There is a very helpful gadget known as a 'priming tray'. It solves two problems: 1) getting the primers out of the package without dropping any of them, and 2) getting them all 'right' side up - depending on your situation the 'right' side may be either the anvil side or the closed side of the cup.
The priming tray has two pieces, you put one over the open top of the primer package, then turn the tray/package over and lift off the package, and all the primers are lying there. If you want the other side up, just put the other tray part on top - invert, and remove the part now on top.
But the primers will generally be mixed up/down in the package, or perhaps sideways - so you need to get them all one way up. Note the inside of the two tray pieces - one will be smooth and one will be grooved with circular/spiral grooving. Put the primers first in the grooved part, and then *gently* shake it side to side, so the primers go sliding across the grooves. The closed end of the primers have curved edges and will slide smoothly across the grooves. The anvil side will catch on the grooves and make the primer turn upside-down. So in a matter of seconds you'll have all primers anvil-side up. (If you want them anvil-side down, follow the previous instructions.) This also lets you invert them without touching them - some people are fanatical about keeping finger oils off the primers.
Primer packages used to be small enough to fit inside a 3" circle. But due to safety considerations, the manufacturers are now packing the primers in larger packages which provide considerably more protection and isolation for the primers. (Was any of this needed? Or is this additional protection merely to protect against a hypothetical danger?) The result is that the older primer trays which were 3" or so in diameter will no longer accept the new boxes which are perhaps 3 3/4" square. This is a report on two new primer trays which will accept the larger primer boxes.
RCBS has a primer tray which is about 4" square. It is made of plastic (green plastic, what else?) and is very nice - it does exactly what it should do. What could be better?
Well, you see there is this DILLON primer tray - which must have come right out of Mike Dillon's 'might as well take it to extremes' kind of thinking. It is not only a primer tray, but it could also be used as ballast for a ship, or perhaps as a major conversation piece - and I just couldn't resist getting it even though my RCBS tray really satisfied all the reloading needs I had.
This Dillon reloading tray is thick brass, and 5 1/2" diameter (that's the inside of the smaller part - the outside diameter is greater.) It will take a "NATO Standard" primer box, whatever that is, and it is heavy enough that if you drop it you'll probably be more worried about being hit with it than about any primers detonating. :-) The price is only $10.95, and so as soon as I saw it I knew I *needed* it. Oh yeah, it works fine in turning primers over. Perhaps you could also justify it because a metal primer tray should help reduce the chance of static electricity causing problems.
At any rate, you certainly need one of these two trays to use with the humongous shipment of primers which you're going to receive one of these days. :-)