Current Best Hand Priming Tool

[Retired Grunt]

Oh come on guys, we have to appreciate Hornady being in the marketplace!

When I decided to reload, I bought a Hornady Kit...I think it was a pretty good system, I have now moved to some other equipment but I still FL Size on the Single stage press and don't see a reason to change, heck at one time I even tried priming on it.

 

[Butte Sink]

Hi Folks,

Looking for a news handpriming tool.

Ideally I'd like one that does the following cases:

.223 Rem
.257 Roberts
7x64
9.3x62
.44 mag
.404 Jeffery

(Most loaded will be .223 Rem and .44 mag)

I like the look of the safety gate on the RCBS Universal but here it is rubbish with .223 Rem

Thanks in advance,

Scrummy

Another Century 21 here!!

 

[bozo699]

I've owned or used single feed Sinclair, PMA, and 21st Century units. For tray feeding I've owned RCBS and Lee.

I'd sure like to see 21st Century or PMA build a high quality tray feed unit of their own design. I'd pay good money for that. Love the feel of my PMA. It is without a doubt the best I've used, but single feeding is a hassle for me regardless of brand. I still do it when time permits, but when I'm reloading between relays I end up using my old school Lee Autoprime. Fast and dependable...but bring extra parts for when it breaks. I have a box full.

When 21st century first came out they used the old style Lee trays with adjustable depth I still have two of them
Wayne

 

[bozo699]

I guess that’s another reason why having depth adjustment on a tool is important. He was probably just smashing the primers in there as hard as he could with that crappy Hornady tool. I really don’t like anything made by Hornady.

I don’t mind there bullets for some applications but I agree on there reloading equipment
Wayne

 

[bozo699]

Kind of off topic here, but has anyone else tried the new Frankford universal seating die kit? I picked one up a while back and it is awesome. It may not be precise enough with runout to use for hand loading on a regular basis for some of us, usually around .004” runout, but is an awesome tool for making up dummy rounds on wildcats.

Many times it’s hard to set up reamer specs on a wildcat or improved round when you don’t have dies for it yet. The FA universal seating die works great because you can seat bullets in cases for the majority of calibers out there so you have a good dummy round to take measurements for freebore and neck clearance specs. Has an adjustable seating micrometer and everything. I used to use a mallet to seat bullets and they would be crooked sometimes or I would hammer too far then have to redo it. Now I just pop it in the FA die and out comes a nice straight dummy round at the exact seating depth I want. Measure and send the specs off to JGS for a reamer (or just send some dummy rounds) then use that print to send off for custom dies and it’s a done deal.

View attachment 1271953View attachment 1271954

I do not but think next time I make a order I’ll get a set I can see real Merritt in this tool mostly for the same reason you use it for
Wayne

 

[bozo699]

Their Concentricity Gauge is the worst reloading tool that has ever come down the Pike. OMG what a piece of downright junk. This is what an engineer comes up with after he goes and downs a case of Narragansett over the weekend.

I could not agree more I would have given mine away years ago but I done hate anyone that bad!
Wayne

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I could not agree more I would have given mine away years ago but I done hate anyone that bad!
Wayne

I like truthful reviews like this.
I have never put a concentricity gauge in the budget after reading on this forum that most just sit on the shelf and collect dust.

 

[bozo699]

I like truthful reviews like this.
I have never put a concentricity gauge in the budget after reading on this forum that most just sit on the shelf and collect dust.

I do use a concentricity for certain things and find some Merritt in them, I don’t check every load heck I might not use it for long periods of time but they have a purpose but not the Hornaday tool it’s junk in every aspect
Wayne

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I have never put a concentricity gauge in the budget after reading on this forum that most just sit on the shelf and collect dust.

Not a tool I use on a regular basis but it’s always a good idea to check concentricity with any new die sets and new barrel chambers. If something is wrong with the dies or a chamber job is off kilter it will let you know. So it is a very valuable tool to me in that respect.

After verifying that a new sizing die makes straight brass, seater seats bullets straight, and fired cases are straight, the concentricity gauge goes back on the shelf until the next new barrel or any new die sets that come along with a build.

 

[bozo699]

Not a tool I use on a regular basis but it’s always a good idea to check concentricity with any new die sets and new barrel chambers. If something is wrong with the dies or a chamber job is off kilter it will let you know. So it is a very valuable tool to me in that respect.

After verifying that a new sizing die makes straight brass, seater seats bullets straight, and fired cases are straight, the concentricity gauge goes back on the shelf until the next new barrel or any new die sets that come along with a build.

^^^^^^
Wayne

 

[6MMsteve]

My favorite was the Lee back in the 80's but I use a K&M now but I don't shoot that much, KM works fine for me.... but I may have to try the 21st they look good

 

[jp]

When 21st century first came out they used the old style Lee trays with adjustable depth I still have two of them
Wayne

Great Tool. Wished they still made them.. I would buy another..

 

[nakneker]

Kind of off topic here, but has anyone else tried the new Frankford universal seating die kit? I picked one up a while back and it is awesome. It may not be precise enough with runout to use for hand loading on a regular basis for some of us, usually around .004” runout, but is an awesome tool for making up dummy rounds on wildcats.

Many times it’s hard to set up reamer specs on a wildcat or improved round when you don’t have dies for it yet. The FA universal seating die works great because you can seat bullets in cases for the majority of calibers out there so you have a good dummy round to take measurements for freebore and neck clearance specs. Has an adjustable seating micrometer and everything. I used to use a mallet to seat bullets and they would be crooked sometimes or I would hammer too far then have to redo it. Now I just pop it in the FA die and out comes a nice straight dummy round at the exact seating depth I want. Measure and send the specs off to JGS for a reamer (or just send some dummy rounds) then use that print to send off for custom dies and it’s a done deal.

View attachment 1271953View attachment 1271954

I bought one just to have around. Handy to have around, Ive used quite a few times waiting for dies or in a pinch. Nicely made for the 80 bucks it took to buy it too.

 

[Scrumbag]

If you're interested in why I need a new hand priming tool...

Flash-over incident using Hornady Hand-Primer

Hi folks, Had a small scare the other day whilst reloading that might be a helpful reminder to people to keep safe and follow your procedures not being sloppy. Primer popped when being seated and flashed over into try causing other primers to detonate. This happened using a Hornady Hand Primer...

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[PhilC]

I'm using my Sinclair this morning, I do have a 21'st
Century, but prefer the Sinclair.

Don't have a 21st Century but have had a Sinclair since they first came out and haven't felt the need to replace that fine quality hand priming tool.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Another Century 21 The adjustable Head is Great
Had Lee many , RCBS Bench

 

[lazyMlazyK]

So far I've used the priming arm on my RCBS RS single stage, the priming system on a Dillon 550, and a handheld Frankford Arsenal Platinum hand primer. The Frankford Arsenal priming tool is pretty nice in my books, haven't had an issue with it yet, but I've only done a few thousand rounds on it so far - mostly 9mm, but also some .22-250, .223, .30-30, .30-06, and 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[T.Rhodes]

Kind of an old thread, but have a question about a hand held priming tool I’m looking at. My old Lee primer has broken after a mere 30-plus year use.

The one that looks like a good replacement is the Frankford Arsenal unit. Reading previous posts I didn’t see any mention of this one so wanted ask if anyone has experience pro or con on this one.

Frankford Arsenal priming tool.

 

[HTSmith]

Kind of an old thread, but have a question about a hand held priming tool I’m looking at. My old Lee primer has broken after a mere 30-plus year use.

The one that looks like a good replacement is the Frankford Arsenal unit. Reading previous posts I didn’t see any mention of this one so wanted ask if anyone has experience pro or con on this one.

Frankford Arsenal priming tool

They are like a much stronger Lee. I really like mine. They are too inexpensive for many folks

 

[bks22345]

The one that looks like a good replacement is the Frankford Arsenal unit. Reading previous posts I didn’t see any mention of this one so wanted ask if anyone has experience pro or con on this one.

Actually they talked about it on page 1.

I like mine and plan on getting another. It allows adjustment of the seating depth. Some of the original responders indicated this was a gimmick but the adjuster allows you to change seating depth based on cup depth and primer thickness. I had a hornady and sometimes it would leave the primer slightly proud.