RCBS Partner Press shell holders?

[Centella]

Morning friends,
I've been reloading for about a year-and-a-half now, using Lee's Classic Loader (wack-em-all?) kits. I feel I'm ready to try a single-stage press now, I'm looking at RCBS's Partner Press. Unfortunately it looks like their shell holders for 357 mag and 44 mag are out of stock rightnow. I bet these shell holders are standard, but just wanna make sure. Has anyone used the Partner Press with non-RCBS shell holders? Also, you guys think this press is a pretty good choice? You can find it on Amazon for about $164...

Thanks!

 

[JFrank]

As far as I know all rcbs presses take the same shell holders. But not all shell holder brands interchange.
Follow the chart for a specific cartridge.

https://www.rcbs.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-HuntShootAccessoriesSharedLibrary/default/dwc718eaa3/productPdfFiles/rcbsPdf/RCBS_2019_catalog_Pages42_43.pdf

 

[Skgreen]

I've used several Hornady shell holders in my RockChucker Supreme press with no issues.

(Some) Hornady shell holders don't work with my RCBS Hand Priming tool.

 

[mdi]

Lee die sets come with "universal" shell holders of the appropriate caliber for the set. I've used 6 different presses and Lee shell holders have worked in them all.

 

[Soonerpesek]

Also, you guys think this press is a pretty good choice? You can find it on Amazon for about $164...

While the Partner is a fine small press, you may look around to find a beefier single stage press for the same-ish $$.
If you get into some bottlenecked case loading, a “beefier” press may serve you better….IMO…

 

[Skgreen]

While the Partner is a fine small press, you may look around to find a beefier single stage press for the same-ish $$.
If you get into some bottlenecked case loading, a “beefier” press may serve you better….IMO…

Question for the OP:
Beside 357 Mag and 44 Mag, what other calibers would you be considering?

IMHO, if just for ~straight~ wall pistol calibers, the Partner would be more than adequate, plus being a nice upgrade from the Lee Classic.

 

[.308 Norma]

Has anyone used the Partner Press with non-RCBS shell holders?

I don't have a huge variety of different brands of shell holders (most of mine are RCBS), but yeah, my Lyman brand shell holders will work in both my RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme and my RCBS Partner. I think the Pacific shell holders I have will work in both presses as well - I just couldn't find one of my Pacific shell holders to try this afternoon.

If you get into some bottlenecked case loading, a “beefier” press may serve you better….IMO…

LOL! I'd bet sizing my .45-110 Sharps cases on my little RCBS Partner press would be a nightmare as well, and the .45-110 Sharps is not even a bottlenecked case. The fact is, shortly after I got my .45-110 Sharps, I sold my original RCBS Rockchucker and got myself an RCBS Rockchucker Supreme because having a taller press with a larger window to put those tall .45-110 cases in and out of made things a lot easier.
My wife sometimes uses the RCBS Partner press for sizing small straight-walled (38 Special, 9mm or 357 Mag) cases while I'm doing something else on the Rock Chucker Supreme. That's why we have two presses.

 

[rg1]

I would not recommend the Partner press. Too light duty and a poor choice. Sloppy linkage, poor “feel” and leverage lacking. I use 3-4 brands in my RCBS presses.

 

[Bwana John]

I broke a RCBS Partner Press.
Resizing rifle brass with “slightly” insufficient lube.
They gave me a new one for free, but still…I would never pay $160 for one
Ive had very good luck finding used RCBS Rock Chucker presses for $100 or less.

Im a believer in using the same manufacture shell holder as dies, but the presses manufacture is not important.

 

[Centella]

I don't have a huge variety of different brands of shell holders (most of mine are RCBS), but yeah, my Lyman brand shell holders will work in both my RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme and my RCBS Partner. I think the Pacific shell holders I have will work in both presses as well - I just couldn't find one of my Pacific shell holders to try this afternoon.

LOL! I'd bet sizing my .45-110 Sharps cases on my little RCBS Partner press would be a nightmare as well, and the .45-110 Sharps is not even a bottlenecked case. The fact is, shortly after I got my .45-110 Sharps, I sold my original RCBS Rockchucker and got myself an RCBS Rockchucker Supreme because having a taller press with a larger window to put those tall .45-110 cases in and out of made things a lot easier.
My wife sometimes uses the RCBS Partner press for sizing small straight-walled (38 Special, 9mm or 357 Mag) cases while I'm doing something else on the Rock Chucker Supreme. That's why we have two presses.

Hey thank you!

 

[Centella]

Question for the OP:
Beside 357 Mag and 44 Mag, what other calibers would you be considering?

IMHO, if just for ~straight~ wall pistol calibers, the Partner would be more than adequate, plus being a nice upgrade from the Lee Classic.

I'm also doing 9mm and 45 ACP...

 

[Centella]

I would not recommend the Partner press. Too light duty and a poor choice. Sloppy linkage, poor “feel” and leverage lacking. I use 3-4 brands in my RCBS presses.

I see, thank you. So which single-stage would you recommend in the $160-200 range?

 

[Centella]

I broke a RCBS Partner Press.
Resizing rifle brass with “slightly” insufficient lube.
They gave me a new one for free, but still…I would never pay $160 for one
Ive had very good luck finding used RCBS Rock Chucker presses for $100 or less.

I see, thank you. So which single-stage would you recommend in the $160-200 range? On the other hand, is the Rock Checker a good press?

 

[shoebox1.1]

I just paid 138.00 free shipping for this cast iron Lyman ideal. It’s effortless and I’m VERY impressed with it. Online reviews state it’s fine for big rifle cartridges but it’s eating 38 special like candy

 

[Centella]

I see, thank you. So which single-stage would you recommend in the $160-200 range?

I just paid 138.00 free shipping for this cast iron Lyman ideal. It’s effortless and I’m VERY impressed with it. Online reviews state it’s fine for big rifle cartridges but it’s eating 38 special like candyView attachment 1201876

Nice!

 

[shoebox1.1]

I’m so impressed with the press I want the case trimmer to match. I have the matching trickler and it’s awesome.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Morning friends,
I've been reloading for about a year-and-a-half now, using Lee's Classic Loader (wack-em-all?) kits. I feel I'm ready to try a single-stage press now, I'm looking at RCBS's Partner Press. Unfortunately it looks like their shell holders for 357 mag and 44 mag are out of stock rightnow. I bet these shell holders are standard, but just wanna make sure. Has anyone used the Partner Press with non-RCBS shell holders? Also, you guys think this press is a pretty good choice? You can find it on Amazon for about $164...

Thanks!

I like mine. It’s a standard size. I use shell holders from Lyman, RCBS, Lee and Hornady, depending on the fit. I have mixed-matched die sets because I like some features of one piece and something else from another.

Anyway, yeah. The Partner is a good choice.

 

[Bwana John]

The RCBS Rock Chucker, Rockchucker 2, JR, JR2, and JR3 all great used presses, they will still be working fine long after you are gone. id check Craigslist, second hand “antique stores” and Marketplace internet gun sites

I can not recommend the RCBS Ammomaster or Partner.

might be a good time to plug RCBS… Hands down the very best customer service I have ever encountered.
You break or lose it, they send another one to you free.
Does not matter if you did every thing wrong, didn't follow the directions, neglected maintenance, got drunk and lost it, or whatever… you call them up, tell them your problem, and about a week later a new one arrives in the mail- FREE!

 

[Show Me]

I'm a cheep chump. Have a 30$ Lee single press. Used to be all I used for rifles. No problem for what all I load. It sizes cast and sets gas checks now by the thousands. An old Lee four hole auto index makes them into loaded rounds. But I Love my eight hole Lyman for rifles. Right now it's got 30 06, .308 and 7.62x39 on it plus a ram prime and a decapper. Can you love a tool.

 

[Skgreen]

IMO, it's complete overkill for pistol, but it has through the ram spent primer handling and will handle just about anything the OP won't be throwing at it. $170 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1013008991?pid=317831
I have a RCBS Supreme, but that doesn't mean I don't want a smaller press when performing smaller tasks, As I have big hands, I'd most likely opt for the Reloader Special 5 press instead of the Partner press: $180 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1013035627?pid=731667