Well, finally decided to abandon the reliable but time-consuming on the press priming system for the Lee Autoprime. Greased it up as instructed and it's been a total pain in the ass. No way can I watch TV while priming, as the primers don't always feed right side up and sometimes they end up sideways in the slot...this isn't a time savings at all...am I doing something wrong? I can see why Richard Lee warns against Federal primers (I'm using CCI OEM small pistol) because the jams and other issues could well produce a bang. Any ideas?
Lee Autoprime Issues
- Thread starter pontcanna
- Start date
- Location
- Kumankissmyass, BC
I have had great luck with the hand one...it is slow however...I have been thinking that the press mounted one may be faster..I always use winchester primers.
it seems that anything involving that stupid primer trough( it's the same thing as what's on the 1000) is doomed to failure- my best advise is to go with the hand verseion where it has NO opportunity to go sideways, upside down or get pinched in the primer hole- i can't count the number of times i've had to take the primer feed apart on my various 1000 or had to re-do the round because the primer was inverted or seated sideways- there's probably nothing you're doing wrong
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
I like the feel (seating)of the hand priming tool, hate when the primer don't set all the way . But thats primer pocket stuff 
I found when I had a pro 1000 you had to keep it better than half full for it to work well. And also keep it spotless, be a dark day when I put grease anywhere near a primer. The hand tool works well and is a good value.
Andy
Andy
- Location
- North of Toronto and South Carolina
I've just started using the priming system on a Lee Pro 1000. I got the Lee free from a friend. It dates back, probably, to the late eighties or early nineties. I've only loaded several hundred rounds so far--.40 S&W and .38/.357.
I'm beginning to figure out how primers get sideways in the trough or how they jam. Just one grain of powder in the wrong place can mess up the feed right before the primer moves onto the "piston." I invested in some aerosol dust remover a few blasts every now and then, along with nudging the feed trough and it feeds well. I've even had good feeds with a few remaining primers in the trough. This is with CCI primers.
If the primer fails to feed and the piston area has some grains of powder that escaped from the case's primer hole, make sure to clean it thoroughly with several blasts of air from a few directions.
It's a quirky thing, but, hey.
I'm beginning to figure out how primers get sideways in the trough or how they jam. Just one grain of powder in the wrong place can mess up the feed right before the primer moves onto the "piston." I invested in some aerosol dust remover a few blasts every now and then, along with nudging the feed trough and it feeds well. I've even had good feeds with a few remaining primers in the trough. This is with CCI primers.
If the primer fails to feed and the piston area has some grains of powder that escaped from the case's primer hole, make sure to clean it thoroughly with several blasts of air from a few directions.
It's a quirky thing, but, hey.
I've had a few of the hand powered auto-primers. I used to keep one set-up for large and one for small. (way back in the days when I had money _and_ time!)
I can't say that I've never had a primer go in sideways or upside down; but it's the sort of thing that would happen 2 or 3 times out of a thousand. It's a pain in the ass, but it's not like it ruins the case.
I can't say that I've never had a primer go in sideways or upside down; but it's the sort of thing that would happen 2 or 3 times out of a thousand. It's a pain in the ass, but it's not like it ruins the case.
OK, I think I'm making progress. I've taped the lid down on the thing, lean it up at a certain angle against my leg and make sure the lever clicks all the way "back" after seating a primer. This seems to ensure that the next one lines up.
PerversPépère
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Shawinigan (Quebec)
Priming tricks
I never had problems with the lid escaping after I made a small wedge from a bit of red plastic that I insert in the gap in one of the lid's locking lugs.
Now, there's a way of never having problems: when priming, first, tilt the tool towards you and check there's a primer in place.
Insert a case AND apply just enough pressure to hold the primer and the case together.
Tilt the tool back so the primers go down the tray, away from the ram. No more danger!
Complete the insertion then let go on the pressure; the primed case will fall free into the box placed at your feet.
Tilt the tool back towards you and do it again.
By tilting the tool twice per case, you'll never have a badly placed primer and you'll also eliminate the danger of sympathetic detonation in the VERY remote possibility of a primer going off during insertion.
Periodically, treat the working surfaces with Jig-A-Loo.
Good luck!
I never had problems with the lid escaping after I made a small wedge from a bit of red plastic that I insert in the gap in one of the lid's locking lugs.
Now, there's a way of never having problems: when priming, first, tilt the tool towards you and check there's a primer in place.
Insert a case AND apply just enough pressure to hold the primer and the case together.
Tilt the tool back so the primers go down the tray, away from the ram. No more danger!
Complete the insertion then let go on the pressure; the primed case will fall free into the box placed at your feet.
Tilt the tool back towards you and do it again.
By tilting the tool twice per case, you'll never have a badly placed primer and you'll also eliminate the danger of sympathetic detonation in the VERY remote possibility of a primer going off during insertion.
Periodically, treat the working surfaces with Jig-A-Loo.
Good luck!
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
Just keep it out of your face when seating, and wear safety glasses.
I have primed tens of thousands of cases with the Lee autoprime system [I have 5 of them]. Never had a glitch of any kind, and never had a primer of any brand go kaboom while priming, even the dreaded Federals. It is, in my opinion, one of the best systems ever devised, and if it is giving you problems, something is amiss. Is it possible you have the wrong primer tray installed? There is one for large and one for small primers. The only way a primer could enter the ram sideways is if you have a small primer in the large tray. I have just tried this in mine, and if the proper tray is used, this is impossible. Better check. Maybe you got two large trays by accident in your package. You should have one tray for each primer diameter. Regards, Eagleye.
