Hand Priming Tool Recomendations

08 November 2016, 05:12

I finally broke my Lee priming tool of 20 years. No problem, I bought their latest version, with the triangle tray. What a over engineered POS. Didn't last a week. I tried a RCBS universal, but one side of the clamp couldn't hold 223 brass, it would pop them out every time I tried to seat a primer.

Now what? Any recommendations?

08 November 2016, 05:25

p dog shooter

I have worn out 5 or of the lees I have 2 of them now and a rcbs universal one. I use all of them depending on what I am doing.

I notice I have to turn the cases some times to get the rcbs one to hold

08 November 2016, 05:59

ramrod340

I've worn out 2 lee. Now have an RCBS. If memory serves I remember the lee to have a touch more leverage thus less thumb pressure needed. But it has been 10 years at least since I used a lee.

08 November 2016, 06:03

Doubless

quote:
Originally posted by OldFart:
I finally broke my Lee priming tool of 20 years. No problem, I bought their latest version, with the triangle tray. What a over engineered POS. Didn't last a week. I tried a RCBS universal, but one side of the clamp couldn't hold 223 brass, it would pop them out every time I tried to seat a primer.

Now what? Any recommendations?

What do you mean by "one side of the clamp"?. The RCBS hand primer uses a shell holder... And btw, that is what I have used ever since I wore out the first Lee about a year after its purchase.

08 November 2016, 06:13

OldFart

RCBS actually makes 2 types of hand priming tools, one that uses a shell holder, and a "universal" one that uses spring loaded clamps to hold any case, which is the one I have that won't hold 223 shells. I will likely get the one that uses shell holders, unless someone has a better recommendation.

08 November 2016, 07:28

craigster

I'm still using the Lees I've had for over 30 years. Still working fine after many thousand rounds. Might try one of the new Lee bench models if/when one breaks.

08 November 2016, 08:14

Wstrnhuntr

20 more years.

This is actually what I use. It stays mounted on a turret press and I love it! I also have one of the hand helds and it sits in its box on the shelf. This particular APII appears to be missing a part or two though.

08 November 2016, 08:31

OldFart

I wish I could find one of the old models. I would buy it in a heart beat. Do not waste your money on one of the new models. They engineered some BS where the primers step up from the tray to where it actually seats the primer. When I first got it, about half the time the primer would not step up. within a 100 primers, the spring would not hold the tray assembly, resulting in me having to physically hold the assembly up when I tried to seat a primer.

such a simple assembly engineered to a complicated POS. Sent it back to where I got it.

08 November 2016, 08:34

Wstrnhuntr

quote:
Originally posted by OldFart:
I wish I could find one of the old models.

Click on my link above and you will.

08 November 2016, 08:47

Ray B

For metallic reloading if it's something I want to be of highest quality, I'll go with Redding or LE Wilson.

08 November 2016, 11:05

xausa

I have three or four of the RCBS bench type priming tools with tube fed automatic primer feed. I couldn't be happier with them.

They have exactly the right amount of leverage to seat the primers properly without losing the feel needed to tell if it is seated all the way.

Plus, I can really develop some speed with it, in conjunction with two RCBS Rockchucker presses set up to resize and deprime on the one hand and charge the case with powder and seat the bullet on the other.

I prefer this setup to a progressive press, because it allows me to inspect the case at every stage of the procedure.

08 November 2016, 16:47

Joe Henderson

K&M is a good priming tool. It's simple and smooth.

Joe

08 November 2016, 19:51

butchlambert

I agree with Joe. I used a Lee for quite some time, but went to the K&M about 15 years ago.

08 November 2016, 20:17

Muttly

21st Century priming tool. The one with a tray. Yes, it uses Lee trays. Smooth, consistent, pretty easy to set primer depth.

08 November 2016, 23:42

Pa.Frank

I hate the new Lee priming tools too... over engineered POS.

I watch eBay and picked up a few of the old ones.. I should be good to go for 10-20 years now.

09 November 2016, 01:20

Jiri

RCBS universal hand priming tool works for me very well (.45 ACP, .460 Rowland, 8x57 mostly). I don't reload anything small so can't say about 223 or so.

Jiri

09 November 2016, 04:21

AIRBORNE GRUNT

I have the new Lee bench priming tool and love it. I had a little trouble with it at first but after the learning curve I like it. The main thing that I like is the lever operation. I get hand cramps from the hand primers. I just mounted it on a small piece of plywood and clamp it on my desk when I'm priming. Just another $.02 from an old goat.

09 November 2016, 05:43

Sam

The RCBS that uses shell holders. Every rifle round I've loaded has been through it out to 1k. No problems.

09 November 2016, 06:46

416RigbyHunter

I have both RCBS hand priming tools, shell holder type and universal type. I do use the universal more than the other, only because the shell holder one only gets used for my cases that are too large to fit the universal type.
I like the shorter throw on the universal too.

Cheers.

11 November 2016, 03:35

snowman

I've worn out 4 or 5 Lee tools. They were good at replacing parts but not anymore. Bought an RCBS hand tool. It works good and just uses the std shellholder unlike the Lee. Don't care for the RCBS because the plunger is free to fall out if the tool is turned upside down. It is also kind of a pain to change shellholders, so I have a belted case shellholder in the RCBS and only use it for belted cases. Picked up a new Lyman hand tool. Uses std shellholders and they are a snap to change. Works about the same as the RCBS only the plunger is captive in the Lyman (so it doesn't fall out). So now I use the old Lee for small rifle primers, the RCBS for belted cases and the Lyman for everything else. I would encourage anyone shopping for a priming tool to take a serious look at the Lyman.

14 November 2016, 13:43

Rusty

quote:
Originally posted by 416RigbyHunter:
I have both RCBS hand priming tools, shell holder type and universal type. I do use the universal more than the other, only because the shell holder one only gets used for my cases that are too large to fit the universal type.
I like the shorter throw on the universal too.

Cheers.

+1 for the RCBS Universal. I've used mine for years! 404 Jeffery and 450/400 no worries!

Rusty
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15 November 2016, 01:28

Huvius

I have the RCBS that uses shell holders.
One mod I had to do is cut out the top where the shell holder is to allow for those bigger shell holders such as those for 577s.

15 November 2016, 07:15

df06

quote:
Originally posted by snowman:
I've worn out 4 or 5 Lee tools. They were good at replacing parts but not anymore. Bought an RCBS hand tool. It works good and just uses the std shellholder unlike the Lee. Don't care for the RCBS because the plunger is free to fall out if the tool is turned upside down. It is also kind of a pain to change shellholders, so I have a belted case shellholder in the RCBS and only use it for belted cases. Picked up a new Lyman hand tool. Uses std shellholders and they are a snap to change. Works about the same as the RCBS only the plunger is captive in the Lyman (so it doesn't fall out). So now I use the old Lee for small rifle primers, the RCBS for belted cases and the Lyman for everything else. I would encourage anyone shopping for a priming tool to take a serious look at the Lyman.

Likewise, have worn out several of the old Lee's and wish I had bought more. The new and improved Lee is crap.
I now use my one remaining Lee for 223s and the RCBS that uses standard shell holders for all other cartridges.
Someone suggested a Lyman, I may try that.

15 November 2016, 08:29

Joe from So. Cal.

I use a LEE POSI-PRIME for my pistol calibers. I love it. I've done less than 3k but I always put a dab of grease on the three wear points and as far as I can tell, still works like new.

I use an older RCBS hand priming tool for my 460 Weatherby. I load primers one at a time. No high volume reloading on that caliber.