With a Lee Loader, just like any tool, the user determines how safe/easy it is. There's some guys out there that could ruin a rock. I've had good luck (?) with all my Lee Loaders and used them on occation with an arbor press, and/or a dead-blow hammer (I got mine from Mac Tools, a 3 lb. plastic coated hammer which I think works better than a tap, tap, tap.). But being a lifelong mechanic/machinist I am very well versed in the use of hand tools...