Priming Tools?

[Siiri]

Hello,
Which priming tool should I get? I need something that will be easy to prime with but also the best for uniform seating depth. I have tired the primer arm that comes with the press and I find it too hard to seat the primer in the pocket.
Thanks!
Siiri

 

[BoydAllen]

The competition shooters that I know almost universally use hand priming tools. Of these, one that comes to mind, that seems to be well liked is the K&M, the simpler one, without the dial indicator.

 

[K0na_stinky]

How about low effort priming tools. Siiri happens to be a girl.

 

[lightman]

There are several that will do the job.The inexpensive Lee is well liked.The RCBS is also ok.On up the price range are the K&M and the Sinclair.I have owned all of them except the K&M.My favorite is the Sinclair.It is a quality tool,built by craftsmen,that will last a lifetime.It is very smooth,and has good leverage.All of these are hand tools,but there are a few bench tools ,also.I have no expierence with them.Hope this helps, Lightman

 

[Siiri]

I'm unsure about hand tools since I don't have very strong hands. My boyfriend has one and I plan on trying his before I decide on what to buy.

Siiri

 

[RonAKA]

I would go with the new Lee AutoPrime XR. See link:

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1296179859.925=/html/catalog/primtool.html

I use the older model, and it works just fine. I'm an old guy, and sometimes I resort to using two hands (thumbs actually). But try your boyfriend's primer first and see if you can manage. I believe the new model has a larger handle so should be easier.

 

[hawghunter]

I have the Lee, the K&M and the sinclair, used the Lee for years till it wore out then got the K&M and like it real well and is faster than the sinclair then got the sinclair, in stead of just sliding the case in like the Lee and K&M on the sinclair you slide it in then turn it down tight but it has better leverage easyer to squeeze hope this help. Mark

 

[artbosco]

Which priming tool should I get? I need something that will be easy to prime with but also the best for uniform seating depth. I have tired the primer arm that comes with the press and I find it too hard to seat the primer in the pocket. Siiri

I highly recommend the Forster Co-Ax Primer Seater: http://www.forsterproducts.com/catalog.asp?prodid=700679 It only takes about a 3/8" movement downward, with the palm of the hand, to seat a primer.

Shop around. I paid $57.00 each, new, for the two that I own. I also have two different RCBS hand squeezing type seaters, but prefer the Forster since arthritis is starting to set in in my fingers.

 

[338Lapua]

Iv got the Sinclair prime tool, its build quality is superb, it will last a life time. Then you can hand it down to your kids.

 

[juniorARshooter]

+1 on Lee

The Lee primer is inexpensive and easy to use and holds a large number of primers so it does save some time. Has a longish handle so not an excesisive amount of force is required. Also if it breaks or when you wear it out - it has a life time warrenty send it back to Lee and they will either repair or send you a new one!

 

[xring]

Siiri , Here's another one to consider : www.customreloadingtools.com ! This guy builds quality Reloading stuff . If finances are tight , buy the new Lee ( with the square Tray ) which uses any brand of Primer ( they had limited Primer Brand recommendations with the old Primer Tray ) . If the required force for you is uncomfortable , promise to treat your boyfriend to a good Movie and let him do it .

 

[Dennis Keefer]

Siiri; My two cents. You have ask a question that is really a personal need. I do use hand primming tools, "Old Style" Lee. I have tried several low cost tools (RCBS & Hornady) and keep going back to my Lee, because in my opnion, it does the job for me. Strength in your hands is a consideration, but doing the job you need should be first. I shoot Groundhog Matches with a 223Rem at 100 to 500 yards. I uniform all my primer pockets of all cases first. I prime in batches of 25 so that I can seat the primers all the same with the same amount of thumb pressure (Arthritis in both hands and right wrist). I belive this gives me the most consistant seating for my equipment.

Hope you have good luck with your shooting, enjoy yourself.

 

[BoydAllen]

If you find that you are uncomfortable with a hand priming tool, RCBS makes a couple of on the press priming tools. I have one that does a good job. Depending on how far you turn the die into the press, you can go from too much leverage, which results is too little feel, to too little, which causes control issues. Somewhere in the middle, there is a point of adjustment where it is easy to seat a primer, and you have excellent feel. The reason that I don't use mine is that I mostly load at the range, and I don't like removing the FL die from my press to prime. It takes time that I don't have if shooting a match, and I don't want to have to readjust my FL die. Also, I have strong hands, so it is no trouble to use a hand priming tool, and I find them handy. Be aware that the older Lee tools, that have a primer tray, are not supposed to be use with some brands of primers, for safety reasons. Lee has recently solved this problem, and made design changes. If you want to try one of their tools, you might want to go to their web site and check it out.

 

[minnesota]

Buy a Hornady, I have two lee's also and prefer the hornady over the lee. I still use the lee because I have it on hand, I use them for .223 rem size cases and 30-06 size cases. The best thing about the hornady is you can use your hornady or rcbs type shellholders for your press, and more feel than the lee. Also the hornady is easier to use, more feel. The lee you need to buy there shellholders for there unit. I already had the lee and alot of there shellholders before I tried the Hornady. The lee needs to be modified to use the larger cases such as the short mags and the 500 S&W among others. The Hornady does not.

 

[Scott Harris]

Have you considered a bench-mounted priming tool? I use one of these and really like it:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=457599

Easy to load up with primers, good "sensitivity" while seating, and pretty fast once you get in the groove with it. Real easy to switch between LR and SR primers, too.

+1 This tool provides plenty of leverage but you can still feel the primer going in an bottoming. It's way fast and simple.

 

[thefitter]

Have you considered a bench-mounted priming tool? I use one of these and really like it:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=457599

Easy to load up with primers, good "sensitivity" while seating, and pretty fast once you get in the groove with it. Real easy to switch between LR and SR primers, too.

+1 just mount it to a bench and it's very easy to use and load.

 

[dreever]

I go along with the bench mounted tool. Fast, easy to use, easy on the hands. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=457599

Danny