Auto Prime Hand Priming Tool??
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Tim the student
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I have an RCBS that serves me fine. I think the newer ones come with a universal shell holder - which I would appreciate, but probably not pay a lot more for.
Historian
Member
I have never used a Lee but my RCBS has been going for years and thousands of rounds.
Historian
Historian
MMCSRET
Member
I got my first Lee back in 1981, been using them since. They were the first to incorporate a tray to hold a reserve of primers, several others were single primer tools that had to be fed with one at a time. Priming on the press using primer tubes was the best we had up 'til that time. There were bench mounted priming tools that used the same tubes, a rather expensive(for the day) method. Lee, being innovative, as usual, started the trend to what we have today. Good tools, all!
Victor1Echo
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One more for the Lee--nothing against rcbs, never used one.
paperpuncher49
Member
I have both. Actually two of the Lee, one for small primers and the other for large. The Lee is easier to change calibers because it doesn't have to be partially disassembled to change shell holders. It is, however, not as ergonomic as the RCBS and with "tight-fitting" primers, sometimes more difficult to fully seat a primer, therefore, tougher on the fingers and thumb. It is also more susceptable to breakage, but inexpensive enough to replace.
I like the RCBS better, but I keep it set up with only one shell holder because as already stated, it is a pain to change calibers. I use it for 45 Auto, which is the same shell holder used for .308, .30-06, .243, .270, etc. In an ideal world, I would have several RCBS tools set up to load every caliber I load, but that would be expensive. At some point, I may buy a couple more and set them up for .223 and 9mm, since I frequently load them, and that would allow me to only use the Lee for calibers I load infrequently, such as .30 Carbine, .30-30, 38-55, .38/.357, etc.
I had two of the newer RCBS universal tools that use a jaw arrangement instead of individual shell holders. I did not like them at all because they use a spring around their perimeter to allow the jaws to open and close, and the springs kept popping of their pins. However, a lot of reloaders have nothing but praise for this tool. Frankly, I thought it sucked.
I like the RCBS better, but I keep it set up with only one shell holder because as already stated, it is a pain to change calibers. I use it for 45 Auto, which is the same shell holder used for .308, .30-06, .243, .270, etc. In an ideal world, I would have several RCBS tools set up to load every caliber I load, but that would be expensive. At some point, I may buy a couple more and set them up for .223 and 9mm, since I frequently load them, and that would allow me to only use the Lee for calibers I load infrequently, such as .30 Carbine, .30-30, 38-55, .38/.357, etc.
I had two of the newer RCBS universal tools that use a jaw arrangement instead of individual shell holders. I did not like them at all because they use a spring around their perimeter to allow the jaws to open and close, and the springs kept popping of their pins. However, a lot of reloaders have nothing but praise for this tool. Frankly, I thought it sucked.
Cosmoline
Member
I've had both and used them extensively. The Lee eventually broke on me after a few thousand rounds, but it was an elegant and simple design. Its big drawback is the need for special shell holders. The RCBS is a bit Rube Goldberg and sometimes gets fussy. On balance I prefer the Lee, but ideally I'd like to have one with Lee's design and the ability to take standard shell holders.
ranger335v
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"LEE Auto Prime Hand Priming Tool ($13)"
I like my Lee's quite well. I bought two and the set of shell holders for them in the mid 80s, large and small, for less than any other would cost just for the one tool. That doesn't seem to be a burden to me! I've loaded a LOT of ammo with them, no problems, no breakage.
They do have a less than ideal tumb lever; it's not as strong as I'd like to see on it. BUT, recognising that fact makes me check to see what's wrong rather than just pushing harder when I feel too much resistance to seating.
Part of the reason it's so easy to change calibers with the Lee Auto Prime is the shell holders, if it used standard shell holders it would require a much modified and PITA work to swap head sizes. Instead, it's quick and painless.
I like the AutoPrimes so well I eventually got an AutoPrime II. Liked it so well I got a little Lee Reloader press dedicated to priming. And, later, got another Reloader press for a Universal Decapper die. Together, they make a really great system for large scale priming work and the total price was modest for the level of performance!
I like my Lee's quite well. I bought two and the set of shell holders for them in the mid 80s, large and small, for less than any other would cost just for the one tool. That doesn't seem to be a burden to me! I've loaded a LOT of ammo with them, no problems, no breakage.
They do have a less than ideal tumb lever; it's not as strong as I'd like to see on it. BUT, recognising that fact makes me check to see what's wrong rather than just pushing harder when I feel too much resistance to seating.
Part of the reason it's so easy to change calibers with the Lee Auto Prime is the shell holders, if it used standard shell holders it would require a much modified and PITA work to swap head sizes. Instead, it's quick and painless.
I like the AutoPrimes so well I eventually got an AutoPrime II. Liked it so well I got a little Lee Reloader press dedicated to priming. And, later, got another Reloader press for a Universal Decapper die. Together, they make a really great system for large scale priming work and the total price was modest for the level of performance!
Peter M. Eick
Member
Lee's will break. I have 3 of them and the RCBS now. When two of my lee's break, I send them back and they replace them for the price of a new one. It is just par for the course.
I find they last a long while. I am guessing I get at least 10,000 rounds out of each one before they break. I load all of my rifle rounds in one and I think that over time they just develop fatigue and give.
I like the Lee's for the ease of use but the new RCBS is a lot faster and seems better built. The problem is that I tend to set the primer down a lot so I had to put binder clips on the RCBS to hold the cover on.
Cosmoline
Member
I think someone should actually build a better one of these. It shouldn't be that hard to come up with one that permits precise control without fatigue, doesn't require special holders, doesn't have a primer tray lid that falls off, doesn't rely on a cheap two-part plastic device to hold the steel shell holder in place, doesn't develop strange stoppages or need to be totally disassembled to change from one shell to another, etc.
jcwit
member
Well here's your chance to make that first million. Start designing. The world is beating down your door.
Heck, Lee might even buy your patent.
BigJakeJ1s
Member
I have used both a Lee AutoPrime, and an RCBS Universal Hand Primer. The Lee works fine, but the lever is thumb actuated, and after a bunch of rounds, my thumb started giving me problems.
I looked around, and found the RCBS Universal. It has a larger, square tray than the standard RCBS hand primer, and it also has universal spring loaded shell holder jaws. The lever is set up to use the whole hand to squeeze (like a pair of pliers), and does not give me any problems. The RCBS has a metal gate that separates the primer being seated from the rest of the primers in the tray, in case the one being seated goes off. The Square tray detaches easily, lays flat on the bench for loading, and is large enough to take an entire 100 primer factory pack flat in it. It also has a sliding gate to close off the feed chute so you can keep primers in it if you want. The only drawback is that it is not very easy to change primer punch/guide sizes. My wife bought me a second one, so I keep one set up for each. The square trays are interchangeable between primer sizes, so I can load up two trays and go sit in my easy chair to prime cases for a while.
Especially since I have a Co-Ax press that does not need shell holders, it is nice to have a hand primer that doesn't either.
Andy
I looked around, and found the RCBS Universal. It has a larger, square tray than the standard RCBS hand primer, and it also has universal spring loaded shell holder jaws. The lever is set up to use the whole hand to squeeze (like a pair of pliers), and does not give me any problems. The RCBS has a metal gate that separates the primer being seated from the rest of the primers in the tray, in case the one being seated goes off. The Square tray detaches easily, lays flat on the bench for loading, and is large enough to take an entire 100 primer factory pack flat in it. It also has a sliding gate to close off the feed chute so you can keep primers in it if you want. The only drawback is that it is not very easy to change primer punch/guide sizes. My wife bought me a second one, so I keep one set up for each. The square trays are interchangeable between primer sizes, so I can load up two trays and go sit in my easy chair to prime cases for a while.
Especially since I have a Co-Ax press that does not need shell holders, it is nice to have a hand primer that doesn't either.
Andy
LiveLife
Member
I believe RCBS universal hand primer comes close. And the square primer tray - now why can't everyone do that so we can just dump the primers right from the primer trays?!
Now, if Lee could make the Auto Prime handle stronger (or make them out of steel) so they won't break and put a square primer tray ... it might be a strong contender.
MMCSRET
Member
I have one from Hornady, it takes universal shell holders and works quite well. My lee's are set up, one for small and one for large and get used for handgun. I use the Hornady for rifle because it uses the better fitting shell holders.
qajaq59
Member
Well that answered my question. I kept thinking about buying one. But I wondered if it would bother the arthritis in my thumb. Apparently it would so I'll stay with the press.
RidgwayCO
Member
I've owned and used the Lee hand primer, the original RCBS hand priming tool, and the RCBS universal model. The one I use today is the original RCBS model. IMHO, it's much more durable than the Lee, and much less fiddly than the universal.
GW Staar
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I've used the Lee for many many years. Yes they break, and because there was never anything better to replace it I just bought another when that happened.
Then I read this review on RCBS's new APS Hand primer.
Since I now use an RCBS Pro 2000 progressive with it's APS press primer, I thought I'd buy and try their APS hand primer.
Wow...wasn't disappointed...at all! I gave away my latest Lee. Here's the features than won me over.
1. Comfort. You can use it as a 4 finger press or a thumb press and either way it comfortably fits the hand. No more sore hands.
2. The universal case holder really does work.
3. It's fast. I can load 3 or 500 primers as fast as I can squeeze. Of course using a progressive is faster, but I use a hand primer for those "special" situations. Such as...I can load a strip of Remington primers and prime 6 or so, pull the strip out, and then insert a strip of Winchester, prime 6 of those, then maybe try 6 bench rest Federals all nice and convenient.
4. Since I already use the APS system (the APS loader came with the Pro 2000), primers loaded in strips, for me, is the norm, so there's always strips ready to insert. (no dumping a box of primers in a tray that gets spilled on the floor, no primers trying to load on top of other primers)
Cons? Well its pricier for sure, especially when you add an APS loader to the order (obviously not many are able to find APS strips of primers easily these days, except at Midway, and the're only found in CCI. Therefore an APS loader is a must. And of course you have to buy strips. (reused over and over). Peter Eick (who posted above) doesn't have that problem since he has loaded thousand of CCI stripped primers (back when primers were cheap and available) on his Pro 2000 and has buckets of strips. From his post, it appears he hasn't tried this APS tool yet, and I'm surprised!
How does the strip loader work? Easy. You can load four strips of 25 in about the same time as manually loading 100 in a tube. You stick 4 side by side to what looks like an "Avery" sticker, and store them. Storage in that state is way safer than storage primers in a bunch of tubes.
Then I read this review on RCBS's new APS Hand primer.
Since I now use an RCBS Pro 2000 progressive with it's APS press primer, I thought I'd buy and try their APS hand primer.
Wow...wasn't disappointed...at all! I gave away my latest Lee. Here's the features than won me over.
1. Comfort. You can use it as a 4 finger press or a thumb press and either way it comfortably fits the hand. No more sore hands.
2. The universal case holder really does work.
3. It's fast. I can load 3 or 500 primers as fast as I can squeeze. Of course using a progressive is faster, but I use a hand primer for those "special" situations. Such as...I can load a strip of Remington primers and prime 6 or so, pull the strip out, and then insert a strip of Winchester, prime 6 of those, then maybe try 6 bench rest Federals all nice and convenient.
4. Since I already use the APS system (the APS loader came with the Pro 2000), primers loaded in strips, for me, is the norm, so there's always strips ready to insert. (no dumping a box of primers in a tray that gets spilled on the floor, no primers trying to load on top of other primers)
Cons? Well its pricier for sure, especially when you add an APS loader to the order (obviously not many are able to find APS strips of primers easily these days, except at Midway, and the're only found in CCI. Therefore an APS loader is a must. And of course you have to buy strips. (reused over and over). Peter Eick (who posted above) doesn't have that problem since he has loaded thousand of CCI stripped primers (back when primers were cheap and available) on his Pro 2000 and has buckets of strips.
From his post, it appears he hasn't tried this APS tool yet, and I'm surprised!How does the strip loader work? Easy. You can load four strips of 25 in about the same time as manually loading 100 in a tube. You stick 4 side by side to what looks like an "Avery" sticker, and store them. Storage in that state is way safer than storage primers in a bunch of tubes.
Peter M. Eick
Member
No I have not tried it yet. I will get one some day. Probably when I break my 3 lees again I will get a better one.
I do like the APS strips. I have buckets of them. It has sure been great in the great primer famine because I have so many strips it was easy to reload them. Now that the famine is nearly over I will go back to buying in APS strips and move on.
Thanks for the advice.
I do like the APS strips. I have buckets of them. It has sure been great in the great primer famine because I have so many strips it was easy to reload them. Now that the famine is nearly over I will go back to buying in APS strips and move on.
Thanks for the advice.
ranger335v
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- Dec 3, 2006
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"and after a bunch of rounds, my thumb started giving me problems.
"Well that answered my question. I kept thinking about buying one. But I wondered if it would bother the arthritis in my thumb. Apparently it would so I'll stay with the press."
Consider the Autoprime II. It's body is a die. Screw it into your press and it uses Lee primer trays for feeding, uses conventional shell holders and works with the press lever. NO thumb fatigue!
"Well that answered my question. I kept thinking about buying one. But I wondered if it would bother the arthritis in my thumb. Apparently it would so I'll stay with the press."
Consider the Autoprime II. It's body is a die. Screw it into your press and it uses Lee primer trays for feeding, uses conventional shell holders and works with the press lever. NO thumb fatigue!
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