Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles RCBS hand priming tool whatcha think of this?

I proceed to prime 35 .223 Rem cases with CCI 400 and 5 of them become warped. IMO the RCBS priming tool is not of good quality. This is the one that comes with the kit. The rod that goes in the tool when you look down on it does not seem that level. And when prime some the rod a few times get stuck to the case which cause high/low spots when looking at the case and hard to remove.

How many of you ditched this after priming a few cases and bought a better hand primer tool?

I saw a post about the best hand priming tool. I will have to find it and see what else is available. This RCBS tool seems very "unstable" for lack of better word.

Your right they are pretty much junk, I have two that I have had to work on to get them to function to what I consider decent!

I won't say I'm surprised. Mine works good though And I'd recommend it to a friend. Might give them a chance to fix it/make things right.

I bought one maybe 3 years ago and never even tried to use it. After taking it out of the box, that particular one was such obvious junk I returned it for a refund.

That doesn't mean the design won't work, and maybe some production runs do.

Which priming tool do you prefer?

This is the one I have only about 5 years old.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/319794/rcbs-universal-hand-priming-tool?cm_vc=subv1319794

I've got two of an older model of this tool. you have to use regular shell holders. They are much better built then the Lee . I had a Lee for a long time but finally wore it out (something broke I don't remember what). The RCBS is much easier to use.

I bought one of these and never looked back.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/457599/rcbs-automatic-bench-priming-tool?cm_vc=ProductFinding

MD, yeah I know that does not mean it will not work. But if I was going to seat a primer I would want to run "run" the primer in as level as possible. As I stated I see the primers are sometimes not that even from looking side ways or down the head after primer is in. Not sure if that will make a whole lot of difference. But the rod that goes in the primer tool when I compress the handle the rod comes up and I can see its not exactly level too. This is why I stated this was a POS. But I will give it a try as that is what I have on hand. If accuracy is not to my liking it will be hard to say if this is a primer seating issue.

Swifty and the other guy with your suggestion...this will work probably better. The Universal may be better than what I have which is a non-universal and its $61. I'd have to look what mine cost but not bad having to switch out the shell holders in the primer tool.

Swifty yours also is a fixed tool but can probably be mounted on a 2 X4 lumber and be moved around?

Thanks for the ideas.

I was told the Lee hand priming tool was the way to go so I bought one and have used it without issues for several years.

I primed some 270Win cases with the CCI primers and the RCBS I have on hand went much better than the small rifle primers. Not sure why but since I have this one on hand I will keep using it for a bit but definitely will keep a look out to buy another one down the road. Many better choices these days.

I am a big fan of the Sinclair hand priming tool.

I use the rcbs bench mounted priming tool had it for years works great