Want to reload

I have the Rock Chucker. My brother has the Lee. Either press will work just fine.

The Challenger is made out of aluminum, the RCBS is solid cast iron.

You need to compare the Lee classic cast press to the rockchucker for a true comparison.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/824144/lee-classic-cast-breech-lock-single-stage-press

But I don't think it comes in a complete reloading kit. The cast iron presses will last you a life time.

Get a Lee turret instead. Either the Lee breech lock or the Rock Chucker will last a long time, but both are single stage presses. Many people will recommend that you start with a single stage. The turret can easily switch between a single stage and auto indexing turret with one part and screw. You're loading semi automatic calibers, and you'll send an hour's worth of reloading down range in about 10 minutes. You'll want more volume, and the turret provides that. It's not a progressive, but you can get about double the volume than a single stage. This isn't to say you shouldn't be careful with you're loading.

First, to answer your question... The construction of the RCBS is much more 'substantial' than the Lee. While both can last a long time, I think that you can expect the average RCBS to outlast an average Lee of the same 'level'. The question is how much reloading you plan to do and whether you can justify/recoup the increased initial cash outlay.

FWIW, I am a thousand reloads into my adventure reloading .223/5.56. I bought the cheapest Lee press ($30), dies, and tools... There are a couple things I'd do differently if I had a different budget or could do it all over again. For example, I bought all hand tools for case prep and I've upgraded a couple of them already. But, a thousand rounds in, I've more than recouped my costs and everything works flawlessly.

Now, to the thing you didn't ask: If you're reloading handgun... well, it seems like most people I know shoot a lot more rounds out of their handguns than they do out of their rifle. Thus, loading on a single stage may be a bit slow for you. Stepping up to something like the Lee Turret will not bust your budget by too much and will increase the throughput you'll have. This may be worthwhile, or it may not. But it's a suggestion worth measuring.

Good luck... Oh, and your post reminded me that I have a ton of brass to prep. Thanks for that!

The Challenger is made out of aluminum, the RCBS is solid cast iron.

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The Lee is also cast iron,
I started with the Lee and it did just fine. I upgraded to a Dillon and still load my rifle and 357 on the Lee.

Starting out I would suggest this deal Here

The Pistol Caliber Kits Include:

Lee Classic Turret Press

Lee Deluxe 4-Die Set for the pistol caliber of your choice. (3 Die set in 380, 44/40 and 357 Sig)

Lee Auto Disk Powder Measure

Lee Safety Prime System (Large AND Small)

Lee Auto Disk Riser (Required for the Safety Prime System)

Six MTM 50 round Plastic Ammo Boxes

If I would have known about this deal when I bought my Lee Classic Turret Press, I would have been all over this!!!

And I would do the Pro Auto Disc Upgrade!

If you get the turret, I'd suggest a separate turret for each caliber.

J_McLeod said:

If you get the turret, I'd suggest a separate turret for each caliber.

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I second that recommendation. I have several turrets and it makes caliber change overs a breeze.

I was in this same situation for the last year. I finally pulled the trigger a bit over a month ago. The Lee classic cast and the RCBS are the two most comparable SS presses. Both are cast iron. The Challenger is cast Aluminum. The Lee CC is made from recycled USA railroad tracks. The RCBS had many claims to be cast overseas. That was one deciding factor for me. The other was that I could get the Lee for right at $100 shipped. The RCBS is closer to 150-200. The Lee CC is solid, smooth, and one heck of a piece of equipment. The truth is the RCBS, Lee CC, or the Lee Challenger will outlast you is used properly. I like the stability the weight give provides of the Classic Cast. I have loaded on my buddies Lee turret and did not go that rout because of the "slop" of the turret on bullet seating and re-sizing. I dont like play in machinery. I am not saying it is not a good option. Ther is a reason many things are made to do the same thing.

The other things you will need are a scale, calipers and dies. Since buying the press I have purchased an Autodisk powder measure for my pistol reloading. I can pump out 100+rounds an hour of pistol. I can also hand scoop and measure to the .01 of a grain on my rifle loads. With the autodisk a round is made in three movements of the press handle. 1)Deprime and resize on the down stroke and load a primer to beseated on upstroke. 2)Charge and expand the case mouth on the second down stroke. 3) seat bullet on downstroke. I do batches of 50 so I am not changing the dies out all the time.

If you're just starting out I'd stay away from turret or progressive presses.
To much going on, inexperienced people make mistakes and blow themselves up.

Get a single stage and learn the process. Load each round one at at time, inspecting and verifying every case each step of the process. Once you learn that THEN move to a faster press.

tyeo098 said:

If you're just starting out I'd stay away from turret or progressive presses.
To much going on, inexperienced people make mistakes and blow themselves up.

Get a single stage and learn the process. Load each round one at at time, inspecting and verifying every case each step of the process. Once you learn that THEN move to a faster press.

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That's why I so strongly recommend the turret as a first press. I don't know if you've used a Lee turret before, but all you need to do is remove one screw to keep it from rotating and you have a single stage. You have the added bonus of being able to manually rotate it, keeping some advantage over the single stage. Use it as a single stage until you know what's going on, put the index in and load away. It's almost like having two presses in one.

I started on a lee classic cast turret and am very happy.

What you start on is irrelevant as long as you buy a solid press. If you go single stage buy O frame. I currently have 4 single stages. 2 lee, one rcbs and one noname. Both lee presses have problems. I would buy a rockchucker because it is worth the extra money. There are plenty attachments that are easy to use and cheap enough.

If your looking for the long-run you need to consider what you plan to do with your press. If your loading for autos then you may want a faster loader. If your loading for precision you want a single stage.

I put out around 100 rds an hour on .357 in a rockchucker.

I started off with one of these. Then I used a turret as a single stage for a while. They were both great.

Thanks for all of the input! I'm still debating, but really do appreciate the ideas. I think I'll stick with a single stage for now, I shoot 300-400 rounds a month,

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If you do, get several loading blocks so you can do 100+ or more at a time in batches. With the RC or similar, you can deprime/resize/reprime in one stage; then change the dies and flare all of your cases. When you are ready to add powder and bullets, using the loading blocks will let you speed things up.

One thing you will find with a progressive press, regardless of the brand, is that the weakest area needing the most focus seems to always be the primer area. I have had every major maker of presses, both single and progressive, and the one place I can count on Mr. Murphy to rear his ugly head is that one. It is always when I don't watch it for one time that it happens too! . So get really familiar with the entire process. Later, if you decide to move onto a progressive for most of your loading, you'll still find a use for the single stage - whether it is for a unique cartridge, or just loading up a few rounds to test a new load.

This isn't rocket science, but you DO need to pay attention and avoids distractions while doing it.

I bought a rcbs turret for a first press. It works great, and I have a dedicated head for each caliber I reload. I tried using it single stage the first couple times, but ended up realizing I had more potential for problem rounds doing it this way. My house is very rarely free of distractions so having 100+ rounds sitting partially complete (ie primed and charged but not having bullets seated) and then needing to change a diaper or let a dog outside became a problem waiting to happen. Switching and using the turret as a manual indexing progressive became much easier and safer for me, because you only have 1 round being worked on at a time. No partially complete rounds sitting out, and if something comes up, finish your current round and don't start another. Just food for thought...

I have both a Lee Classic and a RCBS Rockchucker and they are both of excellent quality. I can't see why the RCBS is worth $50.00 more. I bought it used so that $50.00 wasn't an issue for me. I have used them both a great deal for all the "heavy" work and they both work great. I load primarily on a 1983 vintage Dillon 450.

lpsharp88 said:

I am having a hard time figuring out what powder to use, let alone seeing any around. The last thing I'll get is the press/press kit and dies.

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For this, check your loading manual or online data source for the bullet weights you want to shoot. Write down all the powders that have recipes in all that you want to shoot. For example, HP-38/Win 231 can shoot both 9mm 115gr and .45 230gr. Take this list with you when you go shopping and buy anything that's on it.

I am having a hard time figuring out what powder to use, let alone seeing any around.

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If you EVER need any help with bullet/powder suggestions, open a thread here! I have 3 reloading books myself and would be more than happy to share the information, some people here on H&R have like, 10 books for some reason.

We're helpful people.

I started with a Lee CC a few years ago. Great press- I've loaded probably
8k plus rounds of different calibers on it with no problems. 9mm, .38/.357, .45 ACP/Colt, .308, 7.35, 50 Beowulf.

Mine press kit came with a Lee safety scale- which in my opinion is a POS. I got an RCBS beam scale and was much happier.

I use the Lee for my lower volume calibers now... Just recently I have drunk the Blue koolaid of a 650XL. WOW!


.

I just started. I load 9mm and Im gathering the components to start 223 soon. I have the LCT and enjoy it very much. Any reason you're going with a SS?

88,

I like Chevy's, some like Fords
I like brunets, some prefer blonds
I like Jack Daniels, some prefer Crown
etc.........

your original question was "can't decide between the RCBS Rock Chucker, and the Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Kit"......

Well my friend, you are just gonna have to man up, pick one and go! Everyone here has made up their own mind on what color of koolaid they like. Both of those SS presses are great and both will reload thousands of rounds just for you.

Good luck amigo, and thank you for your service!

The Dove