I have the cheap "looks like weird pliers" crimpers and they do fine. Some of the higher current GI wires I touch with a bit of solder, just cause I can't leave well enough alone.
I took some spare wire, and bought 20 extra pins and practiced. After 10 I was happy with how they were looking. It's really not a big skill to learn. Good tools would be better, but for a hack like me, I'm happy.