How to Change the Primer Pin in a Lee Hand Primer

Lee Precision, Inc., of Hartford, Wisconsin, manufactures the Auto Prime XR hand priming tool. The Lee hand priming tool is used by ammunition reloaders to seat new primers in brass cartridge casings. The Auto Prime XR features interchangeable primer tray assemblies; one tray is sized for small primers, and the other is sized for large primers. Each tray assembly includes an integral plastic sleeve that holds a priming pin and priming pin spring. Changing primer pins in the middle of a reloading session is a matter of simply swapping out primer trays.

Instructions

    • 1

      Turn your Lee hand priming tool upside down and place it on a workbench or other stable work surface.

    • 2

      Brace the top of the tool against the workbench with one hand. Grab the operating lever with your other hand. Gently pull the operating level downward and out, toward the bottom of the priming tray, until the connecting rod disengages from the bottom of the priming pin and the priming pin spring. Pull the operating handle and connecting rod off the body of the tool.

    • 3

      Pull the primer tray assembly toward the bottom of the priming tool, then slide it out of the tool's body. Note that the plastic sleeve on the tray assembly that slides into the priming tool's body contains both the priming pin and priming pin spring.

    • 4

      Insert a new priming tray assembly into the body of the priming tool. Place the operating handle onto the hinge on the priming tool, then lower the operating handle until the connecting rod engages the priming pin and priming pin spring.