Joint friendly primer tool

[Eric B]

I have a Lee priming tool at the moment, the newer style with the square trays, which is fine if you can forgive the lid clips which don't even last a day. My problem is a lot of joint pain particularly in the thumbs. I even got my son to do the priming last night on 50 cases. What I need is a priming tool that is a little more forgiving on the finger joints. I don't think the Wilson one is any better. Any recommendations? Thanks.

[williada]

Eric, if you can get one, try an RCBS bench mounted auto prime tool. Its not so much auto as it has a long handle for leverage and would solve your problem. It was not that dear and I use one now.

I believe Forster make a similar product called a Co-ax Primer Seater you could get from Brownells for under $100.

[Eric B]

Thanks, I was reluctant to buy anything untested. My best option was I felt to ask for some first hand advice. I can't be the only reloader out there with joint problems. Longer leverage and bench mounting certainly sounds like the logical way to go.

[johnk]

Eric,

I have strength issues with my thumb joints & concluded that using two hands was necessary. However, that destroyed my sense of feel with conventional squeeze tools, so I use a K & M micrometer tool. With it, the outcome is that I seat to a measured depth (crush) beyond first contact. It's slow,expensive, it still hurts but I've been able to get my velocity spreads back under control.

See K & M Primer Seater Tool with Gauge and shellholder at BRT http://www.benchrest.com.au/reloading.htm#km-tools

John

[Eric B]

Thanks John.

I took a look and the actual press part is very similar to the Lee hand press. I'm already using two hands as along with the joint pain there does seem to be a loss of strength (or maybe I'm just too pain shy to be using it?). Joints have become clicky and very painful so whatever else happens a long palm pressure would be essential. However following what you say here I wonder if it would be reasonably easy to rig up a gauge on the down stroke on the lever of the bench mounted tool. I have a few engineering mates and think it probably just means a hole or two and a mount bracket.

[Bindi2]

RCBS bench priming tool +++

[mike H]

Most of my priming is done on an old Super Simplex press,easy and plenty of feel,the Lee Ram Prime is also good .

[williada]

Mike, the old super simplex is a great little press for the job. I still use one specifically set up for my 220 swift. But I feel I can identify with Eric's problem when my right side was a bit paralysed after surgery, I found that using the RCBS auto prime was so easy to use without the effort of the Simplex or the Rockchucker or the hand held seaters and I did not have to fumble for primers due to my incapacity. Its very quick and you can still feel the tension in the seating. If you can't get in Australia, or Brownells, there are a few on Ebay, particularly the USA Ebay which is Ebay.com which will post to Australia. Cheers, David.

[Eric B]

Reading around on reviews and advice here I think I'll probably look for the RCBS auto prime, either Ebay or maybe secondhand. It doesn't look like I can get one here at a price any cheaper than postage out of the States adds anyway. Brownells/Sinclair Intl are showing as out of stock. They do have the less appealing shorter handled Forster equivalent.

The other suggestion I got this morning was the Lee or RCBS ram prime unit for my existing press (or a new Lee O press). That is a cheap workable idea but of course won't auto feed. It would get me up and running cheaply until I find a used RCBS auto prime.

[Bindi2]

hang out for an auto feed.