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Auto Prime

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4 review(s) | Add your review
Availability: In stock
SKU: 90230
$33.98

Product Information

The original and world's most popular hand-held priming tool. Fast and economical hand held priming with unmatched feel and accuracy. Lee New Auto Prime uses inexpensive Lee Hand Prime shell holders only. Ships with 1 folding primer tray, 1 small and 1 large priming assembly. Includes a FREE molded storage box to keep your priming tool shell holders and tool together. Molded storage box holds up to 18 shell holders.

Please note: Lee Precision has tested the tool by intentionally setting off a variety of brands and types of primers. Our testing has demonstrated that wearing safety glasses and hearing protection will prevent serious injury. However, all types of FEDERAL BRAND LARGE PRIMERS frequently caused the entire tray to explode with sufficient force to cause serious and painful injuries. These primers must be fed individually, see step 7 of product instructions, single priming option.

 

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WarningWARNING: Handling live and spent primers and lead shot will expose you and others in the area to lead and other chemicals, which are known to the State of California to cause reproductive harm and cancer. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

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Existing reviews
Lee Auto Prime design needs refining
1
I tried and tried and tried to make this tool work with small pistol primers. Lee Precision even sent me a replacement piece for free, but it just does not work any better or as it should. I pulled a blister on my finger when working on a large quantity if I don't hold it exactly right and I've had to take the feed elevator apart to remove stuck primers more than once. I keep going back and using my old round version against the advice in Modern Reloading (The manual prompted me to purchase this "upgrade."). The old tool was simply a superior design. I think I have done my due diligence in trying to make this work and Lee Precision did send me replacement parts, but nothing seems to work. I quit using my Auto Prime because the feeding design continues to cause primers to go in upside down and sideways. Despite Lee's efforts, the Auto Prime is not the best tool they have to offer. I continue to use Lee's other tools because they make great equipment; however, the Auto Prime is not the best that Lee has to offer.
BRADY | 2/23/2026 1:05 PM
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A manager responded to this review
Complaints on the new Auto Prime tool universally come from long time users of the Auto Prime. The priming pin, nylon locating area and body is virtually identical to the original. The elevator pin and flash gate have been added to allow the tool to more safely handle today’s more sensitive primers. The original Auto-Prime was down to only CCI and Remington primers being safe to use.
The big difference in operation of the New Auto Prime verses the original Auto-Prime, is that the new tool does not have a “head” of primers to push the primer onto the priming pin. To allow for this lack of “head,” one must always maintain the tool in a position that always allows the primer to feed to the primer pin. You may want to consider the Auto Bench Prime, as it is mounted to a fixed angle, and can be mounted to a wood board if you want it portable. If you send us in your tool and mention this product rating, we can exchange it for you.
I use this exclusively on both handgun & rifle shells
4
Initial setup take some finesse but straightforward. When using, you learn to hold it as pictured to make sure primers in proper position. You quickly learn the 'feel' of a proper primer seating but check manually. If priming several calibers (I do 10+), the separate shell holder kit is a good added item. [Intuitive enough that I can prime 200+ shells while watching a TV movie.)
Harding | 6/27/2024 3:00 PM
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Useful tool
3
Bought one because I just wore my old ones out.  Used on some military brass and found out its not as strong as the old ones.  Broke my Large primer center section on the first batch.   Got through but was rough at the end.  I miss my old ones.  I suspect that the small one might not have the same issue of broken plastic gumming up the passage.
BRUCE | 11/18/2023 5:25 PM
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I really like this tool.
5
I use this tool only, don't like my press mounted primer so I switched to the Lee auto prime and haven't looked back.
scott | 9/8/2023 12:55 PM
Was this review helpful? Yes No (4/0)
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