This is a second version Spent Primer Catcher for the Lee Loadmaster progressive reloading press.

Clearing the ram of old primers, jams when it overfills or bending the cover plate on my bench are no longer problems.

Emptying primers is quick and is needed much less often.

** Installing this Primer Catcher required some disassembly and re-setup of the ram (see owner's manual).

What I needed

• Ability to disassemble/reassemble the ram and adjust the press (see press owner's manual)
• Four small flat head or crown head screws (#4 x 1/2" or M3 x 13mm) = clearance from the arm is very tight. I found a 5mm head size is the largest that would fit. The screw has to be 7mm or longer. See attached image "Screw head - Maximum size.jpg".
• Hose -> I used a 10mm ID (3/8") flexible silicone tube. A 1/2" (OD) wire wrap will also work (Harbor Freight 66986).
• Something for primers to fall into (empty 500ml water bottle)

Generic

No

No

0.3

20%

STLs are included to print the complete funnel and bracket as a unit (support required) using LLMPCv2-FunnBrack.stl.

• OR -
  I printed the funnel and bracket separately with ABS and used acetone to glue them together (LLMPCv2-Funnel.stl, LLMPCv2-Bracket.stl).

These parts are also required - LLMPCv2-Barb.stl and LLMPCv2-Lock.stl.

How I put it together

Step 1
The spent primer cover on the bottom of the ram has to be removed. That means I had to take apart the bottom of the ram assembly (1 Installation.jpg).

Taking apart just the bottom of the ram gave me enough space to remove the bolt. Then it was easy to slide out the Spent Primer Cover (LM3233), inside plate, spring and spring retainer. My press is pretty old, so I was not worried about warranties or support issues.

Putting it back together, I was careful to put the bolt through the black Yoke Clamp plate (curved side back), then the silver Yoke, up through the ram and into the carrier.

** Important note
Before tightening the bolt I double checked the black Yoke Clamp plate's curved side was toward the arm (the flat side is next to the opening in the ram). The Primer Catcher locks into the square side of this plate. The lock piece with two screws will later attach to the curved side of this plate.

After putting it all back together, I had to fix indexing and make adjustments to get the press working correctly again.

Step 2
The Primer Catcher has an elongated hole for the ram bolt head. This allowed me to push the primer catcher up against the bottom of the black Yoke plate, then slide it back, working it onto the locking onto the plate (2 Installation.jpg).

As I worked the bracket onto the Yoke, the front of the funnel became flush with the edge of the ram. This tight fit easily held it in place while I added the clamp or lock piece to the back of the bracket (curved side of Yoke plate). Using countersunk screws kept the arm from contacting screw heads, as it swings up and down (3 Installation.jpg).

I attached the barb hose adapter to the bottom of the funnel with two screws, then added my hose to the barb (3 Installation.jpg).

The other end of the hose went down into the bottle (4 Installation.jpg).

Hundreds of rounds have been de-capped using the Primer Catcher. Most primers go straight to the bottle. Only a few stay in the ram for any length of time. No failures have occurred.