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08-04-2020, 07:37 PM
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US Veteran
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: East of Stick Marsh, Fla.
Posts: 9,551
Likes: 5,003
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leadhead2
It's still the best primer tool made. I have several and use them
all the time. Picked up a new in box one at a gun show for $8
dollars. Thought I'd retire them and just bought a Frankfort
Arsenal with all the shell holders. Reviews said they were the
cat's meow. It is a very well built tool and would probably last
forever, but for me it's to heavy and hard to seat primers. So,
back in the box it goes and will be on my table for sale at the
next show. My Lee's will out last me as I just turned 78.
Denny
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Table at Hidden Valley?
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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.
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08-05-2020, 08:11 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Western Pa.
Posts: 96
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No.... I'm in western Pa.
Denny
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08-05-2020, 08:16 AM
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US Veteran
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: East of Stick Marsh, Fla.
Posts: 9,551
Likes: 5,003
Liked 21,330 Times in 6,438 Posts
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leadhead2
No.... I'm in western Pa.
Denny
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That is in Western PA. Usually go there to a gun show with a friend from Meadville when I visit. West of Grove City and north of New Castle.
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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.
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08-05-2020, 08:17 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Mid USA-Cornfields & Cows
Posts: 640
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MyDads38
Have mine since 80-81, still use it but I have noticed it's getting worn and I hear creaks and cracks that weren't there before. I find them on Ebay once in a while, just haven't done anything...yet.
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That's about how long I have been using mine. No creaks or cracks but the tray lid has gotten a bit loose.
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"In God We Trust"
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08-05-2020, 08:25 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Western Pa.
Posts: 96
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AJ The show I do is near Kittanning. (Pony Farm)
Just had on there on July 18th and 19th.
Denny
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08-05-2020, 08:34 AM
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US Veteran
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: East of Stick Marsh, Fla.
Posts: 9,551
Likes: 5,003
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leadhead2
AJ The show I do is near Kittanning. (Pony Farm)
Just had on there on July 18th and 19th.
Denny
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You ought to try the Hidden Valley Gun Club's show. Mostly members cleaning out their old stuff and a few dealers. Have found lots of good deals there.
I was stationed in Pittsburgh (Picksburg) and lived in Monroeville while there.
AJ
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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.
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08-05-2020, 08:36 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Houston, TX
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Not me. Kills my thumbs. If I hand prime I use and Ergo Prime. It works pretty well. But most stuff gets primed on press.
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08-05-2020, 09:06 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 22,087
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leadhead2
It's still the best primer tool made.
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Now that is a bold statement!
Yes they work just fine.
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Still Running Against the Wind
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08-05-2020, 09:13 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
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Folks also need to be aware when buying an older Lee Auto Prime that they need to buy the special shell holders as well. Around $20 or so.
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Still Running Against the Wind
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The Following User Likes This Post:
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08-05-2020, 09:25 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Western Pa.
Posts: 96
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The new Frankfort Arsenal tool uses the same flat Lee shell
holders and the Lee's will interchange with it.
Denny
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08-06-2020, 10:02 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Florida
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I found this information on the LEE site.
Amazing, the tool was discontinued in 2010/ At that time if I recal it was a $20 or $25 item. Now some folks think they are worth $45??
Lee Precision, Inc. - Auto Prime with round trays
he original Auto Prime with the round primer trays was discontinued in October 2010, and service parts for the original tool have been exhausted. You may take advantage of our Lee Lifetime Guarantee, send us the original Auto Prime, and we can offer you the New Auto Prime, Ergo-Prime or Bench Prime at half price. These are priming tools that replaced the original Auto Prime. The new tools have will work with your existing Auto Primer shell holders. New Auto Prime $28.98, 1/2 price $14.49, Shipping and Handling $8.00, Total $22.49.
Ergo-Prime $49.00, 1/2 price $24.50, Shipping and Handling $8.00, Total $32.50.
Auto Bench Prime $36.98, 1/2 price $18.49, Shipping and Handling $8.00, Total $26.49.
Please send the Auto Prime to us with a note stating which tool you would like to exchange it for, your complete billing and shipping address, payment and a daytime phone number.
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Still Running Against the Wind
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08-06-2020, 11:01 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Spokane, WA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rule3
I found this information on the LEE site.
Amazing, the tool was discontinued in 2010/ At that time if I recal it was a $20 or $25 item. Now some folks think they are worth $45??
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LOL, you think that's something, check eBay. Apparently people who like them think they worth even more than that - based on these completed auctions.
$51.00 with shipping
Lee Auto Prime with Shell Holders | eBay
$56.79 with shipping
Lee Auto Prime for both large and small primers # 90230 USED! | eBay
$59.94 with shipping
LEE Auto Prime Reloading Tool ,Primer Trays ect, NEW IN BOX WITH PAPERS NICE SEE | eBay
$48.48 with shipping
Lee 90230 NEW Auto Prime Hand Held Priming Gunsmith Tool *Fast Shipping* for sale online
$58.69 with shipping
Lee Auto Prime Tool - Primer Trays - Large & Small Primers | eBay
$50.00 with shipping
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LEE-PRECISI...MAAOSwNcFfDOyo
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-LEE...kAAOSwo9JfAjPh
$48.90 with shipping
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-LEE...AAAOSwRPJfASxc
$56.98 with shipping
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lee-Auto-Pr...QAAOSwEhJe~8b-
$53.84 with shipping
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-NOS...gAAOSwsQNe-r4z
$61.90 with shipping
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-LEE...IAAOSw-m1e8KHL
$58.49 with shipping
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lee-Auto-Pr...AAAOSwVpRewv3Y
$79.99 with shipping
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lee-Auto-Pr...MAAOSwYE9e5vPG
By comparison, $45 shipped looks pretty good. When you think about it, it isn't unreasonable for 10 years worth of inflation and the tool being both popular and unavailable to double the price.
I think economists call that the law of supply and demand.
FWIW, I had a couple advertised for $45 including shipping, but they ended up selling locally for $40 apiece (no shipping) and the buyers didn't even bat an eye or try to haggle.
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Send lawyers, guns & money...
Last edited by BC38; 08-06-2020 at 11:16 AM.
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08-06-2020, 03:05 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 6,619
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rule3
Folks also need to be aware when buying an older Lee Auto Prime that they need to buy the special shell holders as well. Around $20 or so.
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And that is the reason I abandoned the Lee hand primer--it ever changing proprietary shell holders. I opted for RCBS which used standard shell holders.
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08-06-2020, 04:17 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Spokane, WA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rule3
Folks also need to be aware when buying an older Lee Auto Prime that they need to buy the special shell holders as well. Around $20 or so.
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Yup, $20 for the whole set or around $5-$7 each if buying singles.
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Send lawyers, guns & money...
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08-06-2020, 05:32 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South of Atlanta, GA
Posts: 374
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I have two Auto Primes (old ones), but I maintain a supply of spare parts. They are painful to use for extended sessions and they do break. I also switched to the Ram Priming Unit on my extra single stage press.
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08-06-2020, 06:32 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Mercer County, PA, USA
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 19,302
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BC38
I've read several threads by people who really like this piece of gear.
In particular I recall seeing threads by those who have experienced a broken handle on theirs, lamenting its demise.
So who really likes them and/or has experienced a failure of the handle on theirs?
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I like mine - nothing has broken in over 30 (?) years...
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Merle, retired
western PA
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08-06-2020, 09:59 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: East Tennessee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LittleCooner
I used one until the wear caused some of the primers to flip, so I replaced it and still use the replacement about 1/2 the time. The other time I spend priming is with the Lee original primer tool that has not tray and you screw in the shell holders. Mine is probably 40 years old and has seated thousands of primers. I prime my brass in front of the TV, so going slow in not a problem. Sometimes, I still get a "hiccup" in the auto prime tool so my preference is to do it one at a time with the original.
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Your original priming tool sounds like one I have. I inherited one from my dad and have no idea how old it is. I’m guessing around 50 years old. It’s complete and works great.
I also have 1 & 1/2 of the round plastic ones that my dad bought decades ago. I’d guess them to be at least 40 or more years old. They’re so old the clear plastic cover is yellowed now. I use this one frequently and it works great.
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08-07-2020, 03:47 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Northwest Alabama, USA
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98% of all the ammo I've loaded over the past 44 years has been primed with a Lee tool of some type. Started with the old Lee tool that you single loaded each primer into the tool. They had a screw-in shell holder. I still have one of those. The on to the Autoprime, which I have two in use - set up for large and small primers. I have another one new in the box if either fails. And I have one of the newer "safer" versions but don't like it as well and haven't used it in a while. As others have said, I like the feel of seating the primers by thumb pressure, and I tactilely check each case after priming out of long habit to check for high primers
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