Dating RCBS press models RC JR and RS

[Charshooter]

Does anyone know the history of RCBS press models? I have the Rochchucker and RS press. A few weeks ago, I friend asked me when the JR press was made as well as the JR2. I did several searches on this and have not found any definitive results.

From what I know, the Rochchucker was the first model and I think the JR came out sometime after. There is information about Fred Huntington explaining the origin of this first press, but there is no history of model dates that I have found.

I think the JR was followed by the JR2 and JR3 then a new aluminum JR3 came out along with the RS, which is cast iron, but here I am guessing.

What I know for sure is the presses I have, the Rockchucker made in the 1970s and both my RS presses made in the early 80s and all are cast iron; I have never owned any JR series.

So, can anyone help me fill in the blanks?

 

[GP100man]

dates

Charshooter
the dates on RS & RCS are under the adapter,just screw the adapter out & there it is .
on the jr line i dont know, but i bet its on there some where.
GP100man

 

[Jim Watson]

My Rockchucker is clearly marked with the year of manufacture, don't even have to take out the bushing to see. I don't know about the other models.

But the Rockchucker was not the first RCBS press. Their first press was the big Model A, accompanied by the lighter Model B. The A was succeeded by the A-2 which was long thought to be their best. They were highly sought after for years when replaced in the lineup by the Rockchucker.

 

[Ol` Joe]

I`ve a JR2 of my dads that was bought in the mid 1960s. I`m not sure of the exact year, but I believe around `65-`66.

 

[billp]

1967 rockchucker

I have a 1967 rockchucker which I still to load .233 and .30-06 ammo.



Jack O'Conner writes about this model.

 

[Charshooter]

Hi, yes I know that the first press was the model A Leverage Systemand then they used the "Rock Chuck Bullet Swage." RCBS for short, bit on that biography page

www.huntingtonsports.com/fredhuntingtonbio.html - 29k

I does mention the Rockchucker and the reloader special, but I still find it confusing.

My RS press says 82 and 84 while the RC is a 1974 model

I seems that the old kits had the JR and one die,these were not the fulll kits we see with all starter loading supplies. It still seems a mystery that the RS and JR press looks much the same?

 

[billp]

huntingin bio ... resizing advice.

Neat huntington bio.

Here's one of some Huntington interesting advice on resizing.





I used advice for .30-06. Some pressure required to close bolt on shell.

But no problems encountered.

 

[WmCC]

A 1969 RC still in use on this bench, complete with cast aluminum primer tray, which I purchased new for $59.

I have no idea what the round count is now. It compliments the newer Pro 2000 and still handles the larger centerfire cartridges with aplomb.

 

[WmCC]

A 1969 RC still in use on this bench, complete with cast aluminum primer tray, which I purchased new for $59.

I have no idea what the round count is now. It compliments the newer Pro 2000 and still handles the larger centerfire cartridges with aplomb.

 

[armoredman]

Jr is stamped last two numbers of year of manufacture right on top, next to the die threads. My RCBS Jr is a 1981, going strong!

 

[cracked butt]

I got my RS from my dad, I know that he bought it in the early 80s.

 

[Charshooter]

My RCBS Jr is a 1981, going strong!
I got my RS from my dad, I know that he bought it in the early 80s.

It seems then that the RS and JR were both out in the 1980s? This is indeed a mystery because the company must have made a distinction.

What I have seen is many older presses from the late 60s and 1970s with JR and then there are my early 1980s RS models. I seems someone soon will have a complete explaination. On several sites I posted this, so, the answer is quite ellusive.

My RC is the first press I have puchased and was made in 1974. I added more presses to avoid changing dies out. The RC has changed over the years but the name is constant.

thanks for the interesting reads!

 

[Jim Watson]

The ninth edition of Handloader's Digest, 1981, shows the RCBS Jr press. A "Reloader's Special" was then the Jr press, a set of dies, and some accessories.

The tenth edition of H.D. shows a specific RCBS RS-2 press with compound leverage like the Rockchucker, only smaller. The Jr had simple leverage.
The eleventh edition of H.D. shows a RCBS RS-3 press; but it is not obvious from the picture and description how it differs from the RS-2.

 

[Charshooter]

Jim,
I think this is part of the answer. The JR came out first then the JR2 and JR3 and then the reloader special kit, that had just a press and one die. The costomer chose the die and it was marked on the box. I think some must have said RS, but I do not know if there were ones thatsay JR or JR3? I saw on eBay one selling a press as a JR but the manual in the picture said Reloader Special and the press, marked RS.

I think the RS was the new JR model but some say they were made at the same time. Now the RS series has led up to the current one and the Partner has taken the economy position. Both early JR and RS presses are cast iron. That is my best guess?

 

[dcloco]

To "date" an RCBS press, I would probably start with a vintage red wine, some soft music, a light appetizer (nothing with fish), followed by an loose leaf salad with a hint of white vinegar/pinch of fine ground pepper, and finish with a 24 ounce RIBEYE and a LARGE baked potato. Doh....wait...that Ribeye and Idaho spud are MINE!

 

[thisnthat]

RCBS JR 3 Press

I bought my RCBS cast iron Jr 3 press in either the fall of 1975 or the spring of 1976. It is still in fine shape.

I have used it since. Just bought a Lee Classic four position turret to speed things up a bit.

 

[g56]

Here's what my Rock Chucker says:

 

[cracked butt]

Ah, I just checked mine. My RS is stamped '81'

 

[cracked butt]

I'm not sure what the difference between the RS and JR are- are they the same press?

 

[Charshooter]

Yes, they are pretty much the same. Having two RS models and no JR model, I would not swear to it, but if I had both I would measure them and see if they are exactly the same. My impression is that the early JR, JR2 and JR3 look like the RS and all are made out of cast iron. I think later JR3 models were aluminum and had a more square shape. The later RCBS lineups did not include the JR and the RS has evolved to the RS3 and the RS5, which I think is the current model.

I’m sure someone has a more complete history line on the old RS and JR and I would like to hear from him.

 

[Ala Dan]

I did all of my original loading on an RCBS Jr. press, somewhere between
the fall of '72 or '73? Nowdays, I use a 2000 model RCBS "Rockchucker".

 

[Ross]

The earlier RCBS A series looks like this:
The A press was 1949 - 1959. The patent was issued on August 19, 1958 for the bullet swedge (sic) press patent Nº. 2,847,895 over eight years after application. The bullet press had a cam in the linkage to alter the stroke shorter for bullet swaging, longer for loading.
The 2A 1959 - 1961 the A2 1961 - 1969. The early ones were olive green-gray to the mid '60's, then green.
The A 3 (I've never seen one.) 1969 - 1971. Ken Neeld says it was cast iron rather than cast steel, but otherwise the same except for the marking.
The A 4 Big Max 1982 - 1988.
The B was made only in 1961, 500 made.
The hopeless drudges among us may wish to google up the patent office and read the patent, then go on to view other RCBS patents.

The various Reloader Specials often have been kits or combo offers (with one set of dies and shellholder, etc.) or the short lived Reloader Special dies.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

 

[Charshooter]

This is good history Ross

My guess is that the Rockchucker with compound leverage came out after the B model and became the standard. The JR model was a less expensive alternative without the compound leverage. About 1980 the Reloader Special probably replaced the JR3 or the JR3 changed, then was faded out. The more recent RS models are now available, but not the JR and today, the partner press in the economical model.

but this is conjecture in my part

 

[Runningman]

Some interesting information here. Picked up a older RCBS RS press with a date from 1979 yesterday for $35. Some mild surface rust in a few spots but otherwise it seems to be low use. Hopefully I did not pay to much. Already have a few presses just could not pass it up. Was trying to figure out if the RS is cast iron or cast steel, anyone know? Hope I'm not crazy for buying this.