Major development in hand primers!

[Questor]

I just saw the ad for RCBS' new version of their hand priming tool. This looks like a big improvement over the original design, and on the Lee design. In summary, it is basically the same as RCBS' previous version of the tool, but with no need to use a shell holder, there is a kind of universal shell holder built into it that RCBS says will handle, I think, from 25acp to some big magnums.  The other refinement is that the primer tray has been resized and reshaped to better direct the primers to the cases.

The older model has been a good tool for me, and my only complaints have been that I'd have to occasionally shake the tool to get the primers to feed, and I never liked having to take the tool apart to add a shell holder. It looks like they have solved both of those problems. I've bought a couple of Lee Autoprimes within the past two years and they were both bad.

If you need a hand priming tool, this new RCBS tool may be a good option.

[PA-Joe]

Hornady is also making a new hand primer that uses your standard shell holders. Great new item.

[Hairtrigger]

If I am loading a caliber I already have the shell holder.
I have never been much of a universal fan, RCBS's trimmer used to have a universal collet that I promptly removed and purchased the upgrade

[The Sodbuster]

I have the old-style RCBS priming tool.  While it works well enough once set up, I detest having to change shell holders.  You have to take it apart and it always seems to take at least a few minutes to get it back to where the rod that pivots on the squeeze-handle is engaging the rod in the priming mechanism.  In addition, sometimes I need to tap the bottom of the tool on a hard surface to get the priming rod to fall back down so I can remove the cartridge.  This doesn't happen too often, but often enough to be annoying.

I'm suspicious of a universal cartridge holder.  I was more interested in the Hornady version of this tool.

[ricciardelli]

Well, as you guys know, I love RCBS stuff (except for that damn APS primer tool and the APS strips).

However, decades ago when RCBS dumped the Big Max on the market, I bought one and it has a "universal shell holder", and it sucks big time.  I don't even use it, but instead use the standard RCBS shell holders.

[Steve P]

I have three of the lee priming tools.  Have never had a problem thru 10s of thousand of rounds over the years.  One of the few products that Lee makes that works great.  I can do a hundred brass in just a few minutes.  

Never bought the RCBS one.  Didn't need it.

Steve  

[eye812]

I've got one of the new universal priming tools. Works great. I've only used it 300 times on 22/250, 6mm, and .338 wm. No problems after RCBS sent me the rest of the parts. Primers feed well and no adjustment needed between cases.

[Questor]

Keep us posted as you use it more.

Were parts missing?