Have you actually worn out a Rockchucker or similar press

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I really am in total agreement with Krochus. I started on a Rockchuck and 25 years later I still use it for everything. All of the crud from depriming does find its way into the ram bore and I dismantle and clean it pretty regularly. Best lube I have found is Dexron ATF. It won't evaporate off and dissolves all that carbon until I get around to cleaning it.
 
i had a rockchucker 20+ years , it worked great.. Who knows how much it loaded how much before i got it, ?? it looked well used.... i used it all the time, even resized bullets with it (copper jacket bullets) with it, it in very good condition ,when i bought a old HERTER'S for a freind to start cheap reloading. i like it so much i gave him my rockchucker. that herter's is one heck of a press.. by the way i have 3 more presses, 10 years or less, 1 RCBS, AND 2 MORE HORANDY. THE HERTERS IS MY FAVORITE.. IT IS A WORK HORSE!! and gave near nothing for it!
 
Worn out two by not cleaning the primer residue off the base and ram, guess I didn't learn the first time. I mean 1/8 in movement in the ram will give BAD runout.
On my 3rd, (12 yrs) but don't deprime on it at all, and wipe down immediately after sizing. (the powder residue can also wear the frame out)
Borg
 
"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."

I never thought there was any doubt about that. And it's a point well made, any press that's taken care of will more than out live the owner so what's the point of massive overbuilding? Note that most, perhaps all, of the above "failures" were NOT from use, they were from neglect!

I have my "old" and first Lyman press from '65 and my "new" RC II from '87 plus a couple of Lee "Reloader" presses from "90. All have seen a lot for use, all have had their ram's kept clean and oiled, none have any mentionable wear, why should they? And, contrary to popular thought, a little ram play actually HELPS to insure good ram-case-bullet-die alignment. A round case will surely enter straight into a round die hole unless it's prevented from doing so by a tight but off axis ram!

Many RCBS owners praise their presses for how long they lasted. Few of them seem to recognise that RCBS presses are no more long lived than any others of their type! Even Lee (and RCBS, and Hornady) alum alloy bodied presses will last a very long time if they are kept clean and lightly oiled.

Bottom line, anyone who wears out a good press does so not with "use" but misuse or neglect. Like a solidly rusted "main swivel rod", what ever that is.
 
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I never thought there was any doubt about that. And it's a point well made, any press that's taken care of will more than out live the owner so what's the point of massive overbuilding? Note that most, perhaps all, of the above "failures" were NOT from use, they were from neglect!
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I agree, but there's more to it than that...for some of us.

Many RCBS owners praise their presses for how long they lasted. Few of them seem to recognise that RCBS presses are no more long lived than any others of their type! Even Lee (and RCBS, and Hornady) alum alloy bodied presses will last a very long time if they are kept clean and lightly oiled.
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The heavy duty cast iron presses like the Rock Chucker and the Redding have important advantages over the light-weights for those who need those advantages.

1. They have more mechanical advantage than the light-weights and that means far less fatigue for the reloader, especially when resizing the larger rifle calibers or case forming from one caliber to another.

2. Heavy cast bodies & beefier pivots insure that they WILL last a lifetime being used day after day doing that type of heavy duty reloading.

They are admittedly more expensive than the Aluminum light weights, but what's a $100 one time hit, when its going to be on your bench for 40 years.
$2.50 a year?

IMO, even if one plans to only load 9mm pistol, having the bigger press, will insure you can change your mind, and become a reloading fanatic if you want to. If your press wears YOU out, that's less likely isn't it?
 
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Appx round count
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You've got to be kidding me. I couldn't begin to guess my overall round count. Even if I tossed out a guess, I'd likely be off by several thousand rounds.

Anyway, my Rockchucker is still going strong... and I bought it well used.:D
 
Historian said:
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
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Instead of constantly checking to be sure the parts are tight, I put some red (high-strength) Loctite on the handle and lock nut threads and tightened real tight with a wrench.

That handle is not going to loosen unless I put a heatgun to the lower handle block and get it so hot I cannot touch it, then use the wrench to remove the locking nut.

My point being, I HAVE NO INTENTION OF EVER REMOVING or altering my press. If a "lefty" ends up with it some day, they can figure out how to remove the handle bar.
 
"IMO, even if one plans to only load 9mm pistol, having the bigger press, will insure you can change your mind, and become a reloading fanatic if you want to. If your press wears YOU out, that's less likely isn't it?"

Seems you totally missed my point. Note that I too have an RC, I'm just not in undue awe of it. In fact, I KNOW it's not a bit better than any simular press by Lyman, Redding, Hornady or Lee. And certainly we agree the dedicated user should get a press that serves his needs, to do otherwise would be silly. But suggesting a casual user buy what you and I "need" when he does not does him no service.

Considering the really LOW cost of the less costly alum alloy framed presses (or Lee's all steel Classic Cast), including those from RCBS, even if the purchaser does decide to buy a bigger, stronger press later. When he needs it, he can get it and still have the less costly press for dedicated tasks, such as a decapper or recapper, which is what I use my two little Lee Reloaders for. And I use my Lyman turret for short cases with great success, without having to work the long throw RC lever to do it. So...? Using the right tool for the work at hand, or the majority of work, counts. Every specialty tool has its good and less good points, no blanket answers for anything.

Anyone who breaks small presses, etc, would seem to have little feel for mechanical things. He would do well to get the biggest, most massive tools he can find to reduce user damage to his equipment.
 
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Every specialty tool has its good and less good points, no blanket answers for anything.
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Anyone who breaks small presses, etc, would seem to have little feel for mechanical things.
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Talk about contradicting yourself.

Ive built Both my Jeeps from the ground up, regeard, fabricated components installed lockers, and built motors. In the past I've- made fuel injection systems from junkyard parts, done engine swaps, had a 12 second el camino, was a mechanic and am currently employed in heavy steel fabrication. My first car cost $50 in 1994 because it didn't come with an engine I had that rectified before I was 16

And yes I broke one of the cheap toy "package" presses

Hmmmmmmm! perhaps you should think twice before you make blanket statments
 
I have a CH press that, judging from the powder dispenser that came with it, was made about 1960. I believe I'm the 4th or 5th owner. The guys at CH told me they had only seen one other reloading set this old.

The dowel pin at the bottom of the handle has a worn hole and falls out. I got to put some Loctite "bearing mount" on that to hold it in place one day. Other than that the press is in great shape. I keep it oiled, but what the other owners did is anybody's guess.

Over-built is an understatement.
 
Mine is far from worn out, 'course it's still in the box...


Gotta get the garage cleaned out and that bench built!:)
 
Not to hijack the thread, but I believe Ed said that his presses would be sold at a garage/yard sale after he's gone. That doesn't have to be the case. I think every reloader has reloading friends who would either appreciate the press and other components or know where to sell them to those who would appreciate it. Leave these things in your will to someone who will enjoy and appreciate them, my 2 cents. Mac
 
And, contrary to popular thought, a little ram play actually HELPS to insure good ram-case-bullet-die alignment. A round case will surely enter straight into a round die hole unless it's prevented from doing so by a tight but off axis ram!
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That would be true if there wasn't a lateral force on the bottom end of the ram that wants to push the cartridge out of line with the die as it is advanced and withdrawn from the die. What's worse, the lateral force reverses direction at mid-stroke on the way up, at the top, and again midway through the down stroke. The lateral force and deflection of the Forster Co-Ax "ram" is uniform throughout the stroke, only reversing when the stroke reverses and there is no pressure, so the cartridge can easily float to realign itself with the die.

Any press will provide better results if you pause at intervals on the way up and the way down during sizing and seating. This allows the pressure on the shell holder to abate, and the cartridge can then slide around a bit to find center in the die.

Andy
 
Thirty years ago, old timers then, suggested I loosen the spring that holds the shell holder on my R.C., so that it lightly keeps the shellholder in the slot. Done for the same reason: to allow the case to center itself as it goes into the die and thus making the resulting round more concentric. Nobody ever suggested abusing the press to make more slop on purpose. Now I'm an old timer and I can say from experience...that the advice was good.
 
I agree that a loose fitting shell holder is a good idea. But then there isn't a handle and linkage on the other end of it trying to shove it out of line with the die either. I use a co-ax press that is designed to provide float both in the shell holder and the die itself. In the right place, float is a good thing. In the wrong place, it isn't.

Andy
 
"Hmmmmmmm! perhaps you should think twice before you make blanket statments "

The first of my statements you copy is self evidently true. And I DID qualify the second with a "seems". Thus, the one "blanket statement" is clearly true and the other ....??? Sooo.... who needs to think twice? Or even once?
 
ranger335v said:
"Hmmmmmmm! perhaps you should think twice before you make blanket statments "

The first of my statements you copy is self evidently true. And I DID qualify the second with a "seems". Thus, the one "blanket statement" is clearly true and the other ....??? Sooo.... who needs to think twice? Or even once?
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Why don't you call every pot on this forum black Mr.Kettle?:banghead:


Kinda like where GW Staar says
IMO, even if one plans to only load 9mm pistol, having the bigger press, will insure you can change your mind, and become a reloading fanatic if you want to. If your press wears YOU out, that's less likely isn't it?
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IMO= In my opinion!

So by your logic his statement wasn't "blanket" at all

Reading comprehension is FUNdamental

My issue is with your assertion that anyone who breaks one of those flimsy beginner presses (not just lee) is some kind of mechanically disinclined hamfist
 
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op,
the rock chucker that i have and have used for a while was once my dad's and between me and him it has been loading ammo for over 25 years maybe more.

i now have and use a lee turret press but that is not because the rock chucker dosen't work. oh no it is still good to go and i am sure that it will out last me and my dad.
 
I bought my Rock Chucker in 1977

I wouldn't even want to hazard a guess as to how many rounds I've loaded with this press. Tens of thousands to be sure. Never a problem...still works just fine. My guess is that this thing will outlast me. Who ever end up with it please take care of it. It's been a good press!
 
I'd like to thank the originator of this in person but my seconds disagree. Imagine, RCBS making something that needs cleaning and lubrication. Still, it was kind of sticky, so, after laughing derisively about Dextron and CLP and Breakfree etc., I thought why not? After 1/4 million+ rounds perhaps it wouldn't hurt to take a gander at the works. Well....... 4 rolls of bounty and several gallons of 91% alchohol, it was time to reassemble. No manual, ("we don't need no stinkin' manual"), but several screwdrivers, a small sledge and a tacticool bandage or two and it is back together. It is smoother than when new. Now, did we remember to lube when it was apart? Of course not. Did we put it together incorrectly several times? I'll leave it up to you. I mean, there are two spring washers and the small shaft and a c-clip. Did I mention that I had no need for the manual 30 or so years ago? And I didn't have a male role model growing up. So now I am looking for more reasonable seconds.
Of course if the original poster would be willing to compensate me for my 2 weeks of vacation, I may overlook things.
 
There's a surprise... Is there anything that cannot be found in the web?
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Absolutely nothing, but sometimes it is really hard to wade through all the fluff and misinformation to find the truth of a thing.:)
 
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