Hand primer....powder trickler... which ones?

[cloverleaf]

Did some reloading with Dad this weekend....good time. However, in the end we only managed 20 rounds of 1oo grn BT's. (Daughter and my Dad had an "appointment" at the G0-Kart track wish they'd put hand control in those things...maybe its good they dont ) We ran out of time. As dad and I were talking, we decided that a powder trickler could really make things easier and a hand priming tool would be nice. Keeping mind that most of my reloading budget is Cabellas points what versions of either one of these tools would you recomend. I will post range results on the new loads when I get a chance to shoot.... Thanks for the help. CL

 

[BK]

If I were to buy a new trickler, I'd get another Redding, but I have a spare RCBS model you can have, if you want it.

The only hand priming tool I've used is an RCBS model, also. Works just fine.

 

[DrMike]

For a hand priming tool, get the RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool and never look back. As for powder tricklers, I haven't used one in ages. I use a silver spoon and drop a few grains at a time. It is far quicker and works quite well.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I use the Redding trickler and am very satisfied. I haven't used any other brand but I can't imagine one being better. The RCBS priming tool is easy to assemble and become proficient with.

 

[Elkman]

Dr Mike says
For a hand priming tool, get the RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool and never look back. As for powder tricklers, I haven't used one in ages. I use a silver spoon and drop a few grains at a time. It is far quicker and works quite well.

I use a high tech plastic spoon in addition to the RCBS hand priming tool. Most of my priming is done with my press. :grin:

 

[Woodycreek]

I like my RCBS Universal Priming tool so much I got two. One for large and one for small primers even though its easy to change the plug out.

 

[DrMike]

Brian,

Your point is well taken! I have duplicates on almost all equipment. Should something break, I don't want to be down while waiting to secure the new equipment. I have several tricklers (RCBS, Lyman, ???). All work well. If you opt for a trickler, make certain it will be tall enough to work with an electronic scale. If you don't have an electronic, you will have one eventually. RCBS and Redding have enough heft to not move around when you use them, which can be a real advantage. No one likes reaching out to twirl the trickler and finding they are chasing the cheesy critter around the weighing pan. I have two of the Lee Auto-prime priming tools and an older RCBS Hand Priming Tool. I seldom use any of them as it is so convenient to use the Universal Hand Priming Tool. I can tell you from experience that the spring will eventually wear and need replacing.

 

[Woodycreek]

I truly believe in a backup or some type of redundancy for the important stuff! And always have a plan!

 

[atmoshpere]

Has anyone used the hand primer that uses the primer strips? Was thinking they might be nice, but maybe they're just more work?

atm

 

[DrMike]

The strips do have to be loaded, or you can pay extra to purchase them preloaded.

 

[1Shot]

I have used a Lee Hand Primer for years. Mater of fact I am on my second one now. Wore out the first one but it took about 25 years of hard use. The only time I use my RCBS trickler is with ball or flake powders. With stick powders I use Lee dippers to pour into my scale pan to close to weight and then I just take a pinch of powder between my thumb and finger and dribble in to finish the weight. Been doing this for many a year with no adverse effects.

 

[Gm weatherby man]

Used the older lee hand primer, till a started loading for wssms, just bought the new hand prime tools, the all work just fine, each has it's own quirks . And I use silver spoon and twisers witch are only used for reloading, fast and efficient . 8)

 

[Oldtrader3]

I use the RCBS trickler and the Lee handpriming tool. I have used the RCBS hand primer as well.

 

[Guest]

I've got the RCBS trickler and the original RCBS hand priming tool (that uses shellholders to hold the case). Love them both. One caution - if you get the old style that uses shellholders, you'll occasionally find a shellholder that has too much "play" in the part that holds the case rim, and primers will seat a little high. Easy fix is to snug them down with the press, but the permanent fix is to buy a new shellholder (for $5-7). Then make a mark (I used a hardened punch to ding the loose one) and use one on the press and one on the priming tool.

 

[SJB358]

Dr Mike says
For a hand priming tool, get the RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool and never look back. As for powder tricklers, I haven't used one in ages. I use a silver spoon and drop a few grains at a time. It is far quicker and works quite well.

I use a high tech plastic spoon in addition to the RCBS hand priming tool. Most of my priming is done with my press. :grin:

Before I got the electronic powder measure, I used an RCBS trickler and it works fine. I also prime off my COAX. Works well for me and I know each and every primer is seated .005" in the case... I can't really add anything to the hand priming. I just can't break out of the dark ages for some things. Scotty

 

[romex2121]

i to use the RCBS beam scale and the RCBS trickler,,, these two pieces have been all i need and do what they were made for,,, i would however love to have a digital powder thrower but i dont load offten enough to justify the money they cost :roll:

 

[cloverleaf]

yeah, no kidding. CL

 

[lever101]

Lot's of good advice above.

Let me just say I have a great powder trickler, but it's much faster to simply shake my spoon. Yes, a kitchen spoon. You get to know a load and scoop it about right every time. When the pointer on the balance rises toward zero, I use a little shake of the spoon to drop off the last 1/10 of a grain and get it just right. Simple. Fast. And easy. The trickler is never used.

(After reading more thoroughly, I see there are a number of us among the spoons.)

 

[cloverleaf]

Confirmation that Dads 48 yerar old "custom bent" spoon may be the way to go. Got a lee hand primer frorm 257 Ackley today. What a slick deal. Cant wait to give it a try! Thanks again! And thanks for all the responses. CL

 

[Oldtrader3]

The Lee hand primers are slick and easy to use. I also have an older RCBS handprimer that I can not get primer seating anvils for anymore because the new ones are a different length. Anyhow, I just like being able to seat with good feel for both pressure and depth of seating primers.