Big Boss II vs Lock-N-Load Classic vs Rock Chucker

[REL1203]

So I am ditching my Lee Turret. Since I got my LNL-AP, the turret is only used for my Precision Rifle loading, but the turret just seems to have to much slop for me to really consistently get what I am looking for. I only load 308 and 300WM, and 223 Match loads. I am getting into 600-1000 yard bench rest shooting, so I am going to get a nice single Stage. I dont want the Co-Ax press, and have narrowed down my choices to the 3 mentioned in the subject. With currently owning the LNL-AP, i am very familiar with Hornady's CS and like their products, I love the LNL Bushing's and have no problem buying them all for my dies. I prime on the press only so I need the press to have a good priming system.

I keep hearing good things about the Redding as well as the Rock Chucker, but really want to hear you guys that own these presses and your opinions of them. I think i read on the Big Boss, you can get an adapter so it works with the LNL Bushings which i definitely would do.

So, lets hear what you guys think.

 

[Waldog]

I use a RCBS RockChucker for 99% of my rifle ammo. My son has the Hornady Single Stage LNL for his rifle ammo. Both are excellent. I have not used the BigBoss.

I use a LNL progressive press for my handgun ammo and some rifle. I absolutely love the LNL bushing system. The Hornady single stage LNL has the same system. NOW, here is the kicker, the throat opening on the Hornady single stage and AP press is different. You can't just swap one die to another press and get the same results. You have to get a spacer for the die bushing to make your dies interchangable from one press to the other. Hornady has a LNL bushing conversion kit for other presses. I now have the Hornady LNL bushing conversion on my Rock Chucker press. I made a spacer for my RC to match the opening on my LNL. I can swap dies back and forth without readjustment.

Go here to learn how to make the spacer: http://ultimatereloader.com/2009/06/06/calibrating-lnl-ap-and-lnl-classic-hd/

 

[REL1203]

One advantage to the Rock Chucker is I can get it locally for $160, and not have to worry about shipping.

 

[Buckeyeguy525]

I recently had to make the same decision, here are the conclusions I came to:

*my father in law has a lock n load classic press and I'm not impressed with it. I prefer a cast iron press, the hornady is cast aluminum. Just a personal preference. Also, other presses can be converted to accept the lnl bushings if you want

*the rcbs has cast iron construction and the over-cam linkage, but is cast in China

*no experience with the Redding

I chose the Lee Classic Cast because its cast out of recycled railroad tracks in the USA, is stronger and has a larger opening and ram than both, has a better primer catch system than the hornady and the rcbs. If money is no issue, get the redding

 

[cfullgraf]

So, lets hear what you guys think.

It all depends which color fits best with the decor of your reloading room. All three presses will serve you well.

 

[REL1203]

It all depends which color fits best with the decor of your reloading room. All three presses will serve you well.

haha.. Well, I already have Red with my LNL-AP (it does have a Dillion Blue Roller Handle though).... I am leaning towards one of the 2 green presses now, just have to figure out if i want Lighter Green (redding) or Darker Green (RCBS)....

My Main issue with the RockChucker is I hate that it doesnt drop the spent primer through the ram into a disposal tube or something similar, i hate that it has to bounce out the side into a bin.

 

[MCMXI]

I have the Redding Big Boss II and an RCBS Rock Chucker and if I had to choose one over the other it'd be the Redding Big Boss II. I don't prime on the Redding, I use the RCBS bench primer, so I can't comment on how the priming system works but overall it's a really good single stage press. I like the spent primer collection system on the BBII and it has three holes for bolting to a bench compared to two on the RC. Also, it's a little more forgiving in terms of what it mounts too ... thickness of table top, overhang etc. This is due to the clearance on the upstroke of the ram between the block that the arm/handle threads in to and the object that the press is mounted to. In short, I couldn’t mount the RC to my loading bench due to clearance issues, but my Hornady L-N-L AP and BBII mounted just fine.

 

[REL1203]

1858, do you have a pic of your bench, i am curious to see how/where your limitations for mounting are.

 

[MCMXI]

REL1203, I don't have a photo of my bench on a server at present but the issue was that the overhang (table top) on my reloading bench is short enough and the top support tall enough that the block that the press arm threads into was making contact with the support under the bench before the ram was at TDC. I mounted the RC to another reloading table where it works just fine. This issue is unique to my setup and as cfullgraf stated, both the BBII and RC are excellent presses.

Regardless of my situation, I still consider the BBII to be a better press.

When I get home tonight I can take a photo of the "problem" I faced with my bench and even take some measurements if it'd help i.e. overhang, support height etc.

 

[ranger335v]

"I am getting into 600-1000 yard bench rest shooting, so I am going to get a nice single Stage. "

You really want to try that with threaded dies and a common press?

 

[REL1203]

"I am getting into 600-1000 yard bench rest shooting, so I am going to get a nice single Stage. "
You really want to try that with threaded dies and a common press?

I must be missing something, or missing the joke?

 

[BYJO4]

While I do all my handgun loading on the LNL AP press, I still use my 35 year old RCBS Rockchucker for rifle. I've had very little problems with primers not falling into the dish around the press or priming (although I prefer to use the RCBS Bench Mount priming tool because of its uniformity and very little effort needed to seat primer).

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I have two Hornady L&L AP presses and I load all of my pistol ammo on them. So I am thoroughly familiar with the L&L collets and I really like them.

However, for loading on a single stage press, I really see no significant advantage to the L&L collet system. Think about it for a minute. Whether you use collets, or screw your dies directly into the press body, you are going to have pre set the locking rings on the dies in either case. With the collets you pop the die into the press with a slight twist, with a conventional press you screw the die in until the locking ring bottoms on the press body. In either case, you are taking advantage of the locking rings to duplicate the setting from session to session. But with a single stage press, the great majority of the time is spent running shell after shell through one die until you have run all your shells through a particular die. Then you change out the die for the next one. The amount of time saved popping the L&L mounted die into the press is insignificant when you figure you are going to be sitting running a whole bunch of shells through each die. Really, how long does it take to screw a die into a press? Ten seconds or so? I really fail to see the advantage to using the L&L collets on a single stage press such as Hornady makes.

When I sit down to load 303 British or 45-70, I use the old Lyman Spartan single stage press that I learned reloading on. When it is time to change dies, I screw one out and screw the next one in. Takes about 20 seconds.

 

[Nanook]

I must be missing something, or missing the joke?

He might be talking about using an arbor press and say, a Wilson seating die. Works differently than standard presses, but is said to be much more accurate.

I haven't tried the combo yet, but I'm just taking "baby steps" into benchrest shooting myself lately, so I have heard of this option.

 

[Lost Sheep]

*the rcbs has cast iron construction and the over-cam linkage, but is cast in China

I have been told that RCBS Rockchuckers were cast in China for a time, (but still had the finish machining done in the U.S.) but RCBS has since switched back to American castings.

I have NEVER seen hard evidence for any contention yea or nea.

To verify, check with RCBS?

However, made in China or not, RCBS does stand behind their 100% lifetime warranty, original buyer or not. I have heard that often enough to believe it without doubt in my mind.

Lost Sheep

 

[rayatphonix]

I have a Redding press and love it. No telling how many thousands of rounds it's done. I know I've done over 8000 rounds and I bought it used. Rock solid. If Redding made a progressive press, I'd buy it in a second.