Broke my Lee Auto-Prime

[AlNyhus]

Yesterday evening I was priming some of my .223 brass. Seating some wolf primers, my thumb lever that you squeeze to push the primer in, broke.

I'm a Lee primer tool slut...have a ton of them and spare parts up the ying-yang. If you need a handle, you can have one for postage.

Good shootin'. -Al

 

[Gun Smith]

I bought the original round model when they first came out in the early 70's. The top popped off after several hundred rounds. Took it back to the shop where I bought it, and they replaced it.
That one broke the top off also after a short while. Took it back and they refunded my money. Must have been a bad run of defective old beer cans in that pot metal!

 

[Dub]

I have an old one @zap that still has a good handle. You can have it for free if you want. just let me know.

if zap does not want this, it is already spoken for. thanks for the pm guys

 

[SSL]

I have several flavors of the Lee primer tool, ranging from the very old, no tray, style to ones with the tray. A couple years ago I got a really good deal on an RCBS universal jaw (no more chasing down the right shell holder) hand primer. I know many hate them, but I have pretty much retired my Lee tools, though still a fan of many of their products..

 

[Dusty Stevens]

If yall used a good priming tool youd have to take a shower after just moving a lee off the bench

 

[zap]

if zap does not want this, it is already spoken for. thanks for the pm guys

Dub, thank you for the offer !
I pm’d another member that offered me the same offer.
Thank you everyone for the great replies !

 

[RegionRat]

I shared the same love for that original round tool design and was glad I had a spare one when I learned they changed it after my oldest one factured. I really don't care for the newer ones with the square tray and safety gate. The feed jams often and it seems the tolerance is just too sloppy to handle large and small without issues. When they feed well, they are a lot like the old ones, but then they jam just to remind you they are not.

I always keep a few other tools and methods at hand, but still really liked the old original because I had been using it since they first came out and thought it worked very well for me.

I've been loading since I was very young and have accumulated very many other hand and bench prime tools, good and bad, cheap and very expensive. Lately, the differences between the Dillon 650 and 750 progressive prime systems illustrate the potential frustrations of priming tools.

Some day I will shoot my last elk. That round will have been loaded with the old Lee round style tool, even though I have many other kinds costing factors more. That will be out of respect for the folks who taught me the value of my freedom to shoot and hunt.

I still run my last one when I know the brass won't give me issues, but I baby it cause I know how hard it would be to replace. That priming tool taught me how good or bad all the other ones are by comparison.

 

[GerryM]

The handle [lever] on the square one will fit the older style round tool

 

[AlNyhus]

If yall used a good priming tool youd have to take a shower after just moving a lee off the bench

I've got quite a few in my gun room from over the years....several styles of RCBS, a nice Sinclair, Hornady, a K&M...I know there's a 21st century unit here, also.

Still like the Lee.

 

[Medic505]

I've said this before and I'll say it again. Lee paid some dumbass that probably never primed anything in his entire life to design a POS that doesn't work. Buy a descent tool and be done with it. Happy ever after.

 

[Albany Mountain]

I broke my old one after about 25 years of good constant use. Had to buy the new model. Before I had 100 primers seated with the newly one, I set it back, went with the RCBS universal, then with the RCBS bench model.

 

[hoz53]

Yesterday evening I was priming some of my .223 brass. Seating some wolf primers, my thumb lever that you squeeze to push the primer in, broke. That ended my load development in a hurry.

So, i get on the Lee website this morning and see that mine, with the round tray was discontinued in 2010, along with parts for it. They note that you can get any new priming tool from them for half price plus shipping.
I like the hand held type, and I already have all the Lee shell holders, so I'm sticking with Lee for now.
My question: Lee has two hand held priming tools.
The “Ergo prime” and
The “ New auto prime”
Do any of you guys have experience with any or each of these two models ?

I am leaning Towards the ergo model. Anything you don't like about the ergo model ?

it does seem like i have used the new handle in the old model since the newer ones are junk and thats all they ended up being good for. if i cant fix or find more of the old ones ill get someth8ng different

 

[PBking51]

I have everything but a 2nd round lid to have a dedicated small and large primer setup. Still have the original box too! I love it but the issue I have been having with mine is that it is sticking on the "squeeze". I took it apart and noticed that the metal inside the handle where the round part impacts the bottom of the plunger is super worn down..most likely because I attempted to prime some un-swaged 223 at one time. It does still work, but for how long is anyones guess.

I just picked up the frankford so not to have a pause in my reloading efforts while stuck indoors. IT USES the same shellholders and being a lot heavier seems like it will last forever. I went with this over the new lees after hearding that they were junk, and that lee does not recommend using federal primers (which I exclusively use for pistols).

I am very happy with it and glad that the new 32-20 shellholder I bought for my lee will not have to be replaced.

 

[dantiff2]

It sounds like this thread needs forwarded to the good ole' folks in the customer service department at the Lee manufacturing company !! Tell them to go back to making the old one! I'm still using the older version and love the feel. Never tried or used anything else.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

It sounds like this thread needs forwarded to the good ole' folks in the customer service department at the Lee manufacturing company !! Tell them to go back to making the old one! I'm still using the older version and love the feel. Never tried or used anything else.

Too dangerous. Theres a reason they quit making them

 

[dantiff2]

Were all adults . I certainly don't need some lawyer telling me what's safe and what's not. Put a liability waver statement on the handle with a laser and call it good to go

 

[PBking51]

You'd think if it was dangerous that they would've offered a "send in your old one and we'll reimburse shipping in in credit and send you a new one" . Although with the bad press I've heard about the new ones I suppose many would rather keep theirs

 

[highlife]

Few years back 21st century offered these for the old round model trays. Then they offered them for the square trays. Man,I wish they still offered them.
PS: if someone has one or two laying around not being used PM Me
Thanks
Richard

 

[Just Say Moe]

If you are going to purchase a new hand priming tool take a look at the Frankford Arsenal. You can use the Lee shell holders with it. Midway is running it for $72.99 right now.

After I broke my second one, this is what I did. The lever on mine broke where it joins the handle.

 

[mr45man]

You want to sell the old trays and parts? That thumb lever was always breaking back in the day. The 2 newer lee priming tools are junk. If you have to get one of them get the square one not the very newest

What Dusty said, new ones are junk, by the time you pay for shipping you could be on your way to a 21st century. Trust me on this.