Recommend a Top Quality Priming Tool

[at_liberty]

I use the Lee ram prime to avoid repetitive gripping and then only if I need brass already primed. You would need to add a Lee shellholder for the caliber to make sure the ram would fit the hole of the shellholder. You could also use Lee's little single stage for $26 and have a dedicated station with appropriately short stroke. $40-50 would get you there.

[BamBam-31]

Wow, that RCBS bench unit looks like the ticket! Might just order one now.

Been using the Lee for some time, and it works fine. No complaints, does it's job just fine.

[Phil3]

The OP stated that hand priming tools hurt his hands. I had the same issue with the RCBS unit. I sold it and switched to the RCBS Bench Auto Prime and it has been flawless and painless:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=457599

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Actually, my post says I have never hand primed and do not know what to expect with those kinds of tools, and do not want to have weary hands after 200 rounds or so. I can scarcely find any negative comments about the RCBS Bench Auto Prime. Seems like everyone like these. On sale now at Midway and a $10 rebate from RCBS as well. This one may be hard to pass up, but welcome other comments.

- Phil

[Chief-7700]

I like my and let my XL-650 do all the priming.

[J-cat]

The reason I like hand priming tools is that they are more handy.

[xrMike]

I can tell you that I have bought 2 and broke 2 Lee Auto prime hand tools. I used to use it for 30-06,.270,.44mag (large rifle/pistol primers). The lever just snaps off. I probably seated a total of about 250 primers between both.

I also bought the Lee hand priming tool. Did 300 rounds of .223 with it. Smooth as silk. Started doing 1K rounds of .45ACP and about 600 rounds in, the hand lever broke. Had to finish them up on the press. If you look at the metal where the break is, you can see it's just friggin' chrome-plated pot metal. They really ought to charge a little more and use a machined billet part there instead.

Does anybody know if Lee will replace this part if you contact them, or send in your broken handle?

I'm still a Lee fan, love their classic turret press and their dies. But I cannot recommend their hand primer.

If they won't replace the handle, then I will try the RCBS model maybe.

[RobG]

RCBS Bench Auto Prime is what I use. Never have had an issue with it. It has a good "feel" when seating primers and the tube holds over 100 primers.

[Chris M]

I highly recommend the RCBS universal priming tool. If you have med-lrg hands this is a good to perfect size. I can't tell you how many rifle rounds I have done with this tool.
But the quality and feel is excellent. No shell holder to worry about as well.

I'll second that. Great design. Very comfortable (ergonomic), the universal shell holder works great, and it's very, very consistent. Well worth the ~$50 I paid for it.

[bucktooth7]

I too use a Lee Auto Prime, the handle broke on mine and it was easily replaced for less than $5. Back in business. Several K rounds later

[Malthusian]

+1 for the Lee auto prime
However
Sometimes I just run them through my Dillon 650 with a blank tool head
Depends on my mood

[FLIGHT762]

Hornady.

^^^^^The Hornady works great.^^^^^^^^^ Easy to change from large to small primers. Was re-designed from the first units a few years ago.

I highly recommend the RCBS universal priming tool. If you have med-lrg hands this is a good to perfect size. I can't tell you how many rifle rounds I have done with this tool.
But the quality and feel is excellent. No shell holder to worry about as well.

Bought the regular RCBS handprime tool first. It was difficult to switch over from small to large and the the tool requires the use of NEW STYLE RCBS shell holders, the older shell holders will not work, they are not chamfered on the bottom.

The newer RCBS universal prime tool may be much better than than the hand prime tool.

The Hornady tool uses your four fingers to seat the primer, like using a pair of pliers, not your thumb like some units.

If the hand priming tools hurts the OP's hands, maybe the RCBS bench mounted tool would be the one to use.

[Cowboy T]

I've used the Lee Auto-Prime tool for a while now with no problems. People who break them *usually* try to "close it fully", which you don't need to do with that tool. It actually works very well, and I know people who have had theirs for 20 years (yes, many, many uses) without problems.

[phish]

Sinclair

[prob]

The Lee tool works fine, and I use mine frequently, but when priming many cases nothing comes close to the RCBS Automatic Bench Priming Tool.

[BamBam-31]

^^^Bought my Lee tool because of this man. Thanks, Phil!