Disappearing primers, RCBS turret

[BiknSwans]

Quite a few times I was sure that I had picked up a primer with the dispenser and tried to seat it using my RCBS turret, but then have something go wrong, like a sideways primer. Usually the primer falls out and I can find it on the floor or in the primer catch assembly. Other times it just disappears, even though I swear I heard it falling and landing somewhere.

I was cleaning the primer deflector and ram and found out where all these disappearing primers were going. When I had the primer deflector and the ram removed, I noticed that the two link pins (left and right, 788257 and 788258) were hollow and saw a bunch of primers inside the link pins. Apparently primers would fall down the cutout in the ram, and if the ram was in just the right position, the primer would tumble into one of the link pins.

The right link pin has a hole that goes all the way through, so I was able to push out the primers from the outside. But I couldn't get out the primers that are inside the left link pin. There were at least a couple of live primers that I removed from the right pin and maybe 6 or so used ones. I can see a live primer in the left pin and several others, but can't get at them with tweezers or hemostats.

I think the pins can normally be removed by inserting a punch through the right pin and tapping out the left pin. Then do the same to the right pin with a larger diameter punch.

However, with a live primer in there, I'm hesitant to try this. I can't think of an easy way to clean out the primers from those link pins short of removing the whole press, taking it outside, turning it on its side so that the primers fall out, and blasting the inside of the link pins with a can of brake fluid or equivalent.

Anybody else out there wondering where their missing primers were when using an RCBS turret? Any suggestions for an easier way to clean out the link pins?

 

[Fire_Moose]

Can you use a needle to get into the left side?

Dont have that press so I don't know.how it looks...removing the press and turning it sideways should be pretty easy....

Sent from my CZ85 Combat

 

[mookiie]

I would think about disassembling the ram if possible and submersing it in water over night. Than the primers should be too wet to ignite. You may also want to create a rig to do this from a distance. Like in a vice with dowel rod in the hole then hit with a hammer ducked tapped to a stick? I say use a wooden dowel just in case the primers go off you would not want a metal projectile. Make sure to be as safe as possible and be sure to wear gloves, leather apron, and safety glasses. Good luck.


(In small print, this poster should not be held liable should this not work out, OP tries at his/her own risk)

 

[david_r]

I don't think I would trust water to take care of them. There isn't any way to tilt and shake the heck out of it?

If you do use a punch, one good tap should take care of it. Just be sure you have that ram pointed in a safe direction. Said with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I had the same problem. To get the primers out I started by dropping the ram and reaching inside with a pick, digging the primers out. IIRC I moved up to a small allen wrench.

Primers do not ignite easily without the anvil supported, so don't be afraid to do some digging. You will find some that have been sheared by the ram.

I finally made a pair of aluminum plugs to fill the holes. IMO, this is a safety issue. I would advise contacting Rcbs for a fix. They might have some fillers. If not you can make some using wooden dowel or metal rod. The key is to completely fill the hole so there isn't enough space for a primer to get caught.

 

[FROGO207]

This is why I prime my brass off my RCBS turret press. I find the press primer tool much harder to use than the hand primer. I use the Lee hand primer. YMMV

 

[32_d3gr33s]

Do you happen to have a picture of this? I just ordered a rcbs turret press and would like to see what you are talking about so I can try to prevent it and don't have the same issue. Thanks

 

[BiknSwans]

Thanks for all the help. I think I will remove the ram, and turret from the press, remove the press from the bench, and flush things out outside with the link pins in a vertical position. I like the idea of a wooden dowel to keep this from happening again. Safety first.

A picture of the press won't help you any as what's going on is totally hidden. Here's a link to the parts diagram which should help:

http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/instructions/TurretPressInstructions.pdf

I love the RCBS press and really enjoy using it. Minimizing handling of casings with the turret seems to make the job fun and not tedious at all, so I doubt I'll ever buy a press primer tool. It took me quite a while to get the feel of seating primers using the RCBS turret, but it's been going very well for quite a while now.

Thanks again for everyone's help, and I hope this thread helps some others too.

 

[david bachelder]

I had the same thing happen to me. I was able to get them out with a small soda straw. I was pretty bum fuzzled at first.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

Thanks for the heads up. Ill have to try and rig something up when I get mine. Should have it tomorrow hopefully, though my dies won't be here for another week or so...

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Going back through things, the holes are shallow. I found a picture of one of the plugs, it is about 1/4" long. I made one end concave to match the diameter of the ram, which filled the hole. It was tricky to get them in and aligned, fat fingers don't help. A little grease helps hold them in place. (I use white lithium on the ram).

Cleaning out the primers shouldn't be difficult with the press on its side. A sharp rap with a padded hammer should free them.

 

[BiknSwans]

Thank you for the picture of the plug you made Jesse. That really helped me. Knowing that the holes are that shallow got me to look harder. What I had thought was a long, dark cavity was actually the end of of the left link pin. I used a straw and then an allen wrench as suggested and found that I had already removed all the primers from both sides. I then tried to drive out the left pin with a 7/32 allen wrench and hammer, but it showed no signs of budging. The link pins feel like they were pressed in and not meant to be removed, at least easily.

I cleaned out the junk in there as best I could and just sprayed the joint with lube from the outside. It does feel a lot smoother now.

It's working fine, and I now know where my primers had been going and how to remove them if they fall inside the link pins again.

All is well. Thank you all for your help.

 

[germ]

Not familiar with this press, but I wonder if you couldn't just stick a piece of tape over the end of the pins.