Hand Primer Tool Suggestions


Yeah, I guess, if you really have a hard-on for handling each and every primer individually. Otherwise, "meh".

If I wanted to fumble around with each primer like that, I could prime in my presses.

I like my old style Lee, and if it wears out on me, I will like as not, look over the options, or bootstrap engineer a clone of the Lee in better materials.

But I figure that day is a long ways off, for now.

Cheers
Trev
 
I'm in the same boat. My old Lee busted the connecting arm and new style ones don't fit.
Hornday version has to take only Hornady shell holders so my Lee auto prime shell holders would be useless.
Not to0 crazy about the new Lee hand primer tools.
Have their new "PEZ dispenser " style primer tool on my Lee Turret press. Ehh...works most of the time for pistols.

Since my Lee hand tool died, I mostly do Pistol primers on the Hornady LNL AP since I have the Shell plates anyway.
Rifle Primers I do either in RCBS Rockchucker with primer tube or Hornady LNL SS classic one by one.
I may splurge on on a RCBS Universal Hand primer which does not need dedicated shell holders.
I deprime on VERY OLD CH C-press with Lee Universal de-primer die. Don't have the heart to send it to the smelter.
 
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Loaded thousands of large and small rifle with the previous generation lee. Not a single problem yet. I'll hopefully find another older one as a spare. I'll switch to the new generation if I have to. Im a lee fanboy, so until something really pisses me off, I'll stick with it.
 
Yeah, I guess, if you really have a hard-on for handling each and every primer individually. Otherwise, "meh".

You don't measure every primer for concentricity and height uniformity? You don't weigh each primer and sort them by weight and adjust your powder load for each weight range?

I used to think that handling individual primers was a hassle until I discoverd a simple trick.

I call it "Lick and Dip".

Works a treat!
 
Not making a judgement on any of the tools (I'm still using my original Lee round tray model & it's great) but here is where you might go to get the best selection of reviews (remove the space between ht and tps)
ht tps://www.midwayusa.com/s?userSearchQuery=hand+priming+tools&userItemsPerPage=48
 
The RCBS is the Gold Standard of hand primers. The Universal Hand Priming Tool, which I've never tried is also supposed to be awesome.

However, to complicate your life even more, can I suggest the Forester/Co-Ax priming tool? Very consistent primer depths with this one, and a universal shell holder as well.
 
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I have the Lyman, going strong after I don't know how many thousands rounds primed. I bought it after reading reviews for every brand on cabelas.com and amazon.com, and whenever a reviewer had tried the lyman and another one, they claimed the lyman was better.

I don't see any part that could possibly break. Other than the tray and the lid, everything is made of metal, no flimsy plastic on moving parts.
 
Just put up my lee auto bench prime up for sale on EE

I didn't have any problems with stuck primers and breaking plastic, Did exactly as it did, I just didn't like the amount of primers left in the system when I turned off the tray to stop dropping in new primers.

Regards
 
Just put up my lee auto bench prime up for sale on EE

I didn't have any problems with stuck primers and breaking plastic, Did exactly as it did, I just didn't like the amount of primers left in the system when I turned off the tray to stop dropping in new primers.

Regards

I just turn mine upside down and the primers slide out. It does jam from time to time, but I like it a lot more than the RCBS hand primer I had before. I hated that thing. The stupid rod, and having to take the whole thing apart to change shell holders.
 
I have an rcbs hand toll and have never had issues with it. I even had a friend set off a primer in it and the gas vents worked as designed... Primer went off... I touched cloth and moved on. No chain reaction or broken parts.

Mine has the universal shell holder. Been fine with everything from 223 to 500sw
 
You don't measure every primer for concentricity and height uniformity? You don't weigh each primer and sort them by weight and adjust your powder load for each weight range?

I used to think that handling individual primers was a hassle until I discoverd a simple trick.

I call it "Lick and Dip".

Works a treat!

LOL, no.

Maybe that's what I am doing wrong. Or, maybe not.

Lucky if I weigh more than a couple scoops of powder every so often. The deer and coyotes can't seem to tell, though. Do they have internet yet? :)

Cheers
Trev
 
LOL, no.

Maybe that's what I am doing wrong. Or, maybe not.

Lucky if I weigh more than a couple scoops of powder every so often. The deer and coyotes can't seem to tell, though. Do they have internet yet? :)

Cheers
Trev

The coyotes around here all seem to carry calipers and scales, so I try to accomodate their needs and interests.

You think the equipment pissing contests on CGN are fun? You should see two coyotes get into it over their Mitutoyo vs. Cajun Tire/Power Fister calipers.
 
i had the first lee model i used it a lot replaced it with the square trayed one, didn't like it bought the hornady it worked good with small primers a lot a problems feeding with large primers tried polishing everything
no change fired it into my junk drawer
 
Only been at it for a few months, bought the RCBS universal hand primer tool. Easy to switch large and small primers, works for my 223 and 45-70 brass. Only issue is I have a hard time seating small rifle primers in my 223 brass, I’ll have to turn the brass about a quarter turn until I get the feel that the primer will seat properly. That’s after I use a dillon super swage/pocket primer prep.
 
I have and se both the old round and newer square Lee handprimers. Both work well. The square box model was a little stiff for about 1000 primes but is now OK.
 
I had a RCBS universal and hated it. Got another that takes standard shell holders and it works fine.

I prime on the press more often than not.

I should have mentioned that point as well. Although the hand-primer works just fine, I too still prime the majority of my brass on the ol' Rockchucker.
 
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