The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Lee auto prime XS are they any good.

Do you mean the XR, I haven't seen an XS model do you have a link to one?

If it is the XR you mean then from my customer feed back you would be better with the Ergoprime if you want to go with the Lee.

The XR isn't as good as the old auto prime it replaced.

Do the decent thing, pay the extra and get an RCBS Universal Hand Priming tool, superb bit of kit

Dave already had an RCBS years ago, he didn't like it and gave it to me.

I have found the Universal one to be a tad less than universal, it won't do every calibre.

I think it is the XR Do you stock the Ergoprime Adam.

Speaking of the RCBS priming tool i filed the top off mine to accept the 577-450 shell holder a i use a LOT of this calibre, quite a handy bit of kit and it still takes the 303 shell holder.

dromia wrote:
The XR isn't as good as the old auto prime it replaced.

Yep - the old one was better. In attempting to make it safer they have made it less usable and more prone to hang ups.

Hi Alpha,

I got one at the Phoenix to replace one (had two) which had a broken handle - I can't say I like it...It has a system where it takes 2 'strokes' to bring the primer from the reservoir to the pocket; and personally I found getting the technique difficult (have to use your thumb with the XS), and had more turned primers in the first 100 than I've ever had with old ones for thousands...

...also, my old man (who has a bit of arthritis in his hands) gave up on it after about 50, and, unless I'm using it wrong I thought it was a bit stiff too...

...so I'll be keeping it for back-up, but am under instruction (from my old man) to get get a better one...

I've also got arthritis but find the RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool pretty easy to use, I usually do batches of 50 or 100 at a time without a problem.