Priming tool recommendations

[kd4avp]

Lots of choices out there. So far the top choice would appear to be the Lyman Accu-prime for reliability. Only downside is it is the only one that does not have a feed tube. Still the least expensive and works like a charm. Whatta Hobby!

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Loving the old FT920 in the background!
de kd4avp

 

[JLT]

I would agree on many fronts with you. I've used the Derraco PCPS and the Primal Rights CPS, and they're both very good at what they do. Both are repeatable, adjustable, and very well built.

Where the Primal Rights exceeds the abilities of the Derraco, in my opinion, is in repeatability of primer crush. Over all, it's a more fully fleshed out unit so of course you're going to get more features and abilities. The Derraco is great at a lot of things, but is a bit more fiddly due to the design of the setup, and take smuch more time to switch between calibers and setups than the CPS does.

If ease of use, loading multiple calibers, ergonomics, and repeatable crush are important to you, then it's a no brainer to go with the Primal Rights over the Derraco.

You can buy several Derraco units for the price of a single Primal Rights. Buy two Derracos, set one up for large primers, the other for small primers and pocket more than a couple of hundred dollars. No more fiddling with changeover.

 

[JFrank]

Lots of choices out there. So far the top choice would appear to be the Lyman Accu-prime for reliability. Only downside is it is the only one that does not have a feed tube. Still the least expensive and works like a charm. Whatta Hobby!

View attachment 1698769View attachment 1698770View attachment 1698771View attachment 1698772

How does the Lyman accu prime function ?

 

[NF1E]

How does the Lyman accu prime function ?

Great. Moving the handle horizontally raises the priming punch into the shell holder. Depth of the seating is changeable with an allen wrench in the bottom of the punch itself. Punches for small or large are just dropped into the device. Takes less than 2 seconds to change over. Whatta Hobby!

 

[NF1E]

Really liking the least expensive of the priming tool test so far. The Lyman Accu-Prime on the 5" InlineFabrication base is just what the Dr ordered for my precision loading application. No problem, for me, placing the primers individually in the tool. I seldom prime over a couple of hundred cases at a time and It make me feel like more a part of things. Only takes a few seconds to change tools on the base. Whatta Hobby!

 

[danny]

I have a lee priming tool set that I seems to work well with large primers, but when set for small primers doesn’t work nearly as well plus I would like to avoid swapping from large to small and keep one setup for each. What priming tools work well i genearal but especially with small primers?

Something that sets primers by feel, not by a user defined depth setting.

Danny

 

[danny]

I used a Lee hand primer for many years, but it was not able to seat primers exactly where I wanted then. I then went to a PMA hand priming tool and have never looked back. It is a single primer, loaded one at a time, but once you get into a rhythm with it, priming goes very fast. I don’t think I’m much slower loading single primers, than I was with the Lee and a tray, if at all. The PMA is a really well built, solid and simple tool, that allows you total control over your seating depth of the primers.

You might, as an example, want primers set NOT bottomed out in the pocket?? I wasn't sure you could put them anywhere but there, unless you crush them in lower or not bottom them.

Danny

 

[NF1E]

Primed a hundred each SR and LR this morning using the Primal Rights tool. Have to admit it's very nice. Most expensive and it runs flawlessly. Primer tube feed is perfect. Whatta Hobby!

 

[NF1E]

After months of waiting the Lyman Accu-Prime auto load arrived today. Looks to be an interesting tool. Hope to have it set up on an Inline Fabrication base soon and do some comparisons with other priming tools. Whatta Hobby!

 

[Rat Rifle]

Nope. No tubes. No one at a time. No press.
Feel the primer bottom out.
Hang in there LEE Auto Prime !

 

[wkdickinson]

I've been using a Lee Bench Primer for about 3 years and liked it a lot. Previously I used two Lee Auto Primers for 25+ years - they worked great, but like many here because of arthritis in my hands, I had to find a different tool. I like to seat primers to the bottom of the pocket and even though the LBP has a long handle giving you a lot of mechanical advantage, you can still feel them bottoming out. The thing I like least about it is that the primers don't feed smoothly (you have to "tap" on the feeder often). I took a small fine file and smoothed out some parting line in the feeder, which helped, but it still an issue. But overall, good, inexpensive tool.

 

[KMW 1954]

https://leeprecision.com/files/instruct/PP2165.pdf

Been using one of these for years. Wouldn't be w/o it.

 

[bobm]

Nope. No tubes. No one at a time. No press.
Feel the primer bottom out.
Hang in there LEE Auto Prime !

Amen, brother.

 

[NF1E]

Loving the old FT920 in the background!
de kd4avp

That caught me by surprise. Never thought of the 920 as old. Now, the Collins next to it in the corner, yes. Whatta Hobby!

 

[NF1E]

Got the Lyman Auto-Prime/auto feed set up on an Inline Fabrication base. Looks like an amazing product. Weighted feed tube plungers and spring loaded feeding device shows promise. Whatta Hobby!

 

[rlporter507]

I use a Lee acp. Not rim thickness dependent and seats primers consistently wherever I adjust it to. I believe the Lee App can be modified to work the same . Being as the Lee Acp is now discontinued. The Sinclair and 21st century are also not rim thickness dependent. They are consistent good options . The new Lyman accu prime looks promising as well. But I have no experience with it yet.

yes it can. I bought an extra bottom piece, and machined it to accept a hornady bullet seat micrometer. I didnt warm up to the auto feed system, and have it in the get rid of pile. I have been extremely happy with the new lyman auto prime tool, feeds better than the rcbs bench tool, and more consistent, and almost as consistent as the 21st century tool. which i use on my BR loads. the pcps tool is nice, but i didnt get the consistency i was after, but there feed tube works better than the rcbs bench tool, and was more consistent than the rcbs tool, its in the pile also. Im using the heck out of the new lyman tool.
I always thought i had a good feel for seating the primers, but when i got a accuracy one measuring tool i found the same pressure doesnt always seat to the same depth. the rcbs tool was over .010 range, and the lyman tool im running under .002. and im flying through the brass!

 

[danny]

I always thought i had a good feel for seating the primers, but when i got a accuracy one measuring tool i found the same pressure doesnt always seat to the same depth. the rcbs tool was over .010 range, and the lyman tool im running under .002. and im flying through the brass!

Maybe that's because there is some variation in your primer pocket depths and also in the primers themselves, and it's not you or the tool that you were using?????

It's also not about "same pressure". It's about feeling the primer bottoming out.....then stopping.

Danny

 

[stavey]

Maybe that's because there is some variation in your primer pocket depths and also in the primers themselves, and it's not you or the tool that you were using?????

It's also not about "same pressure". It's about feeling the primer bottoming out.....then stopping.

Danny

As far as depth. I’m guessing OP uniforms his primer pockets . I do agree with him. While the Lee is extremely consistent . The primer feed setup is not my favorite.

 

[wildcatter]

years ago I bought a Sinclair priming tool, today I own three, you can find more expensive, but none that will last longer, or seat primers more exact. But I want exact, not necessary for hunting rifles, but a must for target shooting. The best cost more but you only buy them once, and they all only seat primers perfectly once set up!

Never rely on feel, the best reloaders don't have caliper hands, buy a good adjustable seater, prep your primer pockets, and seat everyone to the absolute 2 to 3 thousands crush and eliminate any doubt in your ignition due to your reloads! Then its only about your bolt timing and tune! Makes life simple.

 

[ebb]

My hands are so beat up and arthritic there is no way I could handle every primer and seat then one at a time. I have an RCBS hand primer tool and I don't like it, somehow or another it will get 2 or sometimes 3 primers in line and you have to dismantle the tool and start over. I also have an older Lee hand tool, but I have never used it as I have no shell holders. I noticed that Hornaday makes a hand seater with a tray similar to my RCBS. Has anyone one used the Hornaday version???? I would buy one in a heartbeat if they are known to be better than the RCBS and Lee.