Hand Primer vs Bench Primer

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I'm in the market for a hand or bench primer to use with my single stage press. Just curious what you guys use and/or what the advantages are for either method. I know the bench primers can easily outpace the hand primers, cost-wise. Just didn't know if they held enough of an advantage to justify the cost.
Thanks
 
I have both.

Hand priming tools are nice as you are not tied to the bench and can watch the tv, kids, whatever during the mindless task. Having the primers held on basically the same plane and potentially right next to priming operation doesn't strike me as the safest design, but ignition is rare as understand it.

Bench priming tools give great feel and probably more consistent results. If you mounted it to a block it would be portable in the sense you could clamp it wherever. Loading tubes is an extra step, however in the unlikely event of ignition the RCBS has the tube a good distance from the priming operation.

Before my progressive I used a Lee hand priming tool for pistol and bench mounted RCBS for rifle. If I had to pick one, bench mounted, but handheld are very affordable.

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I want to learn to "feel" the primer go into the pocket. So far, I have not been able to tell when the primer is seated when using a progressive press. And to be honest, the couple of times I have used a hand primer, I couldn't really tell then, either. Maybe it will come with time/experience.
 
I like this one:
https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/329291/rcbs-hand-priming-tool

I like to have a few extra shell holders as well but prefer this one over the "universal" version. Don't even bother with the cheap POS Lee hand primer, I went through three of them before I learned that lesson.

Another vote this one shown above. It will not do some 45 Colt cases though.

For the ultimate in seating accuracy and precision, not to mention the ability to break the bank, check this out (there is a code for 10% off, still pricey tho).




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I don’t understand the whole feeling thing, I seat them to the bottom of the pocket every time, even the occasional ones that go in upside down or sideways.

I prime on the progressive for pistol and on the co-ax for rifle. Have a RCBS bench primer but haven’t tried it.
 
I have a Hornady single stage press. When I purchased the press it came with a hand priming tool. I tried it out, but because I have arthritis in both hands it did not work well for me. I am so use to using the single stage press now for priming that I can now feel if they are seated correctly. I do not have a feed tube, but that is fine for now. May have to get the feed tube some time in the future.
 
I started out with a Lee hand primer, and then moved up to an RCBS universal hand primer. The RCBS does an amazing job. Worth every penny.

My father used a lyman benchtop primer attachment on his press. It worked well, but I never developed a feel for it.
 

Unless you have the shell holders already or don't mind buying what you need, you would be better off with the RCBS UNIVERSAL hand primer. The universal model requires no shell holders. A quick check on mail order prices has Amazon cheaper than Midway by $3 if you have Amazon Prime:

https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-Univers...8-1&keywords=rcbs+universal+hand+priming+tool
 
I use all three with good results. Progressive Dillon 650 press for volume. Works every time. Loading primers is kind of a pita, but it works.
I've also got the Hornady Hand Priming tool, which I like. Gives you pretty good feedback as to when the primer bottoms out.
Same with the RCBS Auto Bench Primer. Works well. I use this more than I do the Hornday hand priming tool. It's faster priming, other than reloading the primer tube.
 
I appreciate all of the replies. Still getting all of the stuff to start reloading. I'll keep an eye out for deals on hand/bench primers online, and may even look for something at the Raleigh show in a couple of weeks.

@ncav8tor - the 21st Century Shooting stuff is a work of art!
 
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