[BMW2]

Can an RCBS Supreme press be used with quick change bushings such as those used by Hornday and Lee? I think I've decided on the RCBS Supreme kit to get started reloading but I really like the idea of the quick change bushings. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks

[rfwobbly]

Yes, I believe I read on the Hornady site that they make a special LNL bushing to fit into an RCBS press. Now here's the catch.... in my mind it's NOT every single RCBS press.

I believe RCBS offers an aluminum bodied press that uses a steel insert to keep you from wearing out the 7/8-14 die threads. I understood that the Hornady bushing replaced that steel bushing with the LNL quick change setup.

However, that is totally my presumption based on some reading and looking around. You'd be best to call Hornady and ask exactly which models their special bush fits.

[Horsemany]

I've never done it but it's my understanding you can use the LNL bushings in any 7/8-14 thread press. I believe you just turn out the threaded bushing in the top of your press and replace it with the LNL female bushing.

[jgh4445]

Horsemany is correct in the procedure. I am not sure it is for all RCBS presses as rfwobbly said above. It did work on my rockchucker. They make what I believe is a Rock Chucker conversion. Unscrew the threaded bushing in the top of the RC press and screw in the Hornady bushing. The die bushings are about $5-$6 bucks apiece. I had problems with the die bushing staying tight. I called Hornady and they were aware that some of the bushings as well as presses were not up to tolerance and they sent some new bushings. As I recall, I still had to shim one or two to keep them tight in my L-N-L AP, especially the powder measure bushing.

I didn't think there was a major advantage in using the bushings in the RC. The time saved was the time it took to turn a bushing a quarter of a turn vs. the time it took to screw a die in the top of the press maybe half a dozen turns. With a properly adjusted die, you just spin it down and thighten it anyway. Just didn't see it as a time/effort saver. Besides, it was expensive to outfit 12 different calibers of dies. YMMV.

[rcmodel]

but I really like the idea of the quick change bushings. Any thoughts or suggestions? An Ingenious Solution to a Non-existent Problem!

Once you adjust screw-in dies and tighten the lock-rings the first time, they almost never need to be changed again.

It takes just a few seconds to screw out a die and screw in the next one. They are already adjusted from the initial set-up, which might have been years ago.

(The exception is Lee's goofy O-Ring "lock" rings which don't lock to the die at all.)

You only change dies three times per reloading session when you go from sizing a batch, to expanding/deprimeing, to bullet seating.
Total time for two die changes per session = 30 seconds or less.
And that's with three-die pistol sets.

With bottleneck rifle two-die sets, you only screw out the sizer die and screw in the seater die once per loading session.
Total time for a die change per session = 30 seconds or less.

rc

[BMW2]

RC-Thanks for that. Being new to reloading, I thought the dies needed to be adjusted every time the were put in. If all the QC bushing save me is how many turns it takes to install, well that's not that big of a deal. That said, the Hornady kit is on sale right now for about the same price as the RCBS so I'll probably get that kit anyway.