Lee auto primer worth it?

[speedracer211]

Right now I am loading primers by hand on my lee turret press which sucks although I have become rather proficient and can still maintain 200 rounds per hour average. I hear good and bad things about the autoprimer and it makes me wonder if it is worth the $20 for it. I am a crb and I would hate to waste money on something I can do faster by hand and wont end up using.

[JLarsson]

I think it depends on your approach to loading using your turret press. If you're using it "progressively" performing each operation on a single case until you produce a loaded round and then repeating with the next case, then I doubt the Auto-Prime will save you any time. OTOH, if you're already performing each operation (sizing/decapping, priming, flaring, charging, seating, crimping) separately, then the Auto-Prime will almost definitely speed up the priming portion.

I use mine all the time with cartridges I reload on my single-stage press. You can do a LOT of cases in a short time.

[Steel Talon]

I think it depends on your approach to loading using your turret press. If you're using it "progressively" performing each operation on a single case until you produce a loaded round and then repeating with the next case, then I doubt the Auto-Prime will save you any time. OTOH, if you're already performing each operation (sizing/decapping, priming, flaring, charging, seating, crimping) separately, then the Auto-Prime will almost definitely speed up the priming portion.

I use mine all the time with cartridges I reload on my single-stage press. You can do a LOT of cases in a short time.

+1

ST~:coolgleamA:

[kidcop]

I've used one for over 20 years. If you keep them lubed they do last a long time. I did break one once and have 2 now, one for small primers and one for large primers. This way if one breaks, I can continue. They are cheap enough.

[Glooooock]

They are more of a rifle thing , where you load 100 rds for the day . Size - prep the cases and hand prime , keep them ready to load . You find a load you like and its powder and seat a bullet to complete it , even on a single stage press its quick.

Maybe on short runs of 5 -15 test loads - finish off a few where the progressive missed a prime .

[speedracer211]

I load progressively so I guess I will not get one for the time being. Thanks guys.

[Pitmaster]

I didn't like mine at first. Once I got the hang of it I thought it was OK. But it broke and I think I can do it just as fast or close to it by hand. I'm not going to buy another one.

[ron b]

I reread the orighinal post and I think that I confused the auto prime with the primer on the turret press--sorry!


I disagree with some of the posts. I use it on the progressive when loading pistol cases, beats handlilng the primer. At first it was a little finicky, but now works fine.

If you are going to do the single stage loading, I would suggest a hand primer. I use the hand primer for all rifle loads. For me easier than a press and you get a better feal. I have two hand primers, a Lee and a RCBS. I like the RCBS better.

[colorado4wheel]

I used the press mounted primer all the time. It's called the "safety prime" I am pretty sure. I would not want to handle them by hand. Just be sure to press the button on the very top and a little down angle.

[AlPackin]

But it broke

Mine too at first, both of them. I sent them back, they fixed and returned them. They "broke" again in 10 rounds. There is a spring, the ends of which sit in small holes. The problem is that the spring has way too much room to move around and so it jumps out of the holes. I folded a thin piece of cardboard double and slipped it behind the spring. I've loaded hundreds of rounds without a problem since.

[jtrade]

It's not a little bitty spring is it cause my better half found a primer which I don't remember dropping on the floor & a little spring beside it. Can't tell whether it broke off a longer spring or not only has about 3 loops in is about as big around as a small pistol primer.

J

Mine too at first, both of them. I sent them back, they fixed and returned them. They "broke" again in 10 rounds. There is a spring, the ends of which sit in small holes. The problem is that the spring has way too much room to move around and so it jumps out of the holes. I folded a thin piece of cardboard double and slipped it behind the spring. I've loaded hundreds of rounds without a problem since.

[AlPackin]

The small round spring is part of it but not the problem. That's the "up and down" spring that returns the gizmo to up after you set the primer in place. The problem is with the linear spring that works in the "forward / reverse" direction when it actually grabs the primer from the tube.

In operation you slide the gizmo forward, it grabs a primer and lines up, you press downward and it sets the primer, you release the pressure and the round spring lifts it up while the linear spring returns it backwards.

Sounds more complicated than it is.

[jtrade]

I see the one your talking about. The must have gave me an extra spring cause mine are in tact on both the large & small safety primes. They both return the up/down gizmo that pushes the primer out :dunno:

J

The small round spring is part of it but not the problem. That's the "up and down" spring that returns the gizmo to up after you set the primer in place. The problem is with the linear spring that works in the "forward / reverse" direction when it actually grabs the primer from the tube.

In operation you slide the gizmo forward, it grabs a primer and lines up, you press downward and it sets the primer, you release the pressure and the round spring lifts it up while the linear spring returns it backwards.

Sounds more complicated than it is.

[AlPackin]

The spring that screws up is just like a wire bent into a V (I think, it's been a while). One end goes in a hole in the fixed base while the other goes in a hole in the head that slides back and forth. It pops out of the hole and the thing stops working. Placing the cardboard spacer under the spring solved the problem for me. I wish I could take good closeup photos.

[JLarsson]

I think we're talking about at least 2 different priming systems here. The Lee Auto-Prime is a handheld unit with 100 primer capacity that uses its own shellholders. Holding the Auto-Prime in one hand with your thumb on the lever, you insert a deprimed case into the shellholder with the other hand. Press firmly with your thumb until you feel the primer seat in the bottom of the primer pocket. It is not necessary - or desireable - to push the lever all the way forward until it touches the body of the Auto-Prime unless that's what it takes to seat the primer fully. In other words, it's conceivable that you could crush the primer slightly.

There is a single spring that goes around the primer seating punch which provides for the return of the lever.

The primer system mentioned by AlPackin sounds like something totally else. :)

Behold, the Lee Auto-Prime. No doubt, it is the finest priming system made!!!

http://www.leeprecision.com/graphics/shoppingcart/AUTOPRIME.jpg

[ISUSteve]

You really don't have to worry about the dangers of crushing the primers. My first 300 reloads, I crushed every single primer. Then, I found some online instructions and learned you don't have to press the lever all the way. I did some stupid things when I first started reloading. I do stupid things now.

[AlPackin]

I reread the orighinal post and I think that I confused the auto prime with the primer on the turret press--sorry!




yeah me too, I was talkin about the "Safety Prime" ... nevermind :)

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Just from looking around on their site I like the look of the Auto Prime II better than the Safety Prime if I was doing it on a single stage press cuz it doesn't have the hinge to swing around. I have used a regular Auto Prime which is just like all the other hand primers and it seems to work good enough too.

[speedracer211]

Yeah I posted autoprime and meant to say safety prime.