Anyone Ever Actually Blown Up A Lee Hand Prime?

[Arch]

I am asking, as I want to switch over to federal primers, so I can let the tension off of my mainspring again.

I have found that some cases really require a bit of effort to force those primers home, and others just glide in.

After getting light primer strikes, that do dent the primer, I am sure that some primers take a fair bit of pressure to set them off. I'm just wondering if one could apply the required force to set of a primer, with a lee auto prime, and how devistating the result would be.

I suspect that with winchester primers, you would have to squeeze pretty hard on that lever.

 

[Murphster]

I'm on my second one with no problem. First one broke after about 10,000 rounds - can't really complain. I use CCI primers and have had to really bear down to get some to seat. (I normally buy once-fired pistol brass with mixed headstamps.) I've never had a detonation. But I do always, and I mean always wear eye protection just in case. The plastic see-through top looks like it would make some dandy shrapnel if one ever did blow.

 

[sumpnz]

I think the reason he's asking is that Lee specifically warns not to use Federal Primers in their hand primer thingy. I'm using Federal 210 primers in my 6.5x55 at the moment, and have used the Lee primeing tool for that job. No problems, but I also make sure to only ever put up to 10 primers in at a time, and I make sure the only primer anywhere near the ram is one going into the case. I make sure to slide the others well clear. 100 primers down and no problems. However I will point out that I probably will switch to CCI 200 primers from now on. I figure that little bit of extra safety is worth the possible, but probably not likely, loss of accuracy and velocity.

 

[bear8mm]

I use a Lee Ram Prime (on a press) and have never used the hand primer thingie. A few years ago, a freind told me he was using one while watching TV, and it blew. Don't know what primers he was using.

 

[greg531mi]

Went through 2 or 3 Lee Hand Prime tools. Never had a pop. Of course, if I feel any resistance, I take the brass out, and look and see if the primer is crooked, or even doubled up.
Any primer tool will pop a primer if not carefull!

 

[Ky Larry]

I've used the Lee primer tool to load 1000's of rounds with all kinds of primers. Never had a problem. However,as Murphster pointed out, ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION! Also, pay atention to what you're doing and never point the open end of the case toward your face. You only get 2 eyes so take care of them.

 

[Arch]

Just out of interest, how big is the explosion from a small pistol primer? Admittedly I would be worried if it caused sympathetic detonation of all the other primers in the tray.

Also when you guys break a lee auto prime, what actually tends to break? I ask, because the tool looks pretty robust.

 

[Ol` Joe]

My dad had one pop a primer back in the mid sixties, useing the old single feed Lee tool. I don`t know what brand primer, but he used more Remingtons` as I remember then any other, he also loaded mostly pistol -38 /357 so I suspect the primer was a pistol type.
I was up stairs when it happened but he told me the flame hit the basement ceiling and it popped like a cap. He was shaking out his pant leg for days.....no other damage.
I`ve used one on thousands of primers and never had a problem other then a tipped primer once in awhile. I`m on my third one now, wore out his old one and a tray type I replaced it with. I still keep them pointed away from me as I was instructed years ago and load Federal, Remington, CCI, and Winchester, depending on the cartridge.
Pay attention, don`t force, and you shouldn`t have any trouble.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Bear8mm...Your buddies problem was that he was watching TV and not paying attention to what he was doing.
I use a Lee Auto Prime II on my Lee Turret press and have seated some sidwise, upside down, crushed a few and have never set one off. (I've probably been lucky). I, too, wear safety glasses. About the first time I dont wear safety glasses will be the first time I set one off...

 

[Rockstar]

Since when did potmetal appear to be "robust?"

 

[The Bushmaster]

Good Morning Rockstar...It's sooo nice to hear (see) your voice again. Potmetal became "robust" ever sense most manufacturers started using it instead of quality materials... I might add potmetal has been in use probably before you or I were born. Now let's see....I'm almost 63 and you????

 

[steveno]

I set off a primer using a Lyman 310 tool loading 303 British when I was 14 years old. it is an eye opener and REALLY noisy. it hasn't happened since in the last 40 years

 

[Pete E]

I use the similar RCBS hand tool with Federal primers (large rifle) and I've never had a problem..I am surprised that so many folks are saying that sometimes it takes a lot more pressure to insert a primer...I can't say this has ever happen to me, but I use a primer pocket uniformer on all my brass, so perhaps that helps?

Regards,

Pete

 

[HogRider]

I have set more than 20K primers with the hand held Lee Auto Prime. I tried hard but haven't manged to blow up a single primer.

 

[Canuck-IL]

Also when you guys break a lee auto prime, what actually tends to break? I ask, because the tool looks pretty robust.

I broke the lever that you actually apply the thumb pressure to...tight pockets on the Win brass with the double dot headstamp and I was pressing right toward the end of the arm. MIM and it snapped clean.

With good (normal) pockets, you can apply the pressure a lot lower.

/B

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Yep, break the toggle. I am on my 3rd and last one. I wear one out in about 8 or 10 years. I think they are good for around 30,000 primes or so. The pot-metal just breaks and then it is done for.

My one comment is that the quality of the finish work has gone way down over the last 25 odd years. To bad you cannot switch parts but they have changed them just enough that nothing fits.

Now if they we forged and solid they would be great!

I am not sure what the next one will be but Lee it will not! 3 strikes and you are out!

 

[Rockstar]

I have a couple of those little potmetal wonders lurking around somewhere. I have popped off a primer in one, but didn't experience a sympathetic explosion. I changed to the RCBS hand tool, which ISN"T made of potmetal, and works a lot smoother for me. The RCBS tool also has a steel shield to prevent a sympathetic explosion.

 

[dleong]

Also when you guys break a lee auto prime, what actually tends to break? I ask, because the tool looks pretty robust.

The base of the lever, near the fulcrum, broke on my Lee Hand Prime sometime last year. However, this was after several tens of thousands of strokes, so I was not upset. A quick call to Lee yielded a replacement lever at no cost to me.

 

[Arch]

Oh yeah, I forgot about Lee's return policy. It's nice to see that the do follow though on it.

Also, for those of you who have set off a primer in your lee hand tools, what sort of primers were they, and how much pressure were you putting on them?

 

[Six-Gun]

I hear ya

I have a couple of those little potmetal wonders lurking around somewhere. I have popped off a primer in one, but didn't experience a sympathetic explosion. I changed to the RCBS hand tool, which ISN"T made of potmetal, and works a lot smoother for me. The RCBS tool also has a steel shield to prevent a sympathetic explosion.

I just got into hand priming after growing tired of having to setup my Dillon 650 for doing single rifle loads through their tube priming system. That RCBS tool is excellent. Heavy metal lever, and a tough body build. We'll see how long it lasts, but I think it'll be alright for a long time.

 

[rborensr]

Nope, never had one go off on me. I even have had some of the primers get side ways in there. Never ever had a problem with one going off.

 

[WayneConrad]

Just out of interest, how big is the explosion from a small pistol primer?

I fired a primed 9mm case, no powder or bullet, out of my pistol once. Went into the bathroom, put on ears, double-checked to make sure I didn't have live ammo, turned out the lights so I could see the pretty flame, and fired into the bathtub. Out of the barrel I saw perhaps four inches of sparse, sparkler-like flame. It was loud but otherwise not impressive. I wouldn't want it pointed at my face, though.

Edited to add this disclaimer: I've done lots of dumb things in my life. For all you know, this is one of them.

 

[20cows]

Just out of interest, how big is the explosion from a small pistol primer?

Years ago I heard of an ammo company shooting a cup full of primers with a rifle at a company picknic for demonstration purposes. From a hundred yards the sound was impressive (on the order of a quarter stick of dynamite). They did this to impress the employees on handling these things safely.

It's easy to get cavalier in your handing practices. When you use a Lee Auto-Prime, you may have a hundred primers in your hand.

 

[Clark]

I have had 7 primers blow all at the same time in a Lee Auto Prime II, and I am still using it

 

[JA]

Many years ago after blowing my Lee Pro 1000 up using Remington pistol primers the light bulb came on above my head while my ears were still ringing. I concluded that there might be something to this "only use CCI and Winchester primers" warning in the owners manual.