RCBS Summit Press Flex (pictures)

[LiveLife]

I'm gonna still stick with my premise that the Summit is ok for pistol

Can you measure how much OAL variance the Summit press is producing?

 

[Project355]

Do you mean, with bullet seating?

 

[LiveLife]

Yes.

Even with the "flex", if the partially resized brass passes the chamber and OAL variance isn't too bad after seating the bullet, may be OK?

Of course, if resized brass won't pass the chamber and OAL variance is too much, then pass for me.

 

[Project355]

ok.... just measured 10 cartridges at random, from a box selected at random

1.2275
1.2275
1.2270
1.2285
1.2165 <----??
1.2275
1.2290
1.2300
1.2285
1.2275

(EDIT: Had to last those two final entries in... got carried away with my results)

Those are loaded for my Vaquero 45acp, but also feed in any of my autoloaders in 45acp. They're probably a bit deeper than you'd use by maybe .020" or so. To be honest the short round at 1.2165 had a bunch of lube on the bullet, so that could account for things. Taking out the long and short extremes, that leaves a .002 variance. Not too bad I'd say. Measurements taken with my Mitutoyo 500-784 solar digital caliper.

 

[Project355]

Yes.

Even with the "flex", if the partially resized brass passes the chamber and OAL variance isn't too bad after seating the bullet, may be OK?

Of course, if resized brass won't pass the chamber and OAL variance is too much, then pass for me.

There appears to be almost no "flex" on seating, as the force is pretty low. To be honest, a well lubed .223 is just a bit easier to pull the handle on than a bone dry 45acp in a carbide die, and the "flex" is not much different. One thing I want to do is check chambering of some sized .223 brass this weekend - by pulling the upper off an AR, taking the extractor out of the bolt and easing things in to see how they "feel" when going really easy. In other words, no slam it into the chamber. That doesn't tell much.

Wish I had small rifle primers.... jeeze things are beyond slim pickin's.

 

[Riomouse911]

I watched the video and the presenter showed the Summit press he had had some lateral movement of the moving die plate, but the press produced extremely consistent 6.5 Cdmr. ammo for him. While these aren’t magnum length rounds they are larger than the .223.

Have you loaded larger rifle cartridges with the Summit press you have and been disappointed with the results?

To me, that’s the bottom line. If it’s creating ammo that works well, let sleeping dogs lie. If not, list it for sale and look elsewhere for a press that fits your needs .

Stay safe.

 

[LiveLife]

ok.... just measured 10 cartridges at random

That's pretty good.

If most finished rounds are around 1.227" +/- couple thousandths and fully chamber in your barrel, that should be OK.

that’s the bottom line. If it’s creating ammo that works well

Yes, regardless of color of the press, if the finished rounds' dimensions are consistent and do not experience much bullet setback or none to produce tight groups on target, that's all that matters.

 

[Project355]

Have you loaded larger rifle cartridges with the Summit press you have and been disappointed with the results?

No, and I really don't plan on it for the foreseeable future. I've got several .223 rifles, but currently only a Yugoslav rifle that fires those commie-martyr rounds, which I packed away when the price was lower than a rattlesnake belly in a wagon rut. So, right now, nothing bigger. On my bucket list is a .375H&H built on a CZ action with a medium barrel and quarter rib. Should that occur, I'll certainly be rollin' in cash enough to get anudder press.

That's pretty good. If most finished rounds are around 1.227" +/- couple thousandths and fully chamber in your barrel, that should be OK.

My sad seating story: I learned to reload on Speer's #9 and #10 manuals. Don't have those any more, but I remember one of the "tips" was to leave a small small part of the bullet's full diameter showing above the case mouth, when loading cast SWC bullets. Well, Ruger, and their (his) notorious tight cylinder throats, won't allow the full diameter portion of the bullet to seat out just that little bit. So... I've got to seat the SWC's full diameter section flush with the case mouth, which I don't really like to do due to potential feeding issues in autoloaders. However, in my current stable of autoloading 45's, they all will feed those ok (so far), so...until I ream the throats in my Ruger Vaquero, my depths are a bit deeper then what might ordinarily be used. I've been planning on getting a reamer and pilots, but... had a recent string of vet bills, so those tools will be put off a while. No rental for me - I've been stung on that and had to buy the tools anyway, so its just easier to buy the reamer, use it, and flip it after six light cuts. Someone gets a deal, I get a nice new (sharp, unchipped) reamer to use.

 

[buck460XVR]

I'm one of those that thinks "the proof is in the pudding". IOWs, how do the rounds shoot? If they chamber well, and shoot well, is all this worry about "flex" valid? Are you seating and crimping your .45 ACP rounds in one step or two? My experience is when seating and crimping in one step with lead bullets, or even exposed lead tipped jacketed bullets, there tends to be a slight more variance in OAL that doing it in two steps. Even then, it matters little as far a chambering and accuracy.

 

[Project355]

I seat, then taper crimp.
Oh, things shoot ok, for my own use. And I'm plenty happy with it for pistol and small rifle. As I said before, its not that you _can't_ load bigger, longer, tougher cases on it, its more a matter of there are way better options out there for doing so. Plus I think that the overall wear on the press will be more favorable with pistol and small rifle.

Maybe put another way, the Summit is no powerhouse workhorse like a Rock Chucker, that will take the big heavy brass all day long and not even think about breaking a sweat. Not that it can't be done, but... there are better tools.

 

[buck460XVR]

I seat, then taper crimp.
Oh, things shoot ok, for my own use. And I'm plenty happy with it for pistol and small rifle. As I said before, its not that you _can't_ load bigger, longer, tougher cases on it, its more a matter of there are way better options out there for doing so. Plus I think that the overall wear on the press will be more favorable with pistol and small rifle.

Maybe put another way, the Summit is no powerhouse workhorse like a Rock Chucker, that will take the big heavy brass all day long and not even think about breaking a sweat. Not that it can't be done, but... there are better tools.

The Summit has been out for about 7 years now and it's problems with flex(and other issues, like the loose bolts) have been documented many times(inconsistent shoulder bump for example). I'm gonna assume the change in the directions on how to adjust the dies for resizing, came about because of it. It was a radical change in design and probably done with good intentions. Folks were quick to jump on it, mainly because of the new design. I have no dog in this fight, just curious. Have no need for another SS press as I have two rock chuckers now.

 

[Riomouse911]

I’ve resized and loaded literally tens of thousands of rounds on my two Lee Challenger O-presses over the past twenty plus years, from .38 wadcutters to .300 Weatherby. If these lightweight, budget presses could handle the chores I’ve put them through the products made by RCBS surely will, too.
Your Summit is a quality press made by a very reputable manufacturer, but if it’s not lighting your flame I’ll suggest you list it for sale and look into a Rockchucker. These aren't all that expensive and are the gold standard of O-press strength and reliability. The RC certainly will handle any resizing chore you can throw at it and it will still be ready to load for the next two generations of reloaders to follow .

Good luck with your search .

Stay safe.

 

[Project355]

They changed the instructions because typing the wrong bolts and cracking the top casting.

Or at least that's what they claim in the instruction

 

[buck460XVR]

They changed the instructions because typing the wrong bolts and cracking the top casting.

Or at least that's what they claim in the instruction

I know there were breakage issues with the early Summits, but I would have thought that a revised design would have been a better solution than just a difference of adjustment in the dies. The nice thing is with their lifetime warranty, any issues would be taken care of.

 

[Project355]

The "book" with the press shows 3 screw base. Also has an insert that says instead of 1/8 to 1/4 turn past "cam over" for a sizing die, to go 1/4 to 1/2 turn past cam-over, and as much as 3/4 turn past cam over, in order to assure proper chambering with bottleneck brass I suppose. The back side of the insert says not to adjust the casting-to-casting fasteners, but to adjust the link-to-casting fasteners when adjusting the force needed to pull the handle. That is... _not_ anything to do with up/down play, but can help a little with side/side play of the die platform. Mostly though, and stated as so, its to allow you to release the handle mid-stroke and not have it fall, if desired, or to loosen/tighten the resistance for better feel when seating bullets.

 

[detrio]

I have a Rock Chucker II and it's an excellent press but no press is perfect. I load for .20 Tactical, .223, .243, and .308. RCBS is an excellent company and standby by their products. If you give them a call I am sure they will do their best to help you out. I have an RCBS Summit Press on backorder with Midway.

 

[9mmepiphany]

but no press is perfect.

Have you looked at the Area 419 Zero press

 

[jmorris]

I have a couple but never really warmed up to C style turrets, not the best design around as far as rigidity is concerned.

 

[detrio]

Have you looked at the Area 419 Zero press

View attachment 959903

It's perfect except for its price tag.