good priming tool

[scotthickoryky]

i have been reloading for 25 years,,,, the older rcbs was fantastic with 0 issues,,,, i have a lee auto prime i bought last year and i am far from happy with it,,,,,, i am looking at the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Perfect Seat Hand Priming Tool at midway for 62.00,,,,
just wondering if anyone is using it or what the better 1 is,,, i sure am not happy with the lee

 

[DWalt]

For many years, I used the Lee hand priming tool, the one with the round primer tray, in fact I about wore it out. About a year ago I bought the Lee bench priming tool, the one with the triangular priming tray. A BIG double thumbs down for it, it was a waste of money as it is virtually unusable. I went back to using the Lee hand tool.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have used the round Lee Priming tool since the early 1980's. When Lee came out with the next version I bought one and didn't like it! Then they I
"IMPROVED" that model, I don't like either but it is usable if you put a spring clamp on the tray/lid. The gunshop I buy many guns and components at get lots of used loading equipment in, (usually from estates) Some body died and I bought all his Lee ROUND hand primers! I have 8, they are labeled for different size and brand primers. As they break, I've been able to buy used replacements, until 2 years ago. Now, I use the OLD(Parts and tubes are no longer available) Lyman version of the press mounted primer with the tube magazine. Really large batches of ammo are done on a Dillon 550b so I'm good there, but for small batches I'm just catabolizing the old Lee's and waiting for someone without a Lawyer or insurance underwriter to invent a user friendly one!

I have primed hundreds of cases with the Lee Loader (Whack-a-mole) and it is slow and a few have detonated, but aside from wet drawers, nobody gets hurt.

Lee designed the original priming tool to be "Idiot Proof", but somebody proved him wrong and a "Ambulance Chaser" type of lawyer, got said idiot or his estate a pile of cash.

Darwin may have been right; but the jury awards are subverting that system of corrections!

Ivan

 

[6string]

The old Lee round tool feels great to use. But, the materials aren't the most durable. Being that it's discontinued perhaps makes this a moot point.
A great hand priming tool is the Sinclair. It is built to last! Being that primers must be individually inserted makes it slow to use. But, it has a great "feel". Benchrest shooters like it for precision loading. It is also one of the safest priming tools you could ever wish for.

Jim

 

[scooter123]

I have two of the RCBS Universal Hand Primers, one set up for Large primers and one setup for Small primers. They work well for me.

 

[joeintexas]

I have two of the RCBS Universal Hand Primers, one set up for Large primers and one setup for Small primers. They work well for me.

I also have the same primers, one for large and one for small for when I want to seat a few primers while watching tv. In the shop I have the RCBS bench mount primer, much easier on the wrists.

 

[schutzen-jager]

the old style LEE tool has served me well for over 30 years - only problem was years ago when the aluminum body cracked - when it was discontinued I bought three spares at estate sales - they are also usually available on Ebay -

 

[Rosco Shooter]

I've had really good luck with the RCBS bench mounted priming tool. (I'd provide the exact title, but its out in my shed.) The tool seats primers consistently to the same depth, and is easier on my hands than the hand priming models.

 

[rockquarry]

I've been using a 21st Century hand priming tool for two years and won't ever go back to cheaper tools that don't work nearly as well. When I consider how much I use a priming tool, the cost is insignificant when amortized over a year. Sinclair also makes a good one.

 

[ShootMeStraight]

I use the Lee Classic Turret and load a round at a time from start to finish so I prime using the arm on the press. I don't use any sort of feeding system, just pick a primer off the tray and put it in the primer arm. I have loaded about 50,000 rounds this way and have never had an issue.

 

[hyena]

I bought that Frankford Arsenal primer, and it works very well. No complaints, no regrets. I only reload 45 ACP and 38 Special.

 

[Hasbeen1945]

I have two RCBS hand priming tools. One uses standard shell holders , the other has universal jaws.
A friend has a Forster bench mounted unit. After seeing his I’m looking for a excuse to buy one.

 

[SMSgt]

I started out with a Lee hand primer, the single-fed model before it had a tray. It worked fine until I literally wore it out. The problem I have with Lee is every model and up grade uses different proprietary shell holders, and I wasn't about to but a new batch of shell holders.

I bought the RCBS hand primer that uses standard shell holders and never looked back. It allows me to relax in my recliner and watch TV while I prime cases. There may be some with better (different?) features, but all I need is reliable primer seating, and the RCBS does that. I've never been disappointed with an RCBS product.

 

[scotthickoryky]

LOTS of good info and advice guys,,,,,,, i just pulled the trigger on the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Perfect Seat Hand Priming Tool
did lot of research and checked 100s reviews and you guys its on its way
thanks

 

[mikld]

I tried three different makes of hand priming tools and never got comfortable using any (4 if you count 2 different Lee tools). I had to reset the tool in my hand every squeeze. But One that worked sorta OK for me was a Hornady tool. If I had not discovered the Lee Bench Prime I was looking at the FA hand tool and would probably have tried it.

I purchased a Lee Bench Prime a few months after they came out. I opened the box, filled the primer tray and primed 60 cases. I had 3 OOPS!. Too many for me. I reread the instructions, looked the tool over to see how it was designed to work, mounted it solidly and tried again. I dumped a full sleeve of CCI LP primers in the tray and primed 100, 44 Mag. cases non stop. I have since primed about 2,500-3,000 cases with maybe 4 or 5 OOPS!. Maybe because I'm a lifelong machinist/mechanic and I know how to use tools, I have very few (zero) problems using my Lee Bench Prime.

 

[2152hq]

..and I've been using the priming arm on the presses all these years.

Though I did break one last spring on an old Lyman Orange Crusher press.
The arm is Munimula metal and broke at the pivot while priming plain old 30-06 cases.
Maybe I leaned into it a bit much.

I'll get the RCBS R/C out and use that for a while.
Same deal though,,priming arm to 'prime' cases. Pick 'em up off the bench one at a time.

 

[scotthickoryky]

I tried three different makes of hand priming tools and never got comfortable using any (4 if you count 2 different Lee tools). I had to reset the tool in my hand every squeeze. But One that worked sorta OK for me was a Hornady tool. If I had not discovered the Lee Bench Prime I was looking at the FA hand tool and would probably have tried it.

I purchased a Lee Bench Prime a few months after they came out. I opened the box, filled the primer tray and primed 60 cases. I had 3 OOPS!. Too many for me. I reread the instructions, looked the tool over to see how it was designed to work, mounted it solidly and tried again. I dumped a full sleeve of CCI LP primers in the tray and primed 100, 44 Mag. cases non stop. I have since primed about 2,500-3,000 cases with maybe 4 or 5 OOPS!. Maybe because I'm a lifelong machinist/mechanic and I know how to use tools, I have very few (zero) problems using my Lee Bench Prime.

this lee i have about 2-3 oooppssss every 50,,,i spend more time getting it to work then it actually working

 

[bigggbbruce]

I've had really good luck with the RCBS bench mounted priming tool. (I'd provide the exact title, but its out in my shed.) The tool seats primers consistently to the same depth, and is easier on my hands than the hand priming models.

I have problems just opening and closing my hands, hand primer is a NO GO... I also have the RCBS bench mounted primer.

 

[mikld]

this lee i have about 2-3 oooppssss every 50,,,i spend more time getting it to work then it actually working

Hmmm. Is it the tool or the operator?

 

[Sevens]

Loading for about three decades and somewhere between 100-200k, I have precious little experience with the myriad of priming tools on the market.

For a single purpose tool -- priming cases only, there is only one tool that I own. It's the Lee Auto Prime II.
YouTube

I'm not certain why Lee took this out of production. I know there was a flap way back in the 1990's about Federal and maybe Winchester primers being too "sensitive" for use with this system. I don't believe it and I've primed many tens of thousands with mine using every primer on the market excluding Cheddite and Remington without issues and never once have I EVER detonated a primer at my load bench in my entire life.

I love this particular tool and I won't pass one up when I spot one at a gun show, assuming the price is reasonable. It's fast, easy to use, simple to set up, uses regular shell holders, and you can incrementally set the primer depth/feel. This tool gives you nearly infinite leverage when seating primers. Yes! That sounds like exactly the tool to explode primers at the bench, yet I've not ever done it, not once.

Love this tool and I think the idea of priming cases in front of the TV is terrible.