P-32
Member
I have two of he Lees and like others, have one set up for Large primers, the other one for small primers. If you keep the things lubed at the moving parts points they do last a very long time.
"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!
Yes, Lee Auto Prime does take different shell holders and you need to order them separately.Don't forget your shell holders!
Doesn't require the thumb, it was just designed for the thumb. The thin edge on the handle isn't too comfortable on fingers wrapped around or the web of the hand wrapped around, 500 rounds into the session. Before I upgraded to my APS RCBS tool, I was toying with the idea to get some epoxy putty, roughing up the thumb-pad with sandpaper, and reshaping the pad rounded to be more comfortable and prevent the edges from digging in. I'll leave that to someone else to try now. The rounded handle comes with the RCBS.I've been using a Lee for a while as well.
Not sure about the statement that it requires using your thumb, as I found it was easy to hold it so that your fingers were on the lever. Honestly, never even thought to try it the other way. Army training on grenades stuck with me. I use the stronger option whenever possible. I don't mind having to pay attention and not He-Man the handle.
Lube makes a big difference, as the others have already said. I smear on a bit of Imperial Sizing Wax when I start using mine and have had no issues so far.
(I might have ducked Murphy due to having purchased a spare handle from Midway, as well. You know, the rule about the part that you have extras of, never breaking?)