Best Hand Primers

[Seamus]

I want to obtain a reasonably priced hand primer so that I can prime cases without using my press.  Various models of hand primers have positive & negative points.  What I'd like to find is as reliable tool that 1) will use my regular (mostly Lee) shellholders and 2) loads with loose primers and does not require the use of strips.

I load mostly cowboy calibers, .32-20, .38S&W, 44 Spl, 45LC, .45-70, .50-70 & .577 Snider.
Any recommendations and tips on hand primers are appreciated.

Seamus

[Abilene]

I think most people use either the Lee or the RCBS.  I have used the RCBS since '98 and it works fine, uses my Lee shellplates.  The rammer rod can fall out if you turn it upside down and it occasionally happens to me but so far I've never lost it 

[Cliff Fendley]

I've used RCBS and Lee and I like the RCBS far better.

[Johnny McCrae]

I use two RCBS hand primers, one for small pistol and one for large pistol primers. They work great!

[pony express]

I haven't used the RCBS yet, only Lee. I have an old style and one of the "new improved" models, the original; works great, the improved model is a pain in the........... primers fall out of it, tries to jam them in sideways, among other problems. Since the old style are only available used, and you state you want to use shellholders you already have, I would go with the RCBS. All the Lees use a special shellholder. Also, you probably won't find one of those special shell holders for .577!

There's another one too, company name Smart Reloader, looks like a Lee, but uses regular shellholders. Haven't tried it yet, just looked at them online.

[rickk]

As you shop for a priming tool, consider what would happen if the primer magazine is adjacent to the primer being inserted if there was a jamb of some sort and the primer being seated exploded and set off the entire magazine.

Some tools have a plastic magazine connected directly to the priming ram. Said magazine sometimes point directly at your face like a Claymore mine.

Some tools separate the magazine from the primer being inserted, and the magazine is facing up and away from the user.

Some tools require that you manually insert the primers one at a time in to the tool (not all that big a deal really).

Having had a near-empty primer magazine explode when a sideways primer exploded while being seated, this is something that I know first hand can happen.

Rick

[Bugsbunny45]

I use Lee to hand prime...

[bowiemaker]

I like the RCBS much better than Lees model. The RCBS has a lot more leverage. The Lee wore blisters on my hands. However, get the RCBS with the shell holders. I made the mistake of buying the universal model and the spring loaded clips that hold the case in place do not work that well.

[Johnny McCrae]

I forgot to mention that the RCBS shell holders seem to fit better then the LEE shell holders in the RCBS priming tool. You have to hold the RCBS priming tool so the primer tray is almost perpendicular and occasionally give it a light shake. Keep it clean and it works great.

[FriscoCounty]

I have both the Lee and RCBS. I use both.  I like the feel of the Lee better.  The advantage of the RCBS is that it uses a standard shell holder.  For example, you can't prime Magtech brass shot shells with the Lee.  You can with the RCBS, once you get the RCBS 12 gauge shell holder.