Article: Lee Auto Bench Prime Review

[J.Baker]

You can view the page at http://www.savageshooters.com/content.php?333-Lee-Auto-Bench-Prime-Review

[acemisser]

awesome tool..Gonna get me on e of them babies

[fgw_in_fla]

Good write up, Mr. F.
I just bought one from FS Reloading. Although I had to order the shell holders from Lee (FS had 'em on backorder) it was worth the wait.
Once you get used to it and figure out where to tap so the primers fall, it makes short work of brass priming.

I mounted mine to a piece of 3/4" MDF so I can clamp it to the bench - much like I do with the powder dispenser.

Can't beat it for the price.

[Dhahn]

MrFurious... great write-up. Read this article 2 weeks ago and ordered one from “Cheaper Than Dirt”... their online price was the lowest I could find. I totally agree with you that Lee Precision has hit the ball out of the park with this new primer tool. Primed 40 .243 cases without a hick-up. I did not time the process, but, it was faster and more comfortable than my handheld Lee primer. I contacted Lee in regard to shell holders. You can use shell holders that come in their “Priming tool shell holder it”, or purchase shell holder(s) separately, thank you Lee for not requiring a stand alone shell holder for this great priming tool!

[J.Baker]

I already had the Lee Shell Holders for my other Lee priming tools so it didn't even register with me that some might have to buy them if they typically use another brand that differs in design.

[thebeardeddude]

Call it vanity, but I mounted my Auto Bench Prime to a piece of scrap maple I had laying around. Like others, I clamp the board to my bench.

I had problems with primers getting hung up in both the small and large primer adapters (http://www.savageshooters.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2049&d=1461959885). This usually occurred if I accidentally pressed too hard on the handle and "sprung" the stamped piece of sheet metal inside the adapter.

In order to prevent pressing the handle too far, I mounted an adjustable depth stop to the board I mounted the Auto Bench Prime on. The rubber-topped stop is mounted under the Auto Bench Prime's handle, and it prevents the handle from being depressed too far. With the stop, the Auto Bench Prime lets me prime consistently, for long duration, and without worry. It is the easiest priming tool I have ever used.

[bsekf]

I like mine and am going to drill a hole in the primer tray so I can add primers one at a time without removing the tray. Little selector on tray is hard on arthritic hands, hope it loosens up with use.

[Deadshot2]

I like mine and am going to drill a hole in the primer tray so I can add primers one at a time without removing the tray. Little selector on tray is hard on arthritic hands, hope it loosens up with use.

The old Lee hand priming tool used to have a hole in the cover so you could put primers in, one at a time.

The one thing Lee hasn't seemed to have figured out after all these years is how to make primers "flow" through their tools. I have scars on the back of my left hand as a result of that problem on the primer feed on their original Progressive press. Primers were always sticking in the plastic and after you dropped powder in a few unprimed cases the entire press would jam. "Unjamming" caused a full tray of primers to detonate and the flying plastic opened enough cuts in the back of my hand to require 6 stitches.

I still use the hand priming tools but I make sure to let the handle snap back so it shakes the primers loose. Seems to be getting better after 30 years of use. :p