Brand new rock chucker. Buyers remorse?

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Nan_wpg

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Hi. I just bought a brand new rock chucker. The other,choice was a lee classic press.

I haven't used it, but I can see a possible issue...... the primer catcher system. It seems there is a gap between the plastic catcher and the ram and I can foresee primers all over the place.

Even if they land in the tray I can see spilling them when removing the tray.

The "on board" priming system also seems like it's more of a pain than it's worth?

Santa brought me a Lyman hand primer. Seems way easier and faster.

I chose the rock chucker because it "seemed" beefier, plus it's got a lifetime warranty.

But, now I'm thinking the lee has a better deprime system, and it's way cheaper too.

It doesn't have a lifetime warranty, but seriously what could go wrong?

Thoughts?
 
I have a rock chucker, deprimed a couple hundred 308 a few minutes ago. I hold the plastic catcher up against it, it never overly bothered me, though there is the odd one(maybe 1 in a 100) that flies out the front.
I think its a better press than the Lee, you still gotta size all the brass and seat all the bullets with it...

I hand prime, much easier.
 
I have the Lee Classic Cast, and if you don't have the priming arm in place in the ram, it will often spit out a primer when decapping.
I don't use the press for priming, so I'd prefer not to have the arm on, but It's not a big deal though. The tube primer catcher is a good idea when you're doing lots of decapping.
 
Lots of cheap ways to rig up a rock chucker to catch primers if that is your thing....... check out YouTube...

Otherwise, just hold a $2 dolarama bowl under it and have fun.....
 
Stick a bucket underneath it.
Get a Lee deprime die and screw it into your RCBS press.
Fast and easy.
I use a Lee hand prime unit.
Also easy.

That Rockchucker press is built like a tank.
Don't have second thoughts 'bout using it.
 
In presses there's no doubt in my mind RCBS over lee. I've had a reloader special for 40 years (sigh, more actually) and up to 7mm mag it's been more than fine. I get what you mean with the primers though and I figured out not long after I got it that a wrap of masking tape around the press and primer catcher makes it much more effective.

Congrats on getting an EXCELLENT piece of reloading equipment!
 
My rockchucker spills the odd primer but I love that press. On press priming is a waste of time in my opinion. I use my lyman hand primer. You can get a 3D printed primer catch off ebay that routes the spent primers into a tube eliminating spills and having to empty the primer catch. The press is awesome, I think you should just use it before getting worked up about having made a mistake in purchasing
 
Scotty454 said:
Thoughts... Perhaps try it out, before you make the determination that there's something wrong with it?
Click to expand...

Considering it's price range, and quality the primer catcher seemed like it should belong on the lee press.

It's just something that caught my eye right away
 
Even if it catches all the primers they still end up in the tray.

Found the aftermarket catcher on eBay. Pretty slick. This is what actually should have come with the press.

I think I'll order it and the rock chucker primer catcher will be on par with the lee press
 
There is a bit of a gap between the primer catcher and the press, but the vast majority of the ejected primers end up in the tray. When I empty the tray, I hold a can under the tray to catch any stragglers.

Like others have noted, the rockchucker is built like a tank.
 
Sweep the floor when you are done! You are going to get spent primers on the floor no mater what press you have, get used to it and don't be concerned.

Scott
 
Hey, Rock Chucker wouldn't be my first choice, but there is no doubt it is a fine press as far as single stage goes. Don't get to caught up in the minutia of difference between various presses. There are some differences, but they are relatively minor. Get reloading and enjoy the heck out of the new hobby.
 
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Nan_wpg said:
Hi. I just bought a brand new rock chucker. The other,choice was a lee classic press.

I haven't used it, but I can see a possible issue...... the primer catcher system. It seems there is a gap between the plastic catcher and the ram and I can foresee primers all over the place.

Even if they land in the tray I can see spilling them when removing the tray.

The "on board" priming system also seems like it's more of a pain than it's worth?

Santa brought me a Lyman hand primer. Seems way easier and faster.

I chose the rock chucker because it "seemed" beefier, plus it's got a lifetime warranty.

But, now I'm thinking the lee has a better deprime system, and it's way cheaper too.

It doesn't have a lifetime warranty, but seriously what could go wrong?

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

never had a problem with LEE warranty. my press fell over and broke the powder hopper, call them and told them it got broken, no questions, they sent out another. another time I had a primer blow up (my fault), they sent a new feeder, no questions other than 'are you ok?'
 
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