Lee Hand Prime Shell-holder Issue

[Proclaim]

Does anyone have a fix for case rims fitting too tight in the Lee Hand Prime Shell-holders? I recently purchased some new Remington 7BR brass and 90% of them fit so tight in the shell-holder that I almost have to pry them out with a screwdriver. The 6BR Lapua brass will only stick on about 10% of the brass. Thanks for the advice!

[Richard Pickering]

Have you measured the Rem 7br cases at the web, and also the Lapua cases at the web ? Is there a significant difference ? Is it a situation of case body diameter or of thickness of the ''rim'' (the area grabbed by the extractor) ? If it is case body causing the problem you might get inside the shellholder with a fine file and do a bit of ''relieving'' work. rp

[ole95]

to be honest with mine
the one for the 223 family (222 223 tcu and whisper) is a loose as a goose
the one for my hornet is tight as Dicks hat band
and the one for the 32-20 is just about right
course I use the cheap shitty stuff
If I used Lapua I would probably have a custom primer not a cheap Lee
but like others I probably won't be any better of a shot

[high standard 40]

I use an older Lee Auto Prime, hand primer........I actually have two, one set up for small primers and one for large. I've been using them for many, many years with no issues........except 22 Hornet. Lee does show two different shell holders for the Hornet. I have both. One was loose and the other is just right. I have never had any issues whatsoever with the .473" head size casings. That's the #2 shellholder.
If I were having an issue with a tight fit, I would examine closely to see where the problem is and perhaps use a Dremel to relieve the problem area. The shellholders are cheap so I would not be concerned about screwing one up. The issue should be either too small a diameter of the cut or the angle cut to match the extractor groove on the case is wrong.

Or purchase another #2 and hope for a better fit from a different lot.

[high standard 40]

...

[260 Striker]

I agree with High Standard 40. I have two Auto Primes for large and small primers and the number 2 works fine for the Rem brass. If you can't massage your current shell holder, get a regular shell holder for your press that works with the Rem brass and take a cut off wheel on a Dremel and cut off the part that snaps into the press ram. I have run into other brass that gives me fits on the shell holder for a press and have found the old Lyman X2 holder will work on anything. If you can find one of those and modify for the Lee you are home free. Lee shell holders are cheap enough you could buy several and find one out of the bunch that would work. Take one of your Rem cases to the next gun show and find someone with Lee shell holders for the Auto Prime and find one that fits. I'd rather shoot extra entries instead of buying the expensive brass like someone I know.

[Proclaim]

Turns out it was a pretty easy fix....I purchased a stainless shell holder from Sinclair Int. Now I have no problems at all with cases sticking in the shell holder. I remembered reading an article a couple years ago about brass shell holders that Possum Hollow made for the Lee hand primer. People really liked them because they fit much better than the Lee shell holders. Possum Hollow does not seem to be making these shell holders anymore. After researching several other reloading forums I found very good reviews on the Sinclair shell holders...so I got one.