hand primer pop quiz!!

[quickshot]

sorry for the bad pic (camera on the phone is not all that great).

here is a hand priming device that needs identifying.

markings:none
color: light grey ( like the old style lyman 55 powder measure)
method of primer feed: single (you place primer in device one at a time)
shellholder:they screw into the device
shell holder caliber designation: letters (as in A E F G L P)

the shell holders seem to fit the following calibers that I reload for at the moment

A--??? to small for the .223rem
E-- .223
F--8x57
G--45acp/.308
L--.38/.357mag
P--7.5 swiss

any ideas as to what this might be? Who makes/made it? Are shell holders still available? If so who sells them.

wadda ya'll think?

[ktw]

This was the hand priming tool manufactured by Lee that was included as part of their Target Model Hand Loader sets. I don't know if the tool was offered separately or not. I do know you see the screw in shell holders for them from time to time in the boxes of misc stuff at gun shows and old gun shops.

I have two of these priming tools and 3 or or 4 different shellholders.

I have a reference table of the shellholder letter/cartridge codes (back of one of the shellholder shrink-wrap cards) that I can type up and send you on monday if you are looking for one.

-ktw

[quickshot]

that would be super

[Nueces]

Yup, these tools were offered as individual units. I used 'em in the seventies. They are small and light, but take considerable thumb pressure to seat a rifle primer - the tool is too small to palm-squeeze it. Would fit easily in a range kit, but you may find it burdensome to seat a lot of primers with thumb pressure, even with both thumbs.

ktw is right, Lee no longer offers these shellholders.

Mark

[mooman76]

Ktw, Could you post here the letter conversion chart. I know of a few people that has been looking for them and even Lee doesn't have a reference any more!

[HeavyMetal]

This was the tool to have in the 60's-70's for rifle loading.

It went the way of the dinosaur when Lee updated to the current tool. Strange that I don't have the tool but I do have a few of the shell holders?

[quickshot]

heavyMetal:

would you be interested in parting with thoes shell holders? PM me if your interested.

[ktw]

I will post the reference chart here later this evening.

I really liked these priming tools. It was all I used back in the day when most of my reloading was done via Lee Loader. It is hard to beat the "feel" of seating a primer with one. It does not have the plastic/pot metal feel of the current lee priming tool.

I do most of my priming now with an RCBS hand tool. If the old Lee tool came with a primer tray I would still be using it regularly.

-ktw

[NoDakJak]

Quickshot I ttill use my priming tool on occassion and have a couple new shell holders in their blister pacs. Maker= Lee Custom Engineering Inc. Hartford ,Wisc. Your listed shell holders are as follows:
A = 22 Hornet
E = 223
F = Standard 30-06 headsize
G = 6.5x55
L = 38 Spcl/357
P = 45 Long Colt
These little priming tools work well. The force required to use these is reduced considerably if you apply a drop of case lube to the moving parts. I have primed umpty thousands of cases with these and they work just as well now as they did thirty years ago. Enjoy! Neil

[floodgate]

I have a couple of these, and most of the screw-in shell-holders. They are my preferred tool for priming, whichI like to do "off-line" so I can check pockets, etc. RCBS had a similar tool that takes standard shell-holders, and Lyman made a similar one using the"J" shell-holders; but the old Lee is the most comfortable for me to use.

I think I sent a complete chart of the Lee S/H's by caliber to go up on CASTPICS a year or so back, but I don't see it there.

floodgate

[ktw]

Lee Priming Tool (old screw in shell-holder type)
Shell Holder Reference Table

Shell
Holder
Letter . Rifle Cartridges ...................... Pistol Cartridges
----------------------------------------------------------------
A ....... 22 Hornet
B ....... 218 Bee, 25/20, 32/20
C ....... 30-30 class
D ....... 225 Win, 220 Swift
E ....... 223 class ............................. 380 Auto (9mm Browning Short)
F ....... 30-06 class
G ....... 6.5x55 Mauser
H ....... 35 Rem ................................ 45 ACP
I
J ....... 300 H&H class
K ....... 30/40 Krag, 303 Brit, 35 Win ... 44 Spcl, 44 Mag
L ....... 256 Win Mag ......................... 22 Jet, 38 S&W, 38 Short Colt, 38 Spcl, 357 Mag
M .................................................. . 30 Mauser, 30 Luger, 38 ACP (38 Super), 9mm Luger
N .................................................. . 41 Mag
O .................................................. . 45 Auto Rim
P .................................................. . 45 Long Colt
Q
R ....... 348 Win, 45/70 Govt
S ....... 7.62 Russian
T ....... 25 Rem, 30 Rem, 32 Rem, 351 Win SL
U ....... 30 Carbine
V ....... 6.5x54 Mann. Schoenauer
W ....... 444 Marlin
X ....... 6.5mm Jap (Arisaka), 7.65 Mauser, 7.7mm Jap
Y
Z
AA .................................................. . 25 Auto
BB .................................................. . 32 Short Colt, 32 Long Colt
CC .................................................. . 32 S&W, 32 S&W Long (32 Colt NP)
DD .................................................. . 32 Auto
EE ...... 38/40, 44/40
FF .................................................. .. 41 Long Colt
GG
HH ...... 8mm Lebel
II
JJ ....... 303 Sav., 32/40
KK
LL ....... 401 Win SL
MM
NN ...... 224 Weatherby
OO ...... 460 Weatherby


223 class = 221 Fire Ball, 222 Rem, 222 Rem Mag, 223/5.56
30/30 class = 219 Zipper, 25/35, 30/30, 32 Win Spec, 38/55
30/06 class = 22/250, 243 Win, 244 Rem/6mm Rem, 250/3000 Sav, 257 Robt, 25/06, 270 Win, 284 Win, 280 Rem. 7x57 Mauser, 300 Sav., 308 Win, 30/06 Spfld, 8x57 Mauser, 358 Win
300 H&H class = 257 Weatherby. 6.5 Rem Mag, 264 Win Mag, 7mm Weatherby, 7mm Rem Mag, 7x61 Sharpe & Hart, 300 H&H, 300 Win Mag, 300 Weatherby, 308 Norma Mag, 338 Win Mag, 340 Weatherby, 350 Rem Mag, 358 Norma Mag, 375 H&H, 458 Win Mag

================================================== ======

I have shell holders C, E, F, L and R.

In my experience the F works just fine for 45 ACP and the E for 32 H&R Mag.

-ktw

[Bullshop Junior]

old lee.
BIC/Daniel

[floodgate]

ktw:

Jibes exactly with my list - not surprising, since I think we swapped lists awhle back. Can we get this posted on CASTPICS?

Doug

[DLCTEX]

I have three of the shell holders, I will see what they are and post them here. DALE

[draynes]

Here's what I've gathered and determined so far:

LEE/LYMAN PRIMING TOOL SHELL HOLDERS

Rifle:

A - 22 Hornet
B- 218 Bee
C - 30/30 Win
D - 220 Swift
E - 223 Rem, 5.56 Nato
EE 44/40
F- 308 Win, 762x51 Nato, 30-06, 7x57 Mauser
G - 6.5x55 Mauser
H - 35 Rem, 762x39 Russian
HH - 8mm Lebel
J - 300 Win Mag
JJ – 32/40
K - 303 British
L - 256 Win Mag, 357 Mag, 38 Special
LL - 401 Win Self Loading
NN - 224 Weatherby
OO - 460 Weatherby
R - 45-70 Govt
S - 762x54R Russian
T - 30 Rem
U - 30 M-1 Carbine, 5.7mm Johnson
V - 6.5x54 Mannlicher Schoenauer
W - 444 Marlin
X - 7.7 Japanese

Pistol:

AA - 25 Auto
BB - 32 Short or Long Colt
CC - 32 S&W
DD - 32 Auto
E - 380 Auto
FF - 41 Long Colt
H - 45 ACP
K - 44 Mag or Special
L - 38 Short Colt, 38 Special, 357 Mag, 256 Win Mag
M - 9mm Luger
N - 41 Magnum
O - 45 Auto Rim
P - 45 Long Colt
PP Speer Plastic

[DLCTEX]

I have E,G, and F. Make me an offer. DALE

[Ricochet]

Makes me nervous to see "Pop" in the same line with "Hand Primer."

[ktw]

I would be interested in picking up a P and a K if anyone has one they want to sell or trade.

-ktw

[quickshot]

well dale I already E F and G I was hoping for shellholders s amd m

[Bullshop Junior]

We have a complete body, and two shell holders. a F, a L, and large and small primer punch. Make offer. Trades???
BIC/Daniel/BS Jr.