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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001250487-03-000001.txt : 20030703
<SEC-HEADER>0001250487-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030703
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030703124424
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001250487-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030703

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214816
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		106 PITTS BAY ROAD
		CITY:			PEMBROKE
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4412962600

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THOMAS H LEE ADVISORS ALTERNATIVE V LTD LDC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001250487

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31721
		FILM NUMBER:		03774523

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THOMAS H LEE PARTNERS LP
		STREET 2:		75 STATE STRET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172271050
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-01</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001214816</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS L</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AXS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001250487</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOMAS H LEE ADVISORS ALTERNATIVE V LTD LDC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-01</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1015606</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>20.68</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>14683266</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>By Partnership</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On July 1, 2003, Thomas H. Lee (Alternative) Fund V, L.P. (&quot;Fund V&quot;), Thomas H. Lee (Alternative) Parallel Fund V, L.P. (&quot;Parallel Fund&quot;) and Thomas H. Lee (Alternative) Cayman Fund V, L.P. (&quot;Cayman Fund&quot; and together with Fund V and Parallel Fund, the &quot;Funds&quot;) sold, in the aggregate, 1,015,606 shares of the Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents 11,532,213 shares of the Issuer held directly by Fund V, 2,992,145 shares of the Issuer held directly by Parallel Fund, and 158,908 shares of the Issuer held by Cayman Fund. The Reporting Person is the general partner of THL Advisors (Alternative) V, L.P., which, in turn, is the general partner of each of the Funds.  The Reporting Person may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of the Issuer held directly by each of the Funds. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the securities for the purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose, except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Scott M. Sperling, a Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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