Looking for a new press

[TackDriver284]

I have the old RCBS Rock Chucker that I used for the last 25 years. Since I am having my new 14 x 14 man cave built and making a reloading station. I would like to buy a new press, but looking at a Redding. Looking for a press with perfect alignment between the shell holder and the dies. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[DrMike]

Far be it from me to dissuade any rifle crank from spending money on new equipment. However, it is difficult to beat a Rock Chucker for durability and reliability in a single stage press. I have used the Rock Chucker and Partner presses for many years and now have an RCBS Partner Press and a Rock Chucker set up for classes I teach. My primary loading room is set up with a Redding T-7 and a Forster Co-Ax. Most of my work for my own cartridges is done with Forster dies. The Forster system is excellent. I use the Redding T-7 primarily for load development for customers. Truthfully, it makes fine ammunition, but no better than that which I produced with the Rock Chucker. However, I'm not certain I would divest myself of a Rock Chucker for the Big Boss II or for any other single stage press without a good reason to do so.

 

[Guy Miner]

Agree - the Rock Chucker is quite a press... If it's a little dirty and "used" looking... Clean it up and continue to load!

Regards, Guy

 

[BretN]

Do you have some suspicion that your press is putting out substandard ammo? Have you used a run-out guage to check the ammo, then check it again with different dies? I wouldn't be too quick to replace you RC unless you know it's a problem. Wish I had bought my uncle's RC made in the 60's when he was getting out of loading. They are a good press. It is really nice to have two presses set up on your bench though.

 

[truck driver]

Sounds like you have one of the older ones and they are great presses. I have several presses set up and I have a RCBS reloader special II that you can also load shot shells on, it's the step below the Rockchucker. The other presses are Dillons that I have set up for pistol reloading but I use the 550B for sizing and decaping since it is a heavier press and easier to size brass on but still use the RCBS to seat bullets. One day I might set up the 450B just for rifle since it has a solid head instead of the interchangeable heads.

 

[TackDriver284]

I do agree that the Rock Chucker is an awesome press.

 

[Vince]

I'll just be in the corner with my Forster Co-Ax.[emoji846]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JohnnyRingo]

I have had a Rock Chucker for a long time. Grew up loading with an RCBS press and loading shot shells on MEC presses.
Dies have made the biggest difference for me.
It's similar to optics. If you have a $1,000 rifle and mount a $100 scope, you will have a $100 rifle.
Brass self centers into the die on the way up. The shell holder doesn't hold the case in a ridged position.
Brass is also a variable, especially when using bushing type sizing dies.
My "current favorite" dies are Redding.
All though it never hurts to have more than one of the same thing.

 

[Wincheringen]

I'm pretty happy with the RCBS Summit with the Hornady bushings.

 

[345 kv]

I have a Rock Chucker that I bought used back in the 80s, still works great. But my Co-Ax gets more use these days.

 

[SJB358]

Forster COAX here. Wouldn't be without it. Love it.

 

[sask boy]

I use my Forster Coax press for resizing and then I seat the bullets with my Rockchucker :wink:. I have now changed most of my dies to Forster as well.


Blessings,
Dan

 

[TackDriver284]

Reason I wanted to get a new one is because the ram shaft collected a good bit of rust after being idle in a humid garage close to the garage door for a few years on a shelf. Cleaned most of the rust off and used it for another 20 years, and seeing some end play on the top of the shaft. Since I saved some $$$ so it won't hurt to get a new press for my new reloading station.

 

[john71913]

Forster Co-Ax.

 

[Wincheringen]

Send it in to RCBS, they'll replace the ram on it for free.

 

[truck driver]

I just finished prepping 30 pieces of new 35 Whelen brass on my Dillon 550B. Dillon advertises that you can load up to and including 460 Wby on them. I have never loaded rifle ammo on it but use it to size brass since the 2" ram and long handle makes it easier to size brass compared to my RCBS reloader special which can be a struggle sometimes with range brass. I primarily load pistol ammo on it but I might change my if I start using a FC die since I can do it all on one press. The Dillon powder measure is quite accurate and repeatable with ball and and short cut tubular powders. ( I would still weigh each charge on a scale though :grin: )

 

[muleman]

I started with the Hornady Classic press and still use it. I really like the quick bushing sytem because it speads up conversion quite a bit. I've been looking at adding another press. It'll probably be a Hornady AP. If I was looking for a single stage it'd be the Hornady Iron press. Red always been my favorite color. :grin:

 

[tecumseh]

I've been using a Redding Big Boss II for the past few years with no complaints.