RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme........ KABOOOOOOOM !!!!

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mildcustom2

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So my nice brand new 3 month old RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme decided to pack it in today after reloading close to 1000 rounds. Blew a piece of the casting of the lower pivot point on the handle. Firing an email off to RCBS to see what they can do for me. In the mean time I may try my hand at welding cast iron. However I may just make a new piece all together in the meantime.

D99D9BE5-52DD-4FAB-8076-9A6920304DAA-8228-0000050CA0537DD9_zpsfb325bca.jpg
 
I would leave well enough alone until you have finished dealing with RCBS.
They may wish for the damaged part back.
It could be a flaw in the cast.
If you decide to weld it up, let it cool slowly.
Wrap it up so it doesn't cool too quickly or fire up the oven
a bit and put it in there after you weld it.
 
stubblejumper said:
I can't help but wonder just how much force it took to break that casting.
Click to expand...

Not much as it happened during extraction of brass I had purchased that seller had claimed was already sized. I was just doing it myself to double check. Brass was going in really nice and smooth and out just as smooth. I think it was a flaw in the casting.
 
kamlooky said:
I would leave well enough alone until you have finished dealing with RCBS.
They may wish for the damaged part back.
It could be a flaw in the cast.
If you decide to weld it up, let it cool slowly.
Wrap it up so it doesn't cool too quickly or fire up the oven
a bit and put it in there after you weld it.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Do nothing they will replace it and will probally want it back to check the lot number to determine if others could be effected.
 
shoot_to_kill said:
I bet RCBS will replace it, but they will want the damaged part back. If you cant get a new one, brazing it would probably be your best bet.
Click to expand...

I actually doubt they will want me to pay to ship it down to California at my expense, just want to see the picture. They will most likely just send a new part out to me.

I recently purchased a RCBS APS bench mount reloading thingamabob and it was missing the small hardware packet. Sent an email and without even asking for proof of purchase or a pic to prove I have one they sent the missing parts out ASAP free of charge.
 
I should mention the press is still workable, just if I had one nasty case the other side may let go or damage something else. I really need my press right now because I must load 500 rounds of 30-06 for my new to me semi auto 1919a4 that arrives in a week or two. Can't have a belt fed and not be able to feed the pig ;)

:cheers:
 
I agree don't do anything yet, if they don't want it back and still send you a new one. Then you can use that one for an easy job like seating bullets or universal decapping.
 
RCBS is awsome. I purchased a very old used rock chucker. It broke. I emailed them with all the details. The warranty covers the original owner. I was completely honest with them that I had purchased it second hand, an acknowledged they had no obligation under the warranty. They had me mail it back and sent me a brand new one, no hassle no worry. Awsome. Lots of business from me, support those who support you.
 
You should do a grind test to see if it is cast iron or just casted steel which is very easy to weld. If the sparks are a dark red and fragment a lot it's cast iron. Use a piece of scrap that is mild steel to compare. If it is cast iron preheat, weld short passes(1-3") long then peen the weld immediately after you are done each weld. Use any quality high nickel cast rod. When your done post heat the weld then cover it in insulation to slow the cooling. Sometimes poor quality or greasy cast will cause the weld to be porous, just grind it out and put another pass in. Sometimes you might need to do 3-4 passes to get a quality weld.
 
But, but, RockChuckers have mythical properties that make them invulnerable! :D
Must be photochopped!

That is the weak spot in the new version of it. A lot of folks have broken them there, usually by swaging, but I can easily believe that it was something as mundane as resizing resized brass. If there is a flaw, it will let go eventually, not always when it is under the most stress.
If you look where it broke, there really isn't much beef there. Almost like it was designed as a weal spot.
Like Lee's black plastic ratchet ;)
 
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