What's everyone using for priming tools now-a-days?

[Boomholzer]

Me? Two old RCBS cast aluminum hand priming tools. Loading the tray and swapping shell holders has always been a relative PITA and it also doesn't work with Hornady shell holders where I have a acquired an odd mix. Hornady didn't mill that little chamfer in the bottom side hole like RCBS.

It's the weakest link in my process and equipment. It's time for something better. Any recommendations? I run three RCBS RC presses and a T-7, nothing progressive, no blue. I have a frikken Giraud power trimmer and I still fight these priming tools.

 

[reloaded_in_pa]

The RCBS universal hand primer works well. No shell holders are required.

 

[.38 Special]

We're in the same boat, @Boomholzer. I've tried most of the available priming tools and none are especially good. (There are a couple of supremely well built tools for the accuracy crowd, but you have to insert the primers into them one at a time, which limits their practicality.)

I have had some success with the RCBS "Universal" which has a "one size fits most" case holder. It solves the trouble of exchanging shell holders, but is still a bit fiddly, especially with small rims like .45 Colt.

One tool I have not tried, but which several THR members swear by, is the Frankford Arsenal hand primer. If primers themselves ever become available again, it will be on my list.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I use an RCBS bench prime if im going to load a large batch. Today i loaded 50 10mm. I just used the on press primer.

 

[ImjinScout85]

For me I always just use my LnL AP, but then I prime about 600 to 700 hundred at a time, then store them until time to load,

 

[merlynski]

I use a SS press (Rockchucker) for everything after priming. Priming is usually done on an old round tray Lee Auto Prime. I also just recently started using an RCBS hand primer I have had on the shelf for a while (with the anti-explosion gate). The first time I tried to use it my RCBS shell holder did not fit. After reading through the documentation I discovered it works with 'All RCBS regular shell holders made since 1980.' OOPS, all mine were older. Bought a new RCBS shell holder for .45ACP (which I just started loading for). It worked fine. It IS a pain to change from large to small primers though, the old Lee is much easier. I acquired a bunch of small primer .45ACP cases because I am short on LPP, but have plenty of SPP.
I may just have to chamfer some of my other shell holders.

 

[Olympus]

I'm using the Frankford Arsenal Platinum hand primer for everything except 9mm and 45acp. It's fantastic to use, comes with it's own shell holders, and works like a champ. Super fast and easy.

 

[Herman B]

Frankford Arsenal Platinum hand primer. Very reliable. Held at just the angle, hand fed and then primed brass falls out of the FA into your bin. One less handling of the brass.

 

[BBarn]

I use the Lee hand primers. Not a great tool, but I find using thumb pressure to prime much easier than the hand squeeze to prime that is required with other tools like the FA.

 

[cfullgraf]

For small batches of priming, I have RCBS hand priming tools with the universal shell holder. There are a couple cases like 25ACP that does not do well with the universal shell holder but they are not mainstream cartridges that I reload.

For large batches of priming, I use an RCBS bench mounted priming tool that uses press shell holders. I have issues with the plastic sleeve for the shell holder to reduce the size of the hole in tge shell holder to match the primer size. I modify the shell holder. Here is an example of the modified shell holder. The shell holder primer hole is sleeved with bronze material.

Also, I like the APS primer strips and I have priming tools that use them.

I still have a couple of the old Lee Auto Prime round tray priming tools that I use for cases that do not work well with the RCBS universal shell holder.

 

[rocirish]

I have a couple of the Lee auto prime round tray tools in large and small size, but I use a RCBS bench prime most of the time

 

[Theinkman]

We're in the same boat, @Boomholzer. I've tried most of the available priming tools and none are especially good. (There are a couple of supremely well built tools for the accuracy crowd, but you have to insert the primers into them one at a time, which limits their practicality.)

I have had some success with the RCBS "Universal" which has a "one size fits most" case holder. It solves the trouble of exchanging shell holders, but is still a bit fiddly, especially with small rims like .45 Colt.

One tool I have not tried, but which several THR members swear by, is the Franford Arsenal hand primer. If primers themselves ever become available again, it will be on my list.

I have and use the Franklin Arsenal hand primer and like it a lot. Pretty stout piece of equipment which comes with a full set of shellholders. Would recommend.

 

[Dale Alan]

Another vote for Franklin . I use my Lee bench mounted rig to seat them initially and finish them with the Franklin . I can feel them bottom out that way . Only reason I use the Lee is because of a damaged hand , it gives me a running start with the primer 95% seated.

 

[edwardware]

. . . it also doesn't work with Hornady shell holders where I have a acquired an odd mix. Hornady didn't mill that little chamfer in the bottom side hole like RCBS.

Isn't that annoying? A 45deg carbide burr will convert all your shell holders to RCBS Compatible. They're too hard to cut with anything else I have.

With that done, I really like my RCBS priming tool.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

We're in the same boat, @Boomholzer. I've tried most of the available priming tools and none are especially good. (There are a couple of supremely well built tools for the accuracy crowd, but you have to insert the primers into them one at a time, which limits their practicality.)

I have had some success with the RCBS "Universal" which has a "one size fits most" case holder. It solves the trouble of exchanging shell holders, but is still a bit fiddly, especially with small rims like .45 Colt.

One tool I have not tried, but which several THR members swear by, is the Franford Arsenal hand primer. If primers themselves ever become available again, it will be on my list.

That’s what I been using for the past few years and it’s a good one. The FA replaced my old Lee hand primer - which I still got, extra trays and all - and it was a good swap. I recommend it with this proviso: they use the Lee style shell holders and the kit is only almost complete. You will probably have to buy one or two for the older WCF pistol cases. Otherwise it’s a pretty good tool.

 

[IALoder]

I have 2 RCBS universal hand priming tools. One set up for small rifle and one for large. Works great for me!

 

[JFrank]

I use a K&M hand primer for all my srp and a press mounted for lrp.

No complaints

 

[uzimon]

Not only can it prime, can de-prime, size, seat

 

[dgod]

Me? Two old RCBS cast aluminum hand priming tools. Loading the tray and swapping shell holders has always been a relative PITA and it also doesn't work with Hornady shell holders where I have a acquired an odd mix. Hornady didn't mill that little chamfer in the bottom side hole like RCBS.

It's the weakest link in my process and equipment. It's time for something better. Any recommendations? I run three RCBS RC presses and a T-7, nothing progressive, no blue. I have a frikken Giraud power trimmer and I still fight these priming tools.

 

[Pottimus]

RCBS Universal hand priming tools. I got an extra for large and small at the ready, must have has some spare cash at one time. The tray holders on both are weak and I have had to band them with plastic, that covers up L and S...First world problems....I still have my original set that uses a shell holder, I bet that is where my spare #03 shell holder sits.

 

[dh1633pm]

I too use the RCBS Universal. I use it for 223 up to 45-70. This week I primed 7.62x54R some for a member. I saw above someone saying that 45 Colt didn't work well. I prime them on mine all the time.

 

[kidneyboy]

I use a Lee single stage press.

 

[Bandit67]

I started out with the Hornady hand prime tool that came in the kit. Took a little practice and getting used to but I still use it today.
It has a tray for hornady shellholders and a different tray for RCBS shellholders. As someone above posted the holes are a little different.
I get a great feel for seating depth and I can check to make sure the primer is right side up before I seat it.
I do have both RCBS and Lee hand primers from an estate sale but I haven't tried those yet.

 

[slugford]

I have the RCBS universal priming tool and it works OK. I have to fiddle with the position of the cases to get them just right at times. Have to hold the primer at an angle for it to function well. I havent used any other priming tools or seaters like what's installed in my RCBS RC2 since the hand primer works 95% of the time on the first squeeze.

 

[johnjohn]

I'm a fan of the old round tray Lee primers. Have 2 or 3 and a few spare parts.