Catching your primers

Ricky Bobby · April 21, 2012, 05:03 PM

I have the hardest time getting those pesky little primers to fall into that tray on top of my RCBS press! When punching them out, I usually have them bouncing and rolling all over the place.

Anybody have a solution to my problem?

There has to be some way to modify my press, so that my primers don't end up on the floor!

Let's hear some suggestions.

jepp2 · April 21, 2012, 05:10 PM

For my old RockChucker, I use a large plastic straw in the priming groove of the ram for small pistol and rifle primers. It directs them to the catch tray.

Lost Sheep · April 21, 2012, 05:16 PM

The straw thing works well. I read about that a few weeks ago on another thread. A deflection shield also works, too.

I just use a dropcloth. It catches more than primers. Brass, powder, live primers, everything.

Lost Sheep

wncchester · April 21, 2012, 05:57 PM

I have the hardest time getting those pesky little primers to fall into that tray on top of my RCBS press! ... Anybody have a solution to my problem?"

Even those that in the tray - many don't - I spill a few emptying the thing. My solution is to deprime in a Lee "Reloader" press with a Lee Universal Decap die; love it.

zeke · April 21, 2012, 06:01 PM

masking tape into temoporary deflector

carprivershooter · April 21, 2012, 07:27 PM

I put an old towel or throw rug on the floor around the press. I also took a plastic water bottle and cut a deflector and wire tied it in place that keeps the little bugger in the primer cacther, this is on a lee turret press. the rug is for the one that seems to have a mind of its own.

oldreloader · April 21, 2012, 09:49 PM

The straw works well for me too

Scharfschuetzer · April 22, 2012, 12:43 AM

Like Wnchester in his post above, I use an inexpensive Lyman press (similar to the Lee press) that mounts on my loading bench with C clamps. It uses the same shell holders as my Rockchucker press and I keep a Lyman decapping die permanently in it. It decaps everything from 22 Hornet to 50/70 and I only need to change the shell holder to do so.

With a trash can underneath it, I keep my loading area free from those pesky little caps as well as all the black carbon residue that seems to migrate into the bearing surfaces of the Rockchucker when it's used to decap.

Bart B. · April 22, 2012, 07:42 AM

I've used an RCBS Partner press for years to deprime cases. Made a primer tube out of PVC pipe with a plastic jar to catch primers. First two pictures show the aluminum tube put in the ram to direct primers out the hole on the ram's right side.

Ricky Bobby · April 22, 2012, 12:13 PM

Nice job!

joneb · April 22, 2012, 01:25 PM

My deflector is pretty low tech but it works

reloading 001.jpg

level10 · April 22, 2012, 04:48 PM

I have a rock chucker and i slip a 1/4 inch square magnet between the press and the primer catcher works pretty good you can easily remove it if it gets in the way

Bart B. · April 22, 2012, 05:18 PM

level10 says:

Quote:

I have a rock chucker and i slip a 1/4 inch square magnet between the press and the primer catcher works pretty good you can easily remove it if it gets in the way

What make and type of primer do you use that has steel in them?

All the primers I've used have metal parts made from brass.

Maybe you're using the square magnet to stick to the press in such a way that primers stay in their catcher. Probably a good idea.

level10 · April 22, 2012, 11:24 PM

@bart b i use the magnet to move the catcher closer to the hole in the press where my primers come out after deprimed i remove the magnet after so it does not get in the way of my next process and no my primers are not steel

armoredman · April 23, 2012, 12:07 AM

My RCBS RS was throwing them all over until I realized they were bouncing off the priming arm. I don't use it anymore, so I pulled it off, and now the ratio of "runners" is quite small. I might try that straw idea...

MADISON · April 23, 2012, 01:18 PM

I solved that problem years ago.
You know the plastic or metal that covers your light switch [where you turn
your lights off and on]. Get one of those and place it in the tray.

farmerboy · April 23, 2012, 07:42 PM

Come on guys, I have a rock chucker with the black primer catcher and if you empty it out after it gets about 500 in it you may lose one primer out of 500. That's not enough for me to worry about.

Romeo 33 Delta · April 23, 2012, 08:27 PM

This is my set up, easily done and nearly 100% foolproof.

First picture shows the soda straw in the ram slot. It starts just at the base of an inserted shellholder and ends just before the slot in the ram begins to taper out.

Second/third pictures show the drop tube inserted into the plastic primer tray.
I used 5/8" ID tubing and drilled the hole in the tray considerably undersize and then filed it out for a TIGHT, interference fit.

Romeo 33 Delta · April 23, 2012, 08:29 PM

Fourth/fifth pictures show the 5/8" ID plastic tubing and how I route it to my holding jug.

CherokeeT · April 23, 2012, 08:53 PM

jibjam - I use something like he uses. The straw thing did not work for me.

Ricky Bobby · April 24, 2012, 05:15 AM

Lots of good ideas for different ways to catch primers with my RCBS press. I have actually tried using the straw slipped down through the center of the ram & I also put a rubber spacer/bumper behind the top part of my primer trays catch system, and it works excellent! I run almost 200 rounds through the decapping pin and every single spent primer went where it was supposed to ... my primer tray.

Thanks to everyone who gave me some good ideas.

joe45c · April 24, 2012, 09:34 PM

wow farmerboy, your primmer catcher is big league caliber. mine must be minor league. out of every 100 about 4or 5 will bounce out of the basket and onto the floor lost till i start walking around and step on them with my stocking feet. Not that is a big problem i don't though in the towel and stop deprimming, but my primmer basket catch rate is not even in your league.

Slamfire · April 25, 2012, 10:52 AM

Redding T7 is the solution.

I loved my Rockchucker and my Lyman T Mag, but I got very tired of picking primers off the floor.

I tried all sorts of deflectors and nothing was 100%.

The Redding T-7 has a hollow ram, primers go down the ram, through the plastic tube, into the bottle.

cryogenic419 · April 26, 2012, 04:41 PM

I've got a Rockchucker with the black plastic cup. I use the oversized post cards with store ads or sales that came in the mail. Basically what I am doing is creating a wall all the way around everything except where my hand needed to go to change out brass. Just pop the postcard inside the black cup, trim as necessary. Keeps them used primers from flying all over.

Pretty much the same idea that jibjab has up above.

Gunplummer · April 26, 2012, 11:16 PM

I dumped some live primers one night and went to get a dust pan and brush. When I came back the primers were gone and my Scotti was sitting there with a guilty look on his face. I would not advise it as a system, I just happened to think of it with all the talk of primers on the floor.

April 21, 2012, 05:03 PM	#1
Ricky Bobby Member Join Date: October 23, 2011 Posts: 48	Catching your primers I have the hardest time getting those pesky little primers to fall into that tray on top of my RCBS press! When punching them out, I usually have them bouncing and rolling all over the place. Anybody have a solution to my problem? There has to be some way to modify my press, so that my primers don't end up on the floor! Let's hear some suggestions.

April 21, 2012, 07:27 PM	#6
carprivershooter Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2008 Location: Michigan, Upper Pennsula Posts: 396	I put an old towel or throw rug on the floor around the press. I also took a plastic water bottle and cut a deflector and wire tied it in place that keeps the little bugger in the primer cacther, this is on a lee turret press. the rug is for the one that seems to have a mind of its own. __________________ CarpriverShOOter Finch, I don't like guns. Reese, Me either but if someone has to have guns I'd rather it be me. (Person of Interest). No trees were destroyed in the posting of the this message

April 22, 2012, 12:43 AM	#8
Scharfschuetzer Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2012 Location: Puget Sound Posts: 293	Like Wnchester in his post above, I use an inexpensive Lyman press (similar to the Lee press) that mounts on my loading bench with C clamps. It uses the same shell holders as my Rockchucker press and I keep a Lyman decapping die permanently in it. It decaps everything from 22 Hornet to 50/70 and I only need to change the shell holder to do so. With a trash can underneath it, I keep my loading area free from those pesky little caps as well as all the black carbon residue that seems to migrate into the bearing surfaces of the Rockchucker when it's used to decap. __________________ Scharfschuetzer US Army Distinguished Rifleman Washington State Distinguished Rifleman NRA Police Distinguished Expert

April 22, 2012, 04:48 PM	#12
level10 Member Join Date: December 25, 2011 Posts: 32	catching primers I have a rock chucker and i slip a 1/4 inch square magnet between the press and the primer catcher works pretty good you can easily remove it if it gets in the way

April 22, 2012, 11:24 PM	#14
level10 Member Join Date: December 25, 2011 Posts: 32	primer catcher @bart b i use the magnet to move the catcher closer to the hole in the press where my primers come out after deprimed i remove the magnet after so it does not get in the way of my next process and no my primers are not steel

April 21, 2012, 05:10 PM	#2
jepp2 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,476	For my old RockChucker, I use a large plastic straw in the priming groove of the ram for small pistol and rifle primers. It directs them to the catch tray.

April 21, 2012, 05:16 PM	#3
Lost Sheep Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2009 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 3,341	The straw thing works well. I read about that a few weeks ago on another thread. A deflection shield also works, too. I just use a dropcloth. It catches more than primers. Brass, powder, live primers, everything. Lost Sheep

April 21, 2012, 05:57 PM	#4
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	I have the hardest time getting those pesky little primers to fall into that tray on top of my RCBS press! ... Anybody have a solution to my problem?" Even those that in the tray - many don't - I spill a few emptying the thing. My solution is to deprime in a Lee "Reloader" press with a Lee Universal Decap die; love it.

April 21, 2012, 06:01 PM	#5
zeke Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 1999 Location: NW Wi Posts: 1,671	masking tape into temoporary deflector

April 21, 2012, 09:49 PM	#7
oldreloader Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2009 Location: Magnolia, Arkansas Posts: 251	The straw works well for me too

April 22, 2012, 07:42 AM	#9
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	I've used an RCBS Partner press for years to deprime cases. Made a primer tube out of PVC pipe with a plastic jar to catch primers. First two pictures show the aluminum tube put in the ram to direct primers out the hole on the ram's right side.

April 22, 2012, 12:13 PM	#10
Ricky Bobby Member Join Date: October 23, 2011 Posts: 48	Nice job!

April 22, 2012, 01:25 PM	#11
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	My deflector is pretty low tech but it works reloading 001.jpg

April 23, 2012, 12:07 AM	#15
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,299	My RCBS RS was throwing them all over until I realized they were bouncing off the priming arm. I don't use it anymore, so I pulled it off, and now the ratio of "runners" is quite small. I might try that straw idea...

April 23, 2012, 01:18 PM	#16
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Primers going everywhere I solved that problem years ago. You know the plastic or metal that covers your light switch [where you turn your lights off and on]. Get one of those and place it in the tray.

April 23, 2012, 07:42 PM	#17
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	Come on guys, I have a rock chucker with the black primer catcher and if you empty it out after it gets about 500 in it you may lose one primer out of 500. That's not enough for me to worry about.

April 23, 2012, 08:53 PM	#20
CherokeeT Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2008 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 273	jibjam - I use something like he uses. The straw thing did not work for me. __________________ God Bless America US Army, NRA Endowment TSRA Life, SASS

April 24, 2012, 05:15 AM	#21
Ricky Bobby Member Join Date: October 23, 2011 Posts: 48	Lots of good ideas for different ways to catch primers with my RCBS press. I have actually tried using the straw slipped down through the center of the ram & I also put a rubber spacer/bumper behind the top part of my primer trays catch system, and it works excellent! I run almost 200 rounds through the decapping pin and every single spent primer went where it was supposed to ... my primer tray. Thanks to everyone who gave me some good ideas.

April 24, 2012, 09:34 PM	#22
joe45c Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2012 Location: peru ny Posts: 218	wow farmerboy, your primmer catcher is big league caliber. mine must be minor league. out of every 100 about 4or 5 will bounce out of the basket and onto the floor lost till i start walking around and step on them with my stocking feet. Not that is a big problem i don't though in the towel and stop deprimming, but my primmer basket catch rate is not even in your league.

April 25, 2012, 10:52 AM	#23
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	Redding T7 is the solution. I loved my Rockchucker and my Lyman T Mag, but I got very tired of picking primers off the floor. I tried all sorts of deflectors and nothing was 100%. The Redding T-7 has a hollow ram, primers go down the ram, through the plastic tube, into the bottle. __________________ If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.

April 26, 2012, 04:41 PM	#24
cryogenic419 Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2009 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 569	I've got a Rockchucker with the black plastic cup. I use the oversized post cards with store ads or sales that came in the mail. Basically what I am doing is creating a wall all the way around everything except where my hand needed to go to change out brass. Just pop the postcard inside the black cup, trim as necessary. Keeps them used primers from flying all over. Pretty much the same idea that jibjab has up above.

April 26, 2012, 11:16 PM	#25
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	I dumped some live primers one night and went to get a dust pan and brush. When I came back the primers were gone and my Scotti was sitting there with a guilty look on his face. I would not advise it as a system, I just happened to think of it with all the talk of primers on the floor.