Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Reloading
o

Notices

Reloading All Reloading Topics Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-11-2017, 03:52 PM
Mikeinkaty Mikeinkaty is offline
Member
Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools  
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 329
Likes: 6
Liked 134 Times in 64 Posts
Default Hand primer tools

Been reviewing primer tools on YouTube. Anyone here use the Foster co-ax hand primer tool? Several thing about it that appear to be nice. Nothing to wear out. Individual shell holders not required. Each caliber does require some setup, but 95% of what I load is one caliber. Primer loading is different but several videos show homemade jigs that makes it pretty simple. Interested in any comments.

I ordered a new plastic primer feeder for my Lee hand auto primer from Lee Precision. They only charged shipping. Also ordered the large and small metal primer anvils for my press. My small one had hit the concrete floor and broke the pivot tab off. Lee sent everything for $7. So, if my plastic feeder breaks again I'll be in the market for a different hand priming tool.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-11-2017, 04:33 PM
ggibson511960 ggibson511960 is offline
Member
Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools  
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 975
Likes: 1,116
Liked 1,237 Times in 532 Posts
Default Buy It!

I have an extensive collection of priming tools, Lee, RCBS, etc., both hand and add-on to a press. The Forster tool keeps them in retirement. The priming fixture atop a Forster Coax press is even better, IMHO. It is configured to uniformly seat primers a few thousandths of an inch below the case face, but is slow, requiring handling each primer. The bench mounted Forster is the best I have found to give mechanical feedback through the large paddle. You don't really squeeze it. You lean on it and can feel anvil contact with the bottom of the pocket very accurately. The shellholder jaws are tricky to set up the first time, but I like them. An added, undocumented advantage to the universal shellholder jaws is their adjustability for bent and crooked case rims. I've pounded many a bent case in and out of an RCBS shellholder with a punch. Not a good practice.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-11-2017, 05:01 PM
rockquarry rockquarry is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,552
Likes: 4
Liked 8,885 Times in 4,121 Posts
Default

I've been looking for a good hand priming tool myself; just sent back two of the RCBS models the with universal shell holder. The new Lee square tray versions are sorry compared to the old round tray "dangerous" models. Mine finally wore out.

In the interim, I've been using my Co-Ax on-press system for rifle cases and the on-press setup for handgun brass on my Texan turret. Perhaps to get a good hand-held priming tool now, one may have to go with a good one like a K&M or 21st century.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-11-2017, 06:24 PM
muddocktor's Avatar
muddocktor muddocktor is offline
Member
Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools  
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: South Louisiana
Posts: 5,346
Likes: 11,606
Liked 9,018 Times in 3,192 Posts
Default

Instead of a hand priming tool, I use the RCBS bench priming tool. And that is the original that uses tubes instead of those AP strips. It's around $80 or so last time I looked, but I gave $30 for it in the mid 80's for mine. Since I suffer with carpal tunnel, the bench priming tool is much more "wrist friendly" than something that I have to squeeze by hand every time I want to seat a primer. I highly recommend you at least look at it, Mike.

It's not cheap, but then my wrists are worth it.

Here's a link to it at Midway for you to look at. They have it at $85 now. <<<<LINK>>>>
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #5  
Old 04-11-2017, 09:49 PM
Thomas15 Thomas15 is offline
Member
Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: NE PA
Posts: 264
Likes: 75
Liked 150 Times in 95 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by muddocktor View Post
Instead of a hand priming tool, I use the RCBS bench priming tool. And that is the original that uses tubes instead of those AP strips. It's around $80 or so last time I looked, but I gave $30 for it in the mid 80's for mine. Since I suffer with carpal tunnel, the bench priming tool is much more "wrist friendly" than something that I have to squeeze by hand every time I want to seat a primer. I highly recommend you at least look at it, Mike.

It's not cheap, but then my wrists are worth it.

Here's a link to it at Midway for you to look at. They have it at $85 now. <<<<LINK>>>>
I have the same tool and really like it. I also have the RCBS hand tool (not as nice) and several other tools. For off press priming the RCBS bench tool is what I use. With tools you get what you pay for.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #6  
Old 04-11-2017, 10:56 PM
jag22 jag22 is offline
Member
Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools  
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Dallas
Posts: 701
Likes: 3
Liked 356 Times in 212 Posts
Default

Keep in mind you can still buy the old round tray Lee on eBay an GB. I can't imagine priming anywhere else but in front of the TV.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #7  
Old 04-11-2017, 11:18 PM
Sam Casey Sam Casey is offline
Member
Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Great Lakes
Posts: 129
Likes: 63
Liked 42 Times in 23 Posts
Default

RCBS hand priming tool with universal head serves me well.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #8  
Old 04-12-2017, 02:27 PM
mikld's Avatar
mikld mikld is offline
Member
Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools  
Join Date: May 2012
Location: S. Orygun
Posts: 2,461
Likes: 1,962
Liked 1,827 Times in 987 Posts
Default

FWIW, I never found a hand priming tool that worked for me. I have 2 in my tool box, tried 2 or 3 others but they don't seem to fit my hands (I have to reset the tool in my hand every squeeze) and I get tired fingers after 100 cases primed. I found ram prime tools and used them for several years and found a Lee Bench Prime tool. My Lee tool has been trouble free (after I read and followed the directions) and I can dump 100 primers in the tray and prime 100 cases non stop...
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-17-2017, 05:13 PM
gregintenn gregintenn is offline
Member
Hand primer tools  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Lafayette, Tennessee
Posts: 6,926
Likes: 6,833
Liked 8,936 Times in 2,910 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jag22 View Post
Keep in mind you can still buy the old round tray Lee on eBay an GB. I can't imagine priming anywhere else but in front of the TV.
My favorite.....til Lee screwed it up by redesigning it.

I guess an engineer becomes employed of he doesn't find some way to waste his time.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-17-2017, 09:11 PM
SMSgt's Avatar
SMSgt SMSgt is offline
Member
Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 6,555
Likes: 3,343
Liked 9,152 Times in 3,432 Posts
Default

I have the RCBS hand primer. It does exactly what I expect it to do--seat primers efficiently.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-19-2017, 12:16 PM
Fide686's Avatar
Fide686 Fide686 is offline
Member
Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools  
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Near Canandaigua, NY
Posts: 181
Likes: 79
Liked 319 Times in 75 Posts
Default

Rcbs bench tool works well. Worth the cost.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 04-19-2017, 05:09 PM
Ivan the Butcher Ivan the Butcher is online now
Member
Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Harlem, Ohio
Posts: 14,354
Likes: 23,195
Liked 26,153 Times in 9,068 Posts
Default

I have bought 1 Lee square "ergonomic" priming tool. I have 6 of the old round priming tools, They are labeled with which primer they contain (Federal 210M or Win Lg Pistol or Rem 7 1/2). Lee makes the kits of 11 most common shell holders for them, but they don't make a shell holder for 338 Lapua Mag/416 Rigby, but Sinclair International to the rescue, the make one in stainless steel. And that shell holder remains in the Federal 215M priming tool at all times.

Ivan
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 04-19-2017, 05:27 PM
Ole Joe Clark's Avatar
Ole Joe Clark Ole Joe Clark is offline
Absent Comrade
Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools  
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Alabama
Posts: 4,091
Likes: 9,379
Liked 12,841 Times in 2,905 Posts
Default

My priming tools.

Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 04-19-2017, 05:42 PM
Rule3's Avatar
Rule3 Rule3 is offline
Member
Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools Hand primer tools  
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 22,063
Likes: 10,777
Liked 15,463 Times in 6,787 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ivan the Butcher View Post
I have bought 1 Lee square "ergonomic" priming tool. I have 6 of the old round priming tools, They are labeled with which primer they contain (Federal 210M or Win Lg Pistol or Rem 7 1/2). Lee makes the kits of 11 most common shell holders for them, but they don't make a shell holder for 338 Lapua Mag/416 Rigby, but Sinclair International to the rescue, the make one in stainless steel. And that shell holder remains in the Federal 215M priming tool at all times.

Ivan
This chart says it is holder #25?

Priming Tool Shell Holders - Lee Precision
__________________
Still Running Against the Wind
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #15  
Old 04-19-2017, 05:58 PM
fredj338's Avatar
fredj338 fredj338 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Kalif. usa
Posts: 6,836
Likes: 2,665
Liked 3,927 Times in 2,366 Posts
Default

I have the old & new Lee, don't really like either. I prefer the Hornady for the feel.
__________________
NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Opinions on Hand Tools Duckford The Lounge 30 11-22-2015 10:27 PM
Lees Auto hand Primer ?? Ricks2524 Reloading 7 02-02-2015 12:33 AM
best/favorite hand primer? deadear dan Reloading 25 05-30-2014 06:41 AM
Best hand primer for fatigue. Nitrous SSC Reloading 35 12-01-2013 12:13 AM
hand primer seating pin sticks bobsdad Reloading 5 11-16-2010 08:30 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:39 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)