Lee Square Auto Primer

[Catpop]

While I was priming some 44 mag cases last night with my late model (square) Lee auto prime, I had about 5 of 50 primers turn 90 degrees and prime sideways.
I never had this problem before. Is this a common problem as the auto prime ages?

 

[Leatherstocking]

I have one of these. I only reload rifle, low volume. I've gone to priming on the press.

 

[LiveLife]

I have one of these. I only reload rifle, low volume. I've gone to priming on the press.

That's great but how's your post going to help Catpop with sideways primer?

I have both Auto Prime (Round tray) and Auto Prime XR (Square tray) and do not have problem with sideways primer.

If you look at the close up picture below, one primer is pushed up then primer slides down under the shell holder by gravity. I find it helpful to tilt the tray at about 45 degrees to help the primer slide down.

Since the feed channel won't allow the primers to rotate (they will hit the tray cover), any flipping of primer must happen after the feed channel. Take off the tray cover and without a brass in the shell holder, watch a primer slide down the final feed point and see what it does. It should slide straight down but if it wobbles or tumbles, look for any debri/dirt and clean the area out.

 

[splattergun]

I experienced this issue with the round primer tray. I cleaned the channel and then made sure that the primer tray was completely and squarely attached. Problem solved.

 

[Hondo 60]

My guess is, splattergun has it.
Please make sure the pathway is 100% clean.
Even if you have to use some cleaner on it, like Hoppe's # 9

 

[dgod]

I had the same issue with a Dillon Square Deal. I changed to the RCBS Hand Primer, and recently upgraded to the Universal Hand Held, Not 1 single Priming activity. EASY to operate, can be done while watching TV if you want.

Just my $0.02
Dan

 

[Catpop]

Thanks for input. I'll do as suggested and clean auto prime before next use as well as observe closely to make sure primer is correctly on priming punch before case is inserted in shell holder. Primarily this new square tray primer was used with 45 acp before going to Dillon SDB and never had a problem prior to this. It is now 5-6 years old, but has seen very little use.
I did neglect to mention I had a problem with a few cases inserting into the shell holder. But not sure if these were same ones involved in side inserted primers. There was no problem inserting these same cases in my Spartan press shellholder.
Thinking back now, it could be a factor in the problem while trying to insert troublesome cases.
Maybe a faulty shell holder?

 

[thomas15]

Primarily this new square tray primer was used with 45 acp before going to Dillon SDB and never had a problem prior to this. It is now 5-6 years old, but has seen very little use.

Too bad now you cannot say that you switched to xxxxx and never looked back as many are eager to say. But think about it some hand priming tools cost less than $20.00 others cost more than $60.00 A good question to ask is why? In my industry (electronic component manufacture) those who sell their product at a much lower rate do so at the expense of quality control. A general statement could be said that the customer performs final test for the supplier, weeds out those that we might determine are rejects.

 

[Catpop]

Thomas15,
I also have the 1970s round tray model I've used for tens of thousands of rounds. It worked well for many years, but has now developed it's own plastic issues and I don't use it much anymore (use SD now). I hear Lee no longer offers parts for it. It served me well in the early days and doesn't owe me a cent.
Thanks for all the input.
Catpop

 

[thomas15]

Lucky you!^^^

 

[FROGO207]

I also still have a pair of the old style round Lee hand primers. The two problems I found with mine were 1) the thing got dirty and 2) the plastic cover was loose and allowed primers to flip. This happened with small primers mostly. I do not own the new style however so this may not be the problem you are having. I would be suspect of the primer getting flipped when you "fiddled" with those cases that did not go in to the shell holder easily. Especially because you were using large primers. Just sayin.

 

[LiveLife]

old style round Lee hand primers ... the plastic cover was loose and allowed primers to flip

Lee fixed this issue on the XR by creating a channel so when the locking cover is applied, not allow the primers to flip under the cover (see picture in post #3) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/lee-square-auto-primer.819964/#post-10523528

Of course, as the single primer is being push up to slide down under the shell holder, if the priming body is not tilted at proper angle, primer "could" wobble/tumble down and possibly flip. I use mine tilted at about 45 degrees and do not experience flipped primers.

 

[loose noose]

Like wise, I also use the Lee Auto priming tool, and noted you have to hold the tool at a 45 degree angle in order for it to feed the primers correctly. Note, I generally just use it for the rifle cartridges, that I use for single stage presses, sure does make loading a whole lot quicker. I did have an older one that lasted me about 20+ years that I finally broke the handle on it, trying to get Federal primers in Sellier & Bellot .303 cases.