Rock Chucker Supreme Primer Catcher

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michaelnel

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I don't see how RCBS in good conscience can call this a primer catcher. Not shown are the 20 or so that shot out the front and are on the floor. And of course when I try to empty the wretched thing, 2/3 of the primers that are kind of "in" it will spill on the floor.

Has anyone come up with a better alternative to this useless thing?

primercatcher.jpg
 
Same issues here

I had the same problems as you. I did two things: 1st, cut a piece of straw to fit in the opening in the front of the ram. Since I don't prime on the press, the front opening serves no purpose to me. 646932[/ATTACH]"] j8fytw.jpg
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This kept the primers from coming out of the front of the ram.
Next, I just epoxied a spacer to the back of the tray "catcher". This moved the tray closer to the opening in the back of the ram. The opening between the catcher and ram is now too small for the primers to escape easily.
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This should keep all but the most ambitious primers from escaping.
Periodically, the catcher tray chute will invariably clog. Just tap with something and they will usually empty to the bottom. Hope this helps.
 

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The Lyman primer catcher on my Orange Crusher works much better than that one but it still spills several when trying to empty it. Also, the majority of the primers just lay around the base and have to be manually pushed into the container. I haven't seen a factory one yet that is efficient.
 
I like the straw idea.

Here's a photo of my Rock Chucker Primer catcher, I mounted it on the floor :D

001-16_zpsebdfa23a.jpg
 
Definatly need a better solution from rcbs. I have the same problem with mine but have yet to come up with a 100% catcher that dosent spill when removed.
 
The primer catcher on my Lee was worthless as well. That is untill I realised that the primer arm acts as a deflector to guide the spent primers down the hollow ram. If the primer arm is not in place they just fall all over the place.

While we have different presses the solution may be similar.
Just a thought.
Luck.
 
I fiddled around with it some and improved it to where it pretty much works right. The reason all my primers were going into the right tray and almost none in the left is that there was some sloppy molding flash in the left side ramp. I trimmed that out and now both sides get primers.

I also fashioned a quick spacer out of some folded over corrugated cardboard to press the inlet of the catcher up against the ram, much as JustSomeGuyInCA did with his wood spacer. I made another cardboard piece that goes across the from "A" section to keep any primers that fall on the press body from working their way back under the catcher.

Since I didn't have a soda straw in the house I cut a piece of cardboard about 1/4" wide and 4" long and folded it over and stuffed it in the slot on the front side of the ram (I use a hand primer), and that stopped 'em coming out the front.

Then I wanted to fix the problem where the molded plug on the right catcher is bigger than the hole in the press it is supposed to fit into, which caused the right tray to be spaced out from the body of the press. I cleaned up the molded hole in the side of the press with a 3/8" drill bit and used a Dremel to take the edges off of the molded button on the catcher so it fits in there easier. Now the right tray snugs up closer to the press.

Last, in order to avoid spilling them while emptying the idiotic contraption I just use a small hand vacuum cleaner and suck them out of the "catcher".

This really is a shamefully badly designed product though, and RCBS should hang their heads in shame for releasing it this way. It would have been just as easy for them to do it right as it was to do the slipshod job they did.
 
I solved this problem by selling it and buying a Redding T-7. Clean up of the RockChucker took the fun out of the reloading session.
 
I like the straw solution, very similar to what I did (and much easier, too!)- I used some RTV silicone on my Hornady LnL Classic to accomplish the same thing.
 
Yep, it appears that a lot of engineering talent was not assigned to the primer pan. A small shop vac is my solution for emptying it without spilling them all over my garage. I also had the same locating pin problem. I love RCBS reloading components but they definitely didn't put a lot of thought into this one....
 
Edpm3, that isn't a better solution, it's the old standard catcher for the older Rockchucker. It won't work on the Rockchucker Supreme at all.
 
Rockchucker Supreme Primer Catcher tube solution

I saw a better solution here on the High Road a while back and implemented it myself...see photo. Not fancy by any means, but it works 99% of the time.

primer catcher 2.jpg

primer catcher 3.jpg

primer catcher 1.jpg
 
Edpm3, that isn't a better solution, it's the old standard catcher for the older Rockchucker. It won't work on the Rockchucker Supreme at all.
Seems to work on mine okay. I do wish there were a better way to attach it than that plastic bar.

RCS_zpsf892badb.jpg
 
But doesn't the RC Supreme eject the primers out the back of the ram (mostly)? How do they get into the trays on the sides?
 
But doesn't the RC Supreme eject the primers out the back of the ram (mostly)? How do they get into the trays on the sides?
They just drop out the back and many roll into the tray. Many land on the center of the frame and after a while they can start to pile up but a flick of the finger sends them into the tray. A few bounce onto the bench, but surprisingly, very, very few make it to the floor, maybe one in a hundred.

Not the best solution by any means, but better than what came with the press. That one put way too many primers on the floor.
 
Better alternative = should have bought lee lol. That looks like a major pain which would be ok if it didn't cost more just to have more problems. Looks like some impressive and creative idea's to help though.
 
"Has anyone come up with a better alternative to this useless thing?"

I did. It's called a Lee "Reloader" press and universal decap die; it puts spent primers from into a hollow base. I mounted the press over a 3/4" drilled hole that has a small jar screw top attached below the bench, spent caps fall into the hollow base and drop into the jar for easy disposal.

IF Lee had made their Classic Cast when I bought my RC II my main press would be red.
 
My older rockchucker came with the primer catcher like the one in the link by edpm3. It is fine as long as you are careful when you empty it. I did not know the "supreme" kicked the spent primers out the back. Makes me glad to have the version I have. :D
 
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