Which hand held priming tool to buy?

[carrollshooter]

I am in the market for a good quality hand held tool that has a magazine. The new Lee tool has quite a few bad reviews. What say you good powder burners? What is the tool of choice?

 

[jonbearman]

I have both lee types and I like the new one better.You just have to tilt it down correctly to feed into the passage way.I will tell you that the new one is way safer than the original.I have retired my old one's for that purpose as safety is always first.There are others but they are way more expensive .

 

[Lbart]

I would recommend the 21st Century toll works with Lee magazine.
http://www.21stcenturyshooting.com/Priming_Tool.php

 

[artbosco]

I am in the market for a good quality hand held tool that has a magazine. The new Lee tool has quite a few bad reviews. What say you good powder burners? What is the tool of choice?

I own a few different styles but I keeping coming back to the RCBS Hand Priming Tool: http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/329291/rcbs-hand-priming-tool . To me it's easy to set up, fill with primers, and fun to use.

 

[lmorrison17]

I had broken several handles on my old Lee when I got fed up I was looking a QUALITY unit that had a feed tray. But it seemed all the best were single feed so I decided to compromise on that point. I thought Sinclaires was probably nice too but people were raving on the K&M and the price was great. I was apprehensive about the single load at first but it didn't really slow me down and this thing is SOLID. I'm glad I gave up on the tray for this great tool and it's a pleasure to use when you feel that solid chunk steel in your hand.
Larry

 

[jonbearman]

The old lee's had a pot metal link that everybody broke.If you break the new one I will buy you another.A few of the companys use lee parts so theirs will work,I wonder why??? Buy the lee and dont look back.

 

[holstil]

I have both of the rcbs models and while I like them both I perfer the one they refer to as universal for $10.00 more, at least for the 308 base family. I think rcbs is like craftsman and leupold, not necessarily the best but pretty good with a no bs warranty.

I wish they made them with a positive lock on the tray though. I'm always worried the tray is gonna get bumped off and those little suckers will go all over. Not yet so far but I'm admit about checking it often.

I like the k&m stuff also but I like the tray style better.

Jim

 

[JabaliHunter]

I have the Sinclair one and like it, but I haven't compared the others.

 

[SmokinJoe]

I would recommend that you at least talk to John at 21st Century. He has done a lot of development work using the Lee trays, both round & square, adapted to his very high quality handle assembly. It is a really nice tool. Would recommend the Sinclair SS shellholders to go with it. For my BR loads, I have always used K & M, and continue to be happy with everything about that tool except the handle, wish it was straight & about a 1/2" longer.

 

[bozo699]

The old lee's had a pot metal link that everybody broke.If you break the new one I will buy you another.A few of the companys use lee parts so theirs will work,I wonder why??? Buy the lee and dont look back.

Jon,
I usually agree with you on most things but don't make that deal with me or you may be buying me quite a few new hand primers, I have hands the size of boat oars and if the primer doesn't go the fake LITTLE handle will. With that being said I have several of the old lee hand primer tools and other then having to tape the lid on if you don't want primers all over the place and other then they forgot to put a man size handle on it I liked them, the new one?.....well the lid doesn't fall off that's all that can be said positive IMHO. They don't feed as well as the old ones, you have to hold it PERFECTLY in the precise position it needs to be in to work almost reliably, the old style with hundreds of thousands of primers through them I don't think I ever got a primer in backwards, not true with the new lee, it's FAKE way of feeding the next primer if you don't hold your breath just right it can, has , and WILL flip the primer over and will seat it backwards, very nice when you notice that at the match I am only 48 years old and as I stated I have a extremely strong grip as I have been a cattle rancher,mechanic, millwright,electrician all my life but many probably most of these br shooters are old retired guy's that are riddled with arthritis and just getting old as all of us soon will be and a handle that fits the whole hand instead of just 1/4 of the hand would be nice, the rcbs has a good feel, and a real handle but it's a all day job and three fits of rage later changing it over to another cartridge or primer size, I recently bought a Hornady, went right back and bought another one, definitely better then the other two inexpensive ones, I have one of Johns at 21st century and it is very nice, I have never wanted to use the ones you have to feed one at a time but after several of these threads I think I will try a K&M with dial. I don't think any of the primer tool companies customer service will even come close to Johns @ 21st Century, super nice guy, super quality tools, and the best customer service I have ever seen, all of the above is of course jmh opinions.
Wayne.

 

[Cigarcop]

I have a K&M with the dial and I like it, I only use it for my F-Class rifles but honestly haven't seen any difference in groups or #'s than when I use my older Lee's....I don't use the lids on the Lee's and have never spilled any from pressing primers in...I honestly think I have a better feel for the Lee than the K&M.

 

[Shynloco]

For regular use that is both comfortable, easy to use and dependable, I've found the RCBS Hand Held to the best in the mid range price category. I gave away my Lee a long time ago. Now I have and use a K&M for my Benchrest needs because you are able to set the primer seating depth to whereever you want. For everyday use, the RCBS has the magazine tray that works for just about any sized primers you want to use, while the K&M does not.

 

[mikecr]

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?action=search2

 

[25AI260]

the RCBS Hand Held has worked for me many yrs now comes w/ large an small parts... i've not used any other brands .. except for the auto tubes an such that come on the press ... dillion rcbs lyman
much better control with the hand held i feel

 

[carrollshooter]

Thanks guys.

 

[jonbearman]

Wayne,I almost spit my soda out of my mouth when I read the first few lines.Not every tool works for every person. So if you dont like the lee that is cool with me.I like my lee and wont go any other way for now.And since you are such a nice guy,send me all your lee stuff and I will dispose of it properly.LOL

 

[bozo699]

Wayne,I almost spit my soda out of my mouth when I read the first few lines.Not every tool works for every person. So if you dont like the lee that is cool with me.I like my lee and wont go any other way for now.And since you are such a nice guy,send me all your lee stuff and I will dispose of it properly.LOL

Jon,
I am LOL just knowing you got a laugh out of it I bought two complete Lee hand primers from 40Xguy I think it was and the only reason I bought them was for the trays in case I or a friend wanted more of the 21st century tools. I have a steady line of USPS boxes showing up here 1/2 of which I don't even open, I know that was one I didn't open so I will look for it and the priming tools minus the tray is your if you want it or them I can't remember how many there was, let me know. By the way I used the Lee's for years and years and didn't think they were that bad compared to the RCBS until I used a good one, like you said to each there own, there much better then one at a time on a press :
Wayne.

 

[Warz]

The old lee's had a pot metal link that everybody broke.If you break the new one I will buy you another.A few of the companys use lee parts so theirs will work,I wonder why??? Buy the lee and dont look back.

Have had my old Lee 35+ years, still using it. Cover lock is gettin worn, so I put a rubber band around it

 

[urbanrifleman]

Frankford Arsenal hands down. For the money nothing is close.

 

[Emmett Dibble]

Rocking an old Lee... Works like a charm.