De-Capping Lessons

[6ShotsOr5?]

What I learned this AM:

1. The hole through the ram may eventually get plugged with cups and anvils.
2. lt would be less messy to remove them if you notice this before the ram is completely full.
3. Unless you disassemble the ram linkage and invert the ram, it’s difficult to clean out the ram using a piece of wire if there is a bend in the debris path at the bottom of the ram.
4. It is not very difficult to clean out the ram by blowing compressed air in from the bottom.
5. if you do number 4, you might want to use some sort of fine mesh net fitted loosely over the ram.
6. When anvils and cups come blowing out the top of the ram, the cups will bounce approximately 2.5 times as far across your hard shop floor as the anvils.
7. I will now be paying attention so that I maintain a steady state condition with regard to primer debris flow through the ram.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

50 some years of reloading and a problem I have never had. Now dropping em on the floor....

 

[caihlen]

De-cap by hand with a Harvey. Cases in one container, spent primers in a jar.

 

[Forum Boss]

Another option. We haven't tried it, but buyer reviews have been quite positive:

LINK: https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/hand-deprimer/909283.html#start=1

Product Description:
This new hand-tool from Frankford Arsenal will deprime (and capture primers) conveniently. You can deprime your cases while watching TV or relaxing in your favorite chair.

With a universal, cylinder-style cartridge-holder, the tool can deprime a wide variety of cartridge types from .20 caliber up to .338 caliber. Spent primers are captured in a removable spent primer catch tube. With die-cast metal construction, this tool should last through many thousands of depriming cycles. MSRP is $54.99.

NOTE: A couple guys posted that the capture tube can work loose. This was fixed however with a layer of tape around the top, increasing the friction hold. Or, you can dispense with this by pointing the unit down and "shooting" the spent primers directly into a waste bin.

 

[PatMiles]

As caihlen said above, a hand de-capper solves that problem.

 

[wedgy]

What is the preferred PSI for step #4 ?

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

What is the preferred PSI for step #4 ?

Whatever was in my can. I don’t have a compressor.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Old Lyman Press with Pan , Redding De-Capping Die Small Pin.
Lots of Small Primer Brass .
Retired not in a Rush .

 

[TAJ45]

I enjoyed your humor, OP.
I have used the Lyman. First time the catch container came off. . . I really got the stink eye from the Keeper of the House. It really helps the forearm and grip muscles used in pistol shooting toned up.
I picked up a Mighty Armory decapper and can deprime like a striped ape w his nether parts aflame using the auto eject rig made from a large dia hose clamp. That and some judicious baffling using primer box card board taped here and there, keeps those little guys on the catch container - mostly.
Then onto the Dillon swager w rubber band launch w/o breaking a sweat.... Oh Yeah!!!

 

[SEM]

50 some years of reloading and a problem I have never had. Now dropping em on the floor....

someone please come up with a magic lost primer retrieving tool... please sugar on top. Gets me excited when I hear them clicking around in the vacuum cleaner tube hoping its not a new one

 

[RenoRoy]

Get a Forster Press (if you can find one) and all your problems are solved. All the junk ends up in a jar below the press.

 

[AccelR8]

I take the mandrel/decapping pin from a Lee collet die, place it into the case making sure the pin is in the flash hole, set the case on an upside-down case holder sitting on the drill press table, and use the drill press to punch out the primer by having the closed chuck push on the top of the mandrel. Easy, fast, quick disposal of old primers and I didn't have to buy anything.

 

[PopCharlie]

Get a Forster Press (if you can find one) and all your problems are solved. All the junk ends up in a jar below the press.

Yup......what he said...

 

[Dgd6mm]

What I learned this AM:

1. The hole through the ram may eventually get plugged with cups and anvils.
2. lt would be less messy to remove them if you notice this before the ram is completely full.
3. Unless you disassemble the ram linkage and invert the ram, it’s difficult to clean out the ram using a piece of wire if there is a bend in the debris path at the bottom of the ram.
4. It is not very difficult to clean out the ram by blowing compressed air in from the bottom.
5. if you do number 4, you might want to use some sort of fine mesh net fitted loosely over the ram.
6. When anvils and cups come blowing out the top of the ram, the cups will bounce approximately 2.5 times as far across your hard shop floor as the anvils.
7. I will now be paying attention so that I maintain a steady state condition with regard to primer debris flow through the ram.

What brand and model press?

 

[Shooter13]

I have a new Rebel press and it ejects at the rear of the ram, so with some Hillbilly engineering I used tie wraps, funnel, plastic tubing and an 8 pound jug so now I have a catcher and don't have to sweep them off the floor. Never had the "catching in the ram problem", I do however clean out the ram every month or so. I'll try to post a pic of my contraption after church (it'll give you a good laugh!).

 

[Rat Rifle]

I use the LEE Hand Press, along with the LEE Universal Decapping Die. 50 Small Rifle Primers fall into the hollow ram before you have to dump it.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Be sure you measure the decapping pin on your decapping tool if youre using match brass. That frankford tool used to have a .070+ pin in it. Itll knock your primers out and render your brass dedicated to hunting rounds

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Had that happen with my Rockchucker. I nice jam that has to be picked out with an Allen wrench. Now I do all the de-priming on the Dillon. I only use the RCBS for odd ball loads, 6.5 Grendel and case forming.

 

[DirtySteve]

I second the Frankford Arsenal tool. I use mine for Black Powder Cartridge Cases. Works great. Now using it on small primers in Lapua brass I would test it on a single piece before I committed to doing them all.

 

[jepp2]

Get a Forster Press (if you can find one) and all your problems are solved.

Not is you have an earlier one. Trust me. I think mine is a Gen II