Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Best hand held priming tool?

Gents,

Who makes the best hand held priming tool?

What features make it the best?

High volume reloaders?

Thanks,
MS

My favorite is the 1st Gen RCBS hand priming tool,though I currently suffer it's "upgrade".

I like the control of "feel"................

hey mackay...

been using the lee auto prime for 30 years at least...i have heard rumors of safety problems but never experienced a problem... i wear safety glasses anytime i handle primers...

newer systems might have advantages... i may never find out as i have a system thats never let me down....

I really like the the lee model.One of the few things that lee makes that isn't just a cheap get-you-by reloading tool.

I also like the AutoPrime, and have heard rumors of problems, but never had one myself. I also like the "feel" I get from this tool.

Hornady makes a tool I prefer over the old RCBS or the Lee. (The Lee is actually fine in many respects; it just is too small to be comfortable in my hands for long sessions. The RCBS is okay, but I've never cared for the way the plastic parts wanted to cause things to hang up; could have simply been a bad specimen.) I haven't used other brands.

RCBS has worked well for me the last 15 years. I did however noticed it only seats the primer fully using RCBS shell holders. No experience with other tools.

RCBS

The best would be the SInclair. I have used the Lee model but didn't like it. I use the RCBS bench mounted tool.Rick.

Amen.
I got rid of my two Lee Autoprime tools, and bought two Sinclair Primer Seating tools; one set up for large rifle primers, and one for small rifle primers.
I don't think there is a better one made. But, maybe there is, I just don't know about it. Seating primers with the Sinclair tool is about as good as it gets, in my view.
YMMV however.

OK, I can see how you guys might post Lee as best value for the $, but really - best period??? I bought one to try since I wanted one for Lg and one for Sm primers, and I personally would trade it for ANY other handprimer that I've ever seen.

I would personally like to have a Sinclair, but haven't been able to justify it since the two RCBS primers (newer model that uses shellholders, not the universal "thing") that I have work so well.

If anyone wants another Lee, I'll trade it with the shellholders for another RCBS or Hornady or ??? I'll even pay shipping both ways! Just shoot me a pm.

K&M makes a good priming tool.

I hate to disagree about the Sinclair priming tool being the best as I own one. It is the best if using for one type primer in a given case it's not a user friendly if switching as you have to adjust seating depth with shims every time you change shell holder/primer holder etc. You get 4 shims with the priming tool I'm suprised the others that give the tool high marks forgot to mention that part but you get good instruction on how to adjust depth.

As the boys in the know have said its the Sinclair.

I used to have the Sinclair (it used Lee autoprime shellholders) but unloaded it. Putting a primer a time in it really slows down the process.

I've wore out 3 Lee Autoprimes over the years... and they're hell on your thumb...

Last one I bought was the Hornady. I like that it works more like squeezing a pair of pliers. It has a good feel to it as well.

But my favorite priming tool is my RL550B. As an extra added bonus it can load 300 rounds of CF rifle ammo an hour pretty easily

I use a pair of K&M tools. Nice equipment at a reasonable price.

An older model RCBS...does what its supposed to without drama or fuss..

Thanks for the info so far.

I had a couple of hand me down Lee hand held jobs and in one 3 month period I was home I broke both. The pot metal gave out. I had an RCBS but it seemed to have disappeared during a move a few years back.

I use a number of products from Sinclairs and think highly of their stuff but as has been stated, loading the primers one at a time is a pain in the arse.

I ordered another RCBS last night and hopefully when I get home (working out of the country) it will be waiting for me.

I tend to load in batches and usually try to load a decent amount at once. I am guessing the RCBS may be the ticket.

Interesting comments and observations..

I really like the RCBS unit that uses the primer strips and has the universal shell holder. Very convenient. Never had a bad experience with it.

I use a Hornady but took the tray of it. Have also used RCBS before and the handles weakened and broke.

JW

The RCBS is a good priming tool. The K&M is a very good tool. But if you want the best. In my opinion the Sinclair tool is by far the best of the bunch.

PaPa260