Need Advice on equipment purchase

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05-31-2009, 06:28 AM
WoodyWagon

Need Advice on equipment purchase

I am in the market for a new (Better?) priming tool and powder measure.
I am currently using Lee from a Lee starter kit.
I am looking at the MIDWAY flier I received in the mail the other day; a Hornaday Hand Held priming tool $33.49, and a Redding Match Grade 3BR Powder measure $119.99.
Do you have experience with these products? Good? Not so good?
Cost is not the main factor here. I am willing to spend a few bucks for top quality.
My thinking is, if I spend a little more for quality, I shouldn't have to buy another one for many years. I just don't want to waste valuable time and money making needless mistakes, if I can benefit from the knowledge of more experienced reloaders like yourselves.
I reload 38 Special and 45ACP, and after some more experience, I will try 30-06 for the Garand. I have been reloading for about 9 months or so.
I am very satisfied with the Lee single stage press. I am in no hurry; I find it relaxing to reload at a slow, steady pace, so that I am less likely to make a mistake.
05-31-2009, 08:03 AM
gunner

I am using a lyman DPS 1200 II that`s a very accurate powdercharger and cheaper and easier to handle than the rcbs.
For the Rifle reloading i use the rockchucker with high precision seating/neck sizing dies from Triebel (who make this dies extra fitting for the bullets and rifle you use )
for .38 and .45ACP i use a dillon with hornady dies. And for testing reloads i have the hornady lock`n load powdercharger. That`s not the cheapest way but i am very satisfied with the results. At least there are many good solutions they must only belongs to your requirements.

Gunner
05-31-2009, 01:51 PM
Litt'le Lee

Lee hand primer work's

using Lee primer seater for years-watch TV and prime-for powder I use the old Belding and Mull
05-31-2009, 10:01 PM
Levisdad

I use the Redding 3BR. It works great! I load 30.06/308

Also I use the Sinclair priming tool. It's a quality tool, but pricey.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../MVC323S-1.jpg
05-31-2009, 10:24 PM
Kirk

I've a standard Redding measure since 1975 & it still is 100% functional & very accurate. It's hardly broken in yet & must have thrown 10's of 1,000s of loads.

I like the version of the Lee priming tool that screws into the press & where you use the ram to seat the primer. It has a hopper that holds 100 primers. It is very fast & gives an excellent feel when you seat primers. I prefer it to the priming arm found on the Lee Classic Cast Iron & similar presses. You get better feel when seating primers when raising the ram rther than lowering it.
06-01-2009, 10:52 AM
joem

I use both the Lee hand priming tool and the RCBS bench priming tool when the arthritis gets bad.
06-01-2009, 02:41 PM
jimb16

"using Lee primer seater for years-watch TV and prime-" So that's why they call it "Prime time"???
06-01-2009, 08:08 PM
NuJudge

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimb16

"using Lee primer seater for years-watch TV and prime-" So that's why they call it "Prime time"???

You took the words right out of my mouth.

CDD
06-05-2009, 06:52 PM
Cord Worn

Mr. Wagon i have a hornady priming tool and I like the way it works, but it is limited to hornady and RCBS shell holders, Lee and other brands will not work.
Also, the tray and lid are plastic and the lid is held on by a friction post in the center of the lid that fits a hole in the center of the tray. Well the post on mine broke and it makes it difficult to load primers and not spill them. Good news is your queston caused me to call hornady and they are sending a replacement under warrenty. I had forgot about it till then. As I say I like the tool it seems to be very smooth and primes reasonably well. Good luck
06-09-2009, 01:16 AM
ireload2

I have been using an old AMT/Lyman Auto scale.
It has some of the advantages of both powder measuring methods. It is a power trickler with an Ohaus balance beam and it is more fool proof than the digital dispensers.
06-09-2009, 06:11 AM
Matt Anthony

I'd buy the Sinclair priming tool and while you are at Sinclairs site, buy the Harrell powder measure. The Premium model is the last powder measure you will buy, needle bearings and all! You could also pick up the Acculab scale while you are shopping.
I have the Acculab and it's the most accurate scale I have ever owned, however I also have a RCBS digital, the first one they came out with that still is working perfectly. What I like about the RCBS scale is it's size. You can put a powder trickler right next to the pan. You get what you pay for, so buy it once and be done with it.
Matt
06-09-2009, 07:02 AM
AKA Hugh Uno

considering that most BR shooters use a Lee

I'm not sure what the advantage is with any other type of primer tool. Juxt because it's cheap doesn't make it less effective. The Lee tool is the rare instance when you CAN in fact have FAST, CHEAP, and GOOD.
06-09-2009, 03:30 PM
Old Schoolr

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirk

I like the version of the Lee priming tool that screws into the press & where you use the ram to seat the primer. It has a hopper that holds 100 primers. It is very fast & gives an excellent feel when you seat primers. I prefer it to the priming arm found on the Lee Classic Cast Iron & similar presses. You get better feel when seating primers when raising the ram rther than lowering it.

I like that primer too, as long as I remember to check that the primer has dropped all the way down the "chute" & is lined up w/ the hole in the shell holder.