Thoughts on rock chucker

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Potatohead

Potatohead

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Hey all,
Anyone have experience with this kit (or just the press):

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/937051/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-master-single-stage-press-kit

Im really itching to get into reloading, been reading and reading, and im about ready to start getting my hands dirty..This kit is available and affordable. Of course i'd like a big nice Dillon progressive but dont really want to wait 6 months to get it, and i dont have the cheese ($) right now anyway. This one is 270$ with rebate it appears. I plan on 600-800 rds per month of 380 and 9mm for now. I shoot 223s but this wont load rifle cartridges, correct? I could always buy those factory I guess. A kit is appealing since i have nothing. I dont want to just default to whats available, but I really want to get going. ANY info on RCBS equipment/ this press/ or whats included in this kit would be appreciated. thanks

Please no "new reloaders suck" posts :)


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Can't go wrong with RCBS, Dillon or Hornady.

It should load pistol and rifle. All three listed stand behind their products 110%. I personally have the Hornady classic LNL and it loads pistol and rifle just fine.
 
Oh. Great. Im not sure why i had it in my head that it wouldnt load rifle
 
The Rock Chucker is widely considered one of the best single stage presses you can get. Mine has served me well for 30 years. The customer service is great.
 
I think my RCBS press is called something other than a Rock Chucker but it's single stage and I've also been using it for about 30 years. I think the whole kit cost about $115 back then and I've loaded thousands of rounds of ammo one it with no problems from pistol to 458 Lott.
 
I'm new reloader and just got first kit:
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=LEE90304&src=exrbSrch

To me it looks like better value. RCBS 505 scale is probably better (I got one) but if I knew I'm getting this kit I could probably be OK with Lee powder scale.

So, for less money you get turret press which can be used as single stage as well. I already loaded 1000 rounds on mine and can do about 200 per hour.

I did get Dillon too (2 month wait) and do feel like thats what I need but this Lee Classic turret is excellent value press for doing smaller batches and developing loads.

P.S. I re-read your post and since you want to do Pistol calibers - I strongly suggest NOT to go single stage. Unless you have tons of free time. Turret is already slow for me.
 
Katitmail said:
P.S. I re-read your post and since you want to do Pistol calibers - I strongly suggest NOT to go single stage. Unless you have tons of free time. Turret is already slow for me.
Click to expand...

I've done thousands of pistol rounds on my single stage, and its really not that bad. Single stage is great to learn on. IMHO.
 
jwrowland77 said:
I've done thousands of pistol rounds on my single stage, and its really not that bad. Single stage is great to learn on. IMHO.
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It depends on person I guess. To me Turret is slow now. Single would be even worse. But OP wants to pay more for single stage where he can get turret for less. You can use LCT in single-stage mode no problem. It's no brainer IMO
 
I've done thousands of pistol rounds on my single stage, and its really not that bad. Single stage is great to learn on. IMHO.
jwrowland77 is online now Report Post Quick reply to this message
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thanks, i was worried when he said that about pistol rds
 
The RockChucker is pretty much the gold standard of reloading presses, and you won't be let down by their customer service. As one of the other contributors said though, it is pretty slow going for pistol rounds, if you shoot a lot. There are other options for pistols, but to get started I don't think you will be disappointed with the quality of the RockChucker.
 
As much as I like my LCT press it is not all that much faster than single stage reloading. Maybe 50 or so rounds per hour. The main difference with single stage is you handle the same piece of brass 3 or 4 times. Which can be an advantage rather than disadvantage as you are inspecting every piece of brass. When I was laid up after surgery I had nothing but time on my hands and converted my turret back to single stage. Sometimes it is nice just to size and deprime, then sit and hand prime, flair etc. You can stop at any time and walk away.

I know there is disagreement but I still think batch loading or single stage helps you lean the steps better.

The RC is a very well built machine and will last several lifetimes, I like my Lee but the build quality is not that of the RCBS. The RCBS scale and powder measure are far better built than Lee. I own and use the Lee but the scale in the kit is a throw away. Yes it works but a real PITA to use.
 
Katitmail said:
It depends on person I guess. To me Turret is slow now. Single would be even worse. But OP wants to pay more for single stage where he can get turret for less. You can use LCT in single-stage mode no problem. It's no brainer IMO
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You're the "engineer" that is so smart you dont need reloading manuals right? I guess i better listen up!
 
If you read careful about "books" I said I do have books and I DID read them. I said that I don't need them anymore. And once you will figure out how to load on single stage you won't need it anymore :)

Well, like I said. Unless you have ton's of free time.
 
Rule3 said:
As much as I like my LCT press it is not all that much faster than single stage reloading. Maybe 50 or so rounds per hour. The main difference with single stage is you handle the same piece of brass 3 or 4 times. Which can be an advantage rather than disadvantage as you are inspecting every piece of brass. When I was laid up after surgery I had nothing but time on my hands and converted my turret back to single stage. Sometimes it is nice just to size and deprime, then sit and hand prime, flair etc. You can stop at any time and walk away.

I know there is disagreement but I still think batch loading or single stage helps you lean the steps better.

The RC is a very well built machine and will last several lifetimes, I like my Lee but the build quality is not that of the RCBS. The RCBS scale and powder measure are far better built than Lee. I own and use the Lee but the scale in the kit is a throw away. Yes it works but a real PITA to use.
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thx rule 3. i do enjoy taking it slow actually. kind of therapeutic.
 
Katitmail said:
I'm new reloader and just got first kit:
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=LEE90304&src=exrbSrch

To me it looks like better value. RCBS 505 scale is probably better (I got one) but if I knew I'm getting this kit I could probably be OK with Lee powder scale.

So, for less money you get turret press which can be used as single stage as well. I already loaded 1000 rounds on mine and can do about 200 per hour.

I did get Dillon too (2 month wait) and do feel like thats what I need but this Lee Classic turret is excellent value press for doing smaller batches and developing loads.

P.S. I re-read your post and since you want to do Pistol calibers - I strongly suggest NOT to go single stage. Unless you have tons of free time. Turret is already slow for me.
Click to expand...
this Lee Classic turret is excellent value press for doing smaller batches and developing loads
Click to expand...

ive just heard a lot of stuff that makes me think it would just be easier to go with another brand
 
ive just heard a lot of stuff that makes me think it would just be easier to go with another brand
Click to expand...

I understand this. I _knew_ from beginning I need faster progressive press and I had Dillon 650 on order already. I do like quality tools. And to be honest - I bought LCT as "throw-away" press that I can re-gift or re-sell later. I was eager to get into reloading.

And yes, there is nothing fancy about this piece. But it WORKS. From my understanding Lee Progressives is PITA to deal with, but this one is very simple almost primitive but it does work.

I had another idea in my mind. I shoot lot's of 9mm and will keep Dillon in 9mm. For other calibers I will use LCT because whole kit is cheaper than 1 caliber quick-change kit for Dillon :)
Now after I've loaded 500 rounds on it - I realized that it's not calming me down. This is repetative motion and I need to move forward faster. I'd rather spend 30 minutes tinkering and changing caliber on Dillon and than get 200 rounds in 15 minutes than I spend 1hr doing repetative thing with LCT.

In my mind single stage is not good for pistol loading. Again, this is not "info" - it's my opinion based on my experience. You need to decide what is better for YOU.
 
I bought this kit several years ago. It has many items that I will never use including a non-digital scale.

If you are going to reload only rifle, then it is OK. If you are going to reload rifle and pistol, buy a progressive press instead.
 
I started on this press a few years go. I now mostly load on a Dillon 650, but I still use the Rock Chucker for all of my single stage operations. I still use most of the rest of this kit as well. Some other kits seem to include 'starter' equipment. Most of what comes in the RCBS KIt - press, scale, powder dispenser, hand primer, manual - are top notch!
 
Some will argue that you can buy individual items. That said I have a brother who wanted to get into loading his own. I gave him that same RCBS starter kit for Christmas. Keep in mind he is a new hand loader. He loves it. I helped him set things up and walked him through several things but overall in his situation it has proven to be a great starter kit. Thus far he is loading 9mm, 40 S&W, 223 Remington and 308 Winchester.

My main reason for the Rock Chucker is I have one and figured I could better answer his questions on the phone. I am in NE Ohio and he is in SW Ohio so we don't see each other real often. There are other kits by other manufacturers that also are just fine. I happen to like the RCBS Rock Chucker. Would I recommend that kit? Absolutely for a starter because it has most of the essentials in one box.

Ron
 
I bought my Rockchucker in the 1980's and while I have a nice Dillon I still use the Rockchucker often.
 
I load pretty much every handgun caliber and 4 rifles on the Lee Classic Turret. I do not need large volume of ammo but I need the ability to convert quickly and not cost a fortune for the dies turrets and all the extras. I have separate die turrets for every caliber. The Lee lets me do that . Yes I can buy a Dillon but I have no room for it nor do I need the volume.

I first had (still do, the Lee breach lock and have the quick change locks for the dies. I loaded thousands of rounds of all calibers of handguns.

Had I known then what I know now, I should have just bought the Lee Turret. Just pull the rod out of it and it is a single stage.

That said, the RCBS is still better built, but also more money and the Lee just plain works. The LCT is still only going to give you 150 rounds an hour, maybe 200 if you drink lots of caffeine or something but that is really pushing it.

The single stage is maybe 100 but your time is spent changing dies. The Hornady LNL with bushings, like the Lee Breach Lock is faster to change. I do not know if the RCBS has the bushing system.

It all depends on how many calibers you want to reload and how much.
The only advantage to the LEE is price adding up all the extras for different calibers and their dies are less money. The RCBS has a better scale, manual, press and powder measure and this is from a die hard Lee fan!:D
 
Taken as a kit, quality of all the pieces considered, you can't really do any better. All the pieces they give you are first rate. I started on one of those back in the late 70's. I'm still using the scale and powder measure from that kit.


The first piece you might be augmenting would be the manual. The Speer is a very excellent book (I keep one myself), but if Speer doesn't make a bullet for it, then they completely ignore the caliber. They do cover the calibers you mentioned, but others are missing.
 
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