Oh my Aching Thumb.... :-P

[Ziptar]

:-P Now that the Holidays are over I am raring to get started for reloading for Spring, Summer, and Fall. :-D

Never did this many in one sitting before but, was enjoying it so much I just kept going till I ran out of brass. I'd just cleaned and greased the Lee Hand Primer so it was smooth and easy.
http://www.ziptar.com/reloading/oh_my_aching_thumb.jpg

My thumb isn't even that sore really... Just a bit.

[canyon-ghost]

RCBS Ram Prime? http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx228/3rdshooter/RCBSRamPrime.jpg

It's only the best!

[pdawg_shooter]

I guess I run my hand prime backward. I turn it around and squeeze the lever with 3 fingers with the body in the web between my thumb and palm. I have primed over 1000 .223 brass in one setting with no problem.

[Ziptar]

Canyon-Ghost
Thanks for the suggestion, I bet its great. For me though priming on the press just isn't as quick or convenient as hand priming. I usually only do a couple hundred at a time, first time I've ever run through a whole box of 1000 primers at once.


I guess I run my hand prime backward. I turn it around and squeeze the lever with 3 fingers with the body in the web between my thumb and palm. I have primed over 1000 .223 brass in one setting with no problem.

I'm putting an order in for 1000 Starline, I'll give backwards a try when it gets here.

[SharpsShooter]

http://images.wholesalehunter.com/prodpics/rcbspic90200.jpg

RCBS Uses standard shell holders ...no special set required.

SS

[Beau Cassidy]

I was never happy with the RCBS tool. It never would fully seat the primers. Maybe everybody else had good results but not me.

[Mk42gunner]

http://images.wholesalehunter.com/prodpics/rcbspic90200.jpg

RCBS Uses standard shell holders ...no special set required.

SS

I tried both the Lee and the RCBS hand primers before I bought my RCBS. It just fits my hand better.


I was never happy with the RCBS tool. It never would fully seat the primers. Maybe everybody else had good results but not me.

Beau,

I have never had any problems seating primers with mine. Some LC-64 7.62 brass had tight primer pockets, but it still seated them.

If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work. If you still have it, you might call RCBS.

Robert

[Sonnypie]

I have 4 of those Lee tools.
One's broke, and the other 3 work fine.
And I wound up with two of the shell holder sets. :shock:

I never could figure out why Lee made the tray round, when everybody makes the primer boxes square. :lol:
Musta been an inginear thought that one up. :veryconfu

I prefer to prime with them. You get a far better feel for how the primer is seating.
Oh, and I "double thumb" mine. But I'll try turning it around for giggles.

[Mk42gunner]

As much as I like the RCBS hand priming tool, (to give it its correct name, for once) it also has a round primer tray. Winchester Large primers come in a square box that is too big to dump all at once into it. I usually dump half the box by sliding the cover off then turn it aroiund and dump the rest.

I think the new RCBS unit, the one that doesn't need shellholders, has a large square primer tray.

Robert

[Pitchnit]

The new design lee primer has a square tray along with a beefed up handle. My old design handle broke (common) and you cant get a replacement anymore. The are quite a few negative reviews along with some excellent reviews. I reload 45 acp and am very pleased with the new one. FYI you cant use the new handle with the old tool but you can use the old connecting rod along with the round trays in the new body with the new handle.

[Sonnypie]

The new design lee primer has a square tray along with a beefed up handle. My old design handle broke (common) and you cant get a replacement anymore. The are quite a few negative reviews along with some excellent reviews. I reload 45 acp and am very pleased with the new one. FYI you cant use the new handle with the old tool but you can use the old connecting rod along with the round trays in the new body with the new handle.

Hey Pitchnit,
Have I got a link for you!
I can't see me buying any. But it is very nice to know somebody has thought of us guys with deformed, over-sized thumbs and Pop-eye forearms.
http://www.21stcenturyshooting.com/Priming_Tool.php

[Bullet Caster]

I've never tried a hand press tool for priming as I am sure I would still use the press for priming. My press has that "certain" feel to it as I prime. I can run through quite a lot of primers standing at my press. I'm also with the others that think a square peg in a round hole is just plain stupid. Why in the world would an engineer or design engineer make a round tray for square boxes. That just don't sound right. I also use the half box method of dumpin' 'em in my tray which allows for more primers in the tray and not on the floor. When these "experts" design reloading equipment why don't they consult an actual reloader for suggestions. I guess that'd be too easy. BC

[Sonnypie]

I actually hold the box of primers over the tray and carefully slide out the tray dropping a row at a time.
So usually the most I can screw up is 10. ;)

But then, I don't usually have too much trouble with primers anyway. :rolleyes:

[3006guns]

I gave both my Lee hand primers away when I bought an RCBS. Not that there's anthing wrong with the Lee, it's just that the RCBS unit's handle is a lot more comfortable for long sessions. Oh, and I still use BOTH hands just to make it easier.

[13Echo]

When the round tray first came out it was a just a primer flipper, not connected to a primer seater. At that time the primer boxes were much smaller and fit very nicely over the round trays. Lee came up with attaching the primer flipper to a hand held primer seater and, naturally enough, used the already existing round tray design. In the fullness of time the primer boxes became much larger to allow individual spaces for each primer as a saftey measure. The new boxes just don't fit over the round trays. Why it has taken this long for someone to make a square tray or larger round tray I can't say but that is the reason the round trays are too small for the primer box.

Jerry Liles

Jerry Liles

[Frosty Boolit]

With three fingers on the lever the casing is pointing at your face if you want to keep the primers gravity feeding. If one went off, I'll bet that would hurt.

[pdawg_shooter]

With three fingers on the lever the casing is pointing at your face if you want to keep the primers gravity feeding. If one went off, I'll bet that would hurt.

No, it is not. It is pointed left of my left shoulder.

[runfiverun]

woww all this over priming.
i just use a bench mounted priming tool.
unless i'm doing pistol cases, the dillon primes them for me and gives me a loaded round too.

[DLCTEX]

I mostly prime on my Lee Classic Cast press with the Safety Prime. Great feeding of primers and really good "feel" of seating. I still do some with the Auto Prime hand tool.

[Ilwil]

I used a Lee hand primer for over 20 years, and it still works well. I picked up an RCBS hand primer for a good price a local gun show. It has a longer learning curve than the Lee, because it is more intricate and has to be completely disassembled if a primer misfeeds and the priming rod sticks. It does have, in my opinion, a more precise seating "feel", and is marginally more comfortable to use.
Lee shell holders will not work in it, and I found many of the older RCBS holders also don't work; a skosh too tight. The newer RCBS holders work well.

[leadhead]

Anyone ever use a Hornady primer tool?
I bought one years ago when they first
came out. Used regular shell holders but
was a pain to set up. Sold it after a few
times using it. Probably should have kept
it. I don't think there made any more.
Denny

[3006guns]

Since my first post regarding the RCBS tool......I wore it out! I actually wore the plastic primer feed tube to the point where the primers were starting to enter a little "cockeyed" or not centered. On top of that the tray cover had come loose and had a bad habit of popping off at the most inconvienent times.

A quick call to RCBS yesterday and new parts are on the way, no charge. Hopefully it'll last another eighteen years.

[Chicken Thief]

I modded mine (from '86) in several ways:
1) Sanded down the edge of the cover so the case wont interfer with it at all.
2) Made a small vedge from a pen to stop the lid "unscrew"
3) Glued on a strip of suede to improve grip.
4) Ground the gap bigger so a 500NE will go in.
5) Last i use a O-ring to hold the lever so the rest of the primers will not spill.

And i use my (what do you call the dead meat between thunb and index?) to press the lever and never had any fatique problems.

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Skydning/Til%20andre/R0010744.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Skydning/Til%20andre/R0010749.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Skydning/Til%20andre/R0010751.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Skydning/Til%20andre/R0010745.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Skydning/Til%20andre/R0010746.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Skydning/Til%20andre/R0010752.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Skydning/Til%20andre/R0010753.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Skydning/Til%20andre/R0010754.jpg

[Chicken Thief]

Oh forgot!
I never had problems loading primers, apperently i did it wrong the whole time.
I fill them into the lid and funnel them down into the tray and shake.

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Skydning/Til%20andre/R0010750.jpg

[Freightman]

Anyone ever use a Hornady primer tool?
I bought one years ago when they first
came out. Used regular shell holders but
was a pain to set up. Sold it after a few
times using it. Probably should have kept
it. I don't think there made any more.
Denny
I have one not bad but tends to double feed sometimes, use the LEE on pistol and it on rifle. Both work fine but my LEE is so old that you can no longer see the primers because the plastic had turned yellow, can't complain it has lasted for a lot of years, kind of like my old Ford PU takes a licking but keeps on and on and on.

[Echo]

I have 3 of the old model Lee Hand Priming tools - one for 38/357. one for 45/06, and one for all others. I can sit watching the idiot box and prime away.
But if I know I will be priming a bunch, say a couple of hundred, I have an RCBS Automatic bench model priming tool that works fine, and fast.
Then there's the arm on the Rock Chucker - and the Lyman turret set up for 38/357 - and then there's the Dillon - Carrumba, but what a lot of choices!

[a.squibload]

...3) Glued on a strip of suede to improve grip.

Thanks, I was thinking of something on the lever to improve traction,
still have some leather sling trimmin's from long ago, might try that.
Was also thinking of reinforcing the lever BEFORE it breaks, not sure
it's worth the effort. Been handling it gently.


And i use my (what do you call the dead meat between
thunb and index?)...

Web of thumb. 'Course some Castboolits folks have 'em on their toes too...:-P


I primed some on the Classic Cast, felt good.
Hand primer is more convenient 'cause you can do it anywhere.
Want a bench primer, maybe someday.

[mold maker]

Haven't broken a LEE thumb piece yet, but have always kept good lube on all the joints. Since I have 3 and just turned 70, I think they will outlast me.