Primer seating tools

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  • Last Post 14 January 2019
R. Dupraz posted this 17 April 2017

What's the advantage of using a hand primer seating tool instead of doing it in a reloading press? Some better than others?

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Lee posted this 14 January 2019

I prime with an RCBS bench mounted APS priming tool. If I really need to get precise about priming I use a press mounted RCBS tool, a depth mic and a dial indicator mounted on a granite block. I own a Sinclair hand held priming tool and a couple of Lee's. I have a very old RCBS bench mounted tool I still use now and then, it's older than my oldest son. Guess what they all work just as they were designed to. Also I can "feel" the primer slide into the pocket and seat using any of these tools.  When using the APS tool I adjust it till I get the proper depth below flush measurement and go to work, a real time saver. I do check the first 5-10 rounds for consistence and then as I feel like it till the job is done. One of these "it works for me" things.

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Brodie posted this 04 October 2018

Up until a couple of years ago I used the primer tube and holder on my RCBS Jr. press the only press I owned until last summer when the primer set up flew apart.  The hold in screws came out and the little ball and spring went (somewhere).  So I bought the RCBS hand priming tool.  It takes lee and RCBS shell holders which is convenient.  My only gripe about it is the spring loaded affair in the handle that pushes the primer in.  If you let it go too far down it is misery to get the ball arm to push the socket up far enough to work.

Personally I do not detect any advantage over priming on my reloading press.  I have had no trouble detecting when the primer is fully seated on either tool, and to me priming on the press is a little more convenient.  The tray on the hand tool is a pain.  I chose the RCBS because of all the bad reviews I had read about the Lee.  Oh Well It works.. 

B.E.Brickey

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2kbill posted this 04 October 2018

I've had Lee (2 or 3) - plastic parts wore out.  Tray "ears" broke. 

Newer Lyman which I saw in the Fouling Shot - Nice design, parts wore quickly, primers flip from time to time

RCBS Universal style, no individual shellholders - Worked well enough, but seating each case in the spring-loaded holder gets old

Latest is from Frankford Arsenal, built like a tank, all metal parts except the tray.  Comes with 12 shellholders.  Easy changeover from large to small.  After two years of use, I purchased another so I don't even have to do that.  It's a winner.  Take a look at the reviews on Midway.

Regards,

Bill

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BigMan54 posted this 03 October 2018

Danny,

You answered the QUESTION. 

It's just preference. 

Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. #375. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. I also drool in my sleep. I firmly believe that true happiness is a warm gun. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet.

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Danny posted this 03 October 2018

It always seems to come down to the quality of the tools instead of focusing on the method of priming with these discussions. I read all the time on boards about how "flush" to seat the primer and wonder where that comes from. I don't want the firing pin to seat the primer. Does your press seat the primer? Can you seat the primer with a hand press? Have enough hand strength for that or do you need more leverage. That is the big question and after that should be how can I prime most efficiently and safely for my reloading style. As far as investing in expensive priming tools goes, I have never seen the need for them. My Lee hand primer is 40 years old and has no issues with any of the parts, even the springs are original. I like press priming just as well. I guess it is just preference.

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bushranch posted this 03 October 2018

I use the Hornady tool as per Steve's photo. I am a one at a time person so have discarded the primer tray and drilled the housing to take a 6-48 screw .540 up from bottom (rear) . I use this screw to shorten the ram travel and can adjust primer depth in the shell holder. This makes a good hand held outfit and shell holders remain easy to change. 

 

Rus

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donr308 posted this 02 October 2018

I too went through the Lee stage but after getting a tool made from steel rather than pot metal I found out  that a case primed with a Lee tool had  significant movement of the primer when placed in a tool such as K&M or Sinclair.. The Lees have been pretty well replaced in the bench rest world. Don Ross  

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BigMan54 posted this 01 October 2018

LEE has some of the very best idea's in the industry .

But the CHEAP materials ruin the execution .

Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. #375. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. I also drool in my sleep. I firmly believe that true happiness is a warm gun. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet.

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Danny posted this 01 October 2018

I read these type of posts and look for something to add to the conversation but sometimes I have to wonder why. Folks have been priming cartridge brass since cartridge brass accepted primers using just about every method. The press does fine. A hand priming tool does fine, A hammer and a Lee tool does fine. I've used them all. Never had a primer go off. Conditioning primer pockets helps but the factory doesn't do it. I use a primer pocket reamer just because I own it. I fully seat primers no matter what method I use. I have an old Lee hand primer I've used for decades and it still works. It is a one at a time primer just like a press primer. Just squeeze the handle closed and done, same as a press. I hope someday someone will convince me I'm doing it wrong.

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lotech posted this 30 September 2018

I've had several of the hand priming tools over many years. The original Lee model, the "dangerous" one with the round tray, would be among the very best if it was made of durable materials. It would cost more, but even at the higher price would be worth the additional cost considering how much many of us use a priming tool.

In place of that, I would recommend a Sinclair or a 21st Century one-at-a-time tool. Not nearly as slow as some think, and the tools work exceptionally well. Parts are machined and the tools are built to last. They're far from expensive if the cost is amortized over years. I would rather buy one $120.00 tool than a handful of cheap, mediocre tools that really don't work all that well or wear out. 

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BigMan54 posted this 30 September 2018

Fa38,

Another reason I'm not overly fond of LEE products.

They do work as advertised. But after wearing out 2 of their hand priming tools in the 1980's (yes I did lube them well), I became even less fond of them. The only LEE tools I'd used previously was the 22 & 30cal depriming units that were sold separately from the LEE Loader. And yes you can actually break them. If you use them on phillipine military brass with off center flash holes.

Then my DAD gave me 3 used LEE 2cav pistol molds. After getting adjusted to aluminum molds, they cast some great bullets. And after 30yrs, they still do.

After starting up casting a couple of years ago, and because of what I've learned on this  website, I've bought more LEE products, including more 2cav molds & now; 4 6cav molds. With one exception, I'm very pleased with LEE products.  

Just not their priming tools, or guarantee.

Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. #375. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. I also drool in my sleep. I firmly believe that true happiness is a warm gun. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet.

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John Alexander posted this 30 September 2018

Thanks for the tip Shootcast.  I didn't know they had a conversion kit.  I am well satisfied with the square feed magazine but it ain't perfect.  The handle also sounds like an improvement for old arthritic hands.  Will order a couple of upgrade kits.

John

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fa38 posted this 30 September 2018

I have a problem with the new square shaped Lee priming tool.  It seems to try to load 2 primers into that little tower feed area and this pushes the clear tray cover upwards and some of the primers flip in the tray.  Then it wants to seat a primer either upside down of sidewise.

Any one else have this problem and did you find a cure for it

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shootcast posted this 30 September 2018

John,  the triangle type Lee update kits make the old tool work much better. Also get the plastic extension handle that snaps on the tool. This gives it some length so it fits your hand better. BTW these triangular primer holders work in the RCBS tool also.

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BigMan54 posted this 03 May 2017

John,

RCBS sent me a new square replacement tray for my hand priming tool. It "feeds" off of the corner of the tray. No real difference.  Ya still gotta jiggle it every few primers.  

Wes,

I used to watch a lot of Cowboy Action Shooters at the loading bench give the cylinders of their S.A. resolvers a HARD spin before lining up the empty chamber. Checking for high primers.  These folks inevitably loaded their ammo on a dillon press. Most always without any prior Re/Handloading experience.  They couldn't understand the concept of CLEANING primer pockets. Of course there was also the inevitable "dud" from a crushed primer.

I gave some .44mag COWBOY rifle loads to my Chiropractor some years back. He was fascinated by the fact that every one of the 250rds he shot that day shot & functioned perfectly. I told him no dillon. Every round inspected, sized-deprimed,  cleaned, & primer pocket cleaned. Then primed BEFORE loading on  Hornady progressive.  Then every round checked for chamber fit.

Damn,  wordy again.

Clean those primer pockets .

 

Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. #375. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. I also drool in my sleep. I firmly believe that true happiness is a warm gun. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet.

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John Alexander posted this 03 May 2017

I notice in a catalog that the Lee priming tools now have a triangle loading tray instead of the square or round ones.  The old shapes work fine but has anybody tried the newer version?

John

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Ed Harris posted this 02 May 2017

I used the Lee Priming tools for years, frequently replacing the knuckle link and body as they broke or wore out.  Then I inherited a pair of RCBS Posa-Prime hand priming tools from the late Dennis Lundmark, which use RCBS shell holders.  One primer at a time, no primer tray or tube explosions.  The only caution from Denny's hand written note was "Don't prime cases while eating fried chicken, buttered popcorn or pizza with your fingers..."

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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Tom Acheson posted this 02 May 2017

Like Mr. Dupraz's recent post, the RCBS bench mounted tool is what I've used for maybe 45 years. Long ago I stopped using the feed tube and now insert each primer one at a time.Feels good  and uses stock standard shell holders.

I did buy a Sinclair hand priming tool about 15-years ago but that was only used when loading @ the range for a few select cartridges. That is also a well made device. 

There's something about hand-loading tools that makes me agree with Mr. Dupraz....you can never have too many!

 

Tom

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R. Dupraz posted this 28 April 2017

It was a good day in the neighborhood today, I finished casting my summer's stash of 314299's and the RCBS bench auto primer tool showed up.

My first experience with anything other than a press mounted auto feed and think I'm going to like it if things keep going as there are. It seats LR primers in my military cases better than the "0" Hornady press. I thought that I was getting a full seat but found out "not".today. Smooth, and complete and no primers on the floor for a change. Think that it takes a bit less effort as well but maybe not because of smooth seating. The important part is that It does what I wanted.

Besides, one can never have too many tools. Clever little gizmo. ”

 

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Eutectic posted this 27 April 2017

I used a Lyman tong tool for years, but you had to put the primers on it one at a time. The Lee prime tools work well but get uncomfortable after a few hundred cases. I tried the RCBS hand tool but did not like it, too many jams. The one I use now is this Hornady, it is built like a tank, uses standard shell holders, feeds excellently and has great feel. The handle extension and rubber tubing are my additions. They let me do 500 to 1000 cases while watching TV and not regret it the next day

.

I have tried several primer seaters that came on reloading presses I bought. Some came with primer feed, but I never found one which gave good feel and was as convenient as a hand primer.

Steve Hurst

 

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