I'm having issues with my new Lee Safety Prime on my Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret. I'm loading 9mm with small pistol primers. When I press on the primer feed, it only only wants to load 1 out 3 in the pocket. The other two times it either fails to feed a primer, or piddles one on the floor. What am I doing wrong?
Lee Safety Prime Problem
- Thread starter jfremder
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I had trouble the first time I ever used one also; my son had to show me the trick! If you push it OVER and then DOWN it may work better for you.
Or a curving motion may also work. But once you figure it out, it will be just about flawless. Try pushing different ways until you figure it out.
Or a curving motion may also work. But once you figure it out, it will be just about flawless. Try pushing different ways until you figure it out.
ChuckB
Member
Most Lee owners eventually learn that the Safety Prime is the weak link in an otherwise solid loader. I had the same problem as you until I started lowering the ram just a tad and, in my case, also angling Safety Prime just a bit to the left. !00% now. I've read that the problem can be corrected by elevating the priming unit with washers between it and the top of the loader frame. Try closely watching how the primer jobby lines up with the primer cup. You can then probably adjust the angle and "elevation" of the Safety Prime assembly. It's not defective, and it's not your fault. Just a Lee quirk. I load just short of 200 9mm rounds in an hour, counting refilling the primer tray. Lately with no primer spills, either.
Chuck
Chuck
RustyFN
Member
I'm glad you didn't say all.
Actually from what I have been reading and hearing the problem one's are a minority. For me the safety prime makes the press a lot faster than without. Sounds like you need to add a washer under the bracket to space it up. Also you don't have to use one finger like the video shows. The way I like to use the safety prime is when I raise the case into the sizing die I will grab the lever with my left hand palm up so if a primer comes back out it ends up in my hand and not on the floor. I will grab the trigger piece ( dispenser, whatever you want to call it ) with my right thumb on one side, middle finger on the other and my pointer finger on the top. It doesn't take any longer but gives me great control over the safety prime. I am still loading 200 per hour using this method. I only have maybe one primer every thousand not stay in the cup on the lever.aka108
Member
Primer feeders are probably the weak point in all reloading machines. I use a Dillon for handgun cartridges. It has a tendancy to flip a primer now and then and since you don't see it, it gets installed upside down. I use the Lee hand primer, the one with the big red primer container, for all my rifle cartridges. It works well but sometimes you have to give it a shake to break up the log jamb of primers in the container to get one to feed.
I may just be lucky and have gotten a good one, but once my TEENAGER showed me the motion (he hit upon it faster than me!) it has worked great for me ever since. I really like the safety prime (>1000 so far) due to the primer being completely away from me. I've also used the hand primer a few times, which works fine, but I still like priming on the press or turret for pistol.
I really appreciate the low cost of the Lee equipment. Huge help to me.
I really appreciate the low cost of the Lee equipment. Huge help to me.
Yes but only with small pistol primers. There is not enough weight (another primer) behind the last one. On large pistol they all come out
That Problem I can live with, the washer solved my first problem - Thanks!
Problem two... After the primer is properly fed, The metal lower arm that tips in to insert the primer in the casing is just barely catching the top of the primer cup holder on the bottom of the shell holder, right when it tips in, requiring a bit of a 'double pump' on the lever before seating can occur. Any idea how I can adjust this?
Seedtick
Member
It sounds to me like the primer arm isn't fully seated on the cross pin inside the ram. There may be some trash or a burr in the small slot keeping it from bottoming out on the cross pin. The slot in the ram may also be 'gunked' up keeping the arm from freely seating on the pin.
HTH
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