I am back to using the Lee handheld Auto Prime after battling with the Auto Prime 2, Lee Safety Prime, and the Lee Ram Prime Priming Unit for Single Stage Press. Having to handle each individual primer doesn't appeal to me as being very efficient. The Auto Prime 2 and Safety Prime are more trouble than they are worth-primers always getting jammed in the shellholder are not feeding into the shell holder. I am looking for a replacement that will hopefully be better than the Lee primer tools listed above. I have heard good things about the RCBS Bench Priming Tool and the reviews are good on Midway. Are any of you using this one? Any other suggestions? Thanks
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I've been using the Lee hand held auto-prime for lots of years now with great success. Never tried any of the other Lee priming products. Like you I don't like handling primers and I've yet to use a press mounted tool that gave me the feel of the Lee auto-prime.

As far as the RCBS bench mounted priming tool I threw one away a couple of years ago. Again more primer handling than I wanted. This was one that you had to load primer tubes first then prime the brass. I've tried Hornedy's hand held priming tool and sold that one also, changing out the shell holders was a PITA. So far I've found nothing on the market that beats the Lee hand held primer tool.

I've been using the Lee hand held auto-prime for lots of years now with great success. Never tried any of the other Lee priming products. Like you I don't like handling primers and I've yet to use a press mounted tool that gave me the feel of the Lee auto-prime.

As far as the RCBS bench mounted priming tool I threw one away a couple of years ago. Again more primer handling than I wanted. This was one that you had to load primer tubes first then prime the brass. I've tried Hornedy's hand held priming tool and sold that one also, changing out the shell holders was a PITA. So far I've found nothing on the market that beats the Lee hand held primer tool.


I agree! I don't own a lot of Lee's stuff but the Auto Prime is one tool I wouldn't be without.

Used the older RCBS hand priming tool since it came out. As noted on the Hornady it's a PITA to change shell holders. Recently brought the new Universal RCBS Hand Priming Tool and its a delight to use--no shell holders to change out. Have looked at others over the years and decided they offered no improvements over the one I had. I've used the Lee Auto Prime and while it does the job I'm not overly impressed with the tool.

I have a Lee Auto-Prime too, and a lot of Lee products. I recently got a 2nd edition Lee Loading manual and it says to not use Federal primers with the Auto-Prime or any tray primer, I not really sure why. The book recommends CCI or Winchester. I used both and Magtech without any problems

In my experience, the automatic priming systems on presses leave a lot to be desired but it is hard to beat the Auto Prime. A great, simple tool. Anymore I just prime by hand and keep the prepped brass in ziplock bags until I load them.

. . . Having to handle each individual primer doesn't appeal to me as being very efficient.
If this is important to you, might I suggest looking at the RCBS APS (auto prime system)? Comes, I believe, bench mounted, press mounted, or hand held. CCI primers (all rifle/pistol) can be purchased already mounted in priming strips. A loading tool to install primers into the strips as well as additional primer strips are available. Strips lock onto one another so priming goes as fast as you wish. Has a universal shell holder too.

Papa Bare, the reason for the recommendation is two-fold. One, Federal primers use a priming compound that is more susceptible to mass detonation (if one goes off, any in near proximity are liable to as well). Two, such an event apparently has happened, resulting in a lawsuit against Lee. No details of the settlement were ever released (common in such lawsuits) but Lee now posts the warning as a preventative against future accidents - and lawsuits.

I've never had a primer go off accidentally, of any make. I use all kinds in my Auot-Prime, but if one or more ever did go off, I'm not the kind of guy to sue.

I too like the Lee handheld priming tool. They are cheap enough that I have two. One set up for large primers and the other for small so I don't have to change the priming heads, just the shell holder. I used to use the press mounted loading system but getting all those primers in that small tube was a pain.

Never used anything but the Lee Hand tool. When it breaks I'll get another. It is the one part of handloading that I feel consistant on. I would not mess that up.

Another vote for the Lee Autoprime here. I have two, one stays set up for .45 and the other for .38. I wish I had a nickel for every primer I've run through those things in the last 30 years...

Both the Lee Autoprime and Autoprime II tools have worked well for me, for a loooong time!

I load frequently but don't load for hand guns and load batches for my rifles are typically 50 or fewer. I have two of the RCBS bench mounted primer tools, one for small primers, one for large primers. I must be the odd man out in this discussion because I don't mind handling primers and I always wash my hands before I prime my cases. I also have the RCBS hand tool that requires individual primer feeding (it does not accomodate a primer tray). All the presses have priming tools too. Of the lot I favor the bench mounted tool. I think it has good tactile feel and I've never had a problem with it.

Never had a misfire due to a bad primer. Don't wash my hands prior to handling, but do make sure any oil/grease is wiped off.

Have both the RCBS and the Lee hand priming tools, as well as the Lee Auto Prime. There's a single feed primer on top of the Co-Ax press. Usually leave it set for the 45-70 cases and vary between the RCBS and the Lee hand primers. The Auto Prime sits on the shelf gathering dust as I got tired of having to prod the primers down the curved chute and onto the primer ram.

...The Auto Prime sits on the shelf gathering dust as I got tired of having to prod the primers down the curved chute and onto the primer ram.

I've gotten into the habit of giving mine a little shake as I remove one case and insert the next. It's so automatic now, I don't even notice.

Never had a misfire due to a bad primer. Don't wash my hands prior to handling, but do make sure any oil/grease is wiped off. . .
Have experienced two bad primers, one CCI the other Winchester, both large pistol. Tried multiple firing pin hits with no better results. Both times, the internals of the decapped primers appeared as it should, brand new. Am very fortunate that both misfires occured at the range while punching holes in paper.

I wash my hands prior to handling primers just to make sure any oil/grease is removed and allow plenty of time for any moisture to dry off. My priming tool is the bench mounted RCBS standard priming tool. Can definitely feel the primers bottom with this tool.

I still use the handheld Autoprime occassionally, but it leaves a small indentation mark that bothers me. I got spoiled when I got K&M's Markel tool. You feel the primers bottom out much more clearly than you do with the Autoprime. It also has a spring-loaded sleeve that forces the case up against the holder from below, so the primer always starts in perpendicular to the casehead. Nice tool, but it is one-at-a-time. I just got used to that.

The Co-ax press tool is great for self-loading rifles as its ram design guarantees the primer face making 0.004" below flush with the case head face. I am unaware of any other non-commercial unit that does that, though I may be forgetting someone?

My pistol loads, other than for testing a few, all get inserted by one of my Dillon presses, so I don't worry about handling them. I long ago bought a dozen primer pickup tubes for each size and fill those in front of TV. You can get really quick at it. Dillon's automatic primer tube filler gadget seems like overkill to me, though I may design one of my own if I get a really slow spot.

The Co-ax press tool is great for self-loading rifles as its ram design guarantees the primer face making 0.004" below flush with the case head face. I am unaware of any other non-commercial unit that does that, though I may be forgetting someone?



How about their (Forster/Bonanza) separate priming tool, Nick? Doesn't that work on the same theory and seat primers below the case head?

Thanks,

The Old Guy

TOG,

Good point. Could well be. I've just never had one in hand. I'll look at the web site and see if I can learn that one way or the other?

OK. I took a quick look at the Forster on Midway's site. Yes, it appears to be the same basic ram design as in the Co-ax press, and one of the reviewers mentioned that it just stops before over-seating (crushing) a primer, same as on the Co-ax press. It's even called a Co-ax primer. It apparently also has the same universal shell retaining hold-downs that you setup with Allen head screws. One reviewer said he struggled with it. Of course, the same guy complained it had poor "feel", and when you look at the design, you realize it isn't supposed to have "feel" at all, but just come to a hard stop at a fixed seating depth.

Unlike the Co-ax press version, this unit has a primer feed tube of some sort. One fellow said the instructions indicate some hand fitting is needed, which he thought odd for an expensive ($60) priming tool. I would agree that it should be finished out as it comes, at that price, but not having seen the unit or the instructions, I don't really know what that is about?

These tools are 10% off at Midway (http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=141739&t=11082005) right now. You might want to read the reviews for yourself? The best review it got only complained about the primer flipper, but I've never had a flipper that was 100%, myself. I just use whatever I have at hand that seems to work well-enough and figure I'll need to turn a couple of primers manually with a toothpick. So, I wouldn't care about that aspect of it.

The worst reviews were about primers that turned and difficulty adjusting the case retainers that substitute for a shell holder in the Forster. That last aspect made me wonder just how mechanically capable the reviewer might be? Seems like none of these guys ever heard of calling customer service for a correction or a fix, either.

Having got used to filling primer tubes for my two Dillons, I think I might just pick one of these up to get out of individual primer handling on the Co-ax press. See for myself what the problems are? The Dillons used to flip primers at the top of the stack sideways until they came up with the fiberglass follower rods. Even those can benefit from a small weight on top if you are loading fast. That may be what the Forster needs, too?

Papa Bare, R. Lee did not test Federal primers in his priming tools, as he states in his book, they did not donate primers for testing, if I thought dust was accumulating in a primer tube and or tray, before cleaning, I would test with a match.

F. Guffey

Welcome to the forum. Rules are to join in and be polite and have a good time.

I don't think anyone claimed Lee tested it. Just that a customer blew one up with Federal primers and sued them.

unclenick, I have tried to find a link to a law suit involving primers with no results, If you call RCBS and tell them you are having trouble with a crease or a dent in the primers of some cases they will send you a free shell holder.

f.guffey

PM Rocky Raab and see if he has some details? He has an insider's ear on the industry rail and may be able to fill you in? If the case was settled out of court and if the local newspapers in the jurisdiction it was filed in didn't report it, the original filing could be the only remaining public record. You might be able to find it on Lexus Nexus? But if the date of the filing preceeds the Internet's wide use, there is no real reason to expect to find it on the web. Most of the world's knowlege isn't posted yet, and much of the detailed specialty knowledge that is on the web is paid access only. Like Lexus Nexus.

I have one of the RCBS in-line priming tools that mount on a bench.

You can have it for postage and handling.

If Vigilante doesn't take you up on the offer I might. Are you talking about the bench mounted priming tool that stands about 6 inches tall and the shell holders snap in the top? If yes, I'm interested. Do you have both the large and small primer cups?

I I got spoiled when I got K&M's Markel tool. You feel the primers bottom out much more clearly than you do with the Autoprime. It also has a spring-loaded sleeve that forces the case up against the holder from below, so the primer always starts in perpendicular to the casehead. Nice tool, but it is one-at-a-time. I just got used to that.

Dillon's automatic primer tube filler gadget seems like overkill to me, though I may design one of my own if I get a really slow spot.
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Certainly second the "good feel" loading primers with the K&M Markel tool, very positive feed back.

I do use the Dillon automatic primer tube filler-upper when loading with the Dillon presses.....let's me concentrate more completely on my intellectual TV shows ;)

Dan

I'm probably coming to this discussion a little late but I just finished priming 100 cases of 45 ACP with the Lee Auto Prime hand-held tool and I was actually pretty impressed with it. It worked smoothly and flawlessly, and after just a few cases, I could feel with my thumb when the primer was seated properly, and it was pretty quick once I got into a rhythm. I had thought I wanted the Lee Safety Prime to prime on the press with my Lee Challenger press, but for now, I think I'll pass and put the $20 that would cost me toward something else.

I've got the RCBS older hand prime, an RCBS Ram Prime (that mounts in one of the holes on my Turret press or my Partner Press) and the priming assembly on my RCBS turret press.

I really like the Ram Prime unit, but I most often use the priming setup on my Turret Press. Its super easy to pick up primers and load the tube and then just incorporate it as part of my daily ritual of cranking out the .40 S&W for competition.

Nick: I just took a look at a K&M priming tool at Precision Reloading. The one they showed had no tray; primers loaded one at a time. Is that the tool that you fellows are referring to? I ask because the one that I saw was not called a Markel tool. Is there another?
Pete