Priming tools

[mnhntr]

What is your favorite way to prime? I currently use the arm and tubes for my rock chucker but I do not like the process. It frequently is not aligned or spits out two primers. I was thinking about buying a sinclair handheld primer tool.

 

[TurtlePhish]

I've got the Lee Safety-prime on my press that came with it as a kit and it works flawlessly for me. It looks and feels kinda cheap, but it has no issues.

 

[scotty]

I have a Lee hand primer that works very well. I've used the priming arm on my Rock Chucker and it works just fine but is a lot more cumbersome than the Lee.

My only issue with the Lee is that has a round primer tray that is difficult to dump a normal 100 rd tray of primers into. I usually do 50 at a time. I have since seen other hand priming tools that have a square tray that look like they would be easier in this regard.

 

[jcwit]

I have a Lee Auto Prime and a Hornady Hand Primer, both seldom used. I normally use either my K & M Hand Primer or any of my older Lee Hand Primers with the screw in shell holders. Just the way I like to do it. Its relaxing.

 

[stiffdogg06]

Depends on what I am reloading. I reload .40 S&W on my Lee Pro 1000 and prime on the press.

When I reload .223, I prime with the Lee Auto Prime. A lot of people hate reloading .223 but I really do enjoy it because it's a lot more hands on. I do it all on a Lee Single Stage.

 

[mbopp]

Depending on the caliber, how many cases I'm doing, and if it's large or small primer I'll use the primer arm on my Rockchucker or Lyman turret presses or the Lee handheld priming tool.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I was using a Lee hand primer but when I tried an RCBS hand primer I was hooked. I use the RCBS for all my rifle ammo and I prime on a Lee turret press for all my handgun ammo.

 

[BYJO4]

Since getting my progressive press almost 2 years ago, I prime all my handgun cases on the press. When I use my single stage press, I only use the RCBS bench mounted priming tool. I've used this for over 30 years and there is nothing better. Primers seat perfectly with no exertion needed on your part plus it is very fast.

 

[Andrew Leigh]

The Lee tool has to be one of the most innovative reloading tools. It offeres the following;

- ease of use
- seats primers easily and effortlessly. The priming attachment on my RCBS is useless.
- priming can be done in the comfort of your armchair
- priming is incredibly quick

For the price you will be overjoyed with your purchase, trust me on this one.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have been using a hand primer for 32 years. First was an original Lee Auto-Prime, now I use an RCBS Universal, both standard and APS versions. (The current Lee Auto-Prime II does not float my boat)

I hand prime even when loading on a progressive. I prefer to clean my cases between resizing and reloading which affords me the option of hand priming. I can hand prime 100 cases as fast as filling a primer tube.

 

[Ken70]

I do it on the Loadmaster; quickest and easiest thing I got. I can prime with the Lee handprimer, Challenger single stage press, Lee Cast Turret Press, Lee Reloader Press, or the Smartreloader hand primer. The Loadmaster is the go to piece.

 

[Zekest Crowe]

I have everything LEE ... except the hand primer, I really like the RCBS Universal Hand Primer ... Sorry LEE.

 

[Etkini]

I used the Lee Auto-Prime XR heavily for the past two years reloading. It's worked well, but I always had to use both thumbs at the same time to seat the primer as it got tiring after a few cases, or was difficult. It's worked well, but the plastic clips that hold the clear plastic top on broke off a year ago so it's been held on with electrical tape\rubber bands. I hated the safety prime on my Lee Challenger press - I used it once then took it off.

Now that I have a Hornady progressive, everything gets primed right there on the press. Although I don't have a 100% study bench (using a portable Skil workbench for now), it has a great seating feel.

 

[medalguy]

I use the RCBS bench mounted Auto Prime. I wore out the handle on the first one I had, probably primed 75,000 cases with it over 30 years. The handle finally wore down right at the hump, so I called RCBS and they sent me a whole new tool.

 

[Ken70]

Etkini, If you've read the first edition of the Lee Reloading Manual, you'll recognize the passage about some gorilla coming into Lee's office and complaining about how hard it was to seat the primers. Took both thumbs;plus. Crushed the primer every time. That's not what you want to do.

It doesn't take both thumbs, I've been doing it for 16 years with one. You don't have to collapse the linkage in the priming tool, it's just press until you feel some resistance. It's seated.

 

[GLOOB]

I threw my Lee Autoprime handprimer into the trash. I prime on my press, a Breechlock Challenger. The priming system and spent primer system are well thought out on it. I find press priming on a Breechlock to be faster, easier, and better than handpriming with the Autoprime in every way but the portability. And swapping in/out 2 little priming arms versus a box full of parts is a plus, in itself.

Even when I primed rifle in its own step, I used the ram. Now I'm flaring/priming at the same time with the M die, and I have always sized and primed in one step for pistol. So handpriming is now way, way too slow for me.

 

[rg1]

RCBS Bench Mounted Automatic priming tool is the best system I've tried. It has just the right amount of leverage and feel. It's primed many thousands of cases and if it ever breaks and I don't think it will, I'll immediately buy another. It's probably over 20 years old and the only disadvantage I would say is that I've bought extra shellholders just for the priming tool. Mine uses standard shellholders.

 

[Mike 27]

I have the Lee press mounted, Hornady LNL, and the hand held RCBS. Guess it kinda depends on what I feel like using as they all work fine.

 

[Ehtereon11B]

My press came with a single primer arm on the downstroke operation. I tried it a few times but couldn't feel the primer sitting well as the primers were never seated properly. So I went back to the Lee hand primer and haven't gone back since.

 

[beatledog7]

Hornady hand primers, one set up for small, another for large. It was what I started with, and other than doing a few on the LNL SS and a few with a Lee hand press, just to try them, it's all I've ever used. I like it, and it's fast enough (I don't load high volume).

 

[EddieNFL]

Ammo loaded on the Dillons are primed on the presses. Certain rounds are primed on the RCBS tool and I use a K&M tool for a few specific loads.

 

[918v]

Hornady.

It has the quality of the Sinclair, but has a tray.

 

[kingmt]

If I'm using the Load Master or Pro1000 I prime on the press. If SS I have liked The Lee Classic Cast but I sometimes use a ram prime.

 

[minnesota]

I have 2 Lee auto prime's ( set up for .223 rem and 30-06) and a hornady hand held for everything else. I actually prefer the feel of the hornady, but the convenience of having 2 set up for most of my loading needs is nice. If I am loading pistol it gets primed on the progressive.

 

[918v]

I like the sensitivity of a hand priming tool. It lets me feel the primer bottom out in the primer pocket. You don't get that feature with priming on your press.