Best heavy duty single stage, RCBS Rock Chucker, Lyman Crusher or Lee Classic Cast

[Palehorseman]

I am going to be doing some rather serious cast boolit diameter down sizing of several thou using the Lee Nose sizing dies. (yes it can be done correctly without ill effects) So wanted a beefy SS with good linkage ratio.

Right now I am bidding on a used Lyman Orange Crusher on Ebay, if can get cheap enough (30 bucks tops) will go with it. But I have heard nothing but good about the Lee Classic Cast (all cast iron and steel) and they can be got on sale for around $80.00.

Just wanted to get some input on choices and why from those who have experience with the heavy duty SS presses.

 

[Racinbob]

I don't think you'll go wrong with any of them. I have a Lee to chime with my Dillon progressive. Sometimes I just load on it because it seems to be the only activity that allows me to slow down a bit. They are all great presses.

 

[ranger335v]

I have more than some experience with "heavy duty" presses and cast bullet sizing too. There hasn't been a press yet made that wouldn't handle cast stuff in a Lee size die with ease. Those you mention are equal in effect if not in user features but vast over-kill for that low stress task.

 

[loadedround]

Also check out the Redding Boss and Big Boss single stage presses. As far as I'm concerned they're the best made and most precision press on the market today.

 

[Palehorseman]

I have more than some experience with "heavy duty" presses and cast bullet sizing too. There hasn't been a press yet made that wouldn't handle cast stuff in a Lee size die with ease. Those you mention are equal in effect if not in user features but vast over-kill for that low stress task.

I too have many years at sizing bullets, but only doing so a couple three thou at a time until recently, but these will be hard cast WQ going from .324" down to .316 and such in a single pass.

I know from experience what I seek to do is more than low stress. My old RCBS JR just chokes up and quits, and no way will I be subjecting the aluminum framed Dillon to it.

I have muddling along doing it with a setup it on my two ton arbor press, but that makes for slow sizing, so decided to just get a strong SS and be done with it. One can get custom boolit resizing dies at Buffalo Arms to do it in stages, but with several odd bores to feed and at 45 dollars a pop, that adds up to $ real quick for this child.

At link, scroll down to: " From time to time, it becomes necessary or even desirable to radically resize a cast bullet to fit a particular rifle’s bore."

http://www.castpics.net/memberarticles/The Versatility of Lee Sizing Dies.htm

 

[hydraulicman]

i have a rockchucker suprime i like.

I would probably get a lee classic cast because of the primer catch

both are good.

sometimes it's just good to load on a single stage. Nice and simple and super reliable

 

[Publius1688]

Any of the three, in my opinion, will serve you well. They are all excellent products. I chose Lee for myself.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

I would go with the LCC. The LCC has an adjustable handle that allows you to set the length of ram (and handle) travel as short as needed while still giving you maximum leverage. It also has far better spent primer/debris handling than the other two you mentioned.

Andy

 

[FROGO207]

My choice was simply the most inexpensive used SSP I could find and it was the Rockchucker. I think they all are excellent and you will not go far astray.

 

[GW Staar]

Press only: Pick your favorite color at the best price.

Press kit: You won't beat the other quality tools you get in the RCBS Rock Chucker kit.

 

[Palehorseman]

Ebay auction closed on the Lyman OC at $42.00 for high bidder, so ordered the Lee Classic Cast SS for 77 bucks (was on sale) from Midway. Don't think I went wrong.

Thanks to all for your input.

 

[fireside44]

I know from experience what I seek to do is more than low stress. My old RCBS JR just chokes up and quits, and no way will I be subjecting the aluminum framed Dillon to it.

If I am understanding correctly, you are using the Lee bullet sizing dies which fit in the single stage press.

I tried using the Lee bullet sizing dies along with my Lee press. I had water quenched the bullets and wound up breaking the linkage on my press after bending the handle as well. I fabricated new linkage but wouldn't expect to do this:

but these will be hard cast WQ going from .324" down to .316 and such in a single pass.

I think the handle will start to bend then the linkage will give way. That was my experience. Even slightly oversized non water quenched bullets could be a real bear to run through and you are talking about removing near eight thousandths in one pass?

I don't see good things happening there. You need more camming power than a single stage ammo press is going to deliver. With water quenched, way more.

 

[GW Staar]

Ebay auction closed on the Lyman OC at $42.00 for high bidder, so ordered the Lee Classic Cast SS for 77 bucks (was on sale) from Midway. Don't think I went wrong.

Thanks to all for your input.

just kidding. "did right" would understate.

I can't imagine the linkage and handle failing on the Classic Cast, as it seems pretty robust. I wonder what press fireside44 was using??? The handle might break before bending, and the cast body would probably break before the stoutly built steel linkage would. All bets off on any of Lee's lesser presses.

 

[ranger335v]

"I know from experience what I seek to do is more than low stress. My old RCBS JR just chokes up and quits,"

Okay, accept your experience. But I've sized/lubed thousands of pure lynotype .429" and .452" bullets on a Lyman 450. They are about as hard as a lead alloy can get and the 450 has a very weak lever compared to any common press; NO problems.

Your JR press has a single toggle lever/link system with MUCH less leverage than any compound toggle press. Still, I can't imagine how any press that can FL size brass cases would have problems with sizing any cast bullets. ?? But, your new Classic Cast will do fine I'm sure. (Let us know?)

I also wonder which "my Lee press" got it's lever bent sizing cast bullets? I mean, Lee makes something like 6 or 7 presses (and all of them are much stronger than my lubrasizer's near tiny lever) so a bit more identification would make things more clear.

 

[fireside44]

But I've sized/lubed thousands of pure lynotype .429" and .452" bullets on a Lyman 450. They are about as hard as a lead alloy can get and the 450 has a very weak lever compared to any common press; NO problems.

You are talking about a dedicated bullet sizer with mucho camming power, not a press meant to work thin pieces of brass. Of course there were no problems, it's a dedicated bullet sizer.

I have a Lyman 45 myself, which is older than the model you mentioned. Works great because it's made to size bullets. The handle is much thinner than the Lee press, but it doesn't need a huge handle, it has camming power. A single stage can't touch the camming power of a bullet sizer. Just can't.

I also wonder which "my Lee press" got it's lever bent sizing cast bullets? I mean, Lee makes something like 6 or 7 presses (and all of them are much stronger than my lubrasizer's near tiny lever) so a bit more identification would make things more clear.

Challenger.

No, it is not stronger than your lubrasizer, I don't care how big the lever is. Just more leverage for you to bend the lever and bust your linkage.

This guy is about to attempt to size water quenched bullets a full 8 thousandths in one pass. I will be very surprised if he can get his first bullet through the die. I just don't see it happening. I envision him putting his full weight on the handle to try and force it through. Ask why I envision this.

 

[Palehorseman]

I am still using my old #45 bought back in the 1960s, but not having been abused, it too has went through many thousands of boolits without pause.

As I posted before, there is a world of difference between sizing a couple or three thou and going for double digit reduction, which is what I want to do.

Not sure about what Lee press got bent, as that was another poster, but as you say, more info would help clarify.

 

[Palehorseman]

This guy is about to attempt to size water quenched bullets a full 8 thousandths in one pass. I will be very surprised if he can get his first bullet through the die. I just don't see it happening. I envision him putting his full weight on the handle to try and force it through. Ask why I envision this.

_________________________________________________________________

Did you read the info at link? This has been done for years by more than a few people, if you doubt, just Google the words "cast boolits" and tell some of those guys it can't be done.


At link, scroll down to: " From time to time, it becomes necessary or even desirable to radically resize a cast bullet to fit a particular rifle’s bore."
http://www.castpics.net/memberarticl...ing Dies.htm

 

[Palehorseman]

I bought and have received the Lee Classic Cast press and really like it. Lee did not cut corners on this one, all cast iron and steel with great compound leverage. I effortlessly sized down the Lee mold 8mm cast boolit, which it throws WW alloy at .325" to .316" in one pass and did not even have to extend the handle to full length.

As these will be fired low velocity (1500 fps), I sized without GC, removed the lube for better view. But I did some with GC, found it best to initially seat GC in .323" sizing die before running in the .316" one. Can see the boolit got a little taller, which is normal, as they are swaged not sheared, so the excess only has one way to go.



As cast on left, sized on right.