Rock Chucker vs Weatherby Rounds - need guidance

[takman74]

You will be fine with a rockchucker for the 30-378. Make sure its secured to a good table/bench though. I have loaded hundreds of 30-378 rounds in my press with never a single issue. Good luck and have fun....

And for the lee basher...... what is your malfunction with lee? I think its good stuff for the reloader on a budget.

 

[X-fan]

I must have a different press because there is no cast aluminum anywhere on mine linkage or otherwise....

This is going back a long time...Maybe they have changed the construction?

IIRC it looked like billet metal, but was actually cast machined aluminum....At least it was on mine.
Mine broke in the same place both times....Right at the handle holder block thingy.

 

[X-fan]

I think many of the people who ACTUALLY have had a bad experience with Lee SINGLE stage presses were using the C frame Lee Reloader or older angle mounted O frame Challenger with aluminum linkage and may not be aware of the newer and stronger Breech Lock Challenger and Classic Cast.

I did a little research and you are right.
I had two of the O frame Challengers not the new super duty iron unit.
My apologies for any confusion.

FWIW I do not hate Lee...In fact I prefer their primer seater to just about every other model on the market (RCBS's is crap IMHO)...I also have the fancy Sinclair unit, but it doesn't do much better of a job....If at all.

 

[PerversPépère]

You are right about the O frame, but not the rest of the press.

I broke one (when I stuck an unlubed 358Win). Since it was a few days old the dealer took pity on me and gave me another complete press...Then I broke it a year later...While I admit to screwing up with the 358, I am not a ham fisted moron and the second press was never abused.
It breaks in the cast aluminum linkage bits....Yours will too....Give it time.

Great starter press, but its not in it for the long haul.

By way of comparison, Forster tested the Co-Ax with 300 dry completely unlubed 375H&H cases.

Sounds more like the Lee Challenger "O" frame press.
I used one for a long time (without any breakdown: just made sure all the linkage bolts were tight) until I got my hands on a bargain RCBS Rockchucker.
Now it has been equipped with an RCBS automatic band priming toolhead and lives a useful and happy life.
PP.

 

[Ron AKA]

And for the lee basher...... what is your malfunction with lee? I think its good stuff for the reloader on a budget.

Actually I was not on a budget, and just wanted the best press I could buy. That is why I chose a Lee Classic Cast (no aluminum parts). I did look at the Forster Co-Ax, but decided it was in the category of the research scientists trying to make a better mouse trap. It is a complex press, but really offers no advantages over the Lee Classic Cast. In fact I don't think the Co-Ax is capable of loading the 50 BMG, and the Lee is.

 

[Kevan]

This is going back a long time...Maybe they have changed the construction?

IIRC it looked like billet metal, but was actually cast machined aluminum....At least it was on mine.
Mine broke in the same place both times....Right at the handle holder block thingy.

Not meaning to hi-jack the original thread, but I did have some doubts about the big Lee when I bought mine.
So when I started sizing 50 BMG, I tried a 24" piece of pipe on the handle.
Now, in my opinion this is a very stupid thing to do and my press never faltered so I think it would take something fairly extreme to damage it.
I also use an Ammomaster and it is a big, rugged unit, but some of the parts are no stronger than the same on my Lee.

 

[X-fan]

Not meaning to hi-jack the original thread, but I did have some doubts about the big Lee when I bought mine.
So when I started sizing 50 BMG, I tried a 24" piece of pipe on the handle.
Now, in my opinion this is a very stupid thing to do and my press never faltered so I think it would take something fairly extreme to damage it.
I also use an Ammomaster and it is a big, rugged unit, but some of the parts are no stronger than the same on my Lee.

I also have a Ammomaster for 50BMG stuff and I am underwhelmed with it. Play in the ram and overall fit and finish are average at best. The (new to me) Lee press looks like it would do the job just as well if not better than the big RCBS.
If I could do it again there is no question (given the dollar value) I would have a hard look at the Lee....50BMG is generally shot in low quantity anyway.

For conventional duty presses I have owned the Co-Ax, Ammomaster, Ultra mag, T-Mag, Rockchucker, Partner, and the old Lee O presses.
The Co-Ax has a bunch of small improvements that make it my favorite, but any press will do the job.