New Lee Auto Bench Prime

[Tonto]

Just back from my first session with this tool. Took my time and read directions. Priming 308 once fired, trimmed, swaged brass. Worked fine once it seem to break in. Trouble though with thin metal strip with a small down facing spring bending. Took the unit apart and fixed that, it's a bear to reassemble but it's now working. Parts seem fragile though. Strangely it also bent the rim of the case from the upward force on a couple, thing does have leverage. Like all LEE tools, you need to be patient and a tinkerer of sorts. Had a good experience recently with the service folks on the quick trimmer.

[Ben]

Lee has many reloading tools that work great.
I've NEVER been impressed with their priming tools.

Ben

[mdi]

I've had a few different makes of priming tools over the years and the Lee Bench Prime is the only tool that I can load up with 100 primers and prime 100 cases, non stop. I just read and followed the directions...

[jmort]

^^^ same here

[Tonto]

Back to my experience with the bench tool......seems it is missing that little rubber thing described in the directions, but clearly missing on mine, ( sort of a return gadget) so I've substituted two of those little rubber rings used to castrate pigs and it seems to work great.....100 for $2.39 at the Big R, a very strange day after Christmas purchase. Trying to love this tool.

[OilyPablo]

All I have using for priming the last 6+ months. Works great!!

[jmort]

The thick O ring was causing problems for users (not following instructions) so Lee deleted it. If you follow the instructions you can use the O ring. For most, probably best not to use it. Lee was telling callers to cut it off.

[dragon813gt]

Lee has many reloading tools that work great.
I've NEVER been impressed with their priming tools.

Ben

I've never been impressed w/ any hand primer. I have every version of Lee hand primer. Even the original one w/ screw in shell holders and no tray. That one is perfectly reliable but obviously limited due to no tray to feed from. The round tray version works very well. The newest ones leave a lot to be desired in tray design. It's quite easy to flip a primer. But the ergo version is a lot more comfortable to use for long runs.

All the other hand primers have issues as well. I still own a RCBS but can't tell you the last time I used it. For me it's easier and quicker to throw the safety prime on the LCT and prime that way. I still haven't bought the bench prime. It's on the list and will be purchased soon.

[OilyPablo]

I started life on the RCBS hand. Two primers into it........"THERE HAS GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY!"