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If you are using the priming attachment that came bolted to your single-stage press, you are severely limiting the precision of your ammunition.
Press-mounted priming systems lack one critical feature: tactile feedback. When you use a massive cast-iron press lever to seat a tiny primer, you cannot feel when the primer bottoms out in the pocket. You are either leaving the primer sitting too high (which is dangerous), or you are crushing the internal anvil (which causes erratic ignition and high Standard Deviations).
To achieve single-digit SDs, you need to seat every primer to the exact same depth with the exact same pressure. The only way to do that is with a dedicated hand priming tool.
After years of competitive PRS shooting and load development, here are the 4 best hand priming tools on the market, ranked by precision, comfort, and speed.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Frankford Arsenal Hand Priming Tool |
| Check Latest Price |
 | RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool |
| Check Latest Price |
 | Lee Precision Hand Priming Tool |
| Check Latest Price |
 | RCBS 90200 Hand Priming Tool |
| Check Latest Price |
1. Best Overall for Precision: Frankford Arsenal Perfect Seat Hand Primer
If you want absolute control over your primer seating depth, this is the best tool on the market. Frankford Arsenal solved the biggest problem with hand priming—crushing primers—by adding a hard-stop adjustment dial.
- The Precision Feature: It features an adjustable dial that controls seating depth down to .001 of an inch. Once you set the depth for your specific brass, you can squeeze the handle as hard as you want, and the tool will hit a hard stop, ensuring every single primer is seated to the exact same depth.
- What’s Included: It comes in a heavy-duty molded case with 12 different shellholders, covering over 600 calibers. You do not have to buy separate shellholders for this tool.
- The Verdict: For the precision rifle shooter who wants to eliminate ignition variables and lower their SDs, the Frankford Arsenal Perfect Seat is the undisputed king.
- Extremely comfortable priming tool.
- Very versatile hadn priming tool.
- Includes 12 shell holders.
- Effective primer tray.
- Easy to use.
- Very expensive.
2. Best Universal Tool: RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool
RCBS makes incredibly durable equipment, and their Universal Hand Priming Tool is a favorite among high-volume reloaders because of its patented jaw system.
- The Universal Feature: The defining feature of this tool is the universal shell holder jaws. Instead of constantly swapping out caliber-specific shellholders, the spring-loaded jaws automatically adjust to grab the base of almost any rifle or pistol cartridge.
- Safety: It features a patented safety gate that isolates the primer being seated from the rest of the primers in the tray, virtually eliminating the risk of a chain-reaction detonation.
- The Verdict: If you reload five different calibers in a single afternoon and hate swapping shellholders, this tool will save you a massive amount of time. It is incredibly comfortable for long sessions.
- Very safe hand priming tool.
- Extremely comfortable
- Universal shell holder to do priming
- Extremely durable tool
- Reasonable priced.
- Little slower.
3. Best Budget Option: Lee Precision Auto Prime
The Lee Auto Prime is the classic hand priming tool. It has been around for decades, and for good reason: it works, and it is very inexpensive.
- The Design: It features an elegant, ergonomic handle that utilizes your thumb rather than your whole hand to squeeze the primer into place. This gives you excellent “feel” when the primer bottoms out in the pocket.
- The Downside: It requires special Lee Auto Prime shellholders. You cannot use your standard press shellholders with this tool, meaning you have to buy a separate set just for priming. It also feels a bit more fragile than the heavy-duty RCBS and Frankford tools.
- The Verdict: If you are on a strict budget but still want to get your priming off the press, the Lee Auto Prime is a fantastic entry-level choice.
- Faster priming
- Easy and comfortable to use.
- Compatible and efficient with other brands.
- Very portable and comfortable.
- No shell holder
4. Best Heavy-Duty: RCBS 90200 Hand Priming Tool
If you don’t like the universal jaw system of the RCBS Universal model, this is the standard version. It is built like a tank and uses standard RCBS shellholders.
- The Build Quality: This tool is heavy, solid, and built to last a lifetime. It uses the same safety gate mechanism as the Universal model, preventing tray detonations.
- The Feel: Because it uses standard shellholders, the brass is held incredibly securely, giving you a very smooth, consistent seating stroke.
- The Verdict: It is a no-nonsense, highly durable tool. Just remember that you will need to buy the corresponding RCBS shellholder for every caliber you intend to prime.
- Easy to Use
- Very portable.
- Extremely Comfortable.
- Highly durable
- Very safe
- No shell holder
Why You Must Seat Primers Correctly (The Safety Warning)
Using a hand priming tool isn’t just about accuracy; it is about safety.
A properly seated primer must sit slightly below flush with the base of the brass casing (usually .003 to .005 inches deep). If you run your finger over the base of the brass, you should feel a slight indentation.
If a primer is seated flush or sticking out slightly, it is highly dangerous. When you aggressively close the bolt of your rifle, the bolt face can strike the protruding primer and detonate the cartridge before the bolt lugs are locked. Always use the tactile feedback of a hand priming tool to ensure the primer is seated fully into the pocket.
(Not sure which primers to buy for your caliber? Read our Ultimate Guide to Reloading Primers to understand the difference between standard, magnum, and match primers).
Frequently Asked Questions
AJ Deysel is a competitive rifle shooter in the PRS and NRL Hunter series, a lifelong hunter, and a recognized ballistics specialist whose load development expertise has been featured by industry leaders like Hornady. He is the founder and lead editor of LoadDevelopment.com. Read more about AJ or view our Editorial & Testing Guidelines.
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