Lee Auto Prime

I fee your pain. I used a pair of the original model (the round hopper) for 30 years. Great tools.

Then they "improved" it. Not as good.

Last week I bought the Frankford Armory hand primer. All steel and works perfectly. Comes with 12 different shall holders.

Costs around $100 Cdn. Well worth it.
 
The Lee hand primer is no better. As Ganderite says, the old ones worked great. I can't get the one on my turret press to work worth a phoque, so I bought the hand primer, no better, so, silly phoqueur that I am, I bought a new auto-prime, just as bad. Now? I just dump the primers on the bench and place them in the ram one at a time. Just as fast, and a lot less frustration.
 
I have an Lee auto prime that you mount on the top of the press. Primed several thousands cases over the years. Maybe one out of a every 200 would screw up when I used Federal 210M primers. Ran 1000 CCI BR primers through it without one hiccup.
If you are using the one that mounts on the press and you think it is junk please send it to me. I have been worried that if I ever broke mine that I wouldn't be able to find replacement parts.
 
maynard said:
I have an Lee auto prime that you mount on the top of the press. Primed several thousands cases over the years. Maybe one out of a every 200 would screw up when I used Federal 210M primers. Ran 1000 CCI BR primers through it without one hiccup.
If you are using the one that mounts on the press and you think it is junk please send it to me. I have been worried that if I ever broke mine that I wouldn't be able to find replacement parts.
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Are you using a turret press? I had one on a single station press, no issues. On my turret press, can't get the one that came with the press or the new one work.
 
I like the hand held priming tools. The Lee was OK in its day but they wore out pretty quick if you were doing any amount of loading. Went to an RCBS hand tool . Worked better and didn't wear out. It was a nuisance to change shellholders with the model I have. You have to dis-connect then re-connect the little primer cut-off bar. Set it up to prime belted cases and it is great. Tried one of the newer Lyman hand tools and I like it even better. Uses standard shell holders that you use in your press and it is a snap to change the shellholders. Anyone in the market for a hand priming tool really should check out the new Lyman priming tool before you spend your money.
 
I still have the original round primer tray model I bought 30 year's ago. I keep it lubed and it's never let me down.
I use the Auto Prime II press mounted priming tool on my 577 and 577-450. So simple to use!
 
rokoro said:
I like the hand held priming tools. The Lee was OK in its day but they wore out pretty quick if you were doing any amount of loading. Went to an RCBS hand tool . Worked better and didn't wear out. It was a nuisance to change shellholders with the model I have. You have to dis-connect then re-connect the little primer cut-off bar. Set it up to prime belted cases and it is great. Tried one of the newer Lyman hand tools and I like it even better. Uses standard shell holders that you use in your press and it is a snap to change the shellholders. Anyone in the market for a hand priming tool really should check out the new Lyman priming tool before you spend your money.
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The RCBS Universal priming tool requires no shell holders, which is one of the reasons that I prefer it.
 
Broke the spring in the large version and haven't gotten around to fixing it but it's replacement works fine. Still using the original small version that came with my turret kit. I like them and have no complaints now that I've learned how to use them. But hey, they're Lee brand so let the haterade flow.
Reminds of a quote though, something like, " 'Tis an ill workman that quarrels with his own tools. (D'Urfey, tr. _Don Quixote_, 1696) " source: https://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/18/messages/587.html
 
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