RockRat64
Member
I also have seen the video before but never got around to it. Will have to give it a try. It has been frustrating.
Lee Safety Prime Problems
- Thread starter KentM
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reloaded_in_pa
Member
I have one set up on the breech lock pro. It took some adjustments and a learning curve to get it down. I spent the time making it work so I could get the full benefits of the press. The modification in the video helps tremendously.
WrongHanded
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I suppose I could, providing I still have it. PM me if you're really interested.
I'm assuming you're referring to the Lee Auto Prime II? I picked one of these up a while back, NOS for $10. I haven't used it yet, but I was impressed by the design basically being a ram prime style with a chute / trough and the positive reviews I found across the internet. Discontinued by Lee in 2011.
https://leeprecision.com/files/instruct/PP2165.pdf
CQB45ACP
Member
FYI, chapter 5 of Lee’s manual is all about priming, primers, and Lee’s priming tools.
There are explicit restrictions mentioned for their older tools including the Auto-Prime II. To wit:
100-CCI all types okay; wsp; all Remington
20 only-wlp ; wmp; wmr
10 only-wlr
“Do not use Federal primers” it says
No warranty expressed or implied for my above comments—check for yourself.
(How’d you like that “to wit”?)
Well, personally I like it less so than the updated instructions located at the web link included in my previous post in this thread. It simply restricts Federal primers to only 1 at a time in the tray. The Lee Safety Prime system that's the original focus in this thread segregates the tray & chute / trough from the priming ram requiring a manual physical transfer of each primer across an arc of space from the bottom of the trough / chute to the top of the priming ram, regardless of brand of primer used. In that respect it's very similar to the basic priming system included with my Lee cast iron press, plus a reservoir and chute to eliminating picking up every primer by hand or wit tweezers etc. and then placing each primer in place on top of the actual moving parts that are used to seat each primer.
Excluding Federal brand primers from other than one at a time operations has been fairly common with older Lee priming systems, writeups on the test apparatus Richard Lee came up with for his testing of different brands of primers with Lee equipment and results are available if one does an appropriate amount of searching on the internet.
Of course such internet searches can also find plenty of user testimonials of those using Lee priming equipment with all sorts of primer brands without incident, just like many cigarette smokers can say they have never (yet) been diagnosed as having any forms of cancer, despite the required Surgeon General warning labels in place for decades on every cigarette pack.
Same can be said of hand loaders who use Federal brand primers in systems that do not necessarily bear the Lee brand that don't recommend use of Federal primers in those systems, that typically use primer tubes for a reservoir instead of a tray. In the fine print on the back of Federal primer packages I possess is this sentence : "Handle primers individually unless proper safeguards are provided and used," Who, precisely, defines what "proper safeguards" are, as well as how they're used, for Federal brand primers? If it's Federal, it's not spelled out on the Federal brand primer packaging that has that warning printed on it.
As for that book, my memory recalls Richard Lee giving the RCBS APS systems a big thumbs up toward inherently safer design, with something to the effect that it remains to be seen whether the industry would move to standardize on such systems. Richard Lee is no longer with us, and thus far the industry hasn't standardized on a design akin to the RCBS system.
Me, well I also purchased a Frankford Arsenal hand priming system that has no restrictions on brands of primers used to also try out, even though that system doesn't appear to have any specific endorsement from Federal for use with Federal brand primers. But if someone can muster up a "to wit" to show where Federal has endorsed any priming system for use with Federal brand primers consistent with the warning included in the paragraph about use of Federal primers with such a system other than handling individually, I'd welcome any links and / or photos posted for everyone to review.
CQB45ACP
Member
Just reporting the text, not endorsing nor anything else.
You specifically asked about "like" at the end of your previous post. I'm just reporting exactly what I think about "like" exactly like you asked. Plus adding material rounding out a more comprehensive picture WRT Federal primers from what Federal prints on their own packages for their reloading component primers as products as the component manufacturer under "Warning" rather than only looking at what any one reloading equipment manufacturer publishes as "Warning".
Richard Lee also gave his opinion of all systems that use primer tubes in that Chapter 5. None of this is particularly secret or hidden.
http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Man...eloading 2nd Edition by Richard Lee - ocr.pdf
I suppose I should say I'm not endorsing or condemning any equipment or reloading components either, but that oughta be obvious from my posts' contents.
CQB45ACP
Member
No, I specifically and jokingly asked how you liked the use of the term “to wit”.
Well I answered all including "to wit", and no permission required for me to do so.
CQB45ACP
Member
To wit only means “as follows” or “like this” and other similar things. In that context, it meant the manual said the following...
I wasn’t asking anything
I and the electrons disagree.
stonebuster
Member
I place the primers in the priming "arm" the same way you do. I put the primers on a paper towel and gently move it back and forth and they all turn anvil side up. It's fast enough for me after getting the hang of it. Usually I'll prime a batch single stage and then use the turret for the rest of process. I've only been using my classic turret for a few weeks and like it so far. I took the auto primer off the same day I set it up after knocking it off (when empty)accidentally just a few minutes after installing it. I figured it would happen again when full next time so eliminated the potential problem.
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WrongHanded
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Interesting idea. I slide the cover off the primer package far enough to get what I need. Then I put a piece of card over it and turn everything upside down. X number of primers on the card, anvil side up.
CQB45ACP
Member
One strange duck
kmw1954
Member
Quite the interesting discussion. I have a Safety Prime on my Auto Breech Lock Pro and was having the normal difficulties with it. Tries some of the trick to no avail. Then one day I was playing with how I operated it. I found that if I placed my index finger under the dispenser and my thumb on the top and pushed down with my thumb it worked almost flawlessly but if I tried with my thumb on one side and the index finger on the other, like pinching them together with the dispenser in-between it hardly ever worked.
Now I also use an old 3 hole turret press with the little T shaped fixture with the large and small cups on it and there is no way to use any of the Safety primes on it. Must manually place them one at a time into the cup. I have found I am nearly as fast this way as I am using the Safety Prime. I do use an old primer flipper tray with this though.
Now I also use an old 3 hole turret press with the little T shaped fixture with the large and small cups on it and there is no way to use any of the Safety primes on it. Must manually place them one at a time into the cup. I have found I am nearly as fast this way as I am using the Safety Prime. I do use an old primer flipper tray with this though.
CQB45ACP
Member
Do you experience this with both small and large primers? I have never had problems with large but would occasionally have them with small until I learned to be more deliberate (but no tricks were ever necessary).
Since the fix described above in Tilos post, smalls no longer are an issue either.
The entire topic reminds me of a bowtie vs. blue oval argument.
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kmw1954
Member
Yes it was with both. It would seem the dispenser would not line up with the cup nor place them properly into the cup and as soon as I withdrew the dispenser the primer would fall on the floor.
I pass this off as another Lee One-Size Fits All design, not even a 4 cyl. vs. V6 cyl. debate. Then in my real world I find the on press priming of the Lee Pro1000 less problematic than this Safety Prime.
irishlad
Contributing Member
I just use the RCBS primer tray. I set it on a cloth hand towel and hand feed the primer arm. Works out well.
Personal attack with a smiley emoticon?One strange duck
I'll give you opportunity to address that impression instead of clicking on "Report".
I do know there are folks who don't care for facts regardless of however supporting links are presented. You say that's what you did but characterize me as "odd" for doing exactly that, with supporting links.
I have even more to add for clarity.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/primer-sensitivity.876820/
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...believers-i’m-waiting-to-be-converted.773063/
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=586133
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=488036&page=2
https://forums.brianenos.com/topic/139159-reloading-kaboom-yesterday-please-learn-from-this/
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CQB45ACP
Member
PM sent
peeplwtchr
Member
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- Sep 20, 2019
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- 1,608
Okay I did the boiling water trick to stop primers falling all over the floor. It seems to have worked on dry runs with no case. I did not boil it on the stove, I boiled the water then poured it in a cup. Why didn't Lee do this for me? I'd rather pay more for stuff that works out of the box.
The press seems pretty good, but the accessories are a different grade than RCBS and others.
Next issue, the Auto drum measure.
The press seems pretty good, but the accessories are a different grade than RCBS and others.
Next issue, the Auto drum measure.
CQB45ACP
Member
Yes the sturdiness is quite different than rcbs or Redding, but the prices are right. You get what you pay for and can afford. When I started loading in 2019 I didn’t know what to expect so I bought a complete Lee kit.
Now, I no longer use my Lee turret (replaced it with a Redding for 45ACP) nor any of Lee’s 4 different powder dispensers (replaced all with a Uniflow), but I still only use the safety prime with Lee’s challenger to prime (and to load 9mm).
I really see no likelihood I’ll ever switch to one of those tube types and I actually ordered a Redding apparatus for my T7 a couple months ago, but canceled the order. I just don’t have the problems others experience.
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