Lee Reloader Quick Detach and Primer Receptacle

[holdencm9]

So I have been thinking I oughta get myself a dedicated depriming press, so I can deprime right away after shooting (before cleaning the cases) without worrying about gumming up my turret press. I also wanted it to be mobile so I can move it and set it up on the coffee table in front of the TV and de-prime while watching a show.

I decided on the Lee Reloader Single Stage Press, which I got off Amazon for $26. I already had the universal decapping die.

I cut a 3" strip of 2x6 and mounted the press to that, using some countersunk carriage bolts. I can quickly mount this to the coffee table with a small Husky clamp. To make it quicker to empty the primers, I ended up cutting some 1" wide by about 1/2" deep holes on both sides with a forstner bit, and then went the rest of the way through the board with a 1/4" bit. Then I plugged the hole with an ear plug and it holds all the primers in, no problem. I bet it could hold a few hundred primers at least. But whenever I finish enough cases that I think it is ready to empty, I can just pull the plug and shake out the primers over the garbage can.

Nothing earth shattering, but I thought I'd share. The instructions also show a method for making a quick primer empty, but it lacked the mobility I wanted. After depriming a hundred or so .223 cases, I can already tell I am going to love my new method! Feel free to share your setups, it is always fun to see THR ingenuity!

 

[holdencm9]

Also this is what it looks like from above, with the press removed. As you can see, most of the primers fall into the 1" hole, which makes them relatively easy to shake out when you remove the ear plug.

 

[Mike Kerr]

Looks good. Does the single clamp give enough (support) stability for anything other than just decaping? Looks like it might wobble if you tried sizing - but I don't know for sure. It sure looks promising.

 

[holdencm9]

It would probably be okay for sizing pistol cases actually....rifle cases not so much! Since the clamp is on the far side it would probably be okay pushing them into the die but it might be tough to pull them out (when you are pulling up on the handle).

Surprisingly the clamp is not the controlling factor, the coffee table is. On some of the more stubborn primers it kind of wobbles which is to be expected from a lightweight super-old hand-me-down table I suppose. I guess now I have to reinforce the coffee table...

 

[Tilos]

nice idea


Why not lengthen the 2x4 (2ft?) and move the press/2x4 out over the edge of the table so you could attach a tube and bottle underneath to collect the spent primers?
just a thought

 

[Mike Kerr]

I still think the concept is promising. Maybe your "beta" model will switch the relationship of the support board and the press around so the press is centered in the board with room for a clamp on each end? What do you think?

 

[holdencm9]

All definitely good ideas.

Tilos, I actually thought about doing something along those lines, but opted to keep it as compact as possible, and also self-contained. Since it is going back and forth between rooms, the tube and bottle would be just more to carry. I was willing to sacrifice capacity for convenience. Not to fear, the reservoir has to have at least 300 primers in there by now and it isn't filled up yet!

Mike, that is actually how my turret used to be set up...a sideways 2x6 that the turret is mounted to, and then actually 3 clamps to hold it onto a dresser. Now, it is the same thing, but carriage bolted to the bench instead of clamped. Still removable but just a little more permanent.