Some more old presses followed me home yesterday, Pacific C questions

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SARuger

SARuger

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I picked up a 1980 Rock Chucker for $60, its tight, just needs a good cleaning and I might blast it and paint it. Not sure what color is correct? Its not the new RCBS green.

I also bought a Lyman Spartan (can't find a date code on it) for $20. Its in perfect condition. A good cleaning and its making ammo.

The third press is a 1954 Pacific "C", this is the one that rams on the up-stroke. I have a universal shell holder ram for it already, no issues there.

What it needs is a handle and I think its been painted Hornady red. I don't think Hornady owned Pacific back then, so what is the correct color?

Also, the operating handle linkage is tapped for 1/2"-20 NFT, what modern press has a handle that I can still order that has that thread pitch on the end? I need a handle at least 12" long, maybe longer if I put an ergonomic bend in it.

I have searched for two days and can't come up with anything. The Spartan handle fits the Pacific, but I can't find any Spartan handles for sale. I have read that the later model Lymans have the same 1/2"-20 thread pitch on their handles but I can't verify before I order one.


Pics
Pacific "C"
IMG_20170204_070722887.jpg


Lyman Spartan
IMG_20170203_170208157.jpg


Rock Chucker
IMG_20170203_170359995.jpg
 
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I'm still using my 1973 Lyman Spartan press. It has served me well. I don't remember what I paid for it. I never did graduate to the rock chucked type.
Enjoy, catpop
 
Scrape away the red paint from the press bottom. You might find it is a light blue color.
If you plan on keeping that press, a option would be powder coating. I have a Pacific Super Mag and had
the press powder coated, came out looking great.
 
Blue68f100 said:
The RCBS RC is the correct color, I had a Jr press back then. It's a Dull Hammer-tone finish.

As for the handles you could make one out of a piece of bar stock if you can't find one.
Click to expand...

I haven't decided if I'm going to just clean it and leave the character, or make it new
 
Catpop said:
I'm still using my 1973 Lyman Spartan press. It has served me well. I don't remember what I paid for it. I never did graduate to the rock chucked type.
Enjoy, catpop
Click to expand...
I wasn't going to get it but it wasn't much money and it's still tight. I will use it
 
jaguarxk120 said:
Scrape away the red paint from the press bottom. You might find it is a light blue color.
If you plan on keeping that press, a option would be powder coating. I have a Pacific Super Mag and had
the press powder coated, came out looking great.
Click to expand...
What is the correct color of blue? I'm going to paint it after it gets plastic shot blasted at work. I already disassembled it. It's barely used!
 
I have a 1969 RCBS Jr. (the date is stamped in the top, in small digits not far from the die threads) that I got for my birthday. I use it only for seating bullets now, but it's a great little press that is in continuous use. The color is/was pretty much exactly like the one you bought. As it happens, I ended up picking up a spray can of good quality brighter green paint that "updated" that press, 2 powder mill stands and 1 RCBS powder mill. They look great... and they look brand new. It kind of makes you think you bought new presses... it's not like they'll ever wear out! Enjoy!
 
As to your question about correct colors, the very earliest (Pre-War) Pacific presses were black, the later series, such as you have were blue, as shown in attached photo. I have a small PacificTool.JPG collection of vintage reloading tools and display on wall mounts like this one.
 
Offfhand said:
As to your question about correct colors, the very earliest (Pre-War) Pacific presses were black, the later series, such as you have were blue, as shown in attached photo. I have a small View attachment 229603 collection of vintage reloading tools and display on wall mounts like this one.
Click to expand...
Awesome! Thank you!

I'm using this one and will pass it on to a grandkid.
 
I got a spray can of 1982 RCBS Rockchucker hammer tone green color paint at Home Depot to make my 1966 RCBS Jr. match it. Cleaned up an old Pacific "C" blue press then painted it to match the RCBS ones and the RCBS Partner press.

That $3 garage sale Pacific press had no handle but a 6" long 1/2-20 headless bolt works fine.
 
I was going to get you a picture of my Pacific, but Offhand beat me to it. Mine appears to be blue with a slight greenish tint. It resides in my garage, and is pretty dirty.

The handle is an approximate 12 inch section of 1/2 in bar stock that is threaded to go into the linkage. The business end doesn't have a knob or any kind of handle, but is simply rounded.
 
The color blue the powder coating shop used was a light blue almost powder blue.
I look at the whole thing this way, there are not many people out there that can
say exactly what shade of blue the press was painted!

And usually I get a questioning look after I say it is setting next to a RCBS A2 and that is setting next
to a Hollywood Universal. Most people have never seen or heard of a Hollywood Universal.
 
Bart B. said:
I got a spray can of 1982 RCBS Rockchucker hammer tone green color paint at Home Depot to make my 1966 RCBS Jr. match it. Cleaned up an old Pacific "C" blue press then painted it to match the RCBS ones and the RCBS Partner press.

That $3 garage sale Pacific press had no handle but a 6" long 1/2-20 headless bolt works fine.
Click to expand...

That might work. If I can find some bar stock, I will probably get a machine shop to make me one. The Spartan handle fits the Pacific better than the Spartan. But at least I have an example to give the machine shop.
 
Laphroaig said:
I was going to get you a picture of my Pacific, but Offhand beat me to it. Mine appears to be blue with a slight greenish tint. It resides in my garage, and is pretty dirty.

The handle is an approximate 12 inch section of 1/2 in bar stock that is threaded to go into the linkage. The business end doesn't have a knob or any kind of handle, but is simply rounded.
Click to expand...


Thank You!
 
mstreddy said:
SARuger,
Would a handle from the Hornady LNL fit? I'll have to check the the thread on mine. I happen to have a spare handle sitting around.
Click to expand...


It might. The Pacific and the Lyman Spartan both have 1/2"-20 thread pitch, the same as most older American cars lug nuts.
 
The lighter, powder blue finish Mr. Jaguar is referring to was used after the original Pacific Co was sold and moved to Nebraska, the same color used on the new line of shotshell loaders. Attached is a photo of the new era Pacific press made in Nebraska. Compare this with color of California made press in earlier post. The colors are quite distinctive and easily identified. DSC08858.JPG
 
Personally I think if you don't have plans to sell it you should paint it a cool color.

I'm all for restoring stuff but sometimes something unique is nice

That said if you want the original color I'm sure that will look nice too
 
Offfhand said:
The lighter, powder blue finish Mr. Jaguar is referring to was used after the original Pacific Co was sold and moved to Nebraska, the same color used on the new line of shotshell loaders. Attached is a photo of the new era Pacific press made in Nebraska. Compare this with color of California made press in earlier post. The colors are quite distinctive and easily identified.View attachment 229660
Click to expand...

Hmm, my Pacific rams up when the handle is up? I think.that makes mine older and it's probably not originally red.
 
Hokie_PhD said:
Personally I think if you don't have plans to sell it you should paint it a cool color.

I'm all for restoring stuff but sometimes something unique is nice

That said if you want the original color I'm sure that will look nice too
Click to expand...

For some reason I have always tried to restore to original look and only upgrade function. The Pacific is getting a custom operating lever with a 90* bend. Right now when it's rammed down, the handle points almost straight to the floor. With a right angle bend, it will be horizontal to the floor.
 
SARuger said:
For some reason I have always tried to restore to original look and only upgrade function. The Pacific is getting a custom operating lever with a 90* bend. Right now when it's rammed down, the handle points almost straight to the floor. With a right angle bend, it will be horizontal to the floor.
Click to expand...
I understand
And normally I agree
But sometimes doing something different is fun

That said I bought an old MEC that I was debating how to repainted but it cleaned up to like new so it'll stay original

I am getting ready to build an AR but want something different so maybe I'm just in one of those moods we regret later
 
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