hand loading primers or on the press ?

[rob-c]

did a search and realy didnt find anything,so what do you all prefer to do, load the primers on the press or use a handloader.is one better than the other? thanks

 

[Mobuck]

I use a hand priming tool on everything other than what runs through my progressive press. Right now I have 500 .223 cases waiting by my chair for me to put this infernal device to sleep and prime them while watching TV for a while.

 

[Precision32]

I have both Lee and RCBS hand held primer tools. I prefer the the Lee.

When I started reloading I used the press, but find the hand helds give a better 'feel' when seating the primers.

 

[Cholo]

I use both, but will usually use the primer tube on my RCBS Rock Chucker. I've used it for so many years that I get a good feel for the primer seating depth. I really like my old LEE hand primer though, but it's one that only does one primer at a time. I just finished priming 50 45 ACP's using a fairly new RCBS hand primer with the tray. It's a Rube Goldberg contraption at best. I wish I'd have bought the LEE

 

[PO2Hammer]

I primed on the press for years, but recently started having trouble with failures to fire with my new GP100 and CCI primers. Measured them and found I was leaving some high.
I now prime with the RCBS Ram Prime on top of the press, no more problems.

 

[ozo]

On the blue press.....always.
[550B]

 

[gasbag]

I have an SDB and have had a bit of trouble with high primers so I
bought a Universal RCBS hand primer and use that. For me it works
very well. It gives me positive feedback as to when the primer is seated
properly. I tumble my cases, deprime and size them and then toss them into the
ultrasonic cleaner. They come out all purdy and I then start loading at station #2.
It may sound weird but it works for me and I have had no more high primers.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

LEE hand-held primer thingy . . . for many years.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Have two Lee hand tools: one's an old style single primer model (Gen 1?), usually set up for large primers (for rifle use since I generally only load one or two boxes at a sitting.) The other one's got the round tray (Gen 2?) and is usually set up for small primers for pistol use.

Sometimes I'll use a Lee ram prime on top of the Rock Chucker for rifles--it's actually almost as easy to use as the single primer hand tool. All those horrid little flippy floppy things the mfrs like to call priming tools that come on so many presses are in plastic bags in the drawer somewhere.

Rick C

 

[Olsherm]

I have used the old Lee hand held(with round tray) for years(since about 1980 or so)I have never had a high primer that I know of nor a failure to fire.I have two of the round tray seaters.One set up for small and one for large.I have one of the latest new Lee seaters but I haven't used it yet as the old one just keeps going.Tray busted one of the catches and I glued it back on and still going.I like to use the single stage press but it is really slow and my old fingers can't handle those little primers so good one at a time.LOL

 

[6gun]

Gave up on the press for primers long ago, it's slow and to many problems, I use the RCBS Universal hand primer, fast and sets primers perfect every time.

 

[Twoboxer]

I hand prime all now, and enjoy it. I check the brass and KNOW the primer is seated correctly.

+1 on the RCBS Universal if you do multiple calibers - no shell holders, works great. The only cons are it takes a little longer to get (eg) CCI41 primers to go toes-up, and the design of the square case sometimes makes it "snap" into place, popping all the primers up and sometimes onto their fronts. One secret is to herd all the primers to one corner, and press that corner of the cover on first. Or sand down the center pin so the cover slides on easily.

Before the RCBS, I used a Hornady hand primer. Whether I used my Lee shell holders or Hornady's I would often get small primers jammed at the ram, and clearing the throat often led to upside-down primer, sometimes getting into the brass that way. Otherwise the Hornady has very good ergonomics, stands up on its own too.

Before the Hornady I BRIEFLY primed on the Lee Classic Turret . . . got tired of picking up primers off the floor.

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

Lee's for everything not done on the Dillon.

Have two, one for large and one for small.

 

[slippingaway]

I have and use both, and they seem to work equally well. The lee hand held primer tool works great if I want to prime while watching TV or something. Otherwise I just do it on the Lee single stage press while sizing, or on the Dillon progressives. I haven't ever had a problem either way.

 

[Clovishound]

I do mine on the press. I have a Lee turret. I have only had it a short while. I find that I like decapping and sizing all the cases prior to cleaning them, then I put the press into continuous mode and prime, powder, seat and crimp. At the point I put them back in the press after cleaning, I only have to touch the case once. I like the lever prime system that Lee has on their newer presses. If I were using a single stage, I would probably go with hand priming. I thought about the auto prime system they sell to go with the turret. It looks awkward to me from the videos I have seen.

FWIW, I am a woodturner and made a small wooden bowl. Very shallow, with a thick bottom (for stability) and a thin lip. This allows me to easily dump primers onto it, and slide a single primer off the edge. I occasionally drop one as I am putting them in the cup on the press, but after doing it a while, I find I do it less and less.

 

[LAH]

Everything I prime is on the press except my round ball rifle.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

I am using the only method I ever tried and can not make comparisons but the RCBS universal hand primer has worked well for me.

 

[Chief_10Beers]

Another RCBS Universal Hand priming tool user here, works very well for me............................

 

[slippingaway]

The Lee system that comes with their single stage challenger press is not awkward at all, it works very well. Not sure how that compares with the turret press.

 

[john guedry]

By hand with the round tray Lee.