Have you actually worn out a Rockchucker or similar press

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R.W.Dale

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The lube thread got me to thinking about just how overbuilt the average heavy grade single stage press is. I wonder if anyone has actually worn one out or even just used one or mistreated one enough to cause any major play in the mechanism?

If so please post about it. Appx round count, years owned, improper or mistreatment or anything that might shed light on how long these things might last.

Myself I suspect one would last my, my children and grandchildren's lifetime
 
I had one that I had for about 20 some odd years, and the main swivel rod froze inside the housing. I tried to fix it myself, but couldn't get enough tension on it to free it up. I called RCBS and explained the problem. They said to send it to them, and within a week I had a brand new Rockchucker, which is still going strong.

I'm assuming I didn't get enough oil into the pivot point, and it rusted solid.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
I had one that I had for about 20 some odd years, and the main swivel rod froze inside the housing. I tried to fix it myself, but couldn't get enough tension on it to free it up. I called RCBS and explained the problem. They said to send it to them, and within a week I had a brand new Rockchucker, which is still going strong.

I'm assuming I didn't get enough oil into the pivot point, and it rusted solid.

Hope this helps.

Fred

Intresting? What kind of environment was this press used or kept in. Climate controlled or ambient outdoor
 
I think most (if not all) single stage presses are extremely overbuilt, and it would be almost impossible to wear one out in several lifetimes. Just make sure the ram dosent rust and the pivot points are lubed and you should be good to go for at least 100 years! I know of several ancient Lyman & Pacific's that work like new. FWIW, Lee has admitted in their advertising that this is why they use aluminum and plastic for many of their presses and other products, so their prices stay low and the customer dosen't have to pay more for durability thats not actually needed.
 
krochus,

I had used this press for years in Central California, and when I moved to the Oregon Coast, I brought it with me. After about 4 years here, it froze up. It was in my garage, which has a heater vent from the forced air unit open all the time, but we only use our heater during the winter months. During most of the year, the humidity here is between 60% and 70%, since we've been known to get a little precipitation on occasion........ The garage is drywalled and insulated, and rarely gets below about 62 degrees inside during the winter. It also rarely gets above 70 degrees inside in the summer, and we don't have air-conditioning.

I obviously didn't get enough oil on the pivot points, which was my fault.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
Have you actually worn out a "Rockchucker"

No. I've ued mine since 1973 and have never had a problem with it. Oh wait,, i did screw up the threads a little when i used it as an anvel. Oil it once a year and it will last a lifetime.
 
I still use a Lyman Spartan press that was a gift from an uncle 25 years ago. It loads most of my pistol ammo, so several thousand rounds a year. Before that, my uncle used it as his only press for 20 years or more, and he shoots a lot more than I do. I don't see any evidence of wear.
 
I can't even imagine wearing out most any of the presses. Especially the older ones. For a long time the manufacturers had a competition going in their advertising as to who had the strongest press. It got so ridiculous that they ended up with presses that would have survived an atomic blast. I have a Herter that I bought used in 1965, and when the archeologists dig it up 10,000 years from now, I suspect it'll still work. :D
 
In use from 1977 to 1998

RCBS Rock Chucker got slop in the ram from loading pistol. When i would seat a bullet in 243win, the ram would flop forward at the top of its travel. My thought were that the bullet was no longer being seated straight. Primer dirt mixed with oil had made the cast iron frame larger in diameter or linkage wear??. RCBS sent me a new press, free. When the Dillon RL450 progressive was available i bought one for pistol & 223 rem. I started loading with Lee Hammer Loaders, then a RCBS JR press. Then a New Rock Chucker from 1977 to 1998. Note: Clean press to remove dirt before lubing. From RCBS>
This press was lubricated at the factory. However, it is necessary to lubricate all moving parts from time to time with gun oil. If rust spots appear , swab lightly with gun oil and wipe dry. Care should be taken not to apply oil where it could come in contact with primer pockets or primers. Oil will deactivate primers. It is a goood practice to clean the press prior to lubrication to remove grit and other residue. You will note the ease at which the epoxy enamel paint wipes clean. This finish is impervious to oil and is extremely chip and fade resistant.
 
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When I first started loading on mine, I foolishly let the handle get loose in the block. Completely stripped the threads both on the handle and in the block. I called RCBS and they sent me both parts no questions asked. Now I check the handle nut before every loading session and tighten it with a very long wrench if it's loose. I haven't had to do that in quite a while.

Historian
 
Been using mine for 38 years. Still no slop, yet the ram is as smooth as a babies.... The pivots are still fine too, no slop. My reloading room is in the house. Humidity in NM is from evap. coolers in the summer. Dry as hell rest of the year. Use spray lithium in the pivots, then graphite in a grease base is wiped on the ram with handle up, handle is pushed down, then it's wiped on again. Then I wipe it clean, working the ram up and down, rewiping until I have a light graphite film and not enough grease to attract anything. The product is "Gun Slick" in a small tube. It must work.
 
The Rockchucker was my first press. I bought it in 1988, and it is now used by a buddy of mine as his first press. No issues what so ever.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
Both of my presses, a Dillon 450 and an RS2, were bought used from a guy who had been running them reguarly since the early 80s. They're still running strong. :)
 
Krochus: Pretty much what happened to historian. Unfortunately no RCBS support in France, so I now load left handed. :)
 
Myself I suspect one would last my, my children and grandchildren's lifetime
A Rockchucker may indeed last a lifetime but my kids scoff at the notion of spending a hour or more to load a 100 rounds on a RC. Once they got up to speed on a progressive there was no turning back.
As a consequence, I have 2 Rockchuckers and 1 RCBS Jr. collecting dust...
 
50 + yrs use of a old ECHO still in use, its buddy the R C 30 + yrs still in use, a Lyman turret bought used 12 yrs ago still fine, just hope the blue ones last, there going on 14 yrs. I think they will probably get sold at a yard sale when I am gone.
 
I gotta RCII from 1992 and it's still crankin out great rounds. Just a minute bit of slack when the ram is all the way up. But thousands of rounds have been cycled thru. No complaints here.

The Dove
 
A Rockchucker may indeed last a lifetime but my kids scoff at the notion of spending a hour or more to load a 100 rounds on a RC. Once they got up to speed on a progressive there was no turning back.
As a consequence, I have 2 Rockchuckers and 1 RCBS Jr. collecting dust...

In my opinion with a progressive you're simply "making ammo"

to produce top notch "handloads" a single stage is required

you don't see many LR or BR matches won with ammo produced on a progressive
 
In my opinion with a progressive you're simply "making ammo"

to produce top notch "handloads" a single stage is required

you don't see many LR or BR matches won with ammo produced on a progressive
krochus, I do believe you have a good defintion there!! There is a difference between making ammo and handloading..Nothing wrong with either, but IMO there is a difference.
 
qwjaq, I have the twin to your Herter's. Mine has lived through the swamps of south LA (St Bernard Parish), St Simons Island, GA, and from AL, TX to New Mexico to the low country of SC, and it's still bullet proof. What a hunk...
 
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