Lee spent primer tube

[WestKentucky]

The Lee classic turret and classic cast presses which I own both have this primer through the ram feature which is nice when it works. But the tube out the bottom of the press is like 15” and aggravates me. I cut the one on my classic cast off to about 4” and that is currently swapped over to my turret. Issue now is that it’s not got much capacity and I can crank through some rounds on the turret so I would prefer for it to work right and have a decent volume.

What have y’all done to make these more forgiving? I’m considering printing off an adapter to let me screw on a little coke bottle or similar fat but short catch can.

 

[Stew0576]

Use mine as is, never bothered me, know some people put hose in a bottle or bucket so they don't have to empty it but that would probably bother you more

 

[Bosn Ski]

The end cap on my stock hose stretched over time with use. So I installed a longer hose to a coffee can. I made the hose short enough that the primers would fall, but long enough so it could be pushed out of the way when not in use.

 

[Rule3]

 

[Skgreen]

Not sure what size of hose the Lee uses or how much room you have, but this might be an idea: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019541293/

 

[WestKentucky]

Not sure what size of hose the Lee uses or how much room you have, but this might be an idea: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019541293/

That’s exactly what I was thinking of doing only I was going to use a baby coke bottle. I will have to see if Lee and hornady tubes are the same diameter.

 

[earplug]

I have a different brand press with a spent primer tube. I shortened mine and used a hose clamp and a piece of clear tubing which drops primers into my recycle brass container on the floor.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I will have to see if Lee and hornady tubes are the same diameter.

They’re not. The Lee hose is a larger diameter…I have a Hornady LNL AP and a Lee Classic Cast single stage on my bench.

I run my Hornady, which is mounted on an Inline Fabrication (IF) Ultramount, through my bench top and into a catch jar on the shelf below. My Lee is mounted on a IF bench top Quick Change plate which over hangs the edge of my bench. For light task, I just use the cap on the end of the hose. For larger jobs, I’ll take off the cap and let it dump into a trashcan

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Not sure what size of hose the Lee uses or how much room you have, but this might be an idea: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019541293/

And it’s even red.

 

[splattergun]

The Lee classic turret and classic cast presses which I own both have this primer through the ram feature which is nice when it works. But the tube out the bottom of the press is like 15” and aggravates me. I cut the one on my classic cast off to about 4” and that is currently swapped over to my turret. Issue now is that it’s not got much capacity and I can crank through some rounds on the turret so I would prefer for it to work right and have a decent volume.

What have y’all done to make these more forgiving? I’m considering printing off an adapter to let me screw on a little coke bottle or similar fat but short catch can.

The tube just hangs down out of the way. I don't see the problem. It will hold hundreds of spent primers.
I hung a small bucket off a little hook under the bench, then I took off the tube cap and ran the tube into the bucket, which holds thousands of spent primers.

 

[WestKentucky]

The tube just hangs down out of the way. I don't see the problem. It will hold hundreds of spent primers.
I hung a small bucket off a little hook under the bench, then I took off the tube cap and ran the tube into the bucket, which holds thousands of spent primers.

It brushes my leg and aggravates me.

 

[ShootMeStraight]

I bought a longer piece of tubing (air exchanger drain tubing) so that the primers go into a jug that I have strapped to the leg of my work bench.

 

[EMC45]

I put some spa tubing on mine. It came off a roll, so it's naturally curved and I direct the curvature under my reloading bench.

I plugged the end with a .45 ACP case.

 

[Skgreen]

I will have to see if Lee and hornady tubes are the same diameter.

Can't speak for the Lee, but the spent primer discharge pipe on my LNL AP is roughly ~.315"~ (5/16" = .3125)

Otherwise, the 'pill bottle' version by Rule 3 above seems like it would be easy enough to fabricate and would also hold a significant amount of primers.

(Couldn't tell you how may primers the Hornady holds other than 'more than a brick's worth'.)

 

[codytrucker]

If its the same diameter as mine you can fit it into a 1/2 inch 45 degree pvc elbow , put it about 4 to 6 inches down , angle it away to where you want it to go ,for about .50 cents .

 

[dartor]

The Lee presses use standard 1/2" vinyl tubing available at any hardware store. If you try the following and screw it up it won't be a life or death situation. I did the same as Rule3. I drilled a 1/2" hole in the cap of a medicine bottle. Shoved the tubing through the hole and heated the end of the tubing with a lighter so it would expand and not pull back through. I shortened the tubing to about 8 inches and attached it to my 4 hole turret. Screwed the medicine bottle to the cap and have at it. I empty the bottle when it's nearly full. Easily holds 500 primers.

 

[Bandit67]

For depriming, I use a Lee breech lock press mounted on a lee tripod stand so I can move it around. I run the tube down into a 2 liter pop bottle. That bottle holds a lot of primers.

 

[Locochief]

Not only is it aggravating when it hits your leg but never push a tube back on with your face in front of the handle. Hold the handle in place or you will say loud nasty words.....ask me how I know and how once didn't teach me a lesson.

 

[IlikeSA]

I use a McDonald's straw and a trash can. The McDonald's straw is larger in diameter, and I cut the top so it stays inside the bottom of the press, which is mounted on a small wood block hollowed out and cut with a chisel where the primers fall. The primers fall through the straw to the trash can.

 

[WestKentucky]

@dartor I now have ideas floating for something neat. Project for another day. It was a hard day and now it’s raining. Great night to catch up on a bit of sleep. Maybe. If the 19 month old let’s us sleep.


She’s not going to let us sleep. That’s a pipe dream.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I found a piece of leftover PVC pipe, and tore off a foot of masking tape -

This was my temporary fix, about 3 years ago.


The factory discharge tube rides up and down in the pipe - shown at full extension, to illustrate how I keep the tube from falling out. It's a critical measurement (). IOW, the found piece of PVC was just the right length...


The primers drop into a half gallon milk jug. Lots and lots o' primers will fit in there. The jug weighs about 10 pounds right now, and it has about 3" of empty space yet to fill.

I'll take it to the recyclers when i's full. #2 brass is almost $3/lb right now. That jug of 'throwaway' stuff is worth about $30.