Lee's new priming tool

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gunman42782

gunman42782

Hunter
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Jan 4, 2004
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KY
SUCKS! My old auto prime, after 10s of thousands of primers seated, the handle broke the other day. Oh well, thought I would order a new one. Seems they have replaced it with a "new and improved" model that sucks big time. Got it today, and to say I hate it is an understatement. Gonna send it back to Midway, and hope they still have an old auto prime in stock. It has two levels. The first level is supposed to put the primer in place so you can seat it in the next step. Well, it may work in theory, but it took me 10 minutes to prime 5 rounds. The only good thing I can say about it is that it will hold any primer brand, including those stinking Federals that come in those huge boxes. Here is a link so you will better understand what I am talking about:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=413473
 
Like the new tray.

The "elevator pin" concept . . . not so much.

Just replaced the lever and "pusher" on my "old model" and hope that lasts for another twenty years or so.

:)
 
gunman42782,
How much would you need to be convinced to send it to me rather than back to Midway?

I think you should still be able to buy parts for the old version from Lee.


I've never broken an Auto-Prime tool. I keep 'em lubed and once the primer is seated I stop pressing on the handle.

Here is a little thing I put together about the tools:
http://forums.handloads.com/archive/forum_posts.asp?TID=12838&PN=1

Here is what Lee has to say about broken handles:
Auto Prime broken lever

The Auto Prime gives its user a good "feel" for primer insertion. You should be able to feel through the lever when the primer is seated in the case. No further pressure on the lever is required. If you press the lever until it contacts the body, it will eventually break. Apply a high viscosity lube (lithium grease, Vaseline, etc.) to the ends of the connecting link before replacing the lever.
Click to expand...

Joe
 
Nice commentary, Joe. Your mention of lubrication is spot-on. I had to replace the parts on mine because they had worn to the point that even at full stroke the primer wasn't completely seated . . . this because I failed to keep the parts in question properly lubricated. You can be sure the replacements are kept "slick".

:)
 
I keep mine lubed. It broke when I was trying to seat primers in some .223 that the crimp apparently was not reamed out good enough. Like I said, I have primed 10s of thousands of cases with no problems till then. Can't sell the new one to you Joe, as it is already on it's way back.
 
gunman42782,

That's OK, I'll pick up one eventually.

I just got a reply from Lee about parts for the old Auto-Prime:

Joe:

Yes, we do still have some parts still available for the old Auto Prime. The only thing that we do not have available any longer is the Small Primer Tray. If you should need any replacement parts in the future, please call us to order and to check for availability. We no longer have the parts available on the web site.

Thank You
Lee Precision
Click to expand...

So if you call them you can probably fix yours. I'm going to set in a couple handles and plunger rods for the two I've got.

Joe
 
Yeah, I ordered another handle that came today too, but now I lost my spring!!!!
 
Ale-8(1) said:
Nice commentary, Joe. Your mention of lubrication is spot-on. I had to replace the parts on mine because they had worn to the point that even at full stroke the primer wasn't completely seated . . . this because I failed to keep the parts in question properly lubricated. You can be sure the replacements are kept "slick".

:)
Click to expand...

Amen.. :wink: My 80's vintage will tell me it needs a tiny dab of grease on contact points by "squeek and feel"....Hope it lasts another 25 yrs, the "new and improved" doesn't seem as good....(As is too often the case :? )
 
Bucks Owin said:
Ale-8(1) said:
Nice commentary, Joe. Your mention of lubrication is spot-on. I had to replace the parts on mine because they had worn to the point that even at full stroke the primer wasn't completely seated . . . this because I failed to keep the parts in question properly lubricated. You can be sure the replacements are kept "slick".

:)
Click to expand...

Amen.. :wink: My 80's vintage will tell me it needs a tiny dab of grease on contact points by "squeek and feel"....Hope it lasts another 25 yrs, the "new and improved" doesn't seem as good....(As is too often the case :? )
Click to expand...

Isn't that the way of it? New and IMPROVED usually means they found a cheaper way to make it.
I've got several of the original small Lee priming tools and two of the Auto Primes. They all work just fine. Never had a primer detonate, never had any trouble. But some nit wit must have cos now they've "fixed" it.

What can you say?

Joe
 
The thumb lever and "pusher arm" on my AutoPrime were of the earlier design . . . one part had a tapered male protrusion that fit into a similarly tapered female receptacle on the other part. This taper served to maintain alignment of the two parts.

In my case, the male portion wore out, and LEE replaced it with a newer style that did not have the taper. It would not fit into the tapered portion on the "pusher" so I obtained a matching new style one from LEE. They fit together nicely, but . . .

. . . without the taper the pieces do not self-center and can drag on the inside of the housing and occasionally hang up. What was once a foolproof operation now requires more care to allow for misalighment within the linkage.

"Improvement"??? Not hardly.

:roll:
 
I've primed enough stuff with my RCBS that I may need a hand replacement! Heck of a good tool. I'm sure happy I got my Dillon presses though, because that has saved my a lot of hand cramps!
 
Hi,

I have two Lee hand tools; one's the early version that has no tray, the other the "recent" Auto-Prime most of us are familiar with. If I ever break my Auto-Prime, I think the tray's adaptable to the earlier handle.

Both get goodly "care" in the lube department, and I try to use 'em w/ a "gentle" hand. I started w/ Vaseline, as suggested by Lee, but use a moly-based grease these days. Seems slicker and lasts longer between applications... I figure since my Auto-Prime's got little visible wear after maybe 12k rounds, it should last me as long as I need if nothing breaks.

Now, in reading the reviews on Midway's site, including Tim's, it looks like this thing's gonna turn into a real "love-hate" item: I didn't see much middle ground w/ the reviews. I know, there are those who've not liked the Lee tool in the past--and some, like Weshoot2, have reported far more than legitimate reasons!--but this looks to be a much more polarizing tool than earlier ones. Hope Lee didn't screw the pooch on it!

Sounds like stocking up on spares for the old ones might be one of those "words to the wise" ideas...

Rick C
 
I have always used RCBS hand primer. Even in bench rest shooting for a long time. Worked fine...as long as I just needed one caliber. Then I went back to pistols, and single stage presses. Every time I changed calibers I had to go dig for a shell holder of the right caliber, or pull one from the press and use it and yada yada yada. I get confused easy.
So, I saw the new improved RCBS with the square tray, and a set of little jaws that would grab any caliber of brass! Wow! Had to have it.
Brought it home and put it together and started priming.....yeah, right, about every third round the brass would fly across the room with a cocked primer half seated and I would get a nice blood blister. Grrrr
After a few days I just gave up. Then looked again. You can't just shove the brass into the jaws...it don't always line up. But if you just give it a half turn, it centers on the primer and is a joy to use. I was elated. and also felt like a fool. Read the #%^$ instructions!
I will probably buy another one so I don't have to change punch size.
I have lots of shell holders left over....and this thing is fast.
 
I like the square tray on the new tools from several makers. Works well with the square primer packages. The round RCBS tray always allows a couple to spill when filling it.

-- Sam
 
mattsbox99 said:
I'm really thinking about getting the updated RCBS tool, I also despise taking it apart to change out shellholders.
Click to expand...

I really like mine....but remember to twist the brass at least a half turn after it is inserted. I go a half turn and back and it seats perfectly. ha ha
 
With my old Lee I just have to insert the brass and prime, don't have to worry about turning the brass this way or that way. I tried the RCBS and hated it. I went back to the tried and true.
 
I haven't reloaded on a single stage press in years.
Ordered some 32 H&R mag brass from Midway on Sunday it was delivered on Tues. I sized it last night went down stairs tonight to prime and I was hunting for my auto prime and found a new one still in the box it must be 15 years old.

talk about a nice surprise..... :D

I bought a SP101 3 inch in 327 Fed. mag shot 30 rounds thru it Sunday, I'm gonna love this revolver............
 
xtpshooter said:
With my old Lee I just have to insert the brass and prime, don't have to worry about turning the brass this way or that way. I tried the RCBS and hated it. I went back to the tried and true.
Click to expand...

Do you have to change shell holders for different calibers? I've never used the Lee. That's what I hated about the old RCBS.
 
BuddyG said:
xtpshooter said:
With my old Lee I just have to insert the brass and prime, don't have to worry about turning the brass this way or that way. I tried the RCBS and hated it. I went back to the tried and true.
Click to expand...

Do you have to change shell holders for different calibers? I've never used the Lee. That's what I hated about the old RCBS.
Click to expand...

Yes you do but it only takes about 10 seconds on the old tool.
 
I have to throw in my two cents on this one; I have used the Lee Auto Prime since the early seventies and have never looked back. I have been involved in using a great many priming tools of one kind or another over the last fifty years of reloading and this is the one that earned my undying devotion.

Over the years I have replaced this tool on several occasions and felt that it was just fine as it worked a lot longer than some other tools that cost a lot more and did not last half as long. I am real glad that I read this post I did not realize that Lee had made a major change to this tool and I would sure have felt bad to miss the chance to buy several more of the old style while they are still available.

Made my order last night and will have two spares which at my age should get me through all the priming I will be doing.

This tool like any hand tool takes a little using to make it work right however once you learn its tricks you can put out a lot of primed cases in a big hurry.

The other thing that I hear from others is that you should not use Federal primers in this tool; the last one I bought even had that warning from Lee in their paperwork. I have no idea what brought about this caution but I can assure you it sure was not in the paper work in the first two tools I purchased. I always uniform my primer pockets so there is never an issue with primer pockets being overly tight or deformed, so I have never had any issues whatsoever with a primer popping in the tool.
 
I wonder sometimes about Lee's dislike about Federal primers.
I've used a number of hand and press mounted priming tools for over 40 years and have never had a primer detonation.
Personally I think this perceived problem was caused by operator error and then Lee going overboard in CYA mode.

I've used every brand of primer available to me and never had any problems.

I haven't ordered one of the new Lee tools yet, but I will the next time I make an order from Midway.

Joe
 
Was on Midway last night ordering some Cerrosafe. Checked the Lee tools and found they had handles and plungers for the old Auto Prime. I grabbed two of each for spares.
I also read the reviews of the new version. The reviews went from love it to hate it with little in between.
One reviewer gave a description of how you had to use the tool and it really sounded as if Lee went overboard with it.

Will see.

Joe
 
If Midway is out of the older Auto Prime Lee tool, I'd ask them to
substitute a Hornady since if I'm not mistaken, the Lee is made of
cast pot metal like the RCBS tools and breakage prone in my experience.
However Sinclair lists the older model tool as in stock currently, here
is the link:

http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/sid=63134/sku/Lee_Auto_Prime_Tool


The Hornady is at least not cast but machined aluminum.
 
45flattop,

I'm glad I've had a different set of experiences with the Auto Prime too than you did. I've got two, one I bought new 15? years ago, and one I bought used a couple years ago. Never broke or wore out anything on my first one. Had to replace the plunger on the used one I bought. Previous owner didn't lube it.

They work great.

Plan on buying a couple more if I can. Thanks for the link.

Joe
 
I have never used a HAND PRIMING TOOL in my 40 years of reloading.
"They say" it is safer? I still use the RCBS Auto. Priming Tool, Bench Mounted [Part No.: 09460. For some reason, safety, I have never had
an explosion...
 
I've had the occasional mis-step with my LEE hand priming tools, but no "bangs".

The interesting one is when (due, I'm sure, to my goof in handling) a primer will somehow get inserted "sideways". This is immediately obvious because you can easily feel the unusual resistance in the thumb lever and stop before things really go bad. That's the nice thing about the hand units . . . you have really sensitive feel of the operation.

A nice incidental feature of the early original version with the screw-in shell holders was that you could easily adjust the exact seating depth so that a full "bottomed out" stroke of the lever seated the primer at the perfect "just below flush" depth. The bad feature was that you had to handle each primer individually . . . no feed tray.

Anybody happen to have a spare screw-in shell holder for the original version that accepts the .45 Colt case?

:)
 
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