Hand primers

[jigger08]

Is there a hand primer manufactured that accepts most modern rifle and pistol brass without the need to re-configure or change out parts?

 

[bcsteve]

RCBS has a hand primer with a universal chuck.

 

[Mystic Precision]

I use the Lee hand primer and just swap in the right shell holder and/or tray.

works great and very easy to do.

Jerry

 

[Jarlath]

Are not the primer rams different diameters? (aka, don't use the small diamter for large primers?)

 

[Mystic Precision]

For the Lee hand primer, you are correct. You change the primer ram when you change the tray. Takes about 15 secs to make the swap.

Jerry

 

[bushpig]

The Lee hand primers are so inexpensive that I have 2 of them one for large primers and one for the small primers.

 

[Ice-Pick]

Lee autoprime,,,,, best $24 i've ever spent !

M.

 

[Boomer]

If you are on a very tight budget, what I used to do was to drop a punch down the case mouth, set the case on the primer and tap it home. Now and then you'd get an unpleasant bang, but not that often once you learn the feel of it. The unpleasant bang teaches you the feel in short order.

Considering the cost of a Lee hand primer I don't know why you'd bother, but it can be done. Unless you are loading with a hand tool, you need a shell holder for your press anyway, and you can prime with your press.

 

[SandRoad]

Lee Autoprime, but I find the handle can be uncomfortable. I think some other manufacturers have modified handle designs that fit you hand better.

I have recently gone back to using my press mounted primer seater on an old Pacific (Hornady) press. It uses a primer feeding tube and primes on the down stroke after sizing/decaping.