[Hawgchaser]

Hi folks

I inherited a whole bunch of reloading gear 10 years ago. This year I'm actually going to use it. As I'm going through everything and testing things out, I noticed on the RS2 the primers pop through and down the tube, eventually fill the tube to where I have to pick them out (.223 Win). Is there an ejection hole or something I'm not seeing?

Thanks!

 

[JBelk]

What is a 'RS2?

 

[xjsdvr]

The tube has to be...

pretty straight--- primers don't like to roll around corners.

 

[Wrench Man]

The primers don't drop down the slot in the ram and slide around in the catch tray and then shoot out onto the floor??
Is the ram camming over?, it needs to go up as far as possible to get the bottom of the spent primmer slot to the catch tray.
Don't see any "tube" on my "RS"

 

[mikld]

Be nice fellers, we don't want a new reloader thinking Beartooth members are "stuck up', intolerant old pharts.
Perhaps innocent ignorance in calling the ram a tube? Perhaps the presses are an RCBS 2 and an RCBS Jr.?

 

[JBelk]

I've tried many times to turn RS into RC, but its not working!

IF the OP has an RCBS press and dropping primers on the floor, simply insert a section of Mc Donald's drinking straw (they're bigger and work) into the slot and direct the straw to squirt primers predictable enough to catch. I kinda like the sound the vacuum cleaner makes when it runs into a patch o a hundred or so SPENT primers. (I was once accused of blowing up a vacuum cleaner with a live primer but I didn't see it happen. I DID drop a box, though. $169 vacuum cleaner! )

 

[crooked creek]

I've tried many times to turn RS into RC, but its not working!

IFI was once accused of blowing up a vacuum cleaner with a live primer

Back in the days of 'shag carpeting' (or about 40 years ago!), my sister was vacuuming and picked up a live 22 LR round that had 'escaped' (from my nephew's pocket when he returned from a 'hunting expedition') and was hiding in the shag. You guessed it, the vacuum cleaner pick up roller/brush squeezed the rim enough to pop the priming compound and fire the cartridge. She said the pop was pretty loud (and surprising!), but the bullet, not being confined', did no damage... to a human. I think she then had more to clean off of the carpet than the normal dust. My sister, now 75, has always been what I call a 'strict disciplinarian' and that 15 year old son (while now still alive at 55!) did not escape that act unscathed, and he learned a tough lesson on being careful with live ammo. I laughed, my Sis didn't!

 

[shawlerbrook]

RS= Reloader Special RCBS

 

[William A. Reed]

Last night, I was getting two antique Lyman All American turret presses cleaned up. It looks like there was no provision for catching primers. I'd prefer to look to the general utility of the presses. One benefit of using RCBS gear is the excellent customer backup. Enjoy your new hobby/addiction. One solution for spent primers is to get a Shop Vac.

 

[Submoa]

The ram, which I assume is the tube being referred to, must be at full stroke for the primers to drop out of it, thus into the waiting primer catch tray. If the primers aren't exiting the ram it's probably because something is blocking the hole, maybe some gunk or other debris is preventing it. If this is the case, you can use a pipe cleaner dipped in a little bit of gun solvent or similar solvent to clear the channel, but make sure you run a dry pipe cleaner / Q tip back through so the wet surface doesn't act as a magnet for primer dust during future decapping sessions.

I think the RS2 is a cast aluminum press, I know the Jr is. But the RS2 is a bit heartier press and will hold up to full length sizing of bottle neck brass a bit longer than will the Jr, but as with any aluminum press, they're gonna need a bit more maintenance to keep them from getting sloppy. My advice is to make sure you clean and lube the ram, and clean the primer slot in the ram prior to each loading session. A Q tip or a pipe cleaner works well for this task.

SMOA

 

[sandog]

I quit using the primer tube on the press years and years ago, and do my priming with an RCBS hand tool. Better feel when seating, and that upward stroke of the press handle was always a pain.
Priming using the press, you can exert too much force, and dang near crush the primers.
With a hand tool, you can easily feel when the primer is seated to the bottom.
I don't have to handle the primers, dump a box, or less, into the tray, shake so they are all "up", and put the lid on.
You can also get a hand tool that uses APS strips, but those are more expensive, and you don't get to use other brands of primers.
https://www.midwayusa.com/s?userSearchQuery=RCBS+hand+priming+tool&userItemsPerPage=48

 

[JBelk]

I've never seen an RCBS press made of anything but cast iron and machined steel. Without the OP telling us what he has, I'm lost

 

[Blackhawk355]

I've seen some RCBS presses where the primer goes down the inside of the Ram, and drops out of a slot near the bottom of the ram. That slot could be blocked or as someone else said, the ram may have to go all the way to the top of the stroke for the hole to become exposed and the primer to drop out. Both of my presses are where the primer drops through a slot in the front of the ram and usually falls on the floor. I just sweep and shop vac the floor from time to time and don't worry about it too much.

 

[crooked creek]

It seems that if the OP could be a little more detailed, specific, and finite in what he has and in expressing his questions, the answers may be of better benefit. This has become more of a "guessing game" than solution finding...we don't know for sure what he has (brand, model, etc.), whether he is talking about a press or a priming tool, what the process is, i.e. priming or de-priming, or even which end of the tool is being discussed or debated!

 

[mikld]

When giving advise on a forum, long distance, without seeing the actual tools, components, finished handload, or gun, it's all a 90% WAG...

 

[kdub]

Doesn't matter too much - appears Hawgchaser is a "one shot and done" poster.

 

[Mecanik]

Priming with the factory installed primer on RCBS presses is one of the most poorly designed contrivances I have ever seen. I wish you luck with that. I threw all those parts away and went with a good quality hand primer. I eventually ended up using a RCBS ram priming unit (RCBS #: 9165) there are some expensive bench mounted units that are nice but the ram primer is only about 25 bucks.
I still use a hand primer when it's convenient but I'm using the ram mounted one with a rusty old RCBS JR I picked up for 20 bucks at a gun show. The hand primer is the fastest but the ram unit has lots of leverage and pushes them in really easy. Also my hand primers take special shell holders that I don't have every shell holder for every caliber. With the ram primer I use the same RCBS shell holder I have for the normal dies. I also use the RCBS rock chucker that has the replaceable threaded insert in the top of the casting and I removed that and installed the "lock and load" adapter they make for that. What a sweet deal that is. Makes die changes a breeze. If your press has that removable adapter I highly recommend swapping that out. I'm sure RCBS wishes they had thought of that first

 

[Fotheringill]

I take offense Mikld. I am old, I fart, but not the rest of it.

Need more info from the OP.