I was doing some reloading with my son this evening and he was using the RCBS hand primer tool. The tool is very clumsy and he had multiple jams where a primer didn't feed or he had 2 stacked on top of one another. Needless to say, it's now in the trash can.

Any recommendations for a handheld primer tool? Don't want to go with the primer strips and don't want to go back to the old Rock Chucker 1 primer at a time mode! There was a real nice tool in an old version of Precision Shooting Magazine months back, but I can't remember the name. ANy help or advice would be appreciated.

Hard to go past a Lee.

I tried the RCBS version and I know exactly what you're talkin' about. Get youself a Lee and you'll be a happy camper. I've been using them for a long time.

The Lee Auto Prime is the best for priming a volume of cases. I've primed between 20 and 30 thousand cases with my first one. A US$10.00 each it cannot hurt to try it. You need a Lee shell holder for casehead that you're priming and make sure you put a bit of grease on the bearing surfaces between the hand lever and the plunger that presses the primer into place.

I picked up a Sinclair priming tool awhile back and it has the smoothest most positive feel possible. The downside is that you have to feed the primers one at a time.

The RCBS is a picky rascal to get to work. Everything has to be pretty much just right or it'll jam up, but if you can figure out its quirks it'll work like a champ. If the primer tray is pushed into the opening too far the primers wont feed right, and if the plastic part that the shell holder sits on isn't aligned just right with the rod that pushes the primers up the rod will hang up. The plastic parts will finally "break in" and everything will loosen up and it'll get better with time. Hell, dont throw it away, I'll give you something for it. I can use one that stays set up for small primers.

Lee, I've had one for years and love it.

Would you consider selling that junk RCBS primer before the trash goes out?

the lee is also my choice

Whichever you use a helpful tip is to stand them on a flat surface after priming to determine if any wobble is present. If the primer isn't seated all the way home you could be in for a rude awaking when you slam home the bolt. Until you get the hang of it, a shallow seated primer has to be considered. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

I like the Lee, but I have an older one & it won't take a UM/Jeffery case. I bought a RCBS & it is crap. I now use a Hornady & like it alot too. It uses std. shell holders & they are easy to change out.

Doesn't RCBS make 2 different hand-priming tools? The latest one accepts the APF primer strips. That's the one I'minterested in - anyone have experience with it??

Thanks,
BigIron

My Lee works great, although I had too dremel out the opening to allow my 300RUM cases to fit.

mjolnir2thor: Nothing against the lee tool but I kind of like my K&M priming tool or even a Sinclair if money is no object. I've tried the RCBS and Lee but I can feel the primer better with the K&M. Just my .02 worth. Tom

Get a Lee. I started using one 40 years ago after sticking the priming rod from my Lee Hand Loader in the ceiling of my bedroom when I was a teenager. My father had told me to never reload in the house, to do it in the shed. But the shed was cold and hard to heat so Dad wasn't home and I figured "what the heck Dad will NEVER KNOW". WRONG!!! Fixed the ceiling, got a Lee hand Primer and have been using them ever since even though the reloading equipment has been updated to bench presses and such. Lawdog

[ 11-25-2003, 05:48: Message edited by: Lawdog_Gary ]

Hey Lawdog, same exact thing happened to me as a teenager (35yrs ago). Using my Lee Loader in my bedroom while "doing my homework." Didn't make it all the way to the ceiling, but it sure scared the crap outa Ma (and me too).

I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to reply to my post! You guys are GREAT!

Fished the RCBS out of the trash. For those of you who mentioned that you'd be interested in owning this fine piece of RCBS equipment, make me an offer!

Only ever used a Lee, no problems with it.

My RCBS works okay. My only complaint is that sometimes the handles close all the way against each other without the primer definitely feeling as if it's bottomed. I'm glad to hear a $10.00 Lee priming tool could solve the whole problem.

What's all this about needing Lee shell holders? Will RCBS or Hornady shell holders work on the Lee?

H. C.

Conventional shell holders will not work on a Lee Autoprime. The Lee shell holder is flat on the bottom and does not have the lug that engages the ram on a standard press. They're not pricey and you can order from www.lockstock.com, www.midwayusa.com et.al.

I've got a Lee, and it does not work as well as a plain old primer tube on my ancient RCBS Jr. press! In addition, Lee says not to use any brand of primers other than CCI! I like Federal!

[ 11-25-2003, 17:40: Message edited by: eldeguello ]

I to was using the ole rcbs to prime cases after readin on here about how well the Lee Autoprime works I decided to buy one.. Let me tell you that it is the best thing since sliced bread im telling ya its the cat's meow.. I use federal primers and it works just fine for me!!

6.5 Bandit

I guess I'm all alone here because I didn't see it mentioned, but I've got the Hornady hand priming tool and I think it's great. I've loaded thousands of rounds with it and never had a single problem with it.

i tried a hand tool but found a rcbs ram prime tool worked best for me. lee makes a ram prime tool with a primer magazine but primer tubes or lee's pan type makes me nervous.

I must be the odd man out. I�ve worn out two Lee�s, literally, bought an RCBS and love it. I had bought a Hornady before the RCBS but got rid of it for some reason which escapes me. Anyway, I�ve owned all three and like the RCBS best.

The problem I had with the Lee�s was the primer arm wearing on the cam and getting too short to the point where it would not fully seat primers. Lee recommends against using Federal primers and one other brand (Winchester?) because if one detonates it might take the whole tray with it. Also, I have to buy a separate shell holder for the Lee.

The RCBS has that steel safety arm that keeps the current primer separated from the tray. I�ve never had a problem with jamming mine. It uses the standard RCBS shell holder that I�d use anyway.

Now in the Lee�s favor it is literally a snap to change from large to small primers or different shell holders, where the RCBS is a bit of a procedure. But I can still change the RCBS over in under 20 seconds so it�s not a big deal.

I think they will all give good service, but I definitely prefer the RCBS.

K&M! I have used (and broken a few) RCBS and Lee's and think the K&M is about as good as you can get. They are well made, easy to adjust and fit the hand well. They are not the fastest on earth since the primers have to be loaded 1 at a time.
C.G.B.

Is anyone using the RCBS hand priming tool that feeds APF strips? Comments & experiences?

mjolnir2thor,

Would $10.00 get it from your house to mine? I'm assuming that its complete with all the parts that originally came with it. Lemme know, thanks. Carl.

I've used every brand and type of primer in my Lee Auto primes over the past 25 years and have yet to have a problem.

Hold Em - Sorry but the RCBS is already sold and being shipped today. Thanks for your inquiry and particpating in the thread.

Kind regards,
-Thor

To the rest of the Forum... I placed an order for a Sinclair and it's on its way!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
�CGB
K&M! I have used (and broken a few) RCBS and Lee's and think the K&M is about as good as you can get. They are well made, easy to adjust and fit the hand well. They are not the fastest on earth since the primers have to be loaded 1 at a time.
C.G.B.�
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Where do I find a K&M?

Swede44mag

I love my Hornady...uses same shellholder as the press.

definitely the Lee AutoPrime. I bought one when they first came out. Next to case trimming, I hated priming using the priming arm on my RCBS press. Since I hated priming, the autoprime was like the greatest invention since the wheel. I wore one out already, and now have two and most if not all the shellholders.

If only someone would come up with a trimming tool as easy to use as the autoprime... sigh

Oops !!
Double posted !

[ 11-29-2003, 00:47: Message edited by: Afrikaander ]

One more vote for the K&M. Difference between it and RCBS, Lee, or Hornady is about like the difference between Mercedes 600 SE and a Renault 2-CV. Uses standard shell holders, too.

(I have two Lee's, one for large and one for small primers, but never use them any more. Had an RCBS hand tool, but it worked so poorly, I sent it back. I never believed in paying for something just for the privilege of having to re-engineer it to make it work.)

Should be able to find the K&M at any benchrest supply house, such as Les Bruno's, Russ Haydon's, etc.

AC

[ 11-29-2003, 04:07: Message edited by: Alberta Canuck ]

Another vote for the K&M. I use a Lee and it's good; but the K&M is much nicer for a hand held priming tool. I use the RCBS bench mounted ram tool as well for pistol loading as it is much faster; but less feel. All rifle loading is done with the K&M now.

Hello, gentlemen. I've gotten in on this late, but better late...oh, you know.

As Alberta Canuck indicated, the RCBS 'has to be re-engineered to make it work.' But if you're mechanically inclined, this tool can be tweaked to make it work much better, in my experience, than the Lee(I've used both). The main reason for this is that the Lee is thumb-operated, and it takes a stronger thumb than mine to operate it(I used both thumbs, which is clumsy and slows things down.). The RCBS is designed to utilize the natural leverage of all four fingers closing down against the palm. I 're-engineered' mine, and it works like a charm. I can prime, IIRC, close to 300 cases an hour with it without a jam or any other problem(and I'm naturally a slowpoke). If anyone would be interested in knowing how to get the RCBS to work well, send me an email and I'll tell you what I did.

Deutschlander,

Your e-mail address doesn't show in your profile, so I thought I post my request here. I'd love to see what you did to your RCBS hand primer.

Thanks and Take Care,

-Steve

Sorry, Steve. I'll try to get that corrected as soon as I have a chance. I'll be sending you an email soon with the information. If there is further interest, I may post it here as well.

The Lee is run by thumb.....and The Hornady is run by the entire hand....I'd get the Hornady..... I believe it's a better product.