Which hand priming tool do you prefer?

[Armored Metal]

Hi guys,

I'm still pretty new to reloading (1 1/2 year) and I've been priming "on" the press since the begining.

Now there seems to be a concensus in the reloading world, that you get a better feel for it when using a hand priming tool. So I watched a bunch of youtube videos and the Lyman E-Zee tool caught my eye. It looks sturdy and user friendly.

What do you guys think and what do you use?

Thanks

 

[enfield303t]

I have a old Lee and it works fine. The new design is better (???) so when this ones calls it a day will switch to their newer model. Just primed around 550 .223 with no problems.

 

[ryan]

I used the old Lee priming tools years ago, and was happy with them, but the new one I have now is a complete piece of shyte. I much prefer my RCBS Universal hand priming tool.

 

[silverfoxdj]

Lee Ergo then the Forster is my preference now easy on the hands

 

[Spawn-Inc]

i have the old lee and while it works i think i should have gone for the ergo prime version.

 

[bassman]

Like the old Lee. Tried RCBS but it now just sits in the drawer as the Lee feels much better to me.

 

[Armored Metal]

i have the old lee and while it works i think i should have gone for the ergo prime version.

The ergo prime is my second choice. It seems like a good piece of equipement.

 

[tiriaq]

Have both the old and new Lees. Have primed thousands and thousands of cases. Both work well; new one is redesigned to prevent detonation in the magazine.

 

[9x19p]

I've been using the RCBS hand primer for a few years, and thousands of rounds.
I won't say it's better than Lee, but I will say; everything green is better than red .

Kidding aside, how the hell did you go this long, using the press? You're in for a treat.

 

[Armored Metal]

I used the old Lee priming tools years ago, and was happy with them, but the new one I have now is a complete piece of shyte. I much prefer my RCBS Universal hand priming tool.

How is it to switch between small and large primers with the Universal? Maybe I'm wrong, but it seemed complicated in the video I've seen.

 

[Armored Metal]

I've been using the RCBS hand primer for a few years, and thousands of rounds.
I won't say it's better than Lee, but I will say; everything green is better than red .

Kidding aside, how the hell did you go this long, using the press? You're in for a treat.

I've never tried anything else so I don't know what I'm missing.

 

[Chinbullco]

I've never tried anything else so I don't know what I'm missing.

Have a couple hand priming tools but prefer the bench mounted RCBS priming tool, the tube fed unit. Arthritis in the hands prevents hand primer tool use enjoyment.

 

[Ganderite]

I have a pair of Lees. One is set up for Large and the other for Small primers. Don't forget to lube the pivot point.

 

[kamlooky]

Old round Lee here.
Just too easy to use or try anything else.

 

[stubblejumper]

I used LEE for many years, but I gave away the LEE, after trying the RCBS Universal hand priming tool.

 

[rocor98]

Forster for me .. lee seems to always want to pop it's top ..

 

[ryan]

How is it to switch between small and large primers with the Universal? Maybe I'm wrong, but it seemed complicated in the video I've seen.

First time is a bit fiddly, after that no problem, a few minutes maybe.

 

[762shooter]

Been using the Lee for a couple decades or so, never had a problem, switching primer size takes all of a minute or so. Maybe there are better but I'm happy enough with the old Lee that I'm not even interested in trying anything else.

 

[HeavyTread]

I use the Hornady one that came with my kit, the RCBS hand primer, and the RCBS bench-mounted APS primer.

The Hornady and the RCBS hand primers are comparable, although I very much like the 'gate' feature on the RBCS unit that is supposed to prevent sympathetic detonation of the primers in the tray, should a primer go off while being seated.

The bench-mounted APS unit is fantastically fast and consistent when it's working, but it's finicky and occasionally jams. The best part about it, when it's working, is that you don't have to gauge the primer depth by feel-- you set it so that the handle bottoms out at a position that's guaranteed to seat the primer at the proper depth, and then you forget about it and just run the handle the full range of motion for each stroke.

 

[Fall Guy]

I used LEE for many years, but I gave away the LEE, after trying the RCBS Universal hand priming tool.

I have an old Lee and old RCBS. I broke the 'piston rod' on the Lee so bought the RCBS (and found out the shell holders were different.....) What makes these work really well is cleaning the primer pocket. (Lee makes this tool). It's an extra (dirty) step but worth it, IMO. I contacted Lee a few years back and they sent me a new part so now use both. The RCBS is definitely a better built tool but they both work OK (and cleaning the pockets really helps).