RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool

Product #: 319794
| Manufacturer #: 90201
Status: Available
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The Universal Hand Priming tool features a convenient universal shellholder that accepts virtually any case from 32 ACP to 45-70 Government, eliminating the hassle and expense of using shellholders. Also features a patented safety gate that isolates the primer seating operation from the primer supply virtually eliminating the possibility of tray detonation. The removable primer tray correctly positions the primers for use and will fit any manufacturers' primer packaging. For use with large and small rifle or handgun primers. Lifetime warranty from RCBS

Application Charts & Information

Overall Rating:
4.3 out of 5
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5 stars
David Sanders of Leonardtown, Md
Date posted: 9/13/2008
I was a little hesitant to buy a "universal" priming tool, glad I did, this thing works as advertised. I would suggest buying two though as switching between small and large primers is a bit tricky with fat fingers. But hey, that just gives you spare parts for just in case.
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5 stars
lance romance of vabch, va
Date posted: 3/14/2008
Hey, awesome tool. Talk about simplicity this thing is the best. The universal shellholder is the absolute kicker of the whole deal. I used to have a lee auto prime and it broke after about 200 rnds. Primer seating is absolutely critical for me as I load for the Garand, and let me tell you this thing works. It's all about feel and positive control which this thing does in spades. Haven't had to switch to small primer plug yet but after reading the instructions back to front twice it doesn't look like a big deal at all. Great tool.
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5 stars
Steven Newkirk of West Warwick, RI
Date posted: 10/7/2008
This is it!! Look no further. It is hard to believe that other priming tools are sold with this one available. I was unsure of the "universal" shellholder, but can't believe how simple and effective it is. Squeeze pressure is much easier than others. And a square primer tray? How nice!! I wonder why others haven't used "square" in their design (DUHHH). Thank you RCBS !!
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10 found it helpful |
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5 stars
Paul Martinelli of Hampstead, NC
Date posted: 12/18/2008
This is the best hand primer I have ever used. You can "feel" the primer seating. I have a progressive RCBS press and I much prefer seating my primers with the hand tool after first cleaning the primer pocket. I rate this product a 10.
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5 stars
Daniel Lees of Northern, VA
Date posted: 11/13/2008
I have to admit, I am an RCBS fan and always have been. My original RCBS hand primer that is at least 25 years old finally broke beyond repair and I replaced it with this one. Wow, is this nice to use. After reading the reviews here when I ordered, I switched from large to small and back again several times when I first opened the box and can change in a couple of minutes, no problem. The universal shell holder is awesome and worth the little extra $. If there's a faster, easier way to prime cases, I haven't found it. Like the Texan said, no need to buy a second one, save your money and buy bullets and get loading!
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5 stars
Zack Wyatt of Zanesville, OH
Date posted: 2/1/2008
I bought this tool a few weeks ago and wish I would have bought it years ago. I don't know if the people giving bad reviews are just not mechanically inclined or what, but this thing is very easy to change primer plugs. It literally takes about 1 minute. Beats the pants off press priming and you don't have to worry about shell holders. A great product for sure.
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18 found it helpful |
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5 stars
al intilli of pensacola, fl
Date posted: 6/16/2007
I bought this to complement a Lee Classic Cast press. Easiest priming tool I've ever used. It took me about 2 minutes to prime a box of (20) .30-06 casings the first time I used it. I did not experience any of the problems mentioned in some of the other reviews.
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13 found it helpful |
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5 stars
N AC of Central TX, TX
Date posted: 2/12/2008
I've used this for about 6months and have yet to have any problems. Lately I have had to change back and forth from large to small primers and now that I've done it ten or fifteen times seems a waste of money to buy a second one. I timed it the other day just to find out and did it in less than 2 minutes but my watch is not a stop watch! But that seems easy enough that I'll use the money for bullets or powder etc and not another unit. Does ALL I need want or desire from a priming unit. I didn't like the looks of the plastic sleeved where the tray goes in but it's held 1000's of rounds to date. I prime my cases with it prior to use in my Dillon progressive press so I get nicely primed rounds and it is worth it for the quality of finished rounds. After all the BLAH BLAH, if you buy it you'll like it. Remember when all else fails read the directions!
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27 found it helpful |
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5 stars
Greg Pedrola of San Dimas, Ca
Date posted: 3/7/2008
GREAT tool easy to use very positive feel, anyone complaining about changing from sm to lg primers or flipping primers over has not reloaded long enough to remember the days of placing a single primer in the cup by hand.
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13 found it helpful |
2 did not
5 stars
Tom Higgins of Floral park, NY
Date posted: 2/22/2008
I haven't had any problems with the unit as described in the other reviews. Primers flip as they should, and they are seated to a uniform depth. The universal shell holder is great! I reload .223 up to the Sharps 45-120 with no problem. Also as a few have said buy two and make each a seperate large and small primer unit. I happen to like it very much as it makes priming easy and portable.
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17 found it helpful |
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5 stars
Todd Prickett of West Chester, OH
Date posted: 9/30/2006
As someone who has been searching for an easy way to re-prime, I just may have found the holy grail! This is simple, fast, and sure. I especially love the universal shell holder. The only minor nit I have is that it may get tiring to use after 50 or so rounds.
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46 found it helpful |
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5 stars
STEVEN KIRKLAND of Arlington, WA
Date posted: 11/22/2009
The tool was very easy to use. I had no problem changing the large/ small primer studs. Extremely easy to load and use, everyone should have one of these tools.
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5 stars
Chris Miller of Milpitas, CA
Date posted: 12/16/2009
I just received mine yesterday. I ordered it after fumbling with the Lyman press-mounted (single stage Crusher) priming tools that simply didn't work. The Universal RCBS Priming tool is far superior. Primer seating depth is uniform, and it's very easy and comfortable to use and has a very smooth action. I can't say much about changing it to work with small primers as I don't have a need to do so (yet).
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5 stars
D W of MATTHEWS, NC
Date posted: 7/16/2009
Excellent tool. I was pleasantly surprised how easy and effective it is to use. 1) I'm new to reloading, and had not used a hand primer before. I switched to the small primer setup easily, then primed 200 9mm cases in about an hour. 2) I was very concerned about using a "universal" shell holder, but it works great. I tested it on 9mm, 40 S&W & 45 ACP cases, and they all snapped right into place, correctly. No problems at all with the primer tray or any other issues mentioned in other reviews.
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5 stars
Keith McClellan of North Conway, NH
Date posted: 1/17/2009
I have been reloading for 34 years and I don't know why I didn't buy one of these tools years ago. Everything about it is great. Changing from large primer to small primer was very easy. Ergonomic fit in the hand is good. Loading primers into the tray is no problem. The universal shell holder is a plus. I rate this product a 10.
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6 found it helpful |
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5 stars
Jim Madewell of Dallas, TX
Date posted: 4/20/2009
Just bought one of these and I love it. It works just like it's supposed to. Right off the bat I changed it over to small primers and had absolutely no issues. Easy as pie! I primed several boxes of 38 special brass while sitting in my easy chair watching NASCAR. Well worth the money!
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4 stars
Robert B of Nashville, TN
Date posted: 2/22/2007
This is a nice tool and the lack of using individual shell holders makes it even nicer. My only complaint is that I wished it seated the primer with room left to squeeze...I sometimes feel like I'm bottoming the handle out before knowing/feeling if the primer has been fully seated. I also have the Lee hand priming tool and this one allows for longer priming sessions before getting cramped hands.
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20 found it helpful |
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4 stars
Arthur Hicken of Upland, CA
Date posted: 1/20/2007
Even better than their older model. The universal shellholder makes life very easy. I agree with others, I'm buying a second one so I can leave one setup for large primers and leave one setup for small primers, since the change-over is the only painful part of this. Much better than some of the other brands I've tried. Sturdy and well-made.
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17 found it helpful |
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4 stars
Mark Abbott of Little Elm, TX
Date posted: 2/6/2010
I really like this tool. The way the shellholder works, you have to snap the case in with a little effort, as opposed to sliding it into a shellholder. Not a big deal, but a little more effort required. Also, the way I hold it, the primer tray rubs my knuckle, so I wear a glove.
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4 stars
MICHAEL PACIELLO of NEW HARTFORD, NY
Date posted: 12/17/2009
I highly recommend this product. I just purchased this device and completed priming 300 cases in record time. I can use this tool at my kitchen table while viewing a hockey game on TV. It's easy to operate. I am giving this a 4 star rating, only because of unknown long term reliability, but this is just a manufacturing quality auditors opinion. This unit is easy to convert. Just follow the printed information. It may take you 30 seconds the first time. Have fun
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4 stars
Fred in of Fort Myers, FL
Date posted: 3/8/2009
This is a very well made tool. I do not like the changing from small to large primers as it is a little bit of a time waster and a awkward. I think it is just a matter of time before one of the parts gets lost. If the price was a little lower I would just buy two. Much more substantial than the Lee which I have been using. I rate it 4 stars, deducting for price and the way you have to change between large and small. Works great however.
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4 stars
Larry Maxwell of Valrico, FL
Date posted: 4/15/2008
I recently purchased this product and must say it makes priming an easy process as others have stated the only downside is changing for one size to the other, that's why I am buying another to make my priming go that much faster.
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9 found it helpful |
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3 stars
Lee Jones of Fairfield Bay, AR
Date posted: 6/29/2007
It works great when everything is just right, but the primer tray will not position the primers right side up. You end up spending too much time shaking the tray trying to get the primers to flip, often without success. I'm using it with Win. Lg. Pistol Primers.
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43 found it helpful |
6 did not
3 stars
David Doyle of Wylie, Tx
Date posted: 9/2/2007
Disappointing. The plastic inserts used for the small and large primers are so flimsy I broke one the first time I tried to insert the feed tray into it.
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48 found it helpful |
4 did not
2 stars
Brian Zielke of Waukesha, WI
Date posted: 1/7/2007
All and all, if you have 2 of these tools you have a great system. The small primer plug and the wrench are the problems. I wrote to RCBS about this and they sent me a new small primer plug/punch and a new wrench. This combo was worse than the originals that were sent with the tool. The wrench is not deep enough for the small primer punch. The end of the punch is rounded(expected) and allows the wrench to cam over the lobes of the primer punch and causes it to jam; that being the case you need a pair of pliers to pull the wrench off the primer punch when the small punch is installed. The new primer punch just spun around in the old wrench. All this torquing around to get the wrench off can't be good for the tool. After the 2nd, 3rd and 4th email (**Editors note***- emails to RCBS) about this problem with no reply, I guess I am left to dangle in the wind by myself. I will say though that the tool works very well once it is set for the primers you want to seat.
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132 found it helpful |
8 did not
2 stars
Stephen M of Tracy, Ca
Date posted: 1/10/2010
I got a few issues with this product. It’s not left hander friendly. I have to use it backwards. It’s a little hard to pop the cover off the tray. I’m expecting the little center locking tab on the tray to break off. Once in a while, it won’t line up the shell casing just right and you end up snagging the rim of the primer. I feel the primer insertion shafts are undersized for the specific primer. If you get a tight primer, it will end imprinting a ring on the primer cup. It seems to be well made but it is made in China. I have gone back to my Lee hand primer for good.
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1 stars
L ROSE of Enumclaw, WA
Date posted: 1/10/2010
This tool is so poorly designed that I find it hard to believe RCBS has put their name on it. The old model that requires the use of shell holders is by far superior to the universal shell holder model. Save your time and frustration buy the old version, even though it requires the use of specific shell holders.
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