Best hand priming tool?

[21PHX]

The old model Sinclair that had the set screw stop adjuster in it. I also have the new model and it’s not even close.

 

[jimmymac]

I don’t like primer seaters with a hard stop. I use the PMA seater. You can adjust it to “stop” where ever your grip is comfortable as the seating process is ending. I still go by feel which IS the best process for me at this time. Everyone has their own favorite and there are lots of different options out there. I just wish the PMA had a way to feed primers automatically.

I love my PMA. Seating by feel is all I have ever needed and that one is very nice. Like you, I wish they would execute a well engineered hand priming tool with a tray feeder of their own design. I would pay a premium for that.

 

[243Lapua]

I got 2 Sinclair's, for my BR rifle loads. Once they are set this primer seaters with not be messed with until the barrel is toast. A RCBS automatic primer for my plinking rifle loads and hunting loads. And a Frankford Arsenal perfect primer seaters for emergency, it does the job, but it's to clunky and with time the fingers hurt. I got the RCBS APS system also collecting dust, works OK, but to much setup to seat primers, so NAhhhhh, I passed on that thing.

 

[justinp61]

I've used this for years ... it's awesome.

Hand Primer Seating Tool | Frankford Arsenal

The Perfect Seat Hand Primer seating tool works with both small and large primers and its sel-righting primer trays holds 100+ primers

www.frankfordarsenal.com

^^This^^

 

[kd4avp]

^^^^^^^^^^ This. No way I'd want to use a hand primer where you'd have to load each primer into it, singly. The Frankford is terrific.

Same for me. Love this tool. Easy on my hands, especially if I have prepped the pockets properly. Love the depth adjustability as well.

 

[Leo_B]

I do like the idea of the tray to keep them turned right side up and not have to handle and place each one individually into the tool. I'll be only loading small primer cases. How does the Frankford do with small primers?

 

[3Ackleys]

I do like the idea of the tray to keep them turned right side up and not have to handle and place each one individually into the tool. I'll be only loading small primer cases. How does the Frankford do with small primers?

I have put many thousands of sm primers through mine with zero issues.

 

[DLT]

I do like the idea of the tray to keep them turned right side up and not have to handle and place each one individually into the tool. I'll be only loading small primer cases. How does the Frankford do with small primers?

It does great

 

[Evan]

My only complaint about the Frankfort that I use all the time is that you have to compress the spring with the little vertical serrated thumb pad to get the shell holder out, which is not very easy. I wish the thumb pad was horizontal and gave a little more purchase to pull down on.

 

[kenhwind]

LEE Auto Prime II

 

[smoooth]

RCBS hand primer!

I have 3 - 1 for large primers, 1 for small primers, and a new one in the box awaiting its turn.
These are the older, shellholder style, not the universal model.

 

[243Lapua]

I do like the idea of the tray to keep them turned right side up and not have to handle and place each one individually into the tool. I'll be only loading small primer cases. How does the Frankford do with small primers?

No issues with small or large primers

 

[kelbro]

Several thousand primers seated over the past 20 years with each of my RCBS hand primers. One set up for large primers and one set up for small primers. No fiddling, just load the tray and squeeze. Provides a great feel for primer pocket expansion and seating depth.

 

[Bob3700]

Use a Sinclair for all my LR primer cases. Have set depth once for uniformed pockets. Have an ancient Lee for SR primers. Tens of t hounds of primers thru the Lee with no issues.

 

[TommyD11730]

Is the file to print this base available online? I have a Sinclair primer and would like to try that base for it.

Out of respect to the creator of "The third hand" Todd Chriswell I did not make the file public.

 

[AWS]

Lee round tray, I have one for each size primer, one spare and spare parts. Anything that Lee doesn't make a shell holder for I have off-brand that takes standard shell holder, I think I use it for some odd Euro metrics.

 

[209jones]

Of the ones I've used, the RCBS is pretty good, FA is heavy, other than those two, they can keep them, as in Lee, Hornady and Lyman.
As to your space issue, you can use a bench unit clamped to a stool in the living room, I did a lot of reloading tasks on a cheapie Ikea stool. They're not like a reloading press where they need a study mount to sit on. Can take a look at Lyman Accu-Prime or the Autoloader version, if they're shipping the Auto unit yet.

 

[Timon]

I have a PMA hand primer and love it. It’s easy on the hand and built like a tank. It’s a single feed primer, but one you get in a rhythm with it, priming goes very fast. The best part of the primer is the “feel” it gives you. I really can’t see that I would ever go to any other type of hand primer on the market.

 

[Thepng]

I enjoy using the Frankfort for handgun reloading, but it’s a struggle (at least for my particular sample) to prime Large Rifle primers into cases with tight pockets. It takes a lot of hand force, and sometimes slightly mangles the primers.

This isn’t a hand primer, but won’t add space to your bench top since it fits onto your loading press. The primer feed lets me prime pretty quickly. Not cheap, but I expect it to last a lifetime:

PCPS next gen precision primer seating system by Derraco Engineering – Derraco Engineering, the maker of Ugly annealers

 

[Leo_B]

That looks interesting but I don't have a press or anywhere to put one. I'll be using a Lee Hand Press, thus my hand priming tool inquiry. Hopefully one of these years though.