Friend of mine, gone five years now, wore a RCBS Jr sloppy, but he was a comercial loader and it was his main press for a while, figure thousands of rounds a week, month after month. He prolly loaded more ammo in a month than the average reloader will in a lifetime. Then he fell in love with Dillon.
Have you actually worn out a Rockchucker or similar press
- Thread starter R.W.Dale
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Howard Roark
Member
A fellow high power shooter that is retired has worn out a rockchucker press. The ram got sloppy in the frame. He also has worn out two .223 sizing dies. They opened up to the point that cases would not chamber when loaded. He shoots 25K rounds a year give or take a couple of rounds. He has also shot three barrels until the bullets would tumble at 100 yards. They had between 23K and 25K rounds through them. I love to shoot but not that much!
Someone said that LR matches are not won by ammo loaded on progressive presses. John Whidden has loaded every round he has shot since 2003 on a Dillon 650. He managed to win the LR Nationals twice, the Leech Cup, the Canadian Cup twice and is on the Palma team.
Someone said that LR matches are not won by ammo loaded on progressive presses. John Whidden has loaded every round he has shot since 2003 on a Dillon 650. He managed to win the LR Nationals twice, the Leech Cup, the Canadian Cup twice and is on the Palma team.
sargenv
Member
Um, I've had my Rockchucker for.. 23 years now.. wow has it been that long? I FINALLY broke the primer arm...about 4 months ago. I called RCBS and they sent me a new one.
I've had my Dillon 650 for a bit over 12 years. I've replaced most of the wearable parts on it and keep thinking I might send it off to Dillon for a refurb but never get around to it.
The only press I've had longer in my Mec Sizemaster in 12 gauge, a year more than the RC.. and it still functions flawlessly. I think I've replaced the primer tray and the collet resizer.. oh and I just replaced the adjustable powder/shot bar.. It still loads shells like it did when I bought it way back when.
I've had my Dillon 650 for a bit over 12 years. I've replaced most of the wearable parts on it and keep thinking I might send it off to Dillon for a refurb but never get around to it.
The only press I've had longer in my Mec Sizemaster in 12 gauge, a year more than the RC.. and it still functions flawlessly. I think I've replaced the primer tray and the collet resizer.. oh and I just replaced the adjustable powder/shot bar.. It still loads shells like it did when I bought it way back when.
hydraulicman
Member
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- Jun 18, 2009
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rock chuckers don't wear out. They wear in
Two rocks on my bench one was my grandpa's and the other and estate sale both look about the same ( early 80's ) and I keep the rams lubed and clean. 10's of 1000's and counting. I load 54 rifle & pistol calibers for myself, family, & buddies. I'm not sure I'll still be arround when my two finaly wearout.
sonier
Member
i got a used rockchucker from the 80's its still running strong. now to think of it...........i think its starting to wrok even better. forget the thing getting worse its a rockchucker. only thing that happens in time is they get BETTER!
SharpsDressedMan
member
I'd like to meet the fella that wears out a rockchucker.....................
Shawn Dodson
Member
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- Dec 28, 2002
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- 3,198
While reloading last weekend I suddenly realized that it had been awhile since I'd performed any real maintenance on my RCBS presses. For the best part of the last two years they've been sitting in a cardboard box out in the garage (since moving from the Seattle area to Florida). I finally got my reloading room put together (after getting rid of a lot of clutter) and mounted the presses to a new reloading bench I'd just finished building.
In short, I "field stripped" my presses, wiped 'em down with a little bit of oil, applied grease to pivit pins, oiled other pivot points, a light coat of oil on the shaft, etc., and reassembled them. They feel and operate like new.
One is an ancient RCBS Reloader Special 2 that I got from my father for a birthday present about 30 years ago. The other is an RCBS Pro-2000 I bought about 10 years ago.
In short, I "field stripped" my presses, wiped 'em down with a little bit of oil, applied grease to pivit pins, oiled other pivot points, a light coat of oil on the shaft, etc., and reassembled them. They feel and operate like new.
One is an ancient RCBS Reloader Special 2 that I got from my father for a birthday present about 30 years ago. The other is an RCBS Pro-2000 I bought about 10 years ago.
jw johnson
Member
I have a Pacific Super Mag which was built in the 60's. It is my only press and works great. I just keep it clean and lubed. Never an issue.
sonier
Member
The person who wears out a rockchucker, is in my list of HEROES
BigJakeJ1s
Member
I suspect that "wearing out" a well built press has more to do with abuse and lack of maintenance than anything else. Having seen many a used press at gun shows with wobbly, rusty rams tends to support this theory.
Just from the recent chatter on the net though, it seems that the ram-to-press fit on recent vintage RCs (since being outsourced to China?) is not what it once was. And a sloppy original fit exacerbates wear more quickly.
Andy
Just from the recent chatter on the net though, it seems that the ram-to-press fit on recent vintage RCs (since being outsourced to China?) is not what it once was. And a sloppy original fit exacerbates wear more quickly.
Andy
qajaq59
Member
I have a Herter stored out in the garage that's probably older then half the guys in here. And it's as good today as it was coming off the line. You just have to clean and lube them occasionally. Especially if you are putting them away for a while.
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