New to Reloading and Stumped
- Thread starter DLeeHarley
- Start date
Snapping Twig
Member
Here's a helpful hint...
Deprime AFTER you tumble.
Media in the flash hole is a beyotch, this prevents it.
No extra charge, don't forget to tip your waiter on the way out...
Deprime AFTER you tumble.
Media in the flash hole is a beyotch, this prevents it.
No extra charge, don't forget to tip your waiter on the way out...
Bkreutz
US Veteran
I second this idea, you can get a piece of media stuck in the flash hole and miss it in your inspection of the brass, the primer will fire but the powder not ignite. (don't ask how I know
)scooter123
Member
IMO RCBS sort of blew it when the did the design on my Rockchucker Supreme. While it's proven to be an excellent single stage press there are times when it should have been name the Primer Puker. Because it does puke old primers all over the press, bench, and floor.
As an Engineer it's rather natural to take a look at a devices failings and think about how they could be corrected. In the case of the Rockchucker the obvious solution would be to have the center shaft bored all the way through so that a primer could drop straight down into a small bucket hanging from the rod. Unfortunately that isn't possible with the current design of the press and any redesign incorporating a straight drop would probably result in a significant increase in price.
So, an easy low cost alternate is to insure that the current collector is held in place against the main shaft. Because if you eliminate any gap that a primer can slip through the do get directed into the catch trays. One of these days when I get frustrated enough I'll probably shape and mount a block of wood to accomplish this. However, the urge just isn't that strong because my shop vac cleans up the mess in less time than it took to type this.
As an Engineer it's rather natural to take a look at a devices failings and think about how they could be corrected. In the case of the Rockchucker the obvious solution would be to have the center shaft bored all the way through so that a primer could drop straight down into a small bucket hanging from the rod. Unfortunately that isn't possible with the current design of the press and any redesign incorporating a straight drop would probably result in a significant increase in price.
So, an easy low cost alternate is to insure that the current collector is held in place against the main shaft. Because if you eliminate any gap that a primer can slip through the do get directed into the catch trays. One of these days when I get frustrated enough I'll probably shape and mount a block of wood to accomplish this. However, the urge just isn't that strong because my shop vac cleans up the mess in less time than it took to type this.
noylj
Member
Gee, I've only been depriming before cleaning for about 20 years with 20/40 corn and never had any media in primer pocket or flash hole.
Do what works for you.
Do what works for you.
andyo5
Member
You buy a Dillon RL550B multi stage press, that's how!
The spent primers fall into a little cup, which will hold several hundred. When it is full, you dump them in the trash can.
KLYDE
Member
I've got the RS5 which is the step lower than the Rockchucker. Still a plenty hefty press. It has a nice channel in the ram with a port on the side. The spent primer exits the port and lands in the supplied primer catch cup. I'm stumped why the higher end RC is not designed like this. BTW I have 100% RCBS gear and love it. To each their own I reckon.
crankyoldlady
Member
It's barely visible, but if you look closely, you will see a clear plastic shield inserted within the rim of the primer catcher.
I cut this from a plastic mayo jar. A better fit was obtained by slightly heating the cut plastic with a hair dryer. It is stabilized in place with two cuts of double stick tape. Works great.
I would also add that I have better luck with the plastic primer trays than the original metal trays.
I cut this from a plastic mayo jar. A better fit was obtained by slightly heating the cut plastic with a hair dryer. It is stabilized in place with two cuts of double stick tape. Works great.
I would also add that I have better luck with the plastic primer trays than the original metal trays.
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Clovishound
Member
Even better would be a tube that fits on the bottom of the drilled ram and can either be directed into a container, or plugged and act as a container itself. Oh wait, that is what Lee did with their Turret presses.
2ndAmendmentNut
Member
One of the presses I own is a Lee Classic Cast "O" style. Very sturdy press and the ram has a hole through it and at the bottom you can attach a supplied length of rubber tubing. You can either plug the tubing and empty it on occasion or direct it into a trash can. This set up works really well for catching primers and is about the only setup that does work.
Snapping Twig
Member
Well, you're a lucky guy.
noylj
Member
Snapping Twig:
No, I looked at various grit sizes and found the one that works.
No luck involved.
No, I looked at various grit sizes and found the one that works.
No luck involved.
hotrod150
Member
I've brain-farted and de-primed before tumbling a couple times, and had media get stuck in the primer hole of several cases (small pistol primers) each time. For me, tumbling before depriming is less trouble than determining particle size before I buy tumbling media.
I have the later model Rockchucker. I'm amazed a fine company like RCBS would redesign the primer catcher and retain all the worst features but they did. Tradition? I couldn't figure a way to modify the new black plastic catcher so I bent a copper tube to match the collection point and primers all go into a bottle on the shelf below. The brass tube inserted in the ram directs all the primers out the rear slot. No more primers on the floor.
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riverrat38
US Veteran
I have an RCBS Partner press. I think it is the smallest they make.
I had a lot of flying primers until I started using a Lee Universal De-capper. I don't know why this is. I bought the de-capper because I wash the brass instead of tumbling it. So, I like to de-prim separately, prior to washing. The brass drains much better with a hole at both ends. And, the pockets get clean, along with both "sides" of the brass.
Before I got the Lee, I used to put a plastic tarp down before de-priming.
Dean Grennell mentioned this problem in one of his books. Seems he liked to work bare footed. I think he lived in California! He solved the problem by using an RCBS Model A-2 press that he acquired in 1959.
He said it deposits all the spent primers in a tomato can and he can work with his feet unshod without fear!
Best,
Rick
I had a lot of flying primers until I started using a Lee Universal De-capper. I don't know why this is. I bought the de-capper because I wash the brass instead of tumbling it. So, I like to de-prim separately, prior to washing. The brass drains much better with a hole at both ends. And, the pockets get clean, along with both "sides" of the brass.
Before I got the Lee, I used to put a plastic tarp down before de-priming.
Dean Grennell mentioned this problem in one of his books. Seems he liked to work bare footed. I think he lived in California! He solved the problem by using an RCBS Model A-2 press that he acquired in 1959.
He said it deposits all the spent primers in a tomato can and he can work with his feet unshod without fear!
Best,
Rick
This is why i switched to a forster coax. It captures all the primers in a small jar. My rcbs sent primers flying everywhere..when the wife sucked one in the vaccum cleaner it was not pretty. Other than that they are fabulous machines.
medalguy
Member
Here's a 100% reliable method of capturing those primers when using a Rockchucker. Next time you go to the golden arches for a free cup of coffee, pick up a couple of extra straws. Cut one 2-1/2 inches long and push it into the slot in the ram, up against the bottom of the shell holder. Try the ram and be sure the bottom of the straw clears the housing-- it might need to be trimmed just a bit, but when the length is right, every single spent primer will be dropped into the plastic catcher.
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I also use a 9 x 13 cake pan under the catcher when removing it to catch any primers than might be caught between the catcher and the press. I save the spent primers and throw them into my scrap brass bucket and take them to the scrap yard. You might be surprised how much those little primers can add to the total weight.
I also use a 9 x 13 cake pan under the catcher when removing it to catch any primers than might be caught between the catcher and the press. I save the spent primers and throw them into my scrap brass bucket and take them to the scrap yard. You might be surprised how much those little primers can add to the total weight.
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