New to Reloading and Stumped

[DLeeHarley]

Hello All, I'm just starting to reload and in time I plan on casting for economy and accuracy. I got a load of used brass and am in the process of removing the used primers. All of my equipment so far is RCBS and I am using a dedicated decap die to remove the old primers and then clean the brass before proceeding. The press I'm using is an RCBS Rock Chucker RCII. My question is "How do you keep the Primers that are being removed from flying all over the place instead of landing in the little plastic pan there supposed to land in?" I've tried covering the whole press with a towel, but it really slows down the process if you know what I mean. Any help would and will be greatly appreciated I assure you. Thanks & Later,

 

[ronnie gore]

primers

not much way to stop the primers from jumping out, I have an rcbs also and I just use the dust pan and a broom after I get through, I have several dillion presses and they catch all the primers in a little cup under the press.
you might try adjusting the die so it will just barely knock out the primer.

 

[358156hp]

Do you have the primer arm in its slot in the ram, or do you have it folded forward? It looks like it should be in the slot so it can deflect the primers into the catch tray. I read the instructions on RCBS website and they generally show the primer arm in the rearward position. They mention a spring, which is probably used to keep the arm in position.

 

[Smithhound]

Some spent primers are always going to go wild, but try slowing down on your decapp stroke and (if you are right handed) as the ram comes up place your left thumb up alongside the slot in the front angled a little away, this should cause the spent primers to kind of hit your thumb and ride down the slot into the catch cup. Main thing is to go slow, not only for keeping the spent ones from flying off but to feel for obstructions inside the cases. Over 33 years I've found many things inside cases, from small rocks to built up cleaning media. The worst thing is to find a berdan case mixed in, all the above will bend or snap your decapping pin and in worst case can and will bend the stem of the decapper itself.
A cardinal rule to remember in handloading is:

If it don't fit, don't force it.

RD

 

[Prof_Fate]

Never used an RCBS but I have a lee challenger and it has a catcher tube that works well IF you have the primer 'arm' installed. But then if you work quickly at decapping you can knock it out...

So like the others I just go at it and pick them up after. I keep a wastebasket in the 'zone' where most jump but still have to sweep up. I"m in my basement on a concrete floor so it's not big deal. Carpet would make it tougher.

 

[noylj]

That is why, back in 1972 I sold my RockChucker and got a Forster Co-Ax.
To me, the RockChucker is an excellent press that I learned quickly to hate.
Sell it now and get a Hornady L-N-L Classic or even a Lee, or learn to enjoy sweeping up the floor.

 

[MichiganScott]

I keep a large waste basket under the press and a hand vacuum in the corner of the room. It's worked for me since 1974.

 

[sophie]

I have an old RCBS JR press with the same catcher and also have the same problem of the primers coming out just ever so often and bounce and miss the spent primer catcher. I have found if I hold my left hand up as a shield on the left side that will deflect the fliers and make them hit the spent primer catcher. Just got thru loading 200 rds of 45 ACP and the large primers seem to be the worst as far as bouncing out of the green catcher. I have had my press since '79 and it has always give me a problem. If they miss I just have to find them in the carpet which is a pain in the ***. I have also adjusted the decapping pin to different depths on pushing the spent primer from the case and it never seem to make any difference. Just the way it is.

 

[rwsmith]

Don't do what I did...

From somewhere I got a military berdan primed casing while depriming. I was getting really frustrated and broke a pin before I figured out what the problem was. I knew perfectly well about berdan primed stuff, but got impatient when the decapping pin kept hitting bottom..... grrrrrrrrrrr clomp, clomp snap.

I have the same prob with my RCBS Rockchucker. Primers go all over and sometimes get hung up.

 

[DLeeHarley]

Thanks all. Guess I'll just have to learn to deal with it. Thanks to everyone who answered me.
Later,

Dennis in Idaho
"Those who talk, Don't do. Those who do, Don't Talk!"

 

[Bkreutz]

Here's how I avoid having to pick up spent primers. Dillon has a bucket that fits under the press but a guy sells these "catch bottles" on Ebay for $25.00. It has an adapter that bolts to the press and then the hose connects it to the bottle that gets emptied when it's full. Much neater and better than walking on primers all over the floor.

 

[novalty]

I go slower with my RCII and use my left hand as a shield from the front support to the rear support--while I use my right hand to move the handle. It does help some. I have a Redding T7 as well with the hollow ram and primer tube, and it will too from time-to-time kick a primer out and onto the floor.

 

[fredj338]

Try a slower motion. If you go hard & fast the primers tend to pop. Most should land in the primer catcher.

 

[retired_diver]

I have an old RCBS JR press with the same catcher and also have the same problem of the primers coming out just ever so often and bounce and miss the spent primer catcher. I have found if I hold my left hand up as a shield on the left side that will deflect the fliers and make them hit the spent primer catcher....

I also use my left hand as a shield and it makes most, not all of the spent primers go in the catcher. After awhile it just seems natural to do, (I am right handed) Otherwise, it like everyone else stated some end up on the floor.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Just "Thumb" with your "Off hand" near the end of the stroke.

I also taped a small piece of paper to the right side of the frame, to help a little. You will get a primer that falls down
into the ram slot any way, so take care when empting the tray
as it will fall to the floor if not caught. I use a rubber band around the back of the unit to the tray to keep it in place, if it moves on you while loading.

You can't catch them all............just life.

They are not big enough to trip over but should be cleaned up now and then, if possible.

 

[hotrod150]

The RCBS primer deflector directs the primers very nicely into a trash can below and to the right of the press. The RCBS "case kicker" directs the de-primed cases into a box below and to the left of the press. Both work very nicely.

 

[overthere]

I also have a rock chucker press and what I have noticed is that the primers are dropped into the catcher much more reliably if the catcher is 'scooted forward' as close as it can get to the rod of the press (i.e. towards you).

I did not realize this at first and I would have 25% flyers on average. After making sure to adjust the catcher as close to the rod as possible the flyers are now around 2 - 3%.

Might be different on your press but this made a big difference for me.

 

[SMSgt]

Broom and a shop vac works for me.

 

[kcwheel]

This old Rock Chucker hasn't thrown a primer since I built this gadget. I never prime on it anyway.

 

[ScottZ]

Gadget

How about a few more pictures of that fine looking primer catcher. It looks like it is just what I need as a new project.



This old Rock Chucker hasn't thrown a primer since I built this gadget. I never prime on it anyway.