Hand priming tool ID?

[Bocephus]

Was sorting through some old stuff and found an old hand priming tool that I must have inherited from someone.
The shell holder fits the 222 family of brass and everything looks fine EXCEPT it won’t seat a primer flush. I’m assuming the linkage is worn, but no notion on where to start looking for parts.
Any info will be appreciated!

 

[jackieschmidt]

That looks like an old Lee tool from the ‘60’s/‘’70’s.

you are correct in your assumption. Many of these old tools were made of what we used to call “pot metal” and did wear with use.

however, if you take it apart, there might be an adjustment feature that connects the primer pockets with the linkage arm.

 

[mills braswell]

Hi Bocephus, that is a vintage Lee Hand primer. I have a few of them. I will send you one with the small primer rod and see if it works for you. Sending you a pm.

 

[6bra1k]

no adjustment on that
is the head screwed all the way down ?
excellent tools i have a ton of them
not likely to find parts, just more of them, large and small lots of heads cover lots of older cases..not all new

 

[Surgeonwithagun]

Yep, an old Lee "screw in." I have one that similarly is a bit shy of proper primer insertion. The metal wears. Parts will be hard to come by I reckon.

John

 

[Bocephus]

no adjustment on that
is the head screwed all the way down ?
excellent tools i have a ton of them
not likely to find parts, just more of them, large and small lots of heads cover lots of older cases..not all new

Yes, the head is screwed all the way down. I did push the main hinge pin put of the frame and there doesn’t seem to be any adjustment in the linkage.

 

[Bc'z]

If it has the fulcrum that resembles a piston connecting rod flip it over in the lever. This helped with my Lee when it stopped seating properly.

 

[Webster]

Was sorting through some old stuff and found an old hand priming tool that I must have inherited from someone.
The shell holder fits the 222 family of brass and everything looks fine EXCEPT it won’t seat a primer flush. I’m assuming the linkage is worn, but no notion on where to start looking for parts.
Any info will be appreciated!

Like others said it's a Lee Priming tool. I bought two about 1970, still use them. I had one for large primers and one for small. Don't have a rifle for large primers anymore so I took the innards out of one to fix the other. If you take it apart you will see the wear. Hard to believe you can wear 10-20 thou off of a metal part. If I remember the wear is aluminum rubbing against a steel rod. If you remove the black end piece you should be able to fix it by turning 10-20 thou off with a lathe. Then it will screw down farther.

 

[Bocephus]

Like others said it's a Lee Priming tool. I bought two about 1970, still use them. I had one for large primers and one for small. Don't have a rifle for large primers anymore so I took the innards out of one to fix the other. If you take it apart you will see the wear. Hard to believe you can wear 10-20 thou off of a metal part. If I remember the wear is aluminum rubbing against a steel rod. If you remove the black end piece you should be able to fix it by turning 10-20 thou off with a lathe. Then it will screw down farther.

Now, that just might work also.

 

[Surgeonwithagun]

Padding the plunger tip with a small piece of duct tape made it a bit better as well.

John

 

[6bra1k]

the really strange thing is that if you
LUBE the thing they work a lot longer

 

[Webster]

the really strange thing is that if you
LUBE the thing they work a lot longer

Good comment. They were sold dry. Take it apart, clean it and put some grease on the aluminum cam.

 

[bozo699]

the really strange thing is that if you
LUBE the thing they work a lot longer

That’s a really GOOD IDEA
Wayne

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Yea, lube seems to be a forgotten thing these days. Folks just open the package, toss it and the instruction sheet if these even is one, an go to town,soon to be worn out because of lack of lube.

Frank

 

[stork]

That looks like an old Lee tool from the ‘60’s/‘’70’s.

you are correct in your assumption. Many of these old tools were made of what we used to call “pot metal” and did wear with use.

however, if you take it apart, there might be an adjustment feature that connects the primer pockets with the linkage arm.

Yup, it's an old Lee priming tool. The only adjustment is screwing the shellholder down further. I really like mine, but as noted, it's pot metal and they wear out with use.
Al