Durability of a press

MRP said:
I have to speak up for Lyman Orange Crusher, over 40 years old and I'm sure nothing will break or wear out on it. Done some stupid things like take the decapping pin out of the dye and turn a 3006 into a 243 just to see if it could be done, No I didn't use it! But done hundreds of 3006 into 8x57 and 308 into 243.
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I have one of those, it replaced my original rockchucker. - dan
 
It doesn't take much to wear out or break a cheap flimsy press, but even then most people really don't load all that much and will probably get away with it.

Bump up to something a little better and it takes a major commitment to wear out a good press. Even then, what's worn out? Linkage and pins can be changed if they are still available. Hornady had to make replacement pins for my old press, and although it took them two tries it was still free. If there are no parts or you wear out the ram/body I guess you're done. If you can afford to wear it out a new press is chump change.

The tiniest bit of maintainence can go a long ways. Squirtting a bit of oil every third blue moon isn't that hard. Better than that is to clean everything with brake cleaner or what whatever spray and clean you have nearby before lubing. Primer residue is very hard and and although its a fine abrasive its still an abrasive. It mixes with the oil an makes a lapping paste that gets thicker over the decades. Blast it out once in a while and your press might be good for a few lifetimes.
 
I wore out a Lyman Turret press. Despite shimming, it is still loose an flexes. I bought one and then a second Lee Pro-1000s, used, for pistol ammo and have upgraded to a Rock-chucker supreme; added the Lee Breach-lock adaptor and bushings and use it for Rifle. Went to a Lee Bench Primer.

The Pro 1000 s are finicky, but work well for what I am doing. The Rock Chucker; I should have bought one 45 years ago.

I have two sets dies for each pistol caliber, so I use the Lyman now only for rework. It does not get much use.
 
I've had a Rockchucker for 40+ yrs, still makes good ammo, no issues with concentricity or CBTO, yet, it's been used and abused enough, it probably should have some form of issue. I've heard of bore wear on alum presses, and linkage slop on some steel presses. heard of one Hornady steel press have bore wear issues. The odd casting breakage on RCBS handle castings, Lee also, Summit press has a weak upper casting, FA M press has inadequate screws on the jaw plate holddown, some inadequate machining clearances on jaw holder castings. As to how to hurt a Forster/Bonanza, only thing is the jaws, you can actually damage those screwing dies down too far, haven't done that yet though, haven't heard any complaints on it, so, not a common issue as far as I'm aware.
 
209jones said:
I've had a Rockchucker for 40+ yrs, still makes good ammo, no issues with concentricity or CBTO, yet, it's been used and abused enough, it probably should have some form of issue. I've heard of bore wear on alum presses, and linkage slop on some steel presses. heard of one Hornady steel press have bore wear issues. The odd casting breakage on RCBS handle castings, Lee also, Summit press has a weak upper casting, FA M press has inadequate screws on the jaw plate holddown, some inadequate machining clearances on jaw holder castings. As to how to hurt a Forster/Bonanza, only thing is the jaws, you can actually damage those screwing dies down too far, haven't done that yet though, haven't heard any complaints on it, so, not a common issue as far as I'm aware.
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well said

+38 years with my Rock chucker...... no problems..... Had a few issues with a lee.... but i sold that. Have a few dillons. but they are like a fast car.....Maintenance
 
I have the same Hornady / Pacific 007 press that I started with almost 50 years ago. The handle linkages are now a little loose, but the ram is not, it is smooth and precise. It's a cast iron press and I keep it lubricated and strip/clean it completely once every three or four years.
 
I have a Redding T7 (or the predecessor). It is about 50 years old.

It is on the 5th arm. They snap off by the threaded end.

It is on the third set of links. The round holes become egg-shaped.

Redding replace for free.
 
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Have a couple of rockchuckers, keep one for sizing, one for bullet seating. The 2nd one I bought hadn't been well cared for, and the ram was really pitted. Went on their website to order a new one, but couldn't figure out how to. Called them up, they instructed me how to get the serial number by removing the huge top nut, and within minutes they had a new ram on the way to me free of charge, no shipping or anything, I was truly amazed. Had it in the mail 10 days later.
 
I have a 45 year old Pacific 'C' press that is still going strong. It still seems tight and produces accurate loads for my precision rifles. I even load pistol ammo in quantity on it. I know the experts say pistol cartridge loading on a single stage is too slow, but I'm never in a rush when reloading. I enjoy reloading almost as much as shooting now.
Maybe why I've never had a single defective round in that 45 year period.
 
Have a Rock Chucker & a Lee Classic Cast single stage. Both work very well for me. I also have a 35 year old Lee Challenger press. The aluminum linkage broke after five years of heavy use. Lee replaced the linkage piece with a steel unit at no cost to me.

I too clean & oil the ram & all pivot points about once a year.
 
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I've been loading on an RCBS (Partner I think? It's not a Rock Chucker) for 25 years without issue. I use it for everything. I still really want a Dillon 550 for volume, especially for .223, but I certainly don't need it for anything.
 
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