recognise this primer tool ?

[hyena]

Does anybody recognize this primer tool? I just dug out my RCBS press and equipment after a 40 year hiatus from reloading. I only loaded 9mm back in the 70's. Now I want to do first .38, then .45 ACP. This is the little primer insertion tool I used. There is no name anywhere on it. The cartridge holder is threaded (red arrow), and screws into the body. I would need new holders for .38 and .45. I don't want to invest much in this. It's as much for my own curiosity after all these years. Thanks ! You'll probably be seeing other questions from me on here. Much to relearn after 40 years.

 

[Tony M.]

That's the old Lee/ Mequon unit. It works okay, but hasn't been in production for a long time, and finding shell holders can be tricky.

 

[27 Man]

Check eBay. Lots of them there.

 

[ken158]

Yep it's a Lee. Made of soft metal and the arm inside that pushes the primer seating ram up wears down on the end which renders it useless. I think I wore out 2 or 3.

 

[2152hq]

I've got a couple that don't have an interchangeable shell holder,,just set up for one size case. Don't know where I picked them up,,probably came in one of those mysterious boxes full of misc reloading gear bought at a show or sale.
The one I use all the time is 30-06 size. Works good for me. I like it.
I load a lot of MAuser calibers too so it gets quite a bit of use but nothing like some of you that load 1000's of rds of ammo.

 

[hyena]

Check eBay. Lots of them there.

Yikes! I could only find one like mine, and for what he wants, I will just get the new model. I see on Lee's website new for 2018 they are selling the tool packaged with a bunch of the most popular shell holders, including the ones I would want. Thanks, everybody.

 

[noshow]

Several(8or10) years ago, I bought 3 of them on ebay for less than $10. I have them dedicated for a single cartridge with 38spl, 45acp & 380auto shell holders. I also have a shell holder for the Speer Plastic 38 cases. It's hard to believe what happened to price in recent times. They are great for priming brass on the back porch while enjoying an adult beverage and a smoke

 

[Green Frog]

You have struck a note in my reloading heart! The early Lee priming tool like you show is my favorite means of priming pistol cases... I can sit in my easy chair and prime a couple of hundred cases while I watch NCIS reruns.

The 2 shell holders you mention are two of the most common, so finding them shouldn't be too great a challenge, but keep in mind you will need different priming rods for the two sizes as well. If you don't want to mess with it, let me know by PM and maybe we can work something out. If you do decide to actually find the shell holders and use this tool, be sure to put a little heavy grease (wheel bearing, etc) on the base of the push rod so you don't have the same problem ken158 experienced. I've yet to wear one out, but I've never loaded more than a few thousand rounds on any one tool. BTW, it would appear that the red plastic priming tool from Mequon (a spin-off competitor from the Lee family) had the same basic design and used the same shell holders, but the ones I have examined all seem to have their shell holder locked in so it can't be changed.

Froggie

 

[mikld]

I believe I had one like that. It was my first attempt at hand priming, but as I found out, hand priming tools don't fit my hand (I've worked with all kinds of hand tools all my life, just couldn't find a priming tool that fit). I sold all my equipment during a messy divorce and that Lee tool went with it...

 

[mtgianni]

The newest Lee primer is the biggest junker I ever bought. I like Hornadays or RCBS. There are too many plastic parts that need to move in sequence with the Lee.

 

[Bayou52]

Those old Lee hand primers with the screw-in shell holders was what I started with 40 years sgo. I still have a bunch of them that get used from time to time....

 

[df06]

I have at least one of those, maybe two.have not used them in 20 years.

 

[LittleCooner]

Wow guys, I use my today. I sit in front of the TV and prime most everything and this Lee tool has been around me for decades. I keep it lubed so it does not wear out. I also have one of the current models of the Lee with the tray, its the third one, as I have worn the other two out, and they all are a big piece of junk. That tool with the screw in shell holder, simple way to adjust depth of seating by adjusting how much it is screwed into the primer tool handle. please send all of these you do not want to me, after another 40,000 primers, my current one may wear out.

 

[bigedp51]

They came standard with the Lee loaders below a Lee Target loader from 1973.

 

[k22fan]

While I had to mail parts out of my Lee hand primers in for replacement a few times Lee always mailed back new parts for free. I'm writing about ones that had a primer tray. The very top of early ones would crack then be pushed up by the priming action. Lee replaced the whole unit for free when that happened. I had two early ones and both were replaced with the 1990s version that was thicker around the shell holder so it would not crack. I used them a lot.

No matter how old they are I'd mail back any worn out part from a Lee tool. All the reloading companies know they are selling to a small segment of society. They need us and in my experience they go out of their way to retain customers.