What hand or bench priming system do you use?

prcomte

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 14, 2017
147
25
Okay, I'm looking for a new bench or hand priming tool. My universal rcbs hates holding my lapua 243 cases for some reason. What do you guys use?

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I use the regular rcbs hand priming tool. Seems to work fine, I use several simultaneously actually(just leave them setup in the configuration I need). The lee works as well, and is cheap. The sinclair is awful nice.
 
I was using priming on the Redding turret press for 300wm and 260 rem. I have moved to a Sinclair hand priming tool and am getting a more consistent seating of the primers and a lower muzzle velocity SD.
 
My favorite is the 21st century’s...easiest to swap calibers and is a better design than Sinclairs in my opinion. I’ve used Sinclairs for years and wish I went to the 21st sooner...
 
I use the regulr rcbs hand priming tool and a lee hand priming tool with success. I’m thinking of trying the Frankford arsenal perfect seat tool.
 
I have the Sinclair , the RCBS bench priming tool, and the Frankford Arsenal. The RCBS is finicky for me and throws primer off the bench about 15% of the time. The Sinclair is well built but is not quick to change shell holders. The Frankford is big , and solid and is fast. Quick caliber change, comes with shell holders. Thats the best one yet.
 
I have the Sinclair , the RCBS bench priming tool, and the Frankford Arsenal. The RCBS is finicky for me and throws primer off the bench about 15% of the time. The Sinclair is well built but is not quick to change shell holders. The Frankford is big , and solid and is fast. Quick caliber change, comes with shell holders. Thats the best one yet.
The Frankford arsenal on caught my eye yesterday.

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A lot of shooters have a Dillon on their bench as well as their favorite single stage press. My hand primer shot craps so I started using my Dillon 550B priming system and have never looked back. Dillon priming system is first rate.
 
I started with and used an RCBS handtool for about 15 years. Only moved because it went south and started crushing primers. Moved to a Lyman hand primer, which works OK but often won't seat the primers deep enough in non-Lapua cases. Moved to the Cemetery 21with the micrometer adjustment and the Lee tray about a year ago and I'm very happy with it.
 
I use the RCBS hand priming tool.

This. Have been using one for 15 years and not really needed anything else. ETA: mine's the one that uses shellholders.

Don't have the patience to use priming tools that need to have one primer loaded into it at a time.
 
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I use the primal rights press mounted primer seater for my precision loads.. its very consistent and quick once you set it up. For pistol/ar/sbr i use my Hornady hand primer that came in the lock n load kit. Works fine for that
 
I use either the primer seater built into the Forster CoAx press or the 21st Century tool.

I'm what I like to call "motivationally challenged" (as opposed to lazy) and have the adjustable jaws on the CoAx primer seater set up just right for .473" rim cases, so that's what I use for my .308 Win-family and 30-06 Sprg-family cases, while the 21st Century tool is used for my Win Mag-family cases.
 
I'm picking up a Frankford arsenal hand primer and I'm going to try it for awhile. A few guys I shoot with run one and they like theirs, so we will see how it turns out.

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I’ve been running an RCBS hand primer for 10 years. Only issue is the priming ram started to stick when I release the grip.
Just sent an email to rcbs got a response 10min later advising they were sending me replacement parts no charge

I will say their customer service is top notch


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This. Have been using one for 15 years and not really needed anything else. ETA: mine's the one that uses shellholders.

Don't have the patience to use priming tools that need to have one primer loaded into it at a time.

Same for me.

I’ve been happy with it for years.


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I've been using the RCBS bench primer for a few years without any problems. I used a hand primer for years but carpel tunnel pushed me to a bench primer.

Same boat just had surgery last month
Debating between the Forster and RCBS but not slot of info in the Forster


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I also like the RCBS bench priming tool. Worth the little extra green unless you want to prime on the couch (don't do that!! I can't... adhd and all those ddddd things. must... always... be... the... same..!!!.)
 
I have and use.

1) RCBS bench primer.
Works fine, uses standard shell holders, you have to load the primers one at a time into the tube. cannot feel primers bottom out.

2) Lee Auto Prime Old model.
Simple, fast, good feel for bottoming out primer.

3) Frankfort Arsenal Hand Tool..
Heavy duty, handle return spring too heavy, primer tray cover design not the greatest, primer tray hard to flip primers.
Seating adjustment works but a little quirky to adjust, primers do not feed smoothly.
I just use it with seating adjustment maxed out and feel the primer seat.

This is the second one I have owned the first was returned as primers would sometimes cant and get stuck.

 
I ended up going the Frankford Arsenal Route and I'm glad I did. I primed about 50 cases tonight and I'm pleased with the results and how easy it was to prime the cases. Thanks for all the help fellas!
 
I started with and used an RCBS handtool for about 15 years. Only moved because it went south and started crushing primers. Moved to a Lyman hand primer, which works OK but often won't seat the primers deep enough in non-Lapua cases. Moved to the Cemetery 21with the micrometer adjustment and the Lee tray about a year ago and I'm very happy with it.

I have the 21 st Century model that used the Lee auto prime trays and I liked it until the Lee part of the unit went south. 21 st Century does not show a prime tool with a tray. I want to use an auto feed unit, hand held if possible. I do not know about the new Lee Ergo Prime. What are my options on a quality auto feed hand held unit? If hand held is not a good option anymore, how about bench mounted units that have good feel and auto feed?