Hand Primer Tool

[Diver43]

I currently have the Lee priming tool and it has set too many primers cockeyed. I thought it was my inexperience but reading online, it is a well known issue.

I have 3 three replacements in mind

1. Lyman e-zee universal
2. RCBS universal
3. Frankford Arsenal platinum

I have very little experience reloading and hope those that have reloaded a bit, can point me in the right direction
.

[Freezer]

I've never had a problem with the Lee Hand Priming tool. There is a large primer and small primer tray, are you sure you're using the correct one? I loaded 10s of thousands with mine and just this week loaded about 80 rounds. I also have the adapter that fits onto a press, never a problem.

And, thanks again!

[Elk Creek]

I have 2 RCBS hand tools. I bought one and I found one at a pawn shop mixed in with “misc tools $.99” bin! I have one set up for small primers the other for large…..love them

[Diver43]

I've never had a problem with the Lee Hand Priming tool. There is a large primer and small primer tray, are you sure you're using the correct one? I loaded 10s of thousands with mine and just this week loaded about 80 rounds. I also have the adapter that fits onto a press, never a problem.

And, thanks again!

If you have the "old" model (round tray?) it seems your Golden.

I had some sear sideways, some off level my just a bit.

Time for a replacement

[CPJ 2.0]

I solved my hand priming issues by never using the hand primer. I use the press. Pretty sure all presses come with the priming dingus arm.

“BUT BUT BUT YOULL CRUSH PRIMERS WITH A PRESS MOUNTED TOOL!”



If you crush a primer with any tool while seating, you’re a tool. I’ve TRIED to crush one with a press. Not happening. At least not without going full primate on it. And I mean gronking on the lever till poop bends. And if you’re that dumb, buy ammo. Don’t reload.

“BUT BUT BUT THE FEEL! THE FEEL I SAY!”

Yeah, I can feel with my arms too.

Sure, you can’t sit in your recliner watching Matlock or Gunsmoke and prime cases, but your (my, certainly) arthritic thumbs will be more happy.


Also, if you are depriming and priming in the same operation by using the press, you’re only handling the case one time. It’s far more efficient.

[jkp]

Also a fan of not using the hand primer. I have the bench mounted RCBS auto priming tool and it's proven to be worth the cost. Excellent feel when seating and fast.

https://www.rcbs.com/priming-and-powder ... -9460.html

[Pegasus]

I currently have the Lee priming tool and it has set too many primers cockeyed. I thought it was my inexperience but reading online, it is a well known issue.

I have 3 three replacements in mind

1. Lyman e-zee universal
2. RCBS universal
3. Frankford Arsenal platinum

I have very little experience reloading and hope those that have reloaded a bit, can point me in the right direction
.

Frankford Arsenal Platinum. I've tried a bunch, this one works for me.

[bullsi1911]

I have the old Lee “round tray” hand primer, and I also prime on the press. Both work fine for me, and I have no problems crushing primers, having them sideways, and can “feel” what’s going on just fine with both.

Find what works for you and use it

[Freezer]

It is the old round style, just like me!

[Jay]

Personally, I’d stay away from the RCBS universal tool. I had one. Two problems. First, with cartridges that don’t have much of a rim, it would partially seat a primer, then spit it out of the spring loaded jaws. Then I had a case with a primer sticking out so I couldn’t get it into a shell holder and it was nearly impossible to get it back in the hand tool to try to finish seating it. That happened a lot to me on 454 Casull and 45 Colt cases.

The second problem was, after only a few hundred cases, it broke. It used little cast in pins to hold the ends of the spring that puts tension on the jaws that hold the case. One of those pins broke off. So no more spring. Since I bought mine from Midway and didn’t have it very long, I got ahold of them and they took it back for a credit to my account. I bought the regular RCBS tool that uses shell holders. Been using that one for years and it works great. One down side to it, you have to use RCBS shell holders. It won’t take any other kind that I’ve found. They put a different angle in the bottom of the shell holder where it slides onto the plastic primer feeding thingy. Other shell holders won’t slide on far enough, which then won’t fit into the tool.

[Diver43]

Personally, I’d stay away from the RCBS universal tool. I had one. Two problems. First, with cartridges that don’t have much of a rim, it would partially seat a primer, then spit it out of the spring loaded jaws. Then I had a case with a primer sticking out so I couldn’t get it into a shell holder and it was nearly impossible to get it back in the hand tool to try to finish seating it. That happened a lot to me on 454 Casull and 45 Colt cases.

The second problem was, after only a few hundred cases, it broke. It used little cast in pins to hold the ends of the spring that puts tension on the jaws that hold the case. One of those pins broke off. So no more spring. Since I bought mine from Midway and didn’t have it very long, I got ahold of them and they took it back for a credit to my account. I bought the regular RCBS tool that uses shell holders. Been using that one for years and it works great. One down side to it, you have to use RCBS shell holders. It won’t take any other kind that I’ve found. They put a different angle in the bottom of the shell holder where it slides onto the plastic primer feeding thingy. Other shell holders won’t slide on far enough, which then won’t fit into the tool.

Good info Thanx

The Lee hand press only gave me issue with rifle rounds, .357 mag and .45 colt worked as expected. Things only got wonky with .223 and now .308

[Pegasus]

The main feature that I wanted from a modern primer tool is a seating depth adjustment mechanism. The Frankford Platinum device has that mechanism. For my match ammo, I used another tool to set the primer pockets to the same depth and then I used the Platinum to seat the primers in my prepped cases, all to the same depth, regardless of how hard I squeeze the handle. My Sd has dropped significantly since following this new regimen with another new-to-me step. It's work but the results on target are very satisfying. Highly recommended.

[Diver43]

The main feature that I wanted from a modern primer tool is a seating depth adjustment mechanism. The Frankford Platinum device has that mechanism. For my match ammo, I used another tool to set the primer pockets to the same depth and then I used the Platinum to seat the primers in my prepped cases, all to the same depth, regardless of how hard I squeeze the handle. My Sd has dropped significantly since following this new regimen with another new-to-me step. It's work but the results on target are very satisfying. Highly recommended.

More good info Thanks
Work/time to load is not an issue. I'm retired with no grandkids. What do you use to set primer pockets?

[Pegasus]

I use Lapua Palma brass with the small primer in.308 Winchester. I use 5hus tool to uniform the primer pockets.
https://www.pmatool.com/pma-lapua-small ... r-adapter/

[Big Al1]

I use a bench mounted primer. Saves a lot of grief! Said by by to hand helds!

[Gene L]

I've got a bench mounted priming tool which is out in my garage. I prefer the Lee tool where I can sit in my recliner and watch TV while I prime my brass. Actually, come to think of it, I no longer reload except for one rifle I can't get ammo for, but back when I did a lot of it, I'd do it by hand.