What Priming Tool to Buy

[jimmymac]

In short range benchrest group shooting, which is dominated by the 6PPC, many competitors believe that consistent primer seating depth is important to consistency on the targets. The referenced tool allows you to set/measure seating depth for each primer.
Many other competitors in the same game do not consider primer seating depth to be a critical measure.

In short range group shooting almost all primers are seated by feel with a hand tool.

 

[AlNyhus]

In short range group shooting almost all primers are seated by feel with a hand tool.

Morning, Jim. I did a little test with one of the 'click adjustable' primer tools versus the Lee Auto Prime tool that I normally use. When I seated the primers by 'feel' with the Lee, they measured exactly the same as the click style tool.

 

[jimmymac]

Morning, Jim. I did a little test with one of the 'click adjustable' primer tools versus the Lee Auto Prime tool that I normally use. When I seated the primers by 'feel' with the Lee, they measured exactly the same as the click style tool.

I use an old style Lee with the round primer tray and have not had issues. I have a whole box of Lee parts so I can continue as I wear them out. I also have a very nice PMA hand tool, but is a lot slower.

Seating by feel where the primer is bottomed out in the pocket has been fine for my purposes.

 

[AlNyhus]

I use an old style Lee with the round primer tray and have not had issues. I have a whole box of Lee parts so I can continue as I wear them out.

Jim, I'm a self confessed Auto Prime slut.

 

[jimmymac]

Jim, I'm a self confessed Auto Prime slut.

 

[ridgeway]

I've always hand primed and still use the Lee auto prime from time to time that I got in 1990. Got some wear on it, but still works. LR BR rounds, I've always primed with a K&M hand prime. As of late, hand priming sometimes hurts and makes my hands go numb. I decided to try the Derraco unit, identical principle of the primal rights, but way cheaper. Problem with those is, the rim thickness and pocket depth can wreak havoc on LR rounds. As much as I like it and effortless it was, I decided to go back to hand priming due to variation. Sure, they can seat to the nearest thou or better, but if rim varies 2 to 5 thou and pocket depth varies 2 to 5 thou...you can crush primers by 10 thou and never know. Feel the primer bottom by hand and let em rip.

 

[Websurfer]

I re-read an earlier post of mine, and need to clarify:
Most (all?) short range benchrest shooters consider primer seating depth to be very important (critical?). Many have developed their skill using a hand held priming tool to the point that they can seat primers to a consistent depth by feel. Others prefer seeing a number to indicate consistent primer seating depth.
Either way can work equally well.
Some folks like Ford, some folks like Toyota, some like something else…

 

[AlNyhus]

I re-read an earlier post of mine, and need to clarify:
Most (all?) short range benchrest shooters consider primer seating depth to be very important (critical?). Many have developed their skill using a hand held priming tool to the point that they can seat primers to a consistent depth by feel. Others prefer seeing a number to indicate consistent primer seating depth.
Either way can work equally well.
Some folks like Ford, some folks like Toyota, some like something else…

Absolutely!

 

[ridgeway]

I re-read an earlier post of mine, and need to clarify:
Most (all?) short range benchrest shooters consider primer seating depth to be very important (critical?). Many have developed their skill using a hand held priming tool to the point that they can seat primers to a consistent depth by feel. Others prefer seeing a number to indicate consistent primer seating depth.
Either way can work equally well.
Some folks like Ford, some folks like Toyota, some like something else…

I guess if you know what that number needs to be and know what's going on...it will work. Variables in pocket depth, rim thickness and primer dimensions is the problem. If you sort all that out to a number...then you are a numbers person. Haha.

 

[6.5 forever]

I use the rcbs bench prime, but I think the primal rights one is supposed to be the best on the market.

Me too.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

I perfer hand hailed and I’m happy with the one made by Hornady, but I don’t overthink things

 

[neckturner]

Well, a revisit is in order, priming some brass Friday and my fingers started cramping and drawing up, had to stop priming, work with my hands to get the cramps out (can't do anything with the arthritis) and back at it, 3 or 4 pieces later hands cramping and fingers drawing up, may have to look for the primal rights, looking under the cushions of the couch!

When my hands finally give up, I'll change from my ancient round Lee AutoPrimes to the Lee Auto Bench Prime. Still by feel, inexpensive, and fast.
All the variables - noted by others above like rim thickness, pocket depth - tell me that by feel (crush) is the way to go.

 

[JFrank]

I've always hand primed and still use the Lee auto prime from time to time that I got in 1990. Got some wear on it, but still works. LR BR rounds, I've always primed with a K&M hand prime. As of late, hand priming sometimes hurts and makes my hands go numb. I decided to try the Derraco unit, identical principle of the primal rights, but way cheaper. Problem with those is, the rim thickness and pocket depth can wreak havoc on LR rounds. As much as I like it and effortless it was, I decided to go back to hand priming due to variation. Sure, they can seat to the nearest thou or better, but if rim varies 2 to 5 thou and pocket depth varies 2 to 5 thou...you can crush primers by 10 thou and never know. Feel the primer bottom by hand and let em rip.

I have both K&M as well as 21st Century hand primers , the K&M works ok but the 21st Century is on a different level of comfort and ergonomics.