This is the original Spent Primer Catcher I created for the Lee Loadmaster progressive reloading press. The new version is called "Lee Loadmaster Primer Catcher V2" - it can be found here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4627594

Clearing the ram of old primers, jams when it overfills or bending the cover 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

2020-09-09 Update

• added a v2 funnel. The thin part of walls are now 0.3mm.

Doesn't Matter

No

STLs are included to print the complete funnel and bracket as a unit (support required) or separately. I printed them separately and used acetone to glue them together (ABS).

LMPC-Complete.stl (support required)
OR
LMPC-Funnel.stl
LMPC-Bracket.stl

• AND *

LMPC-13mm_hose.stl

• AND *

LMPC-Clamp.stl

• Ability to disassemble/reassemble the ram and adjust the press
• Some zip-ties
• Four round head screws (#4 x 1/2" or M3 x 13mm)
• Wire wrap or hose (3/4" wire wrap - Harbor Freight # 66987)
• Something for primers to fall into (empty 500ml water bottle)

After attaching the hose adapter to the bottom of the funnel with two screws, I zip-tied a 3/4" (OD) wire wrap to it as my "hose".

Cutting a hole in the bottle cap made it easy to put the other end of the hose into an old water bottle. A zip tie inside the cap keeps the hose from pulling out.

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, through the ram and up into the carrier.

Before tightening the bolt I double checked the black Yoke Clamp plate's curved side was toward the arm. The Primer Catcher locks into this plate.

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

The Primer Catcher has a long hole for the ram bolt head. This allowed me to push it up against the bottom of the black Yoke plate, then slide it back, locking onto the plate. As I worked the bracket onto the Yoke, the funnel became flush with the edge of the ram.

The tight fit easily held it in place while I added the "clamp" to the back of the bracket (curved side of Yoke plate). Using round head screws kept the arm from contacting screw heads, as it swings up and down.

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.

To empty primers, I just unscrew the cap, empty the bottle and screw the cap back on.

Update

There is a barb type hose adapter available (straight, 6 or 12 degree angle)

Barb Hose Adapter for Lee Loadmaster Primer Catcher

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3827385