lee priming tool

[badnova]

Has anyone experienced high primers using a Lee priming tool? I've used one for years and just experienced high primers with once fired Fed and LC 223 brass, which was swaged with RCBS swager and reamed. Rock Chucker reset all with no problems

 

[cfullgraf]

I've worn out and broken a few Lee Auto Primes over the decades that I have been reloading. Fortunately they are cheap.

The handle would flex and contact the body not permitting the primer to seat deep enough was an indication that something else was wrong.

Check for wear on the actuating components and replace as necessary. Check and make sure the top of the handle where the shell holder is inserted. It could be flexing or cracked.

Hope this helps.

 

[GLOOB]

Personally, I get much more leverage on my press. I can barely get them flush, futzing with the small lever on the Auto Prime.

I did pull it out the other day, because a strengh-challenged friend was having trouble seating primers all the way on the ram. Same problem with the Auto Primer. No go.

 

[courtgreene]

i find it easier and faster with the press. maybe it's just lee, maybe not. i put mine back in the box.

 

[GLOOB]

+1. It's miles faster, safer, easier, and better for me to prime on my Lee single stage. I think the hand-priming guys all have the expensive presses with the cumbersome priming arms.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

might wanna check out the rcbs hand priming tool. mine works well. not made of pot metal like the lee hand primer.

 

[cfullgraf]

I think the hand-priming guys all have the expensive presses with the cumbersome priming arms.

Nope, it allows me sit in the easy chair while watching the Formula 1 race. Kind of tough to bring along the press!

What ever fits your process is the best system.

i have one of the press mounted Lee priming system that I bought in the 90s. Just not convenient to use for me. It sits in the box somewhere.

 

[murf]

you may want to pull it apart and lube the pivot points. i use mine all the time. better feel.

murf

 

[clone]

I use the auto prime and have not had a problem with getting primers fully seated. Maybe its my kung fu grip, or maybe you guys aren't lubing it like Lee recommends. What do you think is more likely?

 

[REL1203]

Clone, where and how do you lube your Lee Hand priming tool?

 

[Bush Pilot]

Clone, where and how do you lube your Lee Hand priming tool?

See Murf's post.

 

[Asherdan]

My first one, I wore a flat on the round end of the thumb lever linkage and started getting high primers after a couple of thousand uses. I called Lee and they sent me a new link and wouldn't take my money. I lube the new one as directed and have no issues after several more thousand uses.

I take my hand press to work and prep and prime brass during my lunch hour sometimes. It's a handy thing.

 

[J_McLeod]

As a side note, I picked up a copy of Lee's Modern Reloading at the last Gun Show. On page 33, he says that if you send them your old Auto Prime with half the current cost of an XR, they'll send you a new Auto Prime XR.

 

[northark147]

+1. It's miles faster, safer, easier, and better for me to prime on my Lee single stage. I think the hand-priming guys all have the expensive presses with the cumbersome priming arms.

I'll admit it. I have a Dillon and I Use an RCBS hand primer for Large Rifle stuff just because I don't feel like jacking around with converting it over to Large Primers.. lol

 

[rhoggman]

Never had any problems with mine other than the occasional primer going in upside down or sideways.... if the operator were paying more attention it is doubtful the problem would continue to occur.

 

[badnova]

Thanks guys
Upon further inspection I found the actual priming ram in the tool was slightly concave at the business end. It's gone
thanks agin

 

[Mike Kerr]

Whew!
Glad we got that settled. I used a Lee hand operated Auto Prime for several years and developed really strong thumbs. Then one day I bought a RCBS hand priming tool and personally found it much easier to use with less fatigue in my hands. Either one works but Lee's was a little slower and slightly more tiring when priming several hundred at a time.

Regards,

 

[jcwit]

Want the best get a Sinclar or a K & M priming tool.

 

[LiveLife]

I think the hand-priming guys all have the expensive presses with the cumbersome priming arms.

Nope, it allows me sit in the easy chair while watching the Formula 1 race.

+1. I hand prime during weeknights watching TV in the living room with the family on the comforts of the couch/AC/heat with my favorite beverage. Priming your cases doesn't get any better!

After years of using Auto Prime happily, I bought the new Auto Prime XR. Now, I no longer worry about breaking the handle (factory claimed unbreakable) and the square tray allows even faster primer refills right from the factory trays. I flip the primers from the factory tray using the cover and slide the Auto Prime XR upside down unto the cover - no more shaking/rattling the tray to flip the primers for me - now I can refill the tray in a few seconds.

 

[cfullgraf]

Gee, what primers do you use? I always find a few primers upside down in the package and have to shake the primer tool tray to get them upright.

 

[68wj]

I have used a buddy's RCBS hand primer in the past and found it to work really well. I ended up with a Lee though and don't really have any complaints. I wish you could just use standard shell holders but I can live with it. So far so good with a little grease on all contact points.

Nope, it allows me sit in the easy chair while watching the Formula 1 race.

Is that the weird racing where they make right hand turns too???

 

[LiveLife]

Gee, what primers do you use? I always find a few primers upside down in the package and have to shake the primer tool tray to get them upright.

Winchester/CCI primers come cup side up
PMC/Wolf/Tula primers come anvil side up
Magtech primers come mixed (mostly cup side up)

When they leave the factory, all the primers are flipped the same. It's during rough shipping/handling that some of the primers get flipped. Some primer tray holes are tighter and won't allow flipping and some (like Magtech) primer tray holes are larger.

The new Auto Prime XR has square flip dots instead of the old rings. They do a much better job of flipping primers.

 

[cfullgraf]

Is that the weird racing where they make right hand turns too???

And they race in the rain!

 

[amlevin]

Saw one of our club "Benchresters" using the Lee XR yesterday. What a PITA.

Double primer feeding, inverted primers, and sideways primers.

He keeps an old "Round" Lee tool in his box for when the new one just frustrates him too much. Only advantage as I see to the XR is when loading a full square box of primers. I just load half a tray at a time on my round one.

Lee took a perfectly good design and messed with success. Should have just left it alone or only made the tray square. Leave out that extra "feed ram".

 

[murf]

mike kerr, try turning it around and squeezing the handle with your fingers. less tiring and better feel.

murf