How Old is The Rock Chucker ?

[gggman]

I've had my rock chucker less than 20 years, but I know that RCBS has been making them for decades. Does anyone know how long they have been around ? I couldn't find anything on their website. I'm guessing around fifty years, but that's just a guess.

 

[HankB]

The Rockchucker is listed in my 1970 Handloader's Digest and it had already been on the market for a while . . . but IIRC, people were still talking about it as a replacement for the RCBS "A2" press.

I was a youngster back then, but that's about when my Dad and I began handloading . . . with a Rockchucker.

It's now mounted on its third reloading bench, this one in my garage.

 

[Wil Terry]

It Came Out In The Late 60's-1968?-as A Replacement For The Rcbs A2 Press.

I stuck with my 1967 A2, thank you very much. Paid $40.00 for it.

 

[Mal H]

I'm not real sure of the exact age, but it is just about as old as the company itself (or at least the company before it was sold ... and sold ... ) - 60 years.
Since "RCBS" stands for "Rock Chucker Bullet Swage" (coined by the inventor, Buzz Huntington), it implies that the press (original used to swage lead bullets) was the company in the beginning. The A2 was a Rock Chucker.

 

[langenc]

I bought one in 1967-still use it. It has a cast Aluminum or pot metal primer catcher-not that tacky plastic on that is around now.

 

[bigbird1]

They have the date code under the thread adapter if you care to know when your was made. I got a 1975 still like brand new, I picked it up to resize brass after my pop metal lee broke the head off. lol this one won't ever break

 

[WmCC]

Langenc,

Ditto on mine. I use a rubber band around the frame to secure the cast aluminum primer tray.

Still running strong but has about .002 of vertical play in the linkage now.

 

[Otto]

RCBS has been making them for decades. Does anyone know how long they have been around ?

The Model A came out circa 1949 and was the predecessor to the Rock Chucker.
There is a write up and photos of this "new press" in Phillip Sharpe's reloading guide.
The second post in the following thread shows the patent drawings of it.
http://www.antiquereloadingtools.org/discus/messages/8/737.html?1171149934

 

[gggman]

I wore out one of those cheap "red" presses in about 7 years, but I know I'll never wear out the rock chucker. When I get tired of reloading ammo, I could use it as a boat anchor.

 

[ranger335v]

"I stuck with my 1967 A2, thank you very much. Paid $40.00 for it."

Will, that sounds good today. But, to put things into perspective, that was approximately equal to $250, or more, today.

 

[qbpc]

My Rock Chucker came out of my Uncle's garage and he had it before his oldest son was born he is 38. My first press and free to boot I was happy untill I started shooting uspsa and pulling that handle for 1500 rounds a month got oooooooooold that when the Dillon showed up about 15 years ago.
BB

 

[David Wile]

Hey Mal,

You indicated RCBS stands for "Rock Chucker Bullet Swage" , but if I am not mistaken, I seem to recall that RCBS stood for Rock Chuck Bullet Swage company. Supposedly Huntington was known for his fondness for shooting rock chucks.

I bought a used A2 about 1960, and I replaced it with the new Rock Chucker sometime around 1969 I think.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

 

[1911NM]

Dad bought his rock chucker in about '72. We loaded 7mm rem mag., 30-06, .357, .44mag, 250-3000, and it's still going strong. I am pondering pulling it out of Dad's garage to load my new 22-250 rounds with, or just run them on my Hornady LNL.

 

[Mal H]

I think you're right, David. Huntington's original name was indeed "Rock Chuck Bullet Swage". (I checked the Huntington site this time. )

 

[BWB]

Also in the interest of accuracy, the founder was Fred huntington. Buzz was or is a son I think. The original deal was that back in WWII days (we think we have shortage problems now) some of the boys were making .22 varmint bullets using jackets made from rimfire empties because that's all they had to work with. Fred made the tools to do so, hence Rock Chuck Bullet Swage which became RCBS. Fred was a legend in the gun business, hunted all over the world with his buddy Jack O'Connor.

 

[Mal H]

Dadgummit! Right again! It was Fred T. Huntington.

(Note to self - stop depending on memory when you write stuff down for others to see.)

 

[moosehunt]

Got my curiosity up, so I checked the date on mine--starting it's 30th year, 1978. Good as new, far as I can tell!