So after several thousand cycles, my Lee hand priming tool broke. This is the third Lee tool that has worn out/broken over the years. I like hand priming because of the feel of the primer seating so I'm not a fan of press mounted tools. Has anyone tried out the Frankford Arsenal platinum series tools? I don't mind spending more for quality tools.
Hand priming tool, which one?
- Thread starter StoneHorse
- Start date
Munkey1973
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Regina, SK
X 2 for Frankford Arsenal.
Its what I use for my volume/plinking reloading.
My competition loads however, are done on the Forster Co-Ax Press.
For consistent ignition the primers should be bottomed out so they don't move upon impact so the set depth only works if you have your primer pockets all on the same uniform depth.
I use the rcbs one and it has a good feel when you reach the bottom. works great for me.
If i had to buy one again I might try the rcbs universal one that has the two metal jaws instead of a shellholder.
That's why it's adjustable...
sounds cool but what if your pocket is deeper than it is adjusted to?
my rcbs goes in all the way until I feel that it is there.
You simply back it off when you start loading for a different cartridge and adjust until it just bottoms out.
Do you start load development at max powder charge or do you start low and work up?
For now I am more of an casual target shooter and plinker than into super serious load development. I did buy myself a half decent savage in chassis in 6.5CM so will be going that way this summer I think.
So now I reload mixed brass without doing the primer pocket uniforming and that is why I would be hesitant in using a set depth.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing the FA at all, when going all out on brass prep or when using only high quality new brass that is uniform then I can see the advantage of the FA handprimer.
Thank you very much for all the replies 
. As for a warranty return to Lee Precision, its not worth the time and bother to get 50% off a new tool plus the cost of shipping from the US. The good news is I found a local dealer stocking the part I need and I have already ordered it, $6.00
So that gets me up & running as of Tuesday. I'm still going to look at the Frankford & Sinclair tools and will most likely upgrade from the Lee in the near future. Cheers.
. As for a warranty return to Lee Precision, its not worth the time and bother to get 50% off a new tool plus the cost of shipping from the US. The good news is I found a local dealer stocking the part I need and I have already ordered it, $6.00So that gets me up & running as of Tuesday. I'm still going to look at the Frankford & Sinclair tools and will most likely upgrade from the Lee in the near future. Cheers.
I wore out a couple of the Lee hand primers as well.
I've developed arthritis in the base joints of my hands. I found the levers on the Lee to be to short, therefore not enough mechanical advantage, to do the job painlessly.
I picked up one of the LEE bench mounted presses from Western Metals, a banner sponsor. It worked OK, needed some tweaking but was just as fast as the hand primer. Just not as handy, as it requires mounting to a bench or some other surface. I mounted mine to a 12inX12inX1/2in scrap aluminum plate, so it wasn't necessary to mount it permanently to the bench.
The Lee was OK, but I finally went to the RCBS hand held unit, which is slightly more complicated than the Lee and takes a bit of getting used to. Nothing serious though and once you get used to the slight differences, it's a very smooth and positive unit, with longer operating levers, that are quite sensitive to the feel of the primers seating or binding .
It's biggest issue id the curved bar, attached to the priming arm. It also works to stop extra primers from getting in into the works. It's not very rigid, and is easily bent, especially at the point where the primers slide over it to enter the primer mandrel recess. As long as you're careful it isn't a problem.
The only other issue with the RCBS hand primer is that the priming mandrel isn't held in place, if the unit is turned upside down and will fall out. It goes back in very easily, just drop it right back in, from the top.
I know a lot of folks won't do this, but I always purchase two different hand primers. On for small primers and one for Large primers.
If push comes to shove, I could use the Lee Bench Primer. It's now relegated to back up mode, hanging from its nail on the wall.
