Hand priming?

[Boogsawaste]

Who's using which hand priming tool? Curious to see what's out there as I'd like to try one.

Also, is there any danger with these things? Such as chain detonations? I'll admit that it makes me a little nervous seating primers with a bunch of them in my hand. I'm sure I'm feeling that way for no reason though.

 

[snowman]

At ease, my friend. The hand priming tools are safe; the reservoir keeps them all together, right side up, and there is a cover to keep them from falling out.

I don't use it anymore, but I used the RCBS tool, which I had to re-engineer to make it work right. They've probably made the same improvements since then that I did some 10 years ago, without paying me royalties. It worked splendidly for me after I made the changes.

Best wishes,
Andy

 

[joeintexas]

I use the RCBS hand primer tool for 9mm and 45acp, very easy and safe.

 

[arjay]

I use an old RCBS tool that doesn't have a reservoir.I don't point it at my eyes [emoji4]

 

[rwsmith]

I use the Lee Auto Prime....

It's inexpensive and is pretty sloppy in the tolerances. But it works well with some practice.

It has a flat reservoir with the grooves in it that turn the primers right side up and before you press, you tilt it to slide the primers away from the ram portion. Less chance of chain fire. The only time I've set off a primer was with the Lee Hand tools where you tap on the steel rod with a hammer to seat the primer.

I believe the ones that have baffles to let in one primer at a time are overkill and often don't work. The manufacturers were aware of this and adjusted their designs, so they probably work better now.

 

[SMSgt]

The advantage of the RCBS over Lee is Lee insists on using "special" shell holders whereas the RCBS uses standard shell holders. I started out with an old Lee and slap wore it out. Then I upgraded to RBCS for the mentioned reason and never looked back.

 

[Big Stick]

I use the one that came with my Hornady Lock and Load Classic kit. It comes with primer trays for both Hornady or RCBS shell holders. Takes a bit of getting used to, and finding that "right" feel. Biggest issue I had at first, was "short stroking" it, and having the primer sticking just far enough out of the base of the brass that I had to disassemble the apparatus, to get it out, as I couldn't reseat the primer, because another had already entered the well. After this happens a few times, you'll have a pretty good idea how much pressure is needed for proper seating...

Never hurts to wear some safety glasses, just in case.......

 

[lebomm]

I have both the Lee and RCBS Ram Prime kits and prefer the Lee - fewer parts. But maybe that's not what you're asking about.

Larry

 

[Nevada Ed]

No worry.........

the large diameter pin that pushes on the primer to seat it has
too much surface area and the seating speed is too slow to discharge a primer.

The odds are better at trying to pop a balloon with your tongue.....

 

[Twoboxer]

I've used the Lee, Hornady, and RCBS Universal hand priming tools. In my experience . . .

The Lee has the best tray - it flips the primers fastest/easiest.

The Hornady has the best ergonomics. It fits my average sized hand best, and it will stand up by itself.

But the RCBS UNIVERSAL tool is the best. Shellholders are not used - spring tension jaws center and hold the case, so your shell holders stay with your dies. As you begin to set a primer, a steel barrier slides between that primer and the rest of the primers in the tray. Finally, the RCBS has never flipped a primer as others sometimes do.

However, as my hands have gotten older and more arthritic, I have given up on hand-squeezing to set primers and now use the bench-mounted RCBS Automatic Bench Priming Tool. There's some work/time added since you have to flip the primers base up AND fill primer tube(s) almost the same way as for progressive presses. But it completely eliminates what for me is painful squeezing.

I'd recommend either RCBS tool depending on how you feel about your hands.

 

[kmonroe99]

+1 for the hand RCBS Universal. I've got arthritis in my little finger but I have no problem seating 100 primers at a time

 

[Deadctr]

I started the Hornady, which was a snap to get used to, and never gave me an issue. A plus for the Hornady, as an earlier post stated, it will accept standard shell holders.

When I started loading for pistols, I saw an immediate need for a second tool.

Went with the Lee Auto prime. Was slightly disappointed that I didn't pick up on the need for special shell holders. The Lee works well. Different from the Hornady, But still good.

If I had to pick one over the other, I'd go with the Hornady, simply for the easier, or better leverage. and use of fingers for the "press". Where Lee has, at least for me, an awkward location that puts the "press handle" right at the base of my thumb.

 

[ankona]

RCBS hand priming tool. Rock solid. The Lee is junk; made out of crappy pot metal. I've had the priming handle break on 2 of them; just snapped off.

 

[scooter123]

I have two of the RCBS Universal Hand Primers, one for Small Primers and one for Large Primers. They work well and don't need a shell holder for size case.

 

[Magload]

Well they all sound better then the way I used to do 10 small mag primers yesterday. Not wanting to unload a full tube of small primers on the 550B I removed each small from the primer cup and replaced it with a mag primer. Wouldn't have been to bad if they didn't go in the cup up side down most of the time. Don

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

I have a RCBS priming tool that I use for rifle and a Lee autoprime that I use for small primers. Never had a problem with either that was not operator error.

 

[ontargetagain]

Lee hand primer for both large and small primers has been great for me. You develop a good feel as they seat and it gives you a good chance to inspect the casings. Any resistance in seating the primer is 'hand felt' and you can then find out why.

Yep once in a while they jumble up at the feed mouth but very infrequent for me that this happens. Simple, basic and effective but I have not tried the others to compare.
Karl

 

[eb07]

Another user of the RCBS hand priming tool and I have never had an issue

 

[MarkL_01]

I used the old version of the Lee auto prime and have switched to the new one that does a better job of isolating the primers in the tray from the one that's being seated.

 

[2tall79]

I've tried Lee and Hornady but I always go back to my RCBS. I don't use the universal model, but I did switch it out to the square reservoir.