Brand New Lee Auto-Prime XR Hand Primer!

[GW Staar]

Could you, would you give up your venerable "old" Lee Auto-Prime Hand Primer?

Why might you? Well the new square primer tray might grab your imagination. How about improved ergonomics...with improved safety features that means the new tool doesn't need Lee's warning to users of their older product.

WARNING.
Users have reported that the primers in the tray of an Auto Prime can explode for various reasons, some of which include: a cocked primer, or an attempt to prime a case which has a primer already in place, or more than one primer on the punch, or priming a military case with the crimp not completely removed. Should an explosion occur, our tests have demonstrated that safety glasses will normally prevent serious injury to the user if CCI or Winchester primers are used, because the explosion is minimal. Other primers, however, can explode with sufficient force to seriously injure the user, or persons nearby. We do not take any position with respect to the quality or performance of primers available on the market. However, only those primers manufactured by CCI or Winchester are recommended for use in the Lee Auto Prime, and when loading those primers, safety glasses should always be used. No other primers should be used with the Lee Auto Prime.

Well lovers of inexpensive Lee hand primers rejoice, that limitation is gone with their brand new Auto Prime replacement, the square tray (with slide-on covers) using, Lee Auto-Prime XR! The price is still right! Listed price is $24.98. Graf has them instock already for $19!

Check it out at Lee Precision here: Lee Auto-Prime XR......and At Grafs

 

[Bluehawk]

This needs to be moved to the Group Buys section...as the Moderators here say..

" Please don't post product advertising in the discussion forums, at the risk of being evaluated as a spammer."

Just a heads up for ya GW Staar!

 

[Walkalong]

He's not selling it, just pointing it out.

The new one looks like it will be very popular. It still won't get dedicated press priming folks to switch.

I liked my old Lee hand primer, but switched to the RCBS hand primer many years ago because it seemed safer. Despite the low chance of the Lee having a problem, if it did that tray full of primers was staring me right in the face.

Yep, this new one should sell well.

 

[rduckwor]

I hold mine the with tray point away from me and use my thumbs to seat the primer. Better control over the pressure and hopefully the blast, if it ever comes will be directed away from me. Always wear safety glasses!

RMD

 

[snuffy]

Since I have never*(in 47 years) set off a primer while seating it, I don't worry about a whole tray blowing up.

*once while using a lee whack-o-mole loader. Found out 4-5 light taps worked better than one hard smack!

There's quite a discussin going on over a TFL;

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=424103

I already have one in my cart over at midway. Even though I'm not worried about a whole tray going off, I'm well aware of Murphy, of murphy's law fame. If anything CAN possibly go wrong, it eventually will. Maybe not an exact quote, but you get the idea. He visits often in the assembly plant I work at.

Looks like Lee improved their design to reflect the improvements others made when copying lee's original design. Better lever design, steel link and a gate to separate the primers in the tray from the one being primed.

 

[GW Staar]

He's not selling it, just pointing it out.

The new one looks like it will be very popular. It still won't get dedicated press priming folks to switch.

I liked my old Lee hand primer, but switched to the RCBS hand primer many years ago because it seemed safer. Despite the low chance of the Lee having a problem, if it did that tray full of primers was staring me right in the face.

Yep, this new one should sell well.

Not only am I not selling it, I actually use an RCBS version too. The APS universal shell holder version. But I did use the last Lee model for many many years....and when I saw this tool in a gun mag....thought I'd share the word with my friends. Will I buy one?....at that price?, Of course! You can never have too many loading tools. I started on Lee's old venerable single feed tool, so it's like supporting an old friend.

I only recently went back to press loading...when I bought the progressive, but I still give my hand primers plenty of use.

 

[Rule3]

Looks to be much better, The original worked fine but the round holder is a pain. The square will make it much easier to fill.

 

[CZDave]

I tried the XR and it turned out to be more trouble than their older model. I managed to seat three primers upside down which never happened with the old lee hand primer. The problem I found was that it relies on the first push rod to send up a primer while the second seats a primer in the case, all in one squeeze. The primer getting pushed 'on deck' so to speak, would tumble and at least half the time end up on its side or upside down when the second push rod returned to its resting position. Result was i had to visually check each time before squeezing the handle to seat a new primer.

Took it back and got an RCBS Universal Hand Primer and so far it has worked flawlessly.

czd

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I bought the new Lee XR primer and I like it. I use it for small batches of reloads when I don't want to change over my RCBS and it's my backup. I needed to buy another Lee hand primer because I gave my other one to a friend who was starting out. (or I would still have the original and wouldn't have tried the XR)

 

[amlevin]

My hand "fits" my old auto prime, actually both of them. Have one for small and one for large primers. Don't see the need for the "New and Improved" model that's only apparent feature is that it "fits" the shape of a primer tray and may not dump as many on the carpet for the vacuum cleaner to "find".

LEE may make a lot of cheap plastic stuff but this is one tool that will probably still be serving my grandchildren years from now.

 

[floydster]

I have a Lee Classic Cast single stage, a Lee Classic turret and a Hornady LNL and still do all my priming with my Lee hand primers.
In the last two years I have hand primed over 15,000 cases with the old models, keep the friction points lubed and it will serve you well with no handle breakage.

 

[Tilos]

CZDave, ArchAngelCD:
Thanks for the reviews
Anyone else...