almost all inlines need a tool to remove the primer once its fired. All the build up from the priming going off kind of makes it a little harder to remove once its been fired. I used to have to use the tool all of the time on my winchester untill after 75 shots or so and i can pull them out by hand now. Gets a little hard after 10 shots though. Did you look at the winchester apex? it has an SS barrel and is pretty much the kodiak except better materials.