Priming

Lee hand primer - or, for old time's sake, the attached primer setup on my old Spar-T Lyman press. Boy, did I think I was in the big times when I bought that press in the '70's. :p:p
 
Lee hand primer for me. Cheap and reliable.
CanAm doesn't know what he is talking about, again. :p

You get what you pay for and because the Lee requires special shell holders that can't be used on your press you need to buy those too. So you either buy the whole set or buy them every time you need to reload a new calibre.

Buying the new RCBS model costs a bit more but saves a lot of hassle. It automatically fits to the calibre you are loading and centers the case. Put the primers in the loader and start priming, any case. Only time you need to change something on it is when you switch primer sizes. Good bang for the dollar.

That's what I use when I am not doing progressive loading. It's a lot faster than using a ram primer on the press.


Fudd
 
I have owned both the Lee and RCBS hand priming tools. Both were unsatisfactory. Now I own the Hornady tool and could not be happier.
 
I have a couple of Lee tools, leave one set up for large, one for small, and have the shellholder set. Fast, good feel when seating. I would certainly buy more if I ever wear these out.
 
The Lee works for me, I got the whole set of shell holders when I bought my Challenger Kit for what little good its done me. Every time I decide to load a new calibre ( Like 7.62X54R or 7.62X39), the set doesn't have the right shell holder :p
 
I have the primer set up on my Lee classic press but have never used it. I hand prime with a RCBS unit when I watch TV, works fine. Would have bought the cheaper Lee tool but they were out of stock at the time.
 
I use the Lee auto prime II. It mounts on the press but has a primer feeding tray, similar to the hand held units. Unlike the Lee handheld unit, this one uses standard shell holders.
 
I have the Lee handheld and the Lee Autoprime. The Autoprime is great! For $17 I can prime as fast as I can feed shells to the press and my hands don't get cramped like when I use a handheld model. The Autoprime also uses standard shell holders.
 
Ha, I must be the last guy in the country that uses a bench mounted priming tool. The reason I like it is because the results are very uniform, and it's quick.

The original Lee hand priming tool with the thread on shell holders was great, I'm less impressed with the newer ones. The RCBS hand priming tool looks good, but if I was in the market for one, I'd choose the one from Sinclair.
 
Ha, I must be the last guy in the country that uses a bench mounted priming tool. The reason I like it is because the results are very uniform, and it's quick.


I too use a bench-tool.

When I started reloading I used the primer arm on my press and that lasted only a few weeks. ;) I then wore out a few Lee hand-primer tools over a few years. I then went to a RCBS hand-tool which was great until I tried a friends bench-mounted primer which is as you mentioned very quick and very uniform.

49RCBS_bench_primer.JPG
 
I am very pleased with the RCBS APS hand held system.This uses the CCI APS primer strips,available with any of the CCI primers(with which I have had great success).If you want to use other brands of primers,you can buy empty strips for any size primer and RCBS sells a tool for loading the strips.I have used the tool to transfer all my loose primers to the strips.The hand held system is comfortable to use and give very good "feel" so you know when the primer is properly seated.
Good luck
 
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