Which Is The Best Way To Prime Pistol Brass

[Pete D.]

Progressive press.....the priming stage on the press (Lee Pro 1000, Dillon Square Deal, Dillon 550B, MEC 9000). Anything else kinda defeats the purpose of a progressive press.
Single stage - regardless of the type - I batch load. Every operation gets 50 cases through it. Size and deprime. Bell the mouth of the case if it is straight-walled. Prime with a Lee hand prime tool or an RCBS hand prime tool. Drop powder. Seat the bullet. Crimp.
Pete

 

[Searcher4851]

I prime on the press on my Lee classic cast turret most of the time. Otherwise, I like the RCBS auto priming tool.

 

[HOWARD J]

I use an RCBS auto priming tool
It still works good after 35 + years ?

 

[7075-T7]

I use the RCBS bench primer mounted on a block of fireberglass-filled nylon. I can move it around to where I'm at, and I weight down the other end with lead.

Usually the coffee table while watching TV.

 

[Ken70]

On the Loadmaster, I have two hand priming tools, two single stage presses, and a turret. I've tried all of them; go back to the Loadmaster every time. I'm convinced 90%+ of the Loadmaster whining is because the press is not firmly attached to a heavy bench.

 

[floydster]

Only experienced handloaders hand prime

 

[GLOOB]

I literally threw my Auto Prime, large and small primer trays, and the shell holder set into the garbage. I thought I might hold onto that stuff and give it away one day. But space was at a premium. My Wilson Trimmer is getting precariously close to being the next thing to go MIA after spring cleaning, but that's another story.

I use the Lee Challenger press for priming. I find it to be faster and more efficient. Sure, a hand primer autofeeds the primers. But on a press, you can take your right hand off to put in a primer while you put in the next case, so that's not a huge gain. Then, by the time you factor in retrieving/storing the thing, putting in and putting away of the right shellholder, loading of the tray, and dealing with jams, the press is ahead. Also, I get way better feel on this particular press. I can see how some presses aren't as good at feel or efficiency, but the Challenger setup is quite perfect to me. So when someone says hand primers give better feel, I wouldn't say they don't know what they're talking about. Just maybe their experience is completely different. Cuz I completely disagree.

 

[Comrade Mike]

I literally threw my Auto Prime, large and small primer trays, and the shell holder set into the garbage. I thought I might hold onto that stuff and give it away one day. But space was at a premium. My Wilson Trimmer is getting precariously close to being the next thing to go MIA after spring cleaning, but that's another story.

I use the Lee Challenger press for priming. I find it to be faster and more efficient. Sure, a hand primer autofeeds the primers. But on a press, you can take your right hand off to put in a primer while you put in the next case, so that's not a huge gain. Then, by the time you factor in retrieving/storing the thing, putting in and putting away of the right shellholder, loading of the tray, and dealing with jams, the press is ahead. Also, I get way better feel on this particular press. I can see how some presses aren't as good at feel or efficiency, but the Challenger setup is quite perfect to me. So when someone says hand primers give better feel, I wouldn't say they don't know what they're talking about. Just maybe their experience is completely different. Cuz I completely disagree.

The hand primers do take a little Finesse, ill admit, but I love mine all the same.

 

[bullethead]

Another vote for the RCBS Automatic Priming Tool. Bought it back in the 70s and still using it. I can feel the primers seat, something I couldn't feel on the rockchucker.

 

[Match10]

RCBS Hand Priming tool. I've had two primer touch off when seating since the early 1970s..... I like to not constrain the cartridge end in a die and point it away from my face!

 

[dagger dog]

From the end oppisite the case mouth.

 

[gamestalker]

I have a priming arm on my presses, but I prefer to use a priming die on the press. Once I've adjusted the die to seat at the depth desired, I just go to work and can prime without having to rely on feel. It takes all the guess work out of the process. I don't think many re loaders are even aware that priming dies exist these days?

GS

 

[BullRunBear]

Like some others, I prime all my brass using the Lee hand priming tool, one set up for each size. I prefer the 'feel' it gives. And I can do a lot of priming in a recliner with the baseball game on or a book on tape during the off season. It's worked for me for decades.

Jeff

 

[arizona_cards_11]

I have a Hornady LNL AP and still prefer to hand prime with the RCBS tool.

 

[hang fire]

When single staging, I sit on the couch and hand prime with a Lee tool while watching tv.

Wife does that for all her reloading. I have 450 and Square Deal B Dillon and SS Lee Cast Iron Classic presses, but as she started with a Lee hand press, she will not even consider anything else. She taught her best friend on the LHP, and the same for her. WOMEN!!!

 

[DeadFlies]

I use a Lee Ram Prime on my single stage press. It's cheap, easy and fast enough for me.

It uses the shell holder that comes with the dies and the whole thing fits into a tube the size of a roll of quarters.

 

[adaptandovercome]

I use the same as above. I've tried the lee hand press and it works good but I prefer priming in the press. It's a lot faster than you would think. I do all my reloading on a lee single stage.

 

[elkslayer4x5]

I also prefer the precesion of a ram primer, all of my primers are set the same, I'm in no hurry, so it's the RCBS Ram prime for me. But then I prefer not to watch TV while reloading, YMMV.

 

[SSN Vet]

on the press.... LM and LCT

No troubles at all!