In retrospect, I wonder how I ever got along without it; in my opinion it is that good.

 

[SuedePflow]

So for those suggesting the hand primers, how many cases can you prime before it begins to cause cramps or fatigue?

This is vary greatly between person to person. But I usually prime 300-1000 pistol cases per sitting and I've never cramped or fatigued.

Hand priming seems to be the quickest, and that's why I like it best.

 

[Walkalong]

The most I did at one time was 800 IIRC. I like to keep it at 500 or less per session. 20 years ago the number would be higher.

 

[kerreckt]

I have been using the RCBS APS bench priming setup for quite some time. Although, it is press mounted I still have a great deal of "feel" when seating the primers. I am very pleased with the setup.

 

[me26245]

priming tool

I used to use the lee hand priming tool and the priming function on my reloading press's.
However I started using the RCBS Bench Mounted Automatic priming tool and don't think I'll use anything else. It has a better feel for consistent seating of primers.
I use the primer tube that came with the tool and I can use all the primer tubes that go with my Dillon 550's.

 

[germ]

I have 2 of the RCBS universal hand primeing tools. I have on set for large primers and 1 set for small primers. I don't like changing the plunger in them so I bought another. I like the RCBS since you don't have to buy case holders.

I did the exact same thing. This past Friday I received the aps version, but I'm thinking of getting the bench tool as well. I haven't actually used the new tool yet so can't comment, but I imagine it works as well as the universal.

 

[GLOOB]

Hand priming interests me because I'd like to prime sitting on the couch for a change.

This is overrated. You need a bin for your decapped cases, a bin for your primed cases, a decapping pin to push out primers that go in crooked or get stuck in cases where you forgot to remove the crimp, and oh, don't forget your chamfer tool for those crimped cases, and depending on the tool you will also occasionally run into flipped primers. I don't suggest you remove the lid from a handpriming tool while sitting on the couch. By the time you get everything precariously resting around you, you will want to get up, already. And by the time you get comfortable and into a rhythm, your priming tool will need to be reloaded.... which, again, I don't suggest you attempt while sitting on the couch.

 

[higgite]

There's nothing worse than couch diving for loose pocket change and coming up with a handful of primers.

Hmmm... on second thought... considering the current primer market... I'll be right back.

 

[SWThomas]

I've got a Lee Ergo-Prime that I like. But I only do 308 with it. My Dillon 550's auto-prime system does the rest.