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AUTO BENCH PRIME Reviews & Ratings

The easiest, most convenient bench mounted priming tool ever. Symmetrical lever with just the right amount of mechanical advantage effortlessly seats even the most difficult primers with just finger pressure. The perfect mechanical advantage to fell the primer seating completely home into the primer pocket.

Includes priming assemblies for large and small primers made of a water clear tough polyester material that allows you to monitor the primers passage from the tray to the primer pocket. Change primers size or shellholders in seconds.

Includes the new folding tray - go from box to prmiing in seconds. Tray has a built-in primer flipping feature allowing direct filling from todays large primer boxes. The tool mounting holes are spaced for the Lee Bench Plate system or can be mountined directly to your workbench uses special, but inexpensive priming tool shell holders, so there's no need to endlessly swap press shell holders to prime.

NOTE: Requires the Lee Precision Auto Prime Shellholders that can be found here

https://www.brownells.com/reloading/reloading-dies/shellholders-shellplates/auto-prime-shellholders/

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3 Stars

Reviews Summary

Overall, the Lee Auto Bench Prime is appreciated for its efficiency in reloading and primer seating control. While many users praise its performance and value, some express frustrations with jamming and plastic parts that break. Positive customer service experiences are noted, but several reviews highlight concerns over its durability and design flaws.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Performance and Efficiency

75%

Many reviewers commend the Lee Auto Bench Priming Tool for its effectiveness in reloading, emphasizing how it allows for consistent primer seating and reduces hand fatigue. Users note that it significantly speeds up the reloading process compared to hand primers, making it a favored choice among reloaders.

Durability Issues

55%

Several users express dissatisfaction with the tool's durability, mentioning that parts have broken or worn out quickly. Complaints focus on the plastic components and a specific connecting rod that broke after limited use, impacting overall satisfaction with the product.

Customer Service

60%

Users have reported positive experiences with customer service, particularly in relation to receiving replacements for broken parts. This responsive support has helped mitigate some frustrations regarding the product's performance, allowing users to get back to reloading without significant downtime.

Design Flaws and Usability

50%

Some reviews highlight design flaws, particularly with the primer tray and shell holder, which can lead to jamming or require careful handling to avoid spills. While some users adapt to these quirks, others find them frustrating, indicating a need for improved design that enhances usability.

Value for Money

65%

Despite some criticisms, many consider the Lee Auto Bench Prime a cost-effective option for reloading. Users appreciate that it provides a good balance between function and price, especially when compared to higher-end models, making it a viable choice for budget-conscious reloaders.

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Affordable, Excellent tool!

The longer you reload, the more you realize the importance of primer placement. The Lee Auto Bench Prime allows full control over depth of primer seating. And makes this an effortless task. And BROWNELLS IS THE BEST IN THE INDUSTRY!

Would you recommend this? Yes, I would recommend to a friend

by VICTOR GOODSON on March 11, 2025

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Great tool

Not sure what all the 1 star reviews are about? I reload 13 different cartridges and I prime them all on here. I have had no problems with it at all. You DO have to check to make sure the primer hasn't turned sideways before you ram it home. It will turn one about 1 in a hundred primers. I was considering the RCBS but in the time it takes to turn all of the primers upside down and then pick them up with the primer tube, I'd have 50 rounds primed! It's not rocket science using this

Would you recommend this? Yes, I would recommend to a friend

the best I've found so far

Haven't found anything that works any better, that is no more tiring on the hands than this thing. Is it finicky? A little. Can you learn to deal with it's quirks and is it worth it? Absolutely.

Great tool

Purchased this as soon as it came available. I have used it now for several months and have found it to be great.I also purchased the base plate and mount it on the plate and then attach the plate to my bench with quick release screws for easy removal for storage when not in use. Increases ease and speed of priming brass with no hand fatigue. I recommend this to anyone that does reloading.

Great product for the price

I started using one of these a few years back when I was having trouble getting consistent seating in my press mounted priming systems. This fixed all that; and has worked great for me. You can feel the primers seating, and can tell if the primer is all the way seated and if the primer pocket is too loose, too tight, or just right. After 2 years of hard use; I did break the plastic primer plunger housing; but Lee replaced it for the cost of shipping, and Im up and running again.

Much better than my hand primer!

So much better than my hand primer-- but you also get what you pay for. Easy to use after a little feel, but you are unable to adjust the depth of the primer seat. Mine is not bad at around .003", but I prefer .004". With ES and SD below 10 though, I can't bring myself to spend the coin on the competition primer seaters that are out there. Speed, relative consistency, no more cramped hands..... well worth the money in my opinion. Maybe if my shooting catches up to the need for better, I might upgrade-- but very happy with my purchase

LEE Auto Bench Priming Tool

Like many LEE products, the LEE Auto Bench Priming Tool is well thought out, easy to use, and priced right. However, it is not without a few glitches. First off, the folding primer tray slide lock takes some getting use to, and following step #6 in the instructions is necessary, or you will have primers all over your bench, [speaking from experience]. Another issue is with the shell holder. The area of the tool that holds the shell holder in place has too much clearance, allowing the shell holder to rotate, making inserting and removing brass a chore. I have used LEE hand priming tools and never experienced this problem. So the first problem requires operator familiarity with the tray, and the second issue is something LEE needs to address. Would I recommend buying the LEE Auto Bench Priming Tool yes, just be aware of the two areas I outlined.

Broken connecting rod

I loved the old style Lee hand primer but it would not easily prime small mag rifle primers with heavy walls into small pockets to full flush depth so I bought this bench mounted Lee for a little more leverage. The connecting rod broken in under 150 rounds and appears to be made of sintered metal. Before it's early demise, it did a good job but it should have lasted several thousand rounds.

Do not buy

Every time a use it with either small primers or large you have to always check before you prime because if you do not you crush the primer. I have lost three to four primers each time i use this product.

Junk

Had this unit for a year or more. It broke down several times. Lee was good about replacing the parts but I spent more on paying for shipping new parts and wasted time than what I originally spent on buying the thing.