Lee Auto Prime Shell Holders

[WNC Seabee]

I busted the priming attachment on my loader last night and am waiting on parts to come in. So, while I went and bought a Lee Auto Prime this afternoon to use as back up and while I'm waiting.

My question is this....does the shell holder that comes with the Lee Die Sets (.44 Mag in this case) work with the Auto Prime, or do I need to buy the set of Auto Prime specific shell holders?

Thanks y'all


EDIT: found my own answer on Lee's website. Looks like I need to go back and pick up a set of specific shell holders!

http://leeprecision.com/cgi/faq/index.cgi

 

[cfullgraf]

The Auto Prime uses different design shell holders than those used in your press. So, you will need to get shell holders for the cartridges you plan to prime with th Auto Prime.

 

[sansone]

chuck is correct, auto prime uses different shellholder

 

[rcmodel]

Shoulda bought an RCBS hand prime tool.

It uses standard press shell holders.
Or none at all if the get the Universal one.

rc

 

[WNC Seabee]

That would have been my preference, but all they had on hand was the Lee and I need to load Tonight for a hunting trip this weekend.

 

[Damon555]

That autoprime won't be your backup for long. It's much easier to use than the press. I've used both the lee and the RCBS priming tools. The RCBS is beefier and finished better than the Lee but in my opinion they both work fine.

 

[pmec]

I like the Lee Autoprime but I've never used the RCBS and probably won't because the Lee does the job and I'm happy with it. And Damon555 is right, it won't be a backup for long.

 

[GLOOB]

I got an Autoprime with my Lee press. It came with 11 shell holders, so that was nice. But I find the ram is much faster (because the brass is already in it for another operation, anyway) and more pleasant to use. The Autoprime is especially annoying because of the direction you have to insert/remove the brass. The RCBS looks better in that regard, but I still would rather use the ram.

 

[cfullgraf]

The Lee Auto Prime is a good tool. For decades it was the standard for hand held priming tools because you can get a better feel for when the primer is seated than when priming on the press. The Hornady and RCBS versions are relatively new comers.

Over 30 years of reloading, I have worn out/broke several Auto Primes because they were not made with robust materials. They would last a couple of years. But being inexpensive, no big deal. i kept a spare on hand so that when one failed, I would swap out the parts and be back in business.

Also, being inexpensive, I have one set up for large primers and one set up for small.

Lee now offers better materials and easily obtained replacement parts.

 

[sansone]

I do not use the press to seat primers anymore. Too strong to get the "feel".. also I can hand-prime while watching TV with wife & kids.. flame me now

 

[Grey Morel]

Naw, no flame - not much you can screw up if your just priming. Worst that could happen is a dud round, and you can always pull the bullet and recover the powder.

 

[rcmodel]

Worst that could happen is a dud round,

Actually, the worst that can happen is an AR-15 that fires one or two rounds every time you load it.

That has happened to me when I used to crush them in with a press primer arm with no "feel"!

rc