21st Century Priming Tool
- Thread starter HovisKM
- Start date
Wayne Shaw
Active member
Kevin,
For my taste, life is too short to pick up a primer one at a time and place it in a seater. I've always used the Lee Auto Prime. They aren't the best and don't last for ever, but they did what it needed to do, seat a primer and you could feel what you're doing.
I got one of the 21st Century tools when they came out. It has an adjustable cam on the handle where you can adjust how far the seater ram extends beyond the shell holder. Once you play with it a bit, give it some break in time and adjust the handle where the primer seats before the handle hits the body, it seems like it works fine and has a good feel.
I'm sure it will outlast the stock Lee castings, and I doubt the plastic Lee trays would ever wear out, unless you dropped it on the floor. For $75, it's kinda pricey, but life is too short to pick up a primer....one.....at.......a......time.......
For my taste, life is too short to pick up a primer one at a time and place it in a seater. I've always used the Lee Auto Prime. They aren't the best and don't last for ever, but they did what it needed to do, seat a primer and you could feel what you're doing.
I got one of the 21st Century tools when they came out. It has an adjustable cam on the handle where you can adjust how far the seater ram extends beyond the shell holder. Once you play with it a bit, give it some break in time and adjust the handle where the primer seats before the handle hits the body, it seems like it works fine and has a good feel.
I'm sure it will outlast the stock Lee castings, and I doubt the plastic Lee trays would ever wear out, unless you dropped it on the floor. For $75, it's kinda pricey, but life is too short to pick up a primer....one.....at.......a......time.......
I have both Lee primer tools. I was warned about the handle breaking. I got a second handle from Midway. 3 yrs. Still good on the old style.
New style is okay. But....
I am with Wayne. I would rather be, trying to remember, to clean my rifle correctly. Swab out chamber. clean raceway. Lube bolt. And maybe visit the porta potty.
New style is okay. But....
I am with Wayne. I would rather be, trying to remember, to clean my rifle correctly. Swab out chamber. clean raceway. Lube bolt. And maybe visit the porta potty.
21st Century manufactures their own shell holders to much tighter tolerances than the Lee. Unfortunately, this can mean that any little ding in the case rim may cause a problem. (The Lee shell holder works just fine.) There is now a square feed tray which is not compatible with the first model with the round tray. It looks like it *might* take a full Federal primer tray without dropping primers, but I have the first version with the round tray and so can not say for sure.
While it is nicely made, I am not sure that it works any better than the Lee.
While it is nicely made, I am not sure that it works any better than the Lee.
Yes, Rick it loads a full Federal try. The intent of the design. I guess, Lee was listening to Benchrest shooters. Maybe, all shooters.
I found the lever a little uncomfortable. I have Medium hands. Maybe the guys with Meat hooks would find a better fit. But, they might be the guys that break the handles also.
And I found a little ding on the rim will jam a case with the Lee shell holders. That really pissed me off.
I found the lever a little uncomfortable. I have Medium hands. Maybe the guys with Meat hooks would find a better fit. But, they might be the guys that break the handles also.
And I found a little ding on the rim will jam a case with the Lee shell holders. That really pissed me off.
Vern
Morethan1waytoskinacat
Tim,
I have had one for several months now.
Overall I like it a lot.
Good leverage good feel and control. You can set depth limitations like the K&M and Sinclair. It feels more like a Sinclair overall.
While it is advertised as being impossible to double feed, not quite the case. It will allow them to flip sideways.
Mine seems to have a little issue with the handle opening back up far enough to allow the next primer to enter or enter fully.
My biggest gripe is they dont sell or make the trays. You would think that if your going to design a priming tool around a try you would at least sell them.
I have had one for several months now.
Overall I like it a lot.
Good leverage good feel and control. You can set depth limitations like the K&M and Sinclair. It feels more like a Sinclair overall.
While it is advertised as being impossible to double feed, not quite the case. It will allow them to flip sideways.
Mine seems to have a little issue with the handle opening back up far enough to allow the next primer to enter or enter fully.
My biggest gripe is they dont sell or make the trays. You would think that if your going to design a priming tool around a try you would at least sell them.
Pete Wass
Well-known member
I'm one of those
who think life is too short to handle primers one at a time. I blew up a Lee a number of years ago in my hands when a Federal Large Rifle primer ignited the others in the tray (90 or so) and had a badly burned left thumb. (Directions say not to put more then 10 Federals in the tray) I now have two RCBS Universals with a square tray. The RCBS does a great job of priming plus it has a fence that prevents primers from causing a chain reaction "cookoff". The universal part is the shellholder. There are two spring loaded jaws that grip the case, a case of any size. Primers seem to seat properly when using this unit. one can change inards back and fourth for small and large primers but I decided life was too short for that as well so I have one for each size primer.
who think life is too short to handle primers one at a time. I blew up a Lee a number of years ago in my hands when a Federal Large Rifle primer ignited the others in the tray (90 or so) and had a badly burned left thumb. (Directions say not to put more then 10 Federals in the tray) I now have two RCBS Universals with a square tray. The RCBS does a great job of priming plus it has a fence that prevents primers from causing a chain reaction "cookoff". The universal part is the shellholder. There are two spring loaded jaws that grip the case, a case of any size. Primers seem to seat properly when using this unit. one can change inards back and fourth for small and large primers but I decided life was too short for that as well so I have one for each size primer.
Last edited:
I've got a lee, rcbs and sinclair. The sinclair is the only one I use. I'm looking for something with the same leverage and feel as the sinclair but with a tray. The wife, with her finger nails, can't pick up primers one at a time and the others just don't have enough leverage for her small hands.
Hovis
Hovis
Vern that's cool.
I think someone tried to convert me to the Sinclair. I think the conversation started out like this. "Ya know what your problem is?" Thems code words for a lot of stuff. I said yea. I know. I talk too much. Maybe, that's cuse I get my priming done real quick.
No. Ya think ya know it all. I said that's not the case at all. I only talk from experience. My experience with the Lee Priming tool has been good.
Yes. I tried the Sinclair, again. And still don't like it.
I think someone tried to convert me to the Sinclair. I think the conversation started out like this. "Ya know what your problem is?" Thems code words for a lot of stuff. I said yea. I know. I talk too much. Maybe, that's cuse I get my priming done real quick.
No. Ya think ya know it all. I said that's not the case at all. I only talk from experience. My experience with the Lee Priming tool has been good.
Yes. I tried the Sinclair, again. And still don't like it.
Last edited:
Pete Wass
Well-known member
Another good primer system
Is the benchtop type either RCBS or Forster. They have a tube that holds the primers and a long enough handle to seat any primer with ease and are simply clamped to wherever one wants to use them.. The Forster has an indent to lay the primers into which aids in loading the tube the primers reside in. They may not be 21st century but I would say they might fill the bill for your wife.
Is the benchtop type either RCBS or Forster. They have a tube that holds the primers and a long enough handle to seat any primer with ease and are simply clamped to wherever one wants to use them.. The Forster has an indent to lay the primers into which aids in loading the tube the primers reside in. They may not be 21st century but I would say they might fill the bill for your wife.