Lee Safety Prime-- Junk or worth using?

[Grandpa Shooter]

My buddy and I helped out a Marine who was getting shipped back to Iraq by buying his reloading gear so that he could upgrade his combat gear before deployment. (Don't even want to think about our military letting our boys down like that)

It is a Lee Classic four hole turret with the Lee Safety Prime. I finally got it out and mounted the press to a board so it could be bolted down on my bench. I started looking at the safety prime assembly to see how it fitted to the press with the idea that it might be helpful.

It looks to me, after setting it up, that it is basically junk. Cheap plastic parts, cheap mounting bracket which the primer tray and trigger assembly snap onto (and easily pops off if bumped).

Do any of you actually use this thing? I think I will stick with hand priming or use the priming bar it comes with and single feed primers like I have done for years on the Lee.

 

[coyotehitman]

I thought it was junk too.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Lee Auto Prime II...The only way to go.

I looked at that plastic thing because I have a press that will mount the safety prime system...Passed on it. The Auto Prime II far exceeds it...

 

[Luis Leon]

I thought it was pretty cheesy when I first mounted mine on my classic cast 4-hole turret press. But, many, many thousands of rounds later it has proved itself to me.

regards,

Luis Leon

 

[Jake in TX]

I have the Lee Classic Cast. I use the Safety Prime with it, and have not used the Auto Prime since then, over a year ago. I'm considering getting the Classic Turret within the next year, and when I do, I'll use the Safety Prime.

Jake in TX

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Don't let the plastic fool ya grandpa, the thing works great if you set it up right and greatly speeds up the operation of the press. It's as good as the Lee auto prime, which is one of the best priming tools for hand use.

Regards,

Dave

 

[RustyFN]

I have loaded thousands of rounds on mine. Once the safety prime was set up right it has been near flawless. Being as it's part of the process on the press it makes reloading fast.
Rusty

 

[shootinxd]

I have loaded aprox 2k rounds so far,works for me just fine.

 

[SSN Vet]

set up my LCT with the Safety Prime and it runs like a top.....

I dump a whole tray of primers in and go to town.

when you get down to only a couple primers in the shoot it won't always load one, but that's my cue to dump another tray in.

Plastic or not, it's a very handy tool

 

[Quickdraw McGraw]

Luv my safety prime. Had to mess with it for a while, final adjustment was to shim it up a little with a cut up pop can. Mine also does not load the final primer but just like SSN Vet I throw another tray of primers in!

 

[strat81]

Safety prime works fine for me.

 

[jfh]

And another satisfied user. I've loaded about 10K rounds now with mine in place on an updated standard turret.

It did take me several trays to get the hang of it, and to not have the primer flip--but once you sort out the push, it works constantly. No, it won't feed the last primer--but this is a gravity-feed setup, after all, guys: Reload your tray when there are about 10 primers left in the chute, f' heavens' sake.

In an environment like Iraq--e.g., dusty sand--I would wonder a bit about reliable operation. Send along Q-tips and powdered graphite in case it starts jamming up....

Jim H.

 

[bfox]

Mine works good Also .

Bill

 

[HANDLOADER]

Works great for me just what ever you do don't put to much pressure on the handle it has a higher chance of breaking.

 

[Sistema1927]

Works great for me.

 

[RustyFN]

Mine also won't load the last primer. I load the tray for mine with 200 primers so I don't have to stop and fill it as often.
Rusty

 

[ForneyRider]

I have the similar one that comes with Pro 1000 kit.
I had a burr in the chute that hung up primers. I filed it down.
I tried Hornady One Shot to lube the chute.
Still have feeding issues.
I will try some other dry lubes.
Yep, keep it loaded.

I mainly use the Lee hand prime and then dump the primed brass in the case collator. Very fast.

For small batches(<=20), I prime on press, one at a time. I get the best "feel" for the primer seating this way. Even better than the hand prime.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Since I have neuropathy in both hands, that is not much feeling in my hands, I tend to shy away from fragile things since they often break.

I just went to pick up my "DAD" coffee mug off the base of the single cup brewer I use during the week and it was stuck. I put a "little" pressure on the handle and snapped it off. I'm the guy who picks up the "hot" plate at the Mexican food restaurant after the server warns about it being "hot" so please be careful, and says, "this isn't hot!"

Yeah dumb I know. I have not tried the safety primer feed, it just looks flimsy to me. I probably will give it a try some day when I have the time. Biggest concern is that my buddy is a BIG man with hams for hands and I am not sure how he could handle it.

 

[bfox]

ForneyRider

Just my opinion so take that for what its worth !
I don't think One Shot is a good choice to lube your primer
chute . Like you said I would clean that out and try some dry graphite lube .

Good Luck , Bill

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I will repeat myself for clarity. Looks can be deceiving. It is plastic, but it isn't particulary flimsy and my ham fisted son didn't break it. You're not likely too. Course, there are those that can break a cast steel reloading press, so it can be broken.

Regards,

Dave

 

[ForneyRider]

Bfox: no problem.

I have 2 cans of One Shot and can't find a use for it.

I like the 3-in-1 oil for most parts of the press.

My dad has some powdered graphite I may the apply to the slide.

 

[PowderApe]

OFF TOPIC POST: To GrandPa

...What do you mean the Marine had to "upgrade his combat gear" before being deployed back to a hot zone?? What kind of upgrades??

As an ex-HM2 (8404 type), things sure must have changed since I was in back during that last jungle tussle in southeast Asia...

...and if it's front line combat gear, that would truly pi$$ me off with all the $$$ Congress pi$$es away- especially for a front line 0311 Grunt