Primer tools. Part Duex

[TheOtherZilla]

A while back I posted about the primer tool fiasco I got myself into because I dropped the Lee shell holder into the trash and couldn't find it. As you recall if you read this post I bought a new Lee primer tool that was new and "improved'. It worked ok for a while then fast forward to today.. Priming 50 357 cases with the Lee. About halfway through it just quit feeding primers. I could see em but the new Lee has a primer transfer bar made of plastic.. Monked with it for 30 minutes or so then got pissed and put it back in the box and took it back to Sportsmans W/H.. They asked what was wrong and I told em.. Exchanged it for the RCBS model that I wanted in the first place.. They were out of stock when I was there the first time..

So beware, The new Lee primer tool is a POS.. That is all.

 

[LHSmith]

Yes, that seems to be the consensus. Companies should let engineers design and lawyers .........well do whatever they do and kept to a minimum at that.

 

[ireload2]

Which Lee tool specifically?
It seems that Lee does not test his priming tools much so all of the current priming tools tend to fit your description.

However I am still using the very first LEE priming tool after about 50 years. For $1.75 the Lee tool with the screw in shell holders was a mostly successful tool. The rest have not been very good.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Sounds like you may ought to go ahead and dig in that nasty trash can

 

[Medic505]

The new Lee primer tool is a POS.. That is all.

I concur.

 

[centerlineseal]

Which Lee tool specifically?
It seems that Lee does not test his priming tools much so all of the current priming tools tend to fit your description.

However I am still using the very first LEE priming tool after about 50 years. For $1.75 the Lee tool with the screw in shell holders was a mostly successful tool. The rest have not been very good.

Those older Lee priming tools are absolutely the BEST. Screw in shell holders are hard to find tho. I lost my belted magnum holder for awhile, then found an entire set and tool at a gunshow for $5. Whoa-shint-hey! If you run across one, be sure and grab it.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Which Lee tool specifically?
It seems that Lee does not test his priming tools much so all of the current priming tools tend to fit your description.

However I am still using the very first LEE priming tool after about 50 years. For $1.75 the Lee tool with the screw in shell holders was a mostly successful tool. The rest have not been very good.

This one is the latest one I bought.: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000N8LCDS/?tag=accuratescom-20

I have 3-4 of the old ones. They sufficce..

 

[ireload2]

I have 5 of them right now and my brother hijacked one from me.
I had one that died when the oversize top threads finally failed. A guy desperate for a replacement handle traded me 4 shell holders for it. Those tools are well on their way to cult status.
There are some limitations if you are missing some shell holders. There was never a .50-70 Govt shell holder that I know of. I don't have some of the more obscure shell holders like the .405 Win.
Back in the 1980s a benchrest shooting co-worker had a Lee screw in priming tool that he made a primer tray for. He milled a feed slot in the shell holder. I bought his BR rifles when he quit shooting but that priming tool got away.

Those older Lee priming tools are absolutely the BEST. Screw in shell holders are hard to find tho. I lost my belted magnum holder for awhile, then found an entire set and tool at a gunshow for $5. Whoa-shint-hey! If you run across one, be sure and grab it.

 

[jepp2]

So beware, The new Lee primer tool is a POS.. That is all.

I use the Lee Ergo prime for all my priming needs. Mostly small primers. When they switched from the black full size trays to the translucent tray that folds in half, I also will occasionally ruin the small primer lifter or bend the metal strip that serves as a blast shield. But it is the priming tool I prefer to use, so I just keep extra small primer mechanisms on hand. All the failures are when I get a second primer where there is supposed to be just one. But about every 3-4 thousand, it happens.

 

[scubohuntr]

I'd think a small-volume machine shop could do pretty well turning out shell holders for the old, old Lee tool. I've got one, and I'd rather lose a couple of teeth than one of the few shell holders I have. It doesn't have a feed, it's only one primer at a time, but it does a good job, and all the parts are metal(ish).

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I use the Lee Ergo prime for all my priming needs. Mostly small primers. When they switched from the black full size trays to the translucent tray that folds in half, I also will occasionally ruin the small primer lifter or bend the metal strip that serves as a blast shield. But it is the priming tool I prefer to use, so I just keep extra small primer mechanisms on hand. All the failures are when I get a second primer where there is supposed to be just one. But about every 3-4 thousand, it happens.

Mine worked for a while then just stopped feeding.. The transfer bar would not lift into full position trapping the primer. Lesson learned.. I have moved on..

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I'd think a small-volume machine shop could do pretty well turning out shell holders for the old, old Lee tool. I've got one, and I'd rather lose a couple of teeth than one of the few shell holders I have. It doesn't have a feed, it's only one primer at a time, but it does a good job, and all the parts are metal(ish).

In reality though how many of those tools are in use still? Id be willing to bet you couldnt sell 10 shellholders if you advertised them hard for 5yrs. Not many of those tools in actual use still.

 

[spife7980]

Pictures help, I have this one and its been great!

 

[roadkill61]

The ones with the round trays were the best I have used. The one with the square tray is just so so. I bought the new bench mounted one. It took about 75 priming actions with the large primers. I promptly broke the plastic piece of s--t. Well I phoned and got a new one for free but still had to wait. Now when the primers pile up (about every 30 strokes) I take it all apart, re-load the tray and start over. The only reason I haven't pitched it is it solves my cabin fever. When spring comes I think it will be on it's way.

 

[LHSmith]

In reality though how many of those tools are in use still? Id be willing to bet you couldnt sell 10 shellholders if you advertised them hard for 5yrs. Not many of those tools in actual use still.

+1 They were called Lee Posi-prime, my first primer, still have it. I prefer the round-tray auto-prime with it's cheaper slide in S/H's and larger handle (arthritis). Still have 3 round tray auto-primes , never broke one, but I keep the linkage well lubed.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I have at least three of the old ones with the round tray.. Still use em from time to time.. But I am going to look into extra trays for my new RCBS...

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Update: I just found out via THIS forum about green for green from RCBS.. Buy Green get Green. Got a ten dollar rebate coming..

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I had the Lee Ergo Prime for a while. I came to hate it with a passion. It would jam up, trying to feed a primer upside down or two at a time. The square primer holder would come apart, it was just a mess. I put it aside and went back to my RCBS and then I sent the Lee back to Brownell's. I realize you're not supposed to say this; but I will never buy a Lee product, ever again.

Oh, and it's "part deux" not "part duex"

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I had the Lee Ergo Prime for a while. I came to hate it with a passion. It would jam up, trying to feed a primer upside down or two at a time. The square primer holder would come apart, it was just a mess. I put it aside and went back to my RCBS and then I sent the Lee back to Brownell's. I realize you're not supposed to say this; but I will never buy a Lee product, ever again.

Oh, and it's "part deux" not "part duex"

Duex, deux,
ducks, close enough.. Reminds me of the scene in "Canadian Bacon".

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Duex, deux,
ducks, close enough.. Reminds me of the scene in "Canadian Bacon".

Do you shoot the same way?