Lee old style screw-in priming tool

[trooperdan]

Remember the old Lee one primer at a time priming tool that used the screw-in shell holders? I just found one in my junk, it has a type "F" shell holder in it. Anyone have a chart or remember what caliber the F was for?

[TNsailorman]

.30-06, .308 Winchester, 25-06, 270 Win., 280 Rem., 8mm nauser, 7mm mauser, etc. james

[Electrod47]

Yeah, Slow. But, a definite step up from the "Plastic Mallet" They were a feature to modernize your Load-All.

[trooperdan]

TNsailerman, thank you sir! I knew it was at least a close fit on .30-06, glad to hear it is a useful size! They are asking $15 on ebay just for shellholders! I'll hang onto it until it breaks!

[TNsailorman]

trooperdan, I have beening using the lee screw in shell holder with the hander prpimer that it fits and have broken one handle in all that time. But, I use it different than what the illustrations lee showed with their tool. Instead of using the thumb on the handle and to primer tool in the hand, I use the handle in the hand and fingers wrapped around the handle, putting equalized pressure on the entire handle. That is the exact opposite from the lee instructions. I haven't broken a handle since I started using this method. I have about 6 of the primer tools and screw in shell holders for every caliber I load for. I also use the RCBS posi-prime tool and it is just a slightly better and bigger version of the lee, escept it used regular press shell holders. james

[Green Frog]

Another tip from an aficionado of the old Lee priming tools…every time I take one of mine apart to change shell holders I try to remember to put a little dab of heavy grease on top of the lever where it pushes against the primer rod. Other than that, they seem to be a lot more durable than most folks seem to believe. Of course, rotating between several of them may be adding to their longevity. ;)
Froggie

[TNsailorman]

An excellent suggestion . One that I should have included in my "tip" on how to use it. james

[Green Frog]

They’ve only been around about 40 years or so… you can expect lots of little tips and tricks like this to develop. I’m pleased to share mine. I think I have a full listing of the SH code letters on my old computer. I’ll try to find and share it later today.
Froggie

[Green Frog]

I'm back. Let's see whether we can post the chart I assembled a few years ago...

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 Spl, 44 Mag
L ....... 256 Win Mag .......................... 22 Jet, 38 S&W, 38 Short Colt, 38 Spl,
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, 32/40, 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

[TNsailorman]

Great work Frog, sure makes it easy to decide on which s/h's needed. james

[tchepone]

Green Frog:
Thank you very much, Ii once had a similar chart but over the years I lost it. I have 10 of these Lee priming tools and 14 shell holders - I now again have a list.
BTW, Shell holder "N" works for the Herter 401 Powermag. I loaded many hundred rounds of that caliber when I began handloading in 1965/66. Thank you!!! GJH