RCBS Rock Chucker?

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

djardine

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2009
Messages
94
Location
Nevada
Hello all,
I have been shooting and hunting for 15 years in Nevada and Idaho but I have always shot factory ammo. Now that I have some spare time and a little extra money, I would like to get into reloading- especially because I hate paying for .25-06 ammo because it is so expensive. I am considering buying an RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme reloading press as that fits my price range (I have roughly $150 for a reloader) and I have read some good reviews on it. Is this a good one to buy in this price range? I know you can buy as much fancy crap as you want, but what is the bare minimum I need to reload? I plan on buying dies for .25-06, and possibly 9mm, .40, and .45 caliber pistols. What is the best powder to use? Thanks in advance!
 
The RCBS Rockchucker press is the anvil of presses. The only maintinance it has ever needed is some white lithium spray lube. Also a few years ago, I took it to work, tore it apart, and scrubbed it in the solvent cleaner. They last forever.
 
You cannot go wrong with a RockChucker or any RCBS product for that matter. I have only been reloading since March but have pressed several thousand rounds with mine. While I can seen the advantages of a turret, or progressive press I feel that I get great results with a single stage press and am happy with my descion to buy the supreme kit. I believe Natchez SS has them onbsale now so it may be worth a look at getting the whole kit, with everything you need to get started except componets and dies. Also, I have dealt with RCBS customer service twice since getting my press and have always been impressed with their warranties and customer service. In addition, be sure to get several reloading books from different companies. They really come in handy. Although, Speer 12, 13, 14 are my go to manuals I have learned alot from Hornady and Lyman books as well. However all this being said, be forewarned that reloading can be highly addictive and I have found that I enjoy reloading just as much as actually shooting. Good luck hunting out a good deal on your press and definately look at these forums everyone in awhile and post questions when you need to. This place is great for advice and tips.

sgtzach
 
Any single stage press made will load for those cartridges as well as you will need. They all work, presses are really simple devices and making them ain't rocket surgery. All cast iron presses last forever if we keep them clean and oiled a little bit, I still have the iron Lyman press I started with in '65 and it's NOT unique!

I have a perfect condition RockChucker I bought in '88, it's a fairly good press. IF I didn't mind it tossing a high percentage of spent primers on the floor and spilling more when I empty the catcher tray it would be good.

But, if I had to replace the RC tomorrow, and knowing what I know now, I'd get a Lee Classic Cast. The CC is precisely machined on modern CNC tooling, it's bigger, it has a fully adjustable lever, it collects spent primers in a JAR plus it's stronger and probably longer lasting due to the larger diameter ram. It's not even a contest, the CC is a good bit better press at MUCH less cost!

Every maker's Customer Service department is good, none are perfect.
 
Last edited:
-Follow Up Question-
Does the Lee Classic Cast or the Rock Chucker come with many of the things I will need? I am not sure of what components I will need and what are just luxury (such as a tumbler). Can I really save money by reloading .25-06 vs buying it for $23.99 a box for the cheapest 100 or 120 grain ammo? Thanks again!
 
I've been using a Rock Chucker as a single stage press and a Rock Chucker with a PiggyBack II as a progressive press since the early '90s and they are excellent presses ... no doubt about it. However, a month or so ago, I decided to upgrade my single stage press to a Redding Big Boss II. Now THAT'S a press and it's TIGHT ... in a good way!!! It's $174.99 on MidwayUSA but if you use code 157710 it'll be $159.99. So my recommendation is the Redding Big Boss II. One caveat though, I don't prime using the press, I use an RCBS Automatic Bench Priming Tool so I can't say anything about the priming system on the Big Boss II. I'm heavily invested in RCBS's primer tube system so that's why I went the Bench Priming Tool route. That's a good system by the way.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=271710

:)
 
RCBS is the best out there in my opinion. Been using there equipment for years. But if your looking for an affordable and decent way of getting started reloading, LEE makes a starters kit that is great for the price. For pistol powders I use Winchester 231. Works well for most all pistol. As for 25-06, Hodgdon H1000. Reloading is a great way to save in the long run and is a great hobbie.
 
I've used the aluminum Lee o-frame presses since they came out for rifle loading. Aluminum or cast, you'll not wear it out. Any brand of o-frame probably will never wear out. I do prefer the Lee dies. Never broken a decapper on any of them. They seem to be very user friendly. On any of the rifle dies make sure the pressure relief hole is open before loading. All brands of dies are pretty good any more.
As far as cost saving, I recently did the figuring for a box of 30/06 at 2010 prices.
Remington Express core loct ammo can be purchased at about 19.00 to 20.00 per box.
Purchasing the same components and figuring brass life at 10 loadings, a box can still be loaded for about 9.90 . I do favor Remington brass in rifles. Why ? I get good case life
with loadings between moderate and a bit less than max.. I've never had a split neck
in any caliber. I generally discard rifle brass after 12 loadings. Usually only loads loaded 1 to 3 times go on hunting trips for no particular reason other than overly cautious. Best

Check out Midway for Lee kit prices. Also read the "sticky" at the top
of this section." For the New Reloader". The 1st 2 books mentioned
are two of the best I've read. The Hornady manuals are great as well.
 
Last edited:
First, buy a good reloading manual or two and read the front on how to reload, how to solve problems, etc.

Make sure the manuals have good directions and are not just full of loading data.

The Rock Chucker is about as good as you will get.
I use all RCBS Reloading equipment and have since I started over 25 years ago. Eventually you will want a case trimmer. I have always used Forster.

MidwayUSA is a good place to order everything you will need, Sinclair is another good place.
 
Besides the Reloading Stickies here and on other forums to read, reloading manuals are a necessary item. So are: a scale, caliper, inertia bullet puller, case trimmer, deburr/chamfer tool, case lube, loading block, powder measure.

As to savings - look for USED equipment on your local Craig's list, at gun clubs, even some gun shops that take trade-ins as folks traded up. Whether you'll save will be determined by how much you shoot - if you only shoot 2-3 boxes a year, the answer is NO, you won't save anything, might cost a bit more, BUT, you'll turn out more accurate ammo tailored to your gun. Serious reloaders concerned about saving money buy components in BULK - that is where the savings come in; serious target competitors may or may not buy in bulk, but they analyze every single aspect of every component to the Nth degree, looking for any edge that will let them put all their shots in one ragged hole
 
Shop for the best price on the press and then put whatever money you save toward a really good scale. By the way, the balance scales pretty much last forever too. If you take care of them. Dirt is their enemy though, so get one that comes with a cover like the Ohaus.
 
Last edited:
Good advice about keeping the scale covered - Ohaus is the company that makes just about everyone's balance beam scales. Mine has the RCBS brand on it and has outlasted several digital ones and is still going strong after 30 years
 
After much searching and looking at different presses I chose the Redding Big Boss II. It seemed to be built to tighter tolerances and has a much better spent primer system than the Rock Chucker.
 
The only other thing you will need is a good sturdy bench to mount it to. Resizing operations can be a little still with .243 and above. I started out with the aluminum Lee O press and moved up to the RCBS rock chucker. I am very happy with how it does.
 
When I started reloiading in 1978, my wife bought me the starter kit from RCBS. Included the Rock Chucker press. Still using it regularly, tried the progressives, din't like them and went back to my RC. Happy camper
 
"Does the Lee Classic Cast or the Rock Chucker come with many of the things I will need? "

No. Buy a press, you get a press. Well, they usually have means of repriming but that's it.

Note that most of those who strongly reccommend any brand (usually green) have little experience with other brands. Or compare vastly different tools and decide - surprise! - the more costly tool is "better." True enough, but still...?? There is little difference between the Lee Classic Cast and my Rock Chucker but the differences ALL go to the CC!

The Forster CoAx is a really great single stage press. So is the Reddng UltraMag. But, neither has any real advantage for reloading a .25-06 and 3 handgun cartridges, and they cost a LOT!

First thing it seems you should buy is a reloading manual that has good instructions and info for noobs as well as a lot of loading data. I'd suggest a Hornady or Lee manual at this point.
 
I have a Lee Classic Cast and a Rock Chucker. I too got the Supreme Reloader kit form RCBS. It is a good kit. I like RCBS products and their CS is second to none. About 2-3 years after I got my RCBS kit I bought a Lee Classic Cast off a man Brand New for 30 bucks! It got mounted to the bench that day. I also have a Lee "C" frame press I deprime with. I got that as a promo deal from Midway. The Lee manual and a press for 22 bucks. The manual is what I really wanted, but it cost 20 bucks by it's self, so I got the press and it is bolted on my bench as well. Out of the 3, the RCBS does duty as a rifle loading press. The Lee CC does pistol ammo and the smaller "C" frame does push through sizing and decapping duties. The reason for the Lee CC doing pistol duties is I have more room on that end of my bench and I load more handgun ammo than rifle ammo. Not because of strength worries. I have a compact area on the RCBS side so I use it for rifle ammo. All this being said I think the Lee CC is a better buy. I say that because of price, the fact you can shorten or lengthen the handle, it is made in USA (Some of the older Rochuckers were cast in China and milled in USA...no thanks) and the biggy for me......Not getting spent primers all over the doggone place when it's time to dump them!!! I use a piece of 3/8 ID tubing plugged on one end with a 45 ACP case and jam it on the "nipple" of the ram bottom on the Lee. It collects the spent primers nicely! I also did a test once and loaded 50 rounds of 45 ACP on my "C" frame Lee Aluminum press. From start to finish- sizing/decapping, flaring, seating and crimping. It turned out perfect ammo! Not a difference in the ammo I loaded on my Rockchucker (at the time that was my only press and it did rifle and handgun ammo duty). Buy what suits you and your wallet...Lee makes some outstanding equipment! They really are pioneers in the field of reloading. They have also sued plenty of the bigger named companies for copyright infringement. Seems some of the big boys were stealing Dick Lee's ideas.
 
Isn't this thread great?!! For the most part, the quality of the ammuntion that any of us produce is down to us and our attention to detail since most presses and most dies are capable of producing match grade ammunition with good bullets, cases, powder and primers. We tend to stick with what we know. Don't get too hung up on one brand. I confess that I'm a Redding (60%), RCBS (38%), Lee (2%) reloader these days but I don't delude myself into thinking that they're the only options worth my attention. It's a wonderful time to get into reloading. When I started back in '92, the internet was in its infancy and it was mostly word of mouth or dumb luck. I walked into a BUY-MART or some such store in Beaverton, OR and bought an RCBS Rock Chucker Master Reloading Kit. I knew next to nothing about reloading back then, but the box had a neat picture on it showing all the contents and the guy behind the counter said it was all I'd need to get started. I read the included Speer #11 manual cover to cover and never looked back.

:)
 
"I have a Lee Classic Cast and a Rock Chucker."

EMC, are you sure your Lee press isn't the older alum alloy Challenger press rather than the newer cast iron Classic Cast? The Challenger is a good press but it isn't in the same league as the excellant Classic Cast version which is big and strong enough to reload the .50 BMG. I don't think I could do that even with my Rock Chucker, it's not big enough.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
RCBS Rock Chucker, which one?
Replies
7
Views
5K
stellarpod
S
Rule3
  • Locked
RCBS Rock Chucker kit on sale, MidSouth
2
Replies
26
Views
1K
rocirish
rocirish
B
  • Locked
What can't a rock chucker do
Replies
20
Views
3K
BluesBear
B
3
  • Locked
Piggyback 4 for Rock Chucker Supreme
Replies
6
Views
2K
Snagglepuss
S
T
  • Locked
RCBS: Old JR or New Rock Chucker
Replies
17
Views
6K
kwg020
K
Back
Top