what happened to my rockchucker?

kingudaroad · January 17, 2006, 04:49 PM

This is probably a dumb question, and you all can flame me if I didn't read all the directions, but my rockchucker wont catch primers anymore. It used to catch about 95 percent in the little plastic saddle deal, but now they fall into the hollow part of the ram and the onto the floor. Every one! What gives here?

**Mal H** · January 17, 2006, 04:59 PM

What I want to know is how did it catch that 95% in the beginning? Primers going everywhere with the Rockchucker is standard operating procedure.

There was a good thread around here about what some have done to alleviate the problem. I'll see if I can find it.

Personally, I have added a piece of stiff cardboard to the catcher that increases the area the primer can hit. I'm catching roughly 100%, but every now and then one gets away.

[Added]
Here's one of the threads: http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=161938

But that isn't the one I was thinking about. That thread had an excellent design by a member made of aluminum sheet that was ingenious.

RERICK · January 17, 2006, 05:26 PM

mine didn't cach any where near 95 % more like 10. If you want a good press that caches every primer check out the Redding T7 turret.That thing not only caches every primer its like 3 times as fast as a Rock Chucker and can do it as good if not better.Sell that thing on Ebay and don't look back.Thats what I did.
Natchez still has them for like 169.00

Daniel BOON · January 17, 2006, 09:40 PM

My dad bought a one lung 'chucker in the early '60's, when he passed, I inherited it; it keeps chug chug chugging along. oh yea, the primers. heres my secret: once a month I bend over and pick up the ones on the floor. its part of the reloading experience

joneb · January 18, 2006, 01:32 AM

surfing the gun forums , priceless. thanks guys, I needed that

CINDERDICK · January 18, 2006, 01:49 PM

Here is how I handled the problem you describe:

(1) Go to your local ice cream shop (Dairy Queen, Mr Softie. Twisters etc)

(2) Get one of the plastic straws they issue with their products. (These are a little larger in diameter than fountain drinks).

(3) Tuck the straw in the groove in press ram after cutting it about 1/4 to 3/8th inch shorter the the length of the ram groove, with the top end just under the shellholder in the ram. Cut the bottom of straw at an angle with the angle facing the rear of the groove in ram, CHECK TO MAKE SURE IT CLEARS as the ram moves up & down.

Now the spent primer falls down the tube (straw) and just rolls out in primer catcher. NO MESS ON FLOOR.

AND IT'S FREE.

kingudaroad · January 18, 2006, 03:31 PM

How about the nerve of RCBS making a bad design and then asking $12 for a different shaped stupid little piece of plastic that is supposed to do the same thing that the original stupid little piece of plastic failed to do.I think their trying to screw me twice!

**Mal H** · January 18, 2006, 04:05 PM

CINDERDICK - By George, that is elegant in its simplicity! It works like a champ! I might be throwing away my cardboard backstop (pat. pend.).

And in return here's another tip using the oversized straws: I also use them for .22 magazines for my tube fed Marlin 39. Tape one end, load 'em up (bullets down) and set 'em in a tall can. You can completely load a tube magazine in about 5 seconds.

Countertop · January 18, 2006, 04:21 PM

CINDERDICK,

THink that would work with a Lee Turrett Press???

I'm gonna hit 7-11 to get the straw and try it out this week.

Plated · January 18, 2006, 05:47 PM

I made a "sheild" that deflects them as they come down the groove in the ram. I basically use a stiff cardboard material(the backer that gives leagle pads there regidity works great!). I wedge part of it in the slot where the primer arm is supposed to me mounted. The part that deflects the primer is small and not in the way of reaching for the case.

I know this is vauge...I will try and get a picture of it tonight and past again tomorrow showing what it looks like. De-primed about 200 cases last night with no primers to get off the floor!

I have tried "shimming" to make the grove a tube.....but it would clog sometimes and also still had a few that would come down fast enough to pop out .

Plated · January 19, 2006, 10:29 AM

ok for what its worth here is what I am using(mentioned in post above). Works well for me so far....

DAVID NANCARROW · January 19, 2006, 11:07 AM

FWIW, the primer catcher I received with my RC IV is kind of an inverted V looking plastic piece with two recepticles on the lower ends. It catches 99% of the primers.

January 17, 2006, 04:49 PM	#1
kingudaroad Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Location: austin Posts: 735	what happened to my rockchucker? This is probably a dumb question, and you all can flame me if I didn't read all the directions, but my rockchucker wont catch primers anymore. It used to catch about 95 percent in the little plastic saddle deal, but now they fall into the hollow part of the ram and the onto the floor. Every one! What gives here?

January 17, 2006, 09:40 PM	#4
Daniel BOON Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2005 Location: Henderson NV Posts: 360	ssshhhhh heres my secret My dad bought a one lung 'chucker in the early '60's, when he passed, I inherited it; it keeps chug chug chugging along. oh yea, the primers. heres my secret: once a month I bend over and pick up the ones on the floor. its part of the reloading experience

January 18, 2006, 01:49 PM	#6
CINDERDICK Junior Member Join Date: July 15, 2000 Location: ST LOUIS MO. USA Posts: 2	What happened to my rockchucker Here is how I handled the problem you describe: (1) Go to your local ice cream shop (Dairy Queen, Mr Softie. Twisters etc) (2) Get one of the plastic straws they issue with their products. (These are a little larger in diameter than fountain drinks). (3) Tuck the straw in the groove in press ram after cutting it about 1/4 to 3/8th inch shorter the the length of the ram groove, with the top end just under the shellholder in the ram. Cut the bottom of straw at an angle with the angle facing the rear of the groove in ram, CHECK TO MAKE SURE IT CLEARS as the ram moves up & down. Now the spent primer falls down the tube (straw) and just rolls out in primer catcher. NO MESS ON FLOOR. AND IT'S FREE.

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January 17, 2006, 04:59 PM	#2
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,947	What I want to know is how did it catch that 95% in the beginning? Primers going everywhere with the Rockchucker is standard operating procedure. There was a good thread around here about what some have done to alleviate the problem. I'll see if I can find it. Personally, I have added a piece of stiff cardboard to the catcher that increases the area the primer can hit. I'm catching roughly 100%, but every now and then one gets away. [Added] Here's one of the threads: http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=161938 But that isn't the one I was thinking about. That thread had an excellent design by a member made of aluminum sheet that was ingenious.

January 17, 2006, 05:26 PM	#3
RERICK Junior member Join Date: July 9, 2005 Posts: 369	mine didn't cach any where near 95 % more like 10. If you want a good press that caches every primer check out the Redding T7 turret.That thing not only caches every primer its like 3 times as fast as a Rock Chucker and can do it as good if not better.Sell that thing on Ebay and don't look back.Thats what I did. Natchez still has them for like 169.00

January 18, 2006, 01:32 AM	#5
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	surfing the gun forums , priceless. thanks guys, I needed that

January 18, 2006, 03:31 PM	#7
kingudaroad Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Location: austin Posts: 735	How about the nerve of RCBS making a bad design and then asking $12 for a different shaped stupid little piece of plastic that is supposed to do the same thing that the original stupid little piece of plastic failed to do.I think their trying to screw me twice!

January 18, 2006, 04:05 PM	#8
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,947	CINDERDICK - By George, that is elegant in its simplicity! It works like a champ! I might be throwing away my cardboard backstop (pat. pend.). And in return here's another tip using the oversized straws: I also use them for .22 magazines for my tube fed Marlin 39. Tape one end, load 'em up (bullets down) and set 'em in a tall can. You can completely load a tube magazine in about 5 seconds.

January 18, 2006, 04:21 PM	#9
Countertop Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2004 Location: At the diner Posts: 125	CINDERDICK, THink that would work with a Lee Turrett Press??? I'm gonna hit 7-11 to get the straw and try it out this week.

January 18, 2006, 05:47 PM	#10
Plated Member Join Date: January 18, 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 26	I made a "sheild" that deflects them as they come down the groove in the ram. I basically use a stiff cardboard material(the backer that gives leagle pads there regidity works great!). I wedge part of it in the slot where the primer arm is supposed to me mounted. The part that deflects the primer is small and not in the way of reaching for the case. I know this is vauge...I will try and get a picture of it tonight and past again tomorrow showing what it looks like. De-primed about 200 cases last night with no primers to get off the floor! I have tried "shimming" to make the grove a tube.....but it would clog sometimes and also still had a few that would come down fast enough to pop out .

January 19, 2006, 11:07 AM	#12
DAVID NANCARROW Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2000 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,761	FWIW, the primer catcher I received with my RC IV is kind of an inverted V looking plastic piece with two recepticles on the lower ends. It catches 99% of the primers.