Lee threaded shell holder sizes

[Vintage BPCS]

I acquired a Lee posi-prime hand press and a Lyman 310 handle. Can not figure out what letter holders I need for various cartridges. Can anyone provide a conversion list/chart for all the different letter sizes to caliber? These holders thread into the tool.
Then I have this 310 handle/no dies, I believe it is the small size. It came with an H size insert/sleeve. Any idea which caliber(s) use the H size?

[legend]

vintage,lee makes a set for thier hand held priming tools.
its around 15-16 bucks for the whole set,i bought one after buying singles here and there;glad i did.
hope this helps
legend

[ktw]

I acquired a Lee posi-prime hand press and a Lyman 310 handle. Can not figure out what letter holders I need for various cartridges. Can anyone provide a conversion list/chart for all the different letter sizes to caliber? These holders thread into the tool.

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................................................ ..... 455 Webley
HH ...... 8mm Lebel
II
JJ ....... 303 Sav., 32/40
KK ...... 40/82 Winchester
LL ....... 401 Win SL
MM ...... 405 Winchester
NN ...... 224 Weatherby
OO ...... 460 Weatherby
PP ....... Speer 38 Plastic case
RR ...... 6.5 Carcano
SS ...... 7.5 Swiss
TT ....... 43 Mauser

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



Then I have this 310 handle/no dies, I believe it is the small size. It came with an H size insert/sleeve. Any idea which caliber(s) use the H size?

These should be numeric codes, not letter codes. I have a reference table, but not typed up. Code "11" would be 348 Winchester. Code "17" would be 380 Auto/9mm Luger.

-ktw

[Vintage BPCS]

Thanks to both Legend and KTW, now I know want to start looking for. May apologies, I messed up the primer tools. The Lyman has a no. 7 insert, what caliber?
Vintage BPCS

[floodgate]

BPCS:

The 310 tool No. 7 insert is listed for the .45 ACP, .45 Auto Rim and the .45 Colt, from an old Lyman parts chart inserted in one of their Handbooks from the '50's.

Floodgate

[ktw]

Thanks to both Legend and KTW, now I know want to start looking for.

I acquired a decent sized lot of the Lee Screw-in shellholders recently. If there is something in particular you are looking for I would be happy to do some trading.

I am missing B,K,M,P,BB,CC,DD,HH,JJ,LL,NN,OO. I have at least one of everything else.

[Vintage BPCS]

KTW:
My immediate needs are the sizes C, R, F, and likewise a JJ. Since C accepts 30/30 & 38/55 I believe I can use that for my 33/40 since my match cases are reformed 38/55. You indicate trading, I don't know what I might have to swap or what you are looking for.
Vintage BPCS

[J Miller]

[QUOTE=legend;376342]vintage,lee makes a set for thier hand held priming tools.
its around 15-16 bucks for the whole set,i bought one after buying singles here and there;glad i did.
hope this helps
legend[/QUOTE

Could you post a link to this. I have several of those old Lee priming tools and I can't find it on their site.

Thanks,

Joe

[ktw]

I believe legend was referring to the Lee shellholder set for the current priming tool (http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=566058), not a set for the older screw-in-shellholder priming tool.

pm sent to Vintage BPCS

-ktw

[J Miller]

I believe legend was referring to the Lee shellholder set for the current priming tool (http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=566058), not a set for the older screw-in-shellholder priming tool.

pm sent to Vintage BPCS

-ktw

ktw,

The current hand prime shell holders are numerically numbered. The older ones had an alpha system to them.

Joe

[QUON]

thanks for the chart ktw. it will come in handy when i find all the old lee screw in shell holders

[Iowa Fox]

Thanks for that list ktw. They made one stamped PP for the Speer 358 plastic cases that were popular back then. I shot a lot of those primer powered plastic bullets in the basement in those days.

[Echo]

Thanks, KTW - I printed it off, and saved it, and am a Happy Camper!

[tdgarry]

I acquired a decent sized lot of the Lee Screw-in shellholders recently. If there is something in particular you are looking for I would be happy to do some trading.

I am missing B,K,M,P,BB,CC,DD,HH,JJ,LL,NN,OO. I have at least one of everything else.
Hi, I need an A,E,H,L,N,and P. I have an extra F any help from anyone.
Thanks
Tim

[KSpainhour]

Don't know if this helps or not.

63373

[yooper]

I've been a collector and user of the old-style Lee priming tools and screw-in shell holders for 25+ years. A couple that aren't listed above (and don't show up on Lee's chart) are: GG - 455 Webley; MM - the old 405 Winchester, Teddy Roosevelt's favorite; RR - 6.5 Jap and Carcano cartridges; and TT - 43 Mauser. I don't believe there's an I, an II or a Q or QQ. Not sure about KK or SS. A lot of them do jobs not listed on Lee's chart, such as the M, which is listed for the 38/357 cartridges but will also handle the 40 S&W perfectly. Also, the one holder I'm missing is the EE, but my W (listed for 444 Marlin) handles both 38-40 & 44-40 perfectly. If anybody has an EE they'd care to part with I'd love to "complete my set" so please email me, but I can prime for both my Winchester '73's with the W holder.
These screw-in holders are superior to the new "snap-in" style in that you can adjust primer depth using the adjustment in the screw plus the better "feel" as the primer seats in the primer pocket. Probably just the ramblings of an old codger, but I love them.
yooper

[BCall]

I like them too yooper. I have almost a complete set, I wish I had an extra EE to trade, but I only have the one. I concur with you, none were made in I, II, Q, QQ, Y, or Z. At least not that I can find. Ones not shown on ktw's chart above include

GG- 455 Webley
KK - 40/82 Winchester
MM - 405 Winchester
PP - Speer 38 Plastic case
RR - 6.5 Carcano
SS - 7.5 Swiss
TT - 43 Mauser

Some of these aren't listed on all of Lee's charts. I located them on a couple of old charts so i assume they were added later and probably not many made. I am only missing the FF, SS, TT, and I need extras of the E, F, and NN. I would really like to find a FF and an extra NN. If anyone wants to trade I have my extras listed in the swap forum.

[yooper]

Well, I see I now need 3 shell holders (at least) to make my set "complete". It's like shooting at a moving target. They say the searching is more rewarding than the finding, so I guess I'm going to be rewarded. PM on the way to BCall.
yooper

[ADK Bigfoot]

I have these for most of the calibers I load for, but I need the following: H, M, S, U, and CC. If any of you could help, I would appreciate it!

ADK Bigfoot
mail at groveassociates dot com

[subsonic]

I just need an E.

Did these use a small and large priming ram, or was there just one?

[Neilrobert]

I acquired a decent sized lot of the Lee Screw-in shellholders recently. If there is something in particular you are looking for I would be happy to do some trading.

I am missing B,K,M,P,BB,CC,DD,HH,JJ,LL,NN,OO. I have at least one of everything else.

I need shellholder E for my antique Lee priming tool. Have an extra? The one I have is F, which I use for .45 ACP. Does the smaller primer holder come with the part that actually pushes the primer into the pocket?

Thanks.

[Bayou52]

I need shellholder E for my antique Lee priming tool. Have an extra? The one I have is F, which I use for .45 ACP. Does the smaller primer holder come with the part that actually pushes the primer into the pocket?

Thanks.

I have several of the old Lee screw-in shell holders for the hand held primer tool. I use them quite often, and they work well.

Some of the shell holders are for large primers and some are for small primers. To answer your question, yes, there are different size priming rods for these shellholders - a large priming rod and a small priming rod.

If you are unable to acquire the shell holders you need from forum members, you do see these old tools come up on eBay from time to time.

Good luck -

Bayou52

[EDG]

The original tool came with one spring, a large priming punch and a small priming punch for $2.50.
Spare large punches are rare. Spare small punches are sometimes found due to the wide spread popularity of the .38 Special and .357 Mag.

Shell holders only came alone in the blister pack usually with the chart on the back.
The best place for new spares is on this site or on ebay.
This tool has a cult following so sometimes there is competition for the spares on ebay.


I need shellholder E for my antique Lee priming tool. Have an extra? The one I have is F, which I use for .45 ACP. Does the smaller primer holder come with the part that actually pushes the primer into the pocket?

Thanks.

[Steve Steven]

Guys,
I have an old hand primer that I don't know what it is, there is no makers name on it. Its red, which made me think it was lee, but the shell holder is marked with an "H" and it fits a .38 Spcl perfectly, and is small primer.

Heres some photos of it:
124206

124207

124208

124209

Does anyone know what it is, who made it? The shell holder does not remove, seems fixed (haven't tried brute force).

Thanks for any help, I'd be willing to give it to a collector, I don't use it.

Steve

[Bayou52]

I've never seen a hand held priming tool like that one. However, the shell holder appears to be an old style Lee screw-in. Have you tried unscrewing it to see if it will unscrew?

[Steve Steven]

I just tried pliers on it, it will turn but doesn't unscrew. Looks like it was cast into the body.

Steve

[EDG]

That is the Lee/Mequon unitized priming tool. It is not intended to be disassembled.
This what they looked like once upon a time.

124565

[Bayou52]

That is the Lee/Mequon unitized priming tool. It is not intended to be disassembled.
This what they looked like once upon a time.

124565

I've never seen a handle like that one before. The handle itself looks to be of good quality. However, if the shell-holder is not made to be interchangeable with other handles, then the handle would not be something of interest. The tool is too inefficient if it is designed for use with only one shell casing application.

Bayou52

[KBP]

HI yooper! I need a old style screw in shell holder for the Lee hand priming tool for my 45/70. I think it is an "R" shell holder. Do you know anyone that has one they will sell? Thanks!

[chainsaw]

I need an E and F with large ram as well. I have an L that needs to be drilled for large primer, 10mm.
Let me know if you want to unload the parts

[Pavogrande]

Just curious -- did they make the priming pins for both round and flat primers??

[Crazeyiven]

A discussion about the threaded lee shell holders. I've been using these for years. Love it. I have mostly loaded 44-40 and some 45-70. Back when they were more common I would buy holders for calibers I thought, in the future, I might want to load. Jumping to recently I have started to load for an original 38-40 Winchester rifle. Looked up on my old list (the back of a shell holder package) and it indicated EE. So, started going through all my holders looking for EE. Not a one in the box. Tried on line. Just missed one. Could not find a one anywhere. So, earlier today, I got out my big box of screw on shell holders and test fit the 38-40. One the next to the last holder found one that fit perfect. Grabbed a 44-40 - it fit too. So, got my glasses out, got under a bright light to find the code. It is a W, not EE. Turns out the W is for 444 Marlin. I've never been around a 444 marlin, so, I am guessing the rim must be almost if not the same? Has anyone else found similar instances? Thanks, David

[TNsailorman]

I think some of the older screw in tools came with a "cupped" faced primer stem but they later changed to the modern flat faced stem. I bought my first Lee loader in 1962(if I remember correctly) and it came with a cupped face stem. The very early Lee Loader came with a powder measure that was metal, not plastic. I had a bunch of them at one time but ended up putting them up for sale--not a very smart move. I still have a bunch of the old Lee screw style tools and shell holders, one for every caliber I load. I buy every spare primer stem (large or small) that I get a chance if the price is reasonable. I have seen those little stems go for as much as $29.00 and as little as 5.00. I'll take one of the Lee screw style hand primer tools or RCBS Posi-Prime hand tools any day of the week over anything I have seen the last few years. But then, I am an old dinosaur and like dinosaur toys. james