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There are Priming tools from between $10.00 to $110.00 and then some. How about some comments on the good and bad point of your favorite or least favorite Priming Tools.
Priming Tools
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2,032 Posts
Ya can spend more but ya won't get any better than the Lee, I have two. one for large, one for small. I haven't been able to wear one out yet to have a "parts" one. I've been using my first one since 80 and it's been with me through fire and flood (literally). I wouldn't even consider anything else
I started out using the Lee, If you have alot to do its not very ergonomic. It bothers my thumb. Lee uses thumb preasure to seat the primers. I swithched to the RCBS for about $25. You squeeze it in your hand for seating. A lot more comfortable for me, and you use a standard shell holder, Lee uses its own special shell holders. KN
I have been using the Lee for around 12 or 13 years now (maybe more, the RCBS was not out when I bought mine) and for me its the only way to go. When my brother started reloading about 1 1/2 years ago I talked him into the RCBS because it uses the standard shellholder and I thought it looked like it would be more comfortable to use. Turns out I was wrong; for me and him both at least. Seems we both like my Lee better.
BruceP
BruceP
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25,953 Posts
Haven't primed a case any other way than the Lee Auto Prime in something over 20 years. It is THE one Lee tool I whole heartedly endorse and recommend to everyone. You can see my review of it and their shell holders and seems to me like something else of theirs on my Product Test Page.
GB
GB
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25,953 Posts
I keep forgetting. Ya have to reach it from the OLD Home Page as Matt's not yet moved all the stuff over to the new one yet. Here is the URL for the old Home Page with everything that is on the site accessable from it.
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/index.shtml
GB
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/index.shtml
GB
Joined
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25,953 Posts
Yer right there Guest. Back when I bought my first Lee Auto Prime it was the ONLY such tool on the market. It worked so well and I liked it so much I've never seen any reason to change. Many imitators and some with other methods of doing it have come along since those days long ago. But none of them even come close to the Lee tool for cost and while they may do an excellent job I can't see how they are going to do the job any better or faster for me and since I've loaded at least a couple hundred thousand or more primers on the Lee tools over the years they are like an old comforable pair of boots that aren't worned out so I see no reason to change.
Can't say others wouldn't do just as well and if I'd started with some other I might like it as well as I now do the Lee. But I didn't. I recommend things to folks ONLY when I've tried them and know them to do the job for me.
GB
Can't say others wouldn't do just as well and if I'd started with some other I might like it as well as I now do the Lee. But I didn't. I recommend things to folks ONLY when I've tried them and know them to do the job for me.
GB
prime tools
I started with with the OLD Lee tool. Have mostly used the Lee Auto Prime even wore out the ram part on one. I keep 2, 1 for each primer size like others stated above. But when I have a couple hundred cases to do my thumb gets sore. So I've tried others. I didn't like the RCBS when I tried it because I was loading lots of small lots of different cartridges and switching among shell holders and primer sizes wasn't near as easy as the Lee AP. Also, I think I had to tilt the primer container in an odd direction - but the handle WAS more comfortable. I wonder if the APS version it might be better.
Recently I have tried and occasionally use the Cabela (Hornady?) hand primer but I don't really like it or recommend it. It wouldn't seat large primers properly until I modified the seating ram (added a small shim), and the upper portion of the tool tends to flop around too easily if you change the angle of your wrist - it needs some sort of set screw to lock the upper portions in place. It seats small primers fine. It is more comfortable but it requires constant attention.
So the Lee still gets my vote. Just wish they could come out with one that is more comfortable for long sessions.
I started with with the OLD Lee tool. Have mostly used the Lee Auto Prime even wore out the ram part on one. I keep 2, 1 for each primer size like others stated above. But when I have a couple hundred cases to do my thumb gets sore. So I've tried others. I didn't like the RCBS when I tried it because I was loading lots of small lots of different cartridges and switching among shell holders and primer sizes wasn't near as easy as the Lee AP. Also, I think I had to tilt the primer container in an odd direction - but the handle WAS more comfortable. I wonder if the APS version it might be better.
Recently I have tried and occasionally use the Cabela (Hornady?) hand primer but I don't really like it or recommend it. It wouldn't seat large primers properly until I modified the seating ram (added a small shim), and the upper portion of the tool tends to flop around too easily if you change the angle of your wrist - it needs some sort of set screw to lock the upper portions in place. It seats small primers fine. It is more comfortable but it requires constant attention.
So the Lee still gets my vote. Just wish they could come out with one that is more comfortable for long sessions.
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2,254 Posts
I've used Lee Auto prime tools and now I use the RCBS hand priming tool. I like the gate that slides between the primer tray and the tool head for safety. I have extra shell holders and keep one set with the priming tool. The Lee is a good tool too. I just like the RCBS tool better. Dave
Use Dillon
My first press was a Dillon 550 and I used it to load everything. A Lee priming tool (not the Auto Prime) was given to me and I eventually tried it. True, you do get a better feel for seating the primers than the Dillon, but I don't think the Dillon is that far off. I have also used the RCBS tool once and was not overly impressed.
I mostly use the Dillon for priming. Whole lot easier on the thumb, too. <wink, wink>
My first press was a Dillon 550 and I used it to load everything. A Lee priming tool (not the Auto Prime) was given to me and I eventually tried it. True, you do get a better feel for seating the primers than the Dillon, but I don't think the Dillon is that far off. I have also used the RCBS tool once and was not overly impressed.
I mostly use the Dillon for priming. Whole lot easier on the thumb, too. <wink, wink>
JIM1 - 13 of 13 Posts
