Handheld Primer Seaters, which one?

[REDLINE]

For those of you that like to seat primers with a hand primer, off the press, is there a model you've found works best.  I don't know how much I would or wouldn't use one, but feel like I want one regardless.

The thing is it appears there are dozens of different ones on the market.  What thoughts do you all have on which ones to avoid, and which ones are worth buying?

Seems to me the descriptions of a few said something about not having to change anything out between seating large and small primers?

I have no interest in just buying something cheaply made.  I'm looking for durability and ease of use, with good "feel."

[cwlongshot]

Early on I tried the LEE... it worked ok, but needed special shell holders and it did not take long it broke. I tired to get a replacement part but gave up. I ran across two more at a yard sale and used them (One S and one L) for another year or so before they also broke...

Now I have a RCBS, I picked it up from a wife of a friend after he passed. That was 4 maybe 5 years ago. Its still going strong and I like it much better then the junk LEE. Its dosen't need shell holders, fits all sizes and works smoothly.

Something else I like for small quantitys I use a RAM prime on top of a single stage press.


For large quantities, I go to another bench mounted RCBS APS priming station. This thing is the BOMB! Very positive, all exactly the same and fast! BUT expensive...


CW

[EdMc]

I use a RCBS hand primer that came in the 'kit' I bought, seems to work well enough. Uses the same shell holders as the press. You do have to change the primer push rod for small or large primes. Only takes a few seconds to change, tho.

Slightly off topic but Hornady shell holders are a tighter fit in the holder than the ones made by RCBS. Conversely, the RCBS shell holders will NOT work in the Hornady case trimmer I have. There is a difference in the size of the thru hole in the shell holders.

[cwlongshot]

That's good to know Ed!

I was not aware Hornadys shell holders where different. Not a big suprise they alter a industry standard... The also chose to ignore SAMMI specifications when building there Lever Evolution rounds...

I use RCBS, Redding and Lyman shell holders i even have a couple LEE's all used with no problems.

CW

[EdMc]

CW, I've had no problem using the Hornady shell holders in a RCBS press. It was annoying when I had to buy another shell holder for the trimmer. They didn't mention that in their advertising.

[The_Shadow]

I have a few of the LEE hand types (since they came out) but the RCBS has been my main hand primer.  Trying to put CCI's in New 10mm  Winchester casings was a PITA with any of the hand primer units, it was easier to just use the Winchester primers for the Winchester cases.

[jiminthe burg]

RCBS hand primmer is my favorite way to prime.  Uses standard  shell holders as has been stated and it is easy to change from large primers to small.  I wore out some of the internal parts and called RCBS and the rep said the parts would be shipped by the next day. I had lost the pin  that attaches the gate to one side of the frame and she even agreed to send that pin.  Just my 2 cents worth.

[Turo]

I too use an RCBS hand priming tool.  I like it because I don't have to change anything out to swap between priming .40S&w and 10mm as I load both.  It does get a little tiring for your hand after a hundred rounds or so, but I consider it a good forearm workout.

I can't say anything to others, as I've never used any other, but unless I am loading 1000+ rounds at a time, it works for me.

[REDLINE]

Great replies!  If I didn't know better, and maybe I don't, it would appear RCBS practically has a monoply going on here.  It also sounds like they are worth it.  I noticed just moments ago they are spendier than most others too, but it would appear you get what you pay for.  Then there was cwlongshot's comment on the Lee example...again it appears you get what you pay for as they appear to be the lowest cost.

With the RCBS examples;  Can you actually feel the primer bottom out in the primer pocket, or is there only so much seater travel that you simply reach the end of every time you seat a primer?

[DM1906]

I have, and use, the RCBS hand primer.  I use several methods, depending on how many rounds I'm doing.  0-50, Ram Prime (it takes me longer to set up the "auto" primers than I can hammer out 50 with the Ram Prime).  50-200, RCBS hand primer.  More than 200 is progressive territory.  I don't stockpile primed cases (I prime what I load at the time).  The Lee hand primer is good, but requires specific shell holders (costs extra).  It works very well, but will not last as long as the RCBS.  On the other hand, so to speak, the RCBS isn't really a peach, either.  It does use standard shell holders, but gets a bit sloppy after a while (a few years, probably 20-30K rounds).  Some of them are difficult to keep aligned (crushed/misaligned primers, especially in tight pockets).  The Lee hand primer is more precise, but as said, won't last as long.  I have 2 broken Lee primers (the second replaced the first at no cost, no return), and one each RCBS, broken/working, and the one that works is about to become airborne (won't stay aligned with some cases, forget military cases).  I also use the Lee "auto prime II", which is very good (probably the best), but I've misplaced it.  I used it for 20 years, packed it way, and can't find it now.  I will buy another before long if I don't find it.  All of the above come out of the box ready for large or small primers.  If you don't have a Ram Prime, get one.  It's cheap, and sets up in seconds for either size.  Very simple and fast for small batches, like test rounds.

Also, don't worry about primer seating depth with handgun cartridges.  As long as they seat at or below the case head, they'll be fine.  If they seat so deep you get light pin hits, something else is wrong.  Bad primers, bad cases, or a broken/worn pin.  These are not common, at all.  I generally like the primer to seat a little below the case head (usually bottomed out).  This seems to help prevent the occasional gas leakage, compared to a more flush seating.  If I bottom out a primer and it's too deep, I retire the case.  Also, if primers aren't seated deep enough (deep pocket, flush seat), the anvil can become dislodged, and cause a squib.  Dropping a cartridge once can cause this, if the conditions are right (and we all drop them, from time to time).

[REDLINE]

Thanks for the heads up!  Unless someone comes up with info on a different manufacturer's hand priming device that they can point out is worth having over one of the RCBS setups, it looks like RCBS is where it's at.

I see one by Hornady, that in the Graf & Sons catalog is right in between the Lee and RCBS units in terms of price, but maybe nobody here owns one.  Not sure if I'm interested in being a guinea pig for the Hornady model either with so much love for the RCBS model(s).

[Glenn H]

I use a Hornady, it is about 20 years old.  I've had good use out of it but if I were to be looking now I'd try one of the square shaped ones.  Emptying 100 primers into a round tray can be a bit of a bother.  Not huge but a bit.

[sqlbullet]

RCBS and really like it.

[Taterhead]

One more fan of the RCBS hand priming tool. I use the one that does not have the universal shell holder. I mostly load 10mm, so I just keep a spare shell holder on it so I don't have to pull the one off my press. Not a big deal to do so either way. It is simple to switch to small primer setup. About a 20 second ordeal. Mine has several years and thousands of seated primers. I don't like to seat more than 200 at a time without a rest, but the effort is not bad. It gives a lot of good feel and feedback. It is way quicker than seating on the press.

One testament to RCBS customer service: A few years ago when I was seating small primers for 40 S&W, the primers were flipping sideways for whatever reason. I sent an inquiry to RCBS about the problem. On the inquiry form you put your name, address, etc. They contacted me very promptly and said that they had mailed a set of replacement parts that included a pin, shellholder, and the white plastic doohicky thingy that the shell holder sits on. No questions asked. They just shipped it out with no further questions asked. They said that they had modified slightly the contour on the shellholder to work better -- so they just gave me one. Either works fine for LP primers, but for whatever reason, my older one did not do so well for SP primers. Great service. I use a lot of RCBS stuff, and that is the only issue I have had with anything -- and they addressed the problem painlessly.

[REDLINE]

I use a Hornady, it is about 20 years old.  I've had good use out of it but if I were to be looking now I'd try one of the square shaped ones.  Emptying 100 primers into a round tray can be a bit of a bother.  Not huge but a bit.

Interesting.  Plus, general FYI, Horandy has supposedly improved on your model a fair amount to this point in time.  Could be it's a decent contender in the field.  By the same token it sure does appear yours has managed the test of time quite well.  Has yours ever incurred any sort of breakage after all those years?