Lee Priming tool

Lee advises against the use of these primers because there are reports that, in the event of a primer detonating being seated, there may be a possibility of a detonation of all the primers in the magazine. A multiple detonation would shatter the plastic magazine, and fragmentation could occur. So, if you use Federal primers, you on your own.
 
For what it's worth, I like to live dangerously, and have loaded many thousands of Federal primers in my Auto Prime.

You have to REALLY abuse it to detonate a primer. One of the great things about the auto-prime is the good tactile feedback it gives you. The chances of accidentally detonating ANY primer are fantastically small, unless you're extremely careless....
 
I've loaded a couple thousand rounds with the AutoPrime (always Winchester, due to availability more than anything) and, knocking on wood, have had no problems. You can definitely feel the primers seat properly.

In response the Federal question - the Lee "Modern Reloading" manual states that Federals have no more or less power than other brands, just that they will all go up if one is touched off.

I've been wondering - has anyone managed to set off a primer in an AutoPrime? I'd like to know how (not) to do this, if anyone has managed to do so in the past.
 
I too have primed many thousand rounds with a lee autoprime and never had an incident. Years ago before I got a progressive I used it for my .357 reloads and had to used federal primers due to the light springs in my revolver. On one occasion I had a primer (federal) get flipped sideways and felt something was wrong but it was too late as the primer was jammed in the pocket. I could not get the case out of the shell holder so I took the feed tray off and gently squashed the primer home so I could remove the casing from the shell holder. The primer was totally mangled and squashed in sideways and it did not detonate. I was young and foolish then, I don't know if I would repeat this now. Thats my 2 cents.
 
The real reason for the warning is that years ago Richard Lee was in a pi$$ing match with people from Federal who were slamming his products as being cheap and useless. The warning from Lee was a "right back at ya" response to try and keep people from using Federal products. It has been discussed many times in various reloading fourms. You have as good a chance of setting of Federal's as any other primer.
 
Funny.I musta missed reading those safety warnings cause I musta loaded 'bout 4 packs of the Fed. primers,never had a problem still have all my digits and see with two eyes.I did switch however to Win. due to the availability.Wow.......................all this time???????
 
I don't have one of those unsafe Lee Autoprime tools. I will just continue to seat primers with a HAMMER and the punch that is supplied with the LeeLoader handtool.


Sarcasm
(n.) A keen, reproachful expression; a satirical remark uttered with some degree of scorn or contempt; a taunt; a gibe; a cutting jest
 
All primer tools work the same way. A ram shoves them into the pocket. So the Lee tool is no more likely to detonate a primer than any other tool. In fact you have good feel with the Lee so it is likely safer than another tool. I like my Lee ans use it will all types of primer.
 
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