Wondering what everyone’s opinion is on the best priming tool. I’m loading for two people now soon to be three. I’m using the frankford Arsenal tool. I like the job it does with being able to set the depth and all. Bad think is after a few this thing kills my hands. Have pretty good size mits, but after awhile I’m needing a break from it. Any help would be appreciated.
Best priming tool??
- Thread starter Rutter
- Start date
Cps priming tool. Anyone that recommends something else is just still trying to convince themself it’s not worth the price tag.
I took several training courses taught by a guy who is a Glock fan. When I trot out a 1911, he gives me all kinds of grief, "If you're going to use a gun, at least use one that invented within the last hundred years". I have been using a Sinclair since the mid-90s. I expect the same soft of crap from this crowd about the Sinclair. I think it's a great tool with good feel and easy to use. I have primed tens of thousands of cases with it - by hand, one primer at a time. There may be better tools but it should be considered. By the way, 1911s are good pistols and I have a nice one but I shoot Glocks too.
RCBS Automatic Priming Tool. Good feel, plenty of leverage, fast, $120. The CPS is nice but if I'm buying a $600 priming tool, i shouldn't have to dick with pick-up tubes and should just be able to dump sleeves of primers into a bin and it figures itself out.
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I like the way that thing operates. Don’t have to run a second handle to load another primer. Wish it had a depth adjustment.
What calibers are you loading, how many and for what purposes? I have inserted a lot of primers on the Hornady LnL progressive press with very few issues. If you are loading rifle for competition you may need the CPS from Primal Rights. Great company by the way.
I have been using a RCBS automatic bench top priming tool for several years. It works but there are several downsides to it. I recently bought a Forster priming tool that looks very promising and superior in many ways.
After using the RCBS auto tool for a long time already here are a couple of observations. (Not in order though)
- The primer tubes will eventually bend/warp over time from the repeated flopping back and forth.
- The primer seating ram is not compatible with all shell holders. I've had to dremmel out the lip on a few shell holders to keep the cup that holds the primer from hanging up on each other. And some shell holders, the hole is simply too small all together but this can be fixed with a bit of dremmel work.
- The pick up process for primers is just as long (almost) as priming itself. In order to load the tubes you have to get the primers all oriented on a flat surface then pick them up one by one with the little plastic end of the tube making sure not to bounce the orientation tray in the process. If you bump it just a little you have to reorient a lot of your primers.
- Sometimes that 'bounce' that happens from flopping back and forth will cause your primer to bounce out of the cup or become disoriented during the process.
- The cups and the ram can become unscrewed (and do) which becomes a bit of a hassle because it can cause other types of malfunctions.
- Primers are 'stacked' so if one goes boom, it can cause a chain reaction. (chance of this is slim but still worth noting)
- I should add that at least for me I got a two sided clam shell primer orientation tray. You get the primers all anvil up then you put the lid on and flip them all over to be anvil down. (with the forster you don't need to do this at all)
- You don't need shell holders at all. It's super easy to adjust to whatever case you are using too using the jaws on the device.
- The loading of the tubes is much easier. I bought a compatible primer loading tray which is a big deal. Orient your primers and then put the primer tube in the slot and simply dump the primers in. This is made possible because the 'tubes' are square and not round.
- Loading the tubes takes a fraction of the time vs doing a one by one pickup. This is because they can simply slide in sideways from an anvil up orientation.
- The primers are oriented anvil facing out so if one goes boom hopefully it's just that one.
- The tube doesn't flop around causing the problems mentioned above. It's in a fixed location so they just drop into place.
- The size of the unit and how it works makes it more 'mobile'. My RCBS one I have mounted to a QD plate for an inline mount. Previously I had it mounted to a board but it's a lot more fiddly. With the Forster I can mount it up and prime anywhere in the house (like while a football game is on or whatever). You can do that with both but the Forster one lends itself to do that much more easier.
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I like the adjustable jaws. I load the GT at the moment and have to move the case around to get the primer pocket just right to prime. Going seriously look in to it.
To me all of the stuff mentioned above matters. But the loading of the tubes is done in about 1/4th of the time with way less hassle. No orienting then flipping over your primer tray or any of that stuff.
I honestly really like the Frankford tool and was just semi-joking earlier about closing a COC gripper lol, the tool is actually pretty easy to close, but I'm saying that as someone who only primes 100 cases at a time with it... even with good grip strength I can see how loading hundreds of rounds with it without a break would suck.
I wouldn't bother with the Primal Rights' tool though if you're willing to spend that type of cheddar, I'd just get a Dillon XL750. I have one for pistol, and while I do my rifle stuff on a single-stage, if I wanted to it wouldn't be too painful to press it into service for rifle duty. There are some guys out there making some really precision stuff using 750's too; a priming tool is just a priming tool.
I wouldn't bother with the Primal Rights' tool though if you're willing to spend that type of cheddar, I'd just get a Dillon XL750. I have one for pistol, and while I do my rifle stuff on a single-stage, if I wanted to it wouldn't be too painful to press it into service for rifle duty. There are some guys out there making some really precision stuff using 750's too; a priming tool is just a priming tool.
Been using RCBS bench priming tool (99$ with coupon) for awhile now. Told myself that I’ll upgrade to a CPS when my RCBS goes to shits. 5k plus primers later still going strong. Then recently upgraded it with Hollands Perfect Primer kit (140$) . Easy install, use, and repeatable results.
I still have an original, working, lee hand primimg tool — bought it back in the very early 90’s
That thing has seen 10’s of thousands of primers and still going strong — lubed with vaseline
A little hand fatigue but regulaly seat 400 to 500 large pistol primers in a priming session
That thing has seen 10’s of thousands of primers and still going strong — lubed with vaseline
A little hand fatigue but regulaly seat 400 to 500 large pistol primers in a priming session
I suggest the slave family line up to do the work some thick chain will help keep them in place and duct tape will keep em quiet while they work no whistling darn it . It keeps the steady rhythm while it works making me bullets or it gets the hose again .
I suggest the slave family line up to do the work some thick chain will help keep them in place and duct tape will keep em quiet while they work no whistling darn it . It keeps the steady rhythm while it works making me bullets or it gets the hose again .
Damn, you remind me...........................................of me!
I really like my sinclair. I use it for my 300 PRC. I enjoy being able to feel the bottom out and the solid construction. No pot metal bullshit. I use a dillon 550 for my .308.
That’s a great bench setupBeen using RCBS bench priming tool (99$ with coupon) for awhile now. Told myself that I’ll upgrade to a CPS when my RCBS goes to shits. 5k plus primers later still going strong. Then recently upgraded it with Hollands Perfect Primer kit (140$) . Easy install, use, and repeatable results.
H-PPS-AU Hollands Perfect Primer Seater (Adapter unit)
You weigh bullet's outers and cases and yet neglect the importance of proper primer seating. Crushed primers for cushioned blows to the primer result in less than perfect primer performance. Once primer seaters and adapters allow you seat primers to the same perfection as you do on all other...
www.hollandguns.com
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