RCBS Hand Priming Tool

[JEBar]

there is no telling how many tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of primers have been seated by using the primer seat of our 60's vintage RCBS Rock Chucker press .... it still works and works well .... a while back a friend commented on how much he liked his hand primer and I well remember thinking that one would probably be in the not really needed but nice to have category .... several months ago I caught a decent price on a RCBS Hand Priming Tool ===> https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-90200-Hand- ... iming+tool <=== and decided, why not ? .... when I got home I took it out of the box, looked it over, boxed it back up, and placed it out of the way .... earlier today a John Wayne western was on and I needed to set primers in 300 44 Mag casings .... my choice was to go to the loading room, setup our press and miss the movie or dig out the hand press and give it a try .... frankly, it wasn't much of a decision .... there is a minor learning curve with using it, one that doesn't take much effort to master .... bottom line, my friend and I were both right .... I now understand why he likes his and it most certainly is in the nice to have category .... now that I've used it, I can see it coming in handy and doing so on a regular basis

[Squatch]

It's the only thing I have to load primers. It works great for me. I like to feel the primer seating. My main suggestion is to get a 2nd shell holder in every caliber you normally load. One for the press and one for the hand primer. Saves work changing holders midtream.

[JEBar]

sounds like a wise suggestion .... I looked at the hand loader that has an adjustable holder .... I am considering buying a second so that I can have one setup for large and another for small primers

[JEBar]

as noted I looked at the hand loader that has an adjustable holder .... it is more expensive than the one I have .... ours requires the use of the same individual shell holders used with our RCBS press .... a friend has the one with the adjustable shell holder and he says he is frustrated with it .... he says that most of the time it does well but he has had problems with it not setting some of the primers properly .... the result has been the shell failing to fire

[JEBar]

as noted in the link in post 1, we've been using an RCBS Hand Primer for 3 years or so .... a couple of days ago one of our sons was using it and had a primer go off as it was being seated .... we've used it to install tens of thousands of primers and this was a first .... we've talked it over and over and over .... knowing the parts involved, we are pretty much at a loss as to what could have caused it .... back in the mid '60's while using a Lee Loader primer explosions weren't all that uncommon .... such explosions when seating a primer by using a hammer to strike a metal rod with sufficient force to seat the primer was easy to understand .... the only thing that makes any sense is a defective primer ....

[Travlin]

Maybe the primer was slightly off center as it was being seated causing it to ignite as the protruding edge was compressed by the seating stem.

[JEBar]

with the way the cup on the end of the rod that seats the primer is designed, its more likely that the case wasn't slid all the way back in the shell holder .... that would do the same thing .... suggestion appreciated

[Shakey Jake]

I have the Lyman version but rather use the Lyman primer die. I like the consistency.
Jake

[CT_Shooter]

I'm guessing you would have said if he was hurt when it happened, so I'm glad he's OK. But, I wonder, did it cause any damage to anything? Or was it just a startling bang without any other effect? Was he wearing eye and ear protection at the time? Just curious. I use the Lee Hand Primer, but I've never had one go off, though I have inserted a few upside down or sideways; all easily removed with the decapping die.
Thanks.

.... a couple of days ago one of our sons was using it and had a primer go off as it was being seated .... we've used it to install tens of thousands of primers and this was a first ....

[JEBar]

Or was it just a startling bang without any other effect?

not much other than instantly getting his complete attention and bumping up his heartbeat .... when I said we've used it to install primers in tens of thousands of rounds, that was a conservative statement .... he's used it to install several hundred since .... understood on having inserted a few upside down or sideways ... we've even had two in in position to be inserted .... the bottom one simply pushed the tip one into place without any problem .... we've found it to be a very useful tool ...

[John E Davies]

I have never used anything except a hand priming tool. I have tried them all.I got a Frankford Arsenal one for Christmas and it blows all the others away for convenience, comfort and quality. If you want a great tool, buy it and never look back.

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I always am careful and always use safety glasses. I have never experienced an explosion, but if it happens I do not want to lose an eye.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[JEBar]

I have never used anything except a hand priming tool. I have tried them all.I got a Frankford Arsenal one for Christmas and it blows all the others away for convenience, comfort and quality. If you want a great tool, buy it and never look back.

John Davies
Spokane WA

that is a nice looking rig .... thanks for relating your positive experience with it

[BigAl52]

Never used a hand priming tool I always use the press. Tried one once and didnt like it. Just dont care for them.