My new Lee Auto Bench Prime

[DWalt]

I earlier mentioned my recent purchase of a Lee Auto Bench Prime to replace my worn-out Lee Auto-Prime which I had worn out after many years of use. Yesterday and this evening I gave it a pretty good workout with both large and small primers. Or maybe I should say it gave me a workout.

1. I do not like the primer feed tray. It is difficult to load with more than maybe 20-30 primers at a time and keep them all laying in the right direction.

2. The large primer feeding device seemed to work OK, at least most of the time. It did jam up on me a few times during priming of 115 .44 Special cases

3. The small primer feeding device was much worse. It would jam up every two or three .38 Special cases, despite all my fiddling with it. It seemed to improve a little after 50 or so cases, but it was still troublesome.

Can those of you who have used the auto bench prime much more than I had similar problems? And if so, how did you handle them? I am about to go back to using my worn-out Auto-Prime. I like it better.

 

[Twoboxer]

I know this is no help, but frankly I threw mine away.

 

[rockquarry]

That's not surprising. After trying two Lee priming tool products that were made after the original Auto Prime and then two RCBS Universal models, I bought a good quality one-at-time hand priming tool. Not nearly as slow as some would have you believe and it always works well.

 

[292]

I just "upgraded" to a Lyman EZ prime from a Lee (the one with the square tray). The Lee worked just fine with large primers and everything but just fine with small. I could install large primers in my sleep with a boring movie watching me. But small primers required attention to detail. Haven't tried the Lyman with large primers but it, at best, is no better than the Lee with small primers. I was thinking about the bench mounted model just for small primers. I guess I'll think again.

 

[joeintexas]

A few years ago I bought the RCBS bench priming tool and am still using it. Keep all the screws tight and clean every so often and a little oil and it just keeps on trucking. Not cheap but it works. I would recommend it.

 

[TjB101]

A couple of jams with mine but I’ve found the trick is the way you release the lever allowing a new primer to drop in. I also continually flick the side of the triangle primer holder to keep the flow going. I only use this for rifle rounds where I’m priming and throwing off press.

Grade is a B- so for this tool but I’m learning the tricks to get it to run smoother.

Don’t toss it out yet.

 

[squidsix]

I tossed the Lee primer tray in the trash but use their hand priming tool at a one-at-a-time primer. Works great like that, but dismal with the tray.

 

[jake1945]

I've had one for 2 years now and am satisfied with it. The primer tray can be finicky tho. I always tap the the tray to keep primers flowing down. After seating a primer I let the handle go back on it's own to ensure a primer drops into the pocket. The tray's latch (open/close) sometimes is finicky too. But, overall, worth the money and no hand pain from loading hundreds of primers.

 

[SMSgt]

I know there are a lot of loyal Lee followers out there, and more power to them. But I look at Lee as being like the original VW Beetle--inexpensive, fairly reliable, but far from being top of the line.

I had the original Lee hand primer w/o the primer tray, fed singlely by hand. It worked well, and I finally wore it out. Being as it was discontinued, I considered the updated model, only to find out it required new, "updated" shell holders.

I didn't see the point of replacing already "non-" standard Lee shell holders with version 2.0 non-standard shell holder (now up to version 3.0), so I opted for the RCBS hand primer for a bit more money, but less than a new Lee plus its assorted "new" shell holders. The RCBS tool has worked fine with no complaints.

Small primers tend to be more problematic with many feed systems, as they tend to flip much easier than the wider large-size primers.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

PRIMING

A few years ago I bought the RCBS bench priming tool and am still using it. Keep all the screws tight and clean every so often and a little oil and it just keeps on trucking. Not cheap but it works. I would recommend it.

I have to concur. I have tried all the RCBS hand priming tools and finally settled upon the bench primer. Did a bit of 'tinkering to suit my taste and she does quite well for me. I found I can still 'feel' the primer and no more pinched fingers as with the universal tool.

 

[Golphin]

I use the Hornady hand primer some times and also the Hornady AP press when priming a lot of cases. I have had no trouble with either one.

 

[andy52]

I've had mine a couple of years now and have experienced similar problems with the feed tray, I have to flick it regularly to keep the primers dropping.

 

[Skeet 028]

I used to use the Lee single primer seater(from Lee Target Model loaders). Got the old seater with the round trays. Worked fine even with small primers. Got pretty worn and I found they has DC the round style. I found some like new ones but decided to try the RCBS Bench Mounted. Bought one used for 10 bucks and it only had the Large primer post...Worked so well I found another at a yard sale new in box for 25 bucks. Use it for small primers the other for large. It truly does work great. Another tool I use and really do like is the Frankfort Arsenal Vibra prime. It was problematic at first but with a little tweaking it works great too. I tried a RCBS hand primer and wasn't really impressed with it either.

 

[gwpercle]

That's not surprising. After trying two Lee priming tool products that were made after the original Auto Prime and then two RCBS Universal models, I bought a good quality one-at-time hand priming tool. Not nearly as slow as some would have you believe and it always works well.

Which one did you buy and how do you like it.

I purchased a "new" Lee hand primer ( square tray )to replace my old auto-prime (round tray) but it looks so mickey mouse flimsy (sorry mickey) it's still in the box and has never been used.
I don't care for it...Whatcha Got ?
Gary

 

[rockquarry]

Which one did you buy and how do you like it.

I purchased a "new" Lee hand primer ( square tray )to replace my old auto-prime (round tray) but it looks so mickey mouse flimsy (sorry mickey) it's still in the box and has never been used.
I don't care for it...Whatcha Got ?
Gary

21st Century; not cheap, but you don't have to deal with the built-in shortcomings of a lesser priming tool. As much as I use one, the cost is insignificant. Sinclair also makes a good hand priming tool.

 

[muddocktor]

A few years ago I bought the RCBS bench priming tool and am still using it. Keep all the screws tight and clean every so often and a little oil and it just keeps on trucking. Not cheap but it works. I would recommend it.

I bought mine in the early 80's and it's still going strong. About the only thing that has changed since I bought mine until now is the primer tubes. When I bought mine, the primer tubes were much shorter and were all metal, with the pick up side having the aluminum slotted and lips bent in a tad to hold the primers in as you were loading it. And they only held around 50 primers. A few years ago I bought the newer style primer tubes, which hold 100 primers and they work just fine in my older bench priming machine. BTW, I paid $35 for mine when I bought it.