The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - What's faster/more reliable? Lee auto prime or safety prime?

DaveInGA · February 20, 2008, 01:40 PM

Dave you asked about the Lee Safety Prime, this tool, which I'll call number 1 for the sake of discussion:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...630&t=11082005

and the Lee Auto Prime, which is this tool, which I'll call number 2:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...875&t=11082005

or possibly this tool, the Lee Auto Prime 2, which I'll call number 3:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...149&t=11082005

I have tool number 1 and tool number 2 labelled above. I do not have tool number 3, but have experience with it. I'll try to answer your questions.

Tool number 1,the Lee Safety Prime, is designed to operate on the press and is an excellent primer system. It allows one to not handle the primers, while using the lever prime (primer install tool) that came with your press to install the primer. You'll have to line it up (not hard to do) when mounting it, but it's simple to use and effective.

All you have to do is use a thumb to "click" a primer into the Lever Prime (The Lever Prime comes in the box with both the Lee Classic Turret and Lee Classic Cast single stage presses.) at the top of the Ram's travel during operation, then lower the Ram and "seat" the primer into the case. This device allows one to semi-automate the the priming process and is the preferred priming method when using a Lee Classic Turret press. It works on the Lee Classic cast single stage as well.

Tool number 2, the Lee handheld Auto Prime, is also an excellent tool. It gives a very good feel for seating primers off of the press. I have one for large primers and one for small primers. It's simple to use and provides good feel when seating primers in a case. For single stage, it's the preferred tool for "batch" loading to get maximum efficiency out of a single stage, such as the Lee Classic Cast single stage.

It does, however, require the use of shellholders, but a set of these is inexpensive. Here's a link to the shellholder kit, other sizes not in the kit can be bought individually:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...058&t=11082005

Finally, there is tool number 3, the Lee Auto Prime 2 press mounted tool. This tool is a press mounted tool. I personally do not consider it as good as tools number 1 and 2 above, as it tends to be finicky from my experiences and the experiences of friends of mine. I do not recommend this tool. Others may disagree.

Here's Lee's explanation of the three tools above:

http://leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/.../primtool.html

Were I you, if I were wanting to prime for the Lee Classic Turret press, I would buy the Lee Safety prime in large and small primer setup. If I were buying for a Lee Classic Cast single stage, I would get two of the Lee Auto prime handhelds and a set of the Lee shellholders and any singles I needed. I would not buy the Lee Auto Prime 2 press mounted tool.

Just my .02,

Dave

February 20, 2008, 01:40 PM	#8
DaveInGA Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Location: Flowery Branch, GA Posts: 132	Dave you asked about the Lee Safety Prime, this tool, which I'll call number 1 for the sake of discussion: http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...630&t=11082005 and the Lee Auto Prime, which is this tool, which I'll call number 2: http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...875&t=11082005 or possibly this tool, the Lee Auto Prime 2, which I'll call number 3: http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...149&t=11082005 I have tool number 1 and tool number 2 labelled above. I do not have tool number 3, but have experience with it. I'll try to answer your questions. Tool number 1,the Lee Safety Prime, is designed to operate on the press and is an excellent primer system. It allows one to not handle the primers, while using the lever prime (primer install tool) that came with your press to install the primer. You'll have to line it up (not hard to do) when mounting it, but it's simple to use and effective. All you have to do is use a thumb to "click" a primer into the Lever Prime (The Lever Prime comes in the box with both the Lee Classic Turret and Lee Classic Cast single stage presses.) at the top of the Ram's travel during operation, then lower the Ram and "seat" the primer into the case. This device allows one to semi-automate the the priming process and is the preferred priming method when using a Lee Classic Turret press. It works on the Lee Classic cast single stage as well. Tool number 2, the Lee handheld Auto Prime, is also an excellent tool. It gives a very good feel for seating primers off of the press. I have one for large primers and one for small primers. It's simple to use and provides good feel when seating primers in a case. For single stage, it's the preferred tool for "batch" loading to get maximum efficiency out of a single stage, such as the Lee Classic Cast single stage. It does, however, require the use of shellholders, but a set of these is inexpensive. Here's a link to the shellholder kit, other sizes not in the kit can be bought individually: http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...058&t=11082005 Finally, there is tool number 3, the Lee Auto Prime 2 press mounted tool. This tool is a press mounted tool. I personally do not consider it as good as tools number 1 and 2 above, as it tends to be finicky from my experiences and the experiences of friends of mine. I do not recommend this tool. Others may disagree. Here's Lee's explanation of the three tools above: http://leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/.../primtool.html Were I you, if I were wanting to prime for the Lee Classic Turret press, I would buy the Lee Safety prime in large and small primer setup. If I were buying for a Lee Classic Cast single stage, I would get two of the Lee Auto prime handhelds and a set of the Lee shellholders and any singles I needed. I would not buy the Lee Auto Prime 2 press mounted tool. Just my .02, Dave