Lee Priming tool
- Thread starter Ben
- Start date
The old hand held Lee Auto Primes ( the ones that worked reliably ) are becoming harder and harder to locate. Often times when a part breaks, since Lee is no longer providing parts, it is the end of the tool.
The tool is still popular with reloaders. There is obviously a good reason ( in the corporate mind of Lee Precision ) for not making the tool anymore.
The tool is still popular with reloaders. There is obviously a good reason ( in the corporate mind of Lee Precision ) for not making the tool anymore.
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uncle jimbo
Well-Known Member
Hated the new Lee square tray, hand primer.
Jack Swilling
New Member
A have a few different Lee Priming Tools. I have at least 5. I have a couple bench mounted Lee primers on InLine Quick Change Plates. Like them, a lot. Also have six or more of the old round trays. Have an Ergo Prime and a couple Ram Primes. I have two of the RCBS bench mounted primers also on InLine Plates. I like the Lee Bench Mounted Primers better than the RCBS bench mounted primers. I like trays far more than tubes.
Ian
Notorious member
My thoughts exactly. Others much prefer the tubes. I've fiddled with Dillon tubes and it's not for me.
Gary
SE Kansas
IMO, there's not much bad/wrong with Lee stuff, I have a fair amount and use it all. I have cut (and am cutting) back on a lot of reloading things cause I don't shoot as much as I did when I was in my 60's (be 72 in 3 months) and I'll list the stuff I'd like to move on to someone else when I get a inventory made up. I have at least 6 of the Lee round tray hand primers (my favorite) and I might even be listing my Dillon 650XL that's loaded. Also have a Bonanza press and a few of the Lee sizer Kits.
I have a couple of RCBS RC's and a Redding T-7 which is plenty of tooling to keep up with my reloading needs now and in the future.
I have a couple of RCBS RC's and a Redding T-7 which is plenty of tooling to keep up with my reloading needs now and in the future.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Uncle Jimbo's got the old one, that is what I started with. Still in a drawer somewhere.
I use one of the square tray newer safety style, with two rubber bands holding the stupid
lid on and a pair of old round tray ones. The newer tray flips primers better than any tray
I have seen, little pins instead of rings. Two shakes, all flipped, like magic. Wish I had a
big, plain tray for the 550s that was just like it.
I have nearly given up on the round tray "SafTPrime" swinging disasters for my
3 hole Lee turret. At least 1/3 of the small primers wind up on the floor. GRRRR.
Large primer feed works better but still spits some out and jams too often.
550s are the best I have, with auto feed. The single stage, flip over one for the
Redding turret isn't fast but purely functional.
Bill
I use one of the square tray newer safety style, with two rubber bands holding the stupid
lid on and a pair of old round tray ones. The newer tray flips primers better than any tray
I have seen, little pins instead of rings. Two shakes, all flipped, like magic. Wish I had a
big, plain tray for the 550s that was just like it.
I have nearly given up on the round tray "SafTPrime" swinging disasters for my
3 hole Lee turret. At least 1/3 of the small primers wind up on the floor. GRRRR.
Large primer feed works better but still spits some out and jams too often.
550s are the best I have, with auto feed. The single stage, flip over one for the
Redding turret isn't fast but purely functional.
Bill
Ian
Notorious member
If Lee would make just a plain flipper tray like that they'd sell a gillion of them. I use one of my safety-prime trays to feed the other trays: Flip the primers, put the cover on, turn it over, swap bases with a Pro-1000 or hand primer tool tray, flip back over, swap the lid, done.
The safety prime is a buggar if you don't have it shimmed exactly the right height to match the tilting primer cup mechanism at full upstroke. Or maybe I got the only good one Lee ever made, it's practically flawless and I will cry when it's worn out.
USSR
Finger Lakes Region of NY
Just received the new style RCBS hand primer. Midway has them on Clearance for $33, so it was tough to pass up. Haven't used it yet, so we will see how the built-in universal case holder works. Never really had a problem with the way the old style works, and the large, thin spring on the new model has me questioning how durable it will be.
Don
Don
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
That's the Universal Shell holder model. Mine works better with LP primers, than the SP, so that's what I use it for. The other model, that takes distinct shell holders, I have it set for SP.......38 & 357 magnum. PITA to change the shellholders, so it stays dedicated to the fore-mentioned. Was never that happy with either of their hand primers, that's why I picked up their bench mounted system.
USSR
Finger Lakes Region of NY
Ian
Notorious member
It should take three seconds to change a shell holder in a priming tool, same as on a press ram, otherwise the engineers need to go back to go back to Kindergarten and do all of their schooling completely over again. Some of us are impatient and expect a simple tool to be simple, elegant, and effective. Apparently this is too much to ask in a day and age when engineers have to over-complicate things to justify their jobs.
Yup Ian.Lots of things need to be Fred Flintstone....or "Jailhouse".The latter when security and function meet.Don't need all the details on it but,went all the way to the top on some college door "panic bar" hardware.....could not get it across to an engineering firm that if it doesn't work EVERY GAULDANG TIME,no excuses there's gonna be heck to pay.Sure enough,got to be part of a big suit involving a fire egress.Overcomplicated for what(you know the reason)?
Coined the phrase "jailhouse".I was the expert for the plaintiff.Sorry for the minor rant.
Coined the phrase "jailhouse".I was the expert for the plaintiff.Sorry for the minor rant.
Maven
Well-Known Member
It only takes me about 5 secs. (or less) to change a shell holder in either the round or square tray models. Speaking of which, I decided to convert one of my square tray models a la Ben, but with a slight difference. To wit, I used an Atlas razor saw to sever the tray from the body, i.e., the part which fits into the red handle. After removing the rod that prevents primer "issues," I reinserted the remaining fitting into the handle, but used masking tape (which I sometimes use to repair the "saddles" on my bikes)* to hold everything in place instead of JB Weld. I think this modification, with a nod to Ben, will eliminate many of the frustrations with the "as issued" device!.
*I believe the brand name is "Mystic Tape," which is a narrower, slightly heavier version of duct tape.
*I believe the brand name is "Mystic Tape," which is a narrower, slightly heavier version of duct tape.
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Canuck Bob
Active Member
I inventoried my reloading supplies last night and found my Lee hand primer is a classic style but called an XR. It has hard plastic square trays. Did I buy junk?