Rock Chucker, Hornady, Lee - Beginner

Wayne9

Wayne9

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Read a lot of posts from many forums. My head is spinning trying to digest all the info and filter out the hype.

So, I would like to ask a few questions directly, to clear the air a bit.

First off, my particular needs:
1. multi caliber pistol reloading, will not be doing rifle or shotgun. Most likely calibers I will reload are 9mm, .40 and/or .45 acp.
2. Time is not as important as cost, therefore progressive is not in the picture. (I like my quiet time :yingyang: )
3. Initially, I will only be reloading 9mm (other calibers maybe in a year or 2 from now).

Many folks here seem to favor Rock Chucker, both in progressive and conventional. I noticed the "Get Loaded 2011" promo by Hornady and wondered if the fact that the cost savings on bullets might make it the better deal?
Are the items in the kit worth having? Or am I better off buying the tools separately?
Is the RC a better kit overall? Or are it's tools something I would replace soon?
Perhaps I need to look at a different manufacturer completely? Dillon??

My inner self tells me that the RC and Hornady are very close in quality and ease of use and that really, it is a matter of the best deal I can get. On that note, my inner self has been known to be incorrect (albeit, not often).

Any light shed on this would be appreciated, as I will be making my purchase within the next month.
 
The Rockchucker is a single stage press, not progressive. There is an add on, but it has mixed reviews. As a single stage it works great. My only complaint about it is the price compared to other similar presses of same strength/quality.

I like the Lee 50th Anniversary kits for value, but all the makers have nice single stage presses. For the price of most single stage kits vs progressives I think it is a better way to start out (single stage) and an easier way to learn how it all works. If you later find you only want to use the 1000 round an hour multi task presses then you can always sell off your single stage gear.
 
hornady is as good as any & better than most, if & when you go to progressive the die set up & powder meas fit, it's a bit more than lee, but you get what you pay for. i have 2 rl550b's, rockchuck, & lee classic cast. you'll always need a single stage so start there but keep in mind you'll likely get hooked & progresive might be in your future. electronic scales are frills ,you need a balance beam[not a lee]. good luck & tight groups.
 
As stated the Rockchucker is a model of single stage press made by RCBS.
You would do well to buy a kit from any of the top manufacturers to start with.
You could always just buy a 9mm Lee Loader and see if you enjoy the task before committing to anything more elaborate as well.
Have fun and good luck!
 
Probably the best comprimse for you is a Turret press. It will allow you to significantly up your production of pistol rounds, without the much higher price tag of a quality progressive machine from Dillon, Hornady or RCBS.

Take a look at the Redding T-7 turret press. You can set up the press to load for two pistol calibers and never have to readjust you dies again. An extra turret head can be purchased seperately for you to set up for your other caliber. Much more affordable than a top quality progressive press and it will reload rifle rounds no problem.

Lyman and RCBS also make turret presses, as well as LEE. The best thing that can be said about the LEE is that it is cheap. The Lyman and RCBS presses are fine, but the Redding is tops (and this from a hard core RCBS fan).

The turret press allows you to load in the same manner as if you were using a single-stage press, such as the RCBS Rock Chucker, however you don't need to constantly switch out and adjust the various dies for each caliber. The multiple holes in the turret press head allows you to pre-adjust all you dies, so all it takes is moving the head to the next station to complete the round. Once you find your rhythm, production rates can be pretty good, especially when compared to a single-stage.

After gaing some experience and depending on your shooting needs, you can look at a progressive press in the future. It is best to learn to walk, before you run when it comes to things going boom, so the turret press might offer you the best alternative. I don't recommend new reloaders jumping right into a progressive press. I think you have the right idea and don't be afraid to ask questions. The only dumb question is the one not asked. Good luck with it!
 
Determine how much you are going to reload and shoot and how much time you have to spend reloading first.

I started out with a Lee Aniversary kit in November simply because it was the cheapest way to try my hand at reloading.

Since then I purchased a Hornady LnL AP Progressive with all the bells and whistles. The problem with that is that the Lee dies although they work flawlessly the lock rings have barely enough thread engagement in the LNL AP Press.
Also the 2 presses use 2 different kinds of bushings so now I'm purchasing duplicate sets of Hornady dies for the LnL AP.

On a single stage press I was making 100 rounds per hour at a normal pace.
The problem is that I shoot 300-400 rounds per week so if I include time to prep the brass I was spending 5-6 hours a week just to try and keep up with my shooting.
A turret press would have been a good way to do that but then you must realize that the price of a good turret press is close to the price I paid my LnL AP Progressive.

To sum it all up if you think that you will end up at a progressive then the route I would chose is to go with the Hornady LnL Classic kit. You get a great powder measure and a great single stage press. You will also be able to use the same die setup in your progressive.

If you're sure that you don't want to go that far in the future then I would get a good turret press.
 
Starting with a SS press is a good idea. Most Re-loaders, who later upgrade to a progressive, keep their SS unit. There will always be a use for it, regardless of whatever else you eventually add to your bench.

Whether or not you buy a Hornady press, consider presses that will accept Hornady's L&L bushing kit. This kit will cost about 20 bucks, (more as you add more dies), and will speed up your SS re-loading process significantly. Presses that come with a removable bushing at the top of the frame will accept the Hornady L&L bushing kit. The benefit of L&L bushings is that you go through the tedious process of setting up your dies, in the bushings, only once. Thus organized you just drop dies in place with a 1/8 turn and similarly swap em out. This saves a lot of time vs threading dies in and out, and is darn near as quick as a turret.

If you decide to buy Hornady, you'll own a great press but the freebie bullets won't come with it. You get them later, months later, but you eventually do get em, yes even in Canada, just so you know.

Enjoy !
 
I Love my LEE 1000 Pro. And i have multi calibers. You can get a full progressive with the carbide die for as low as $179 USD in seattle, or $220 cdn at wholesale sports.

And if u like, u can use it as a single stage also :) Some people like the more expensive presses, YES a BMW is a nicer car, but a Honda can get u from A to B just as easily. Oh and EVERY press Dillon, Lee, Hoenady, RCBS has there own quirks :)
 
Many thanks for the info all!!

As you have been replying, I have been digging around some more.
The verdict is . . .an ss for sure. The brand? Well . . . now I have one last question :)

It's difficult to figure out all the parts and I am assuming the Hornady powder measure is used in place of the balance beam/electric scales. (please correct if I am mistaken.) That said, I am wondering if the Redding pro kit would be a good choice. Of course I won't get the free bullets(someday :) ), but it appears most people say the quality is higher. They are $10 difference in price (Hornady classic kit $389 vs. Redding boss pro kit $399).

Also, Do these kits both contain everything I need besides dies, shell holder and components? or is the Redding $399 because it contains less than the Hornady?
 
I have loaded over 30,000 rounds with my rockchucker no sign of any problems yet it works the same now as it did for the first round i loaded.
 
Wayne9 said:
Many thanks for the info all!!

As you have been replying, I have been digging around some more.
The verdict is . . .an ss for sure. The brand? Well . . . now I have one last question :)

It's difficult to figure out all the parts and I am assuming the Hornady powder measure is used in place of the balance beam/electric scales. (please correct if I am mistaken.) That said, I am wondering if the Redding pro kit would be a good choice. Of course I won't get the free bullets(someday :) ), but it appears most people say the quality is higher. They are $10 difference in price (Hornady classic kit $389 vs. Redding boss pro kit $399).

Also, Do these kits both contain everything I need besides dies, shell holder and components? or is the Redding $399 because it contains less than the Hornady?
Click to expand...

You'll need scales. You'll also need a powder measure, or one of the little powder dipper sets. I'd strongly suggest the powder measure. Its more than just a convenience. For pistol, you'll set up your measure by checking the weights you're tossing with your scales. Once you're measure is tossing the required load (+- 0.02 gr), you toss directly into the cases occasionally verifying the load with your scales. The Hornady measure using typical pistol powders will likely never be out, but you gotta check anyway.

An inherent problem with kits is that manufacturers try to enhance the offer with "value added" items that often wind up being throw aways. Low priced balance beam scales work very well for instance, but low priced digital ones are less of a good idea (I'm being diplomatic). Redding doesn't do throw aways, so if you're going the kit route, Redding would get my vote. I have a Redding UltraMag outfitted with the Hornady bushings I mentioned earlier. I also have a Hornady L&L progressive, which is how I got onto the bushings and why I'm harping about them here ;) .
 
Oops :redface:. I just checked a catalog I have on hand and it looks like the Redding Boss won't accept the H L&L bushings. For that you need a press that adapts to 1 1/4" dies, or a Hornady L&L press. The Big Boss will work, as will the Ultramag but thats $$.
 
Many thanks. I'd like you all to know the comments you have made have helped a great deal. Although it's not much, I would like to compensate by telling you what and why I chose:

Hornady Classic Kit
1. Within my budget.
2. Upgradeable - if I go to a progressive, the parts can be used for both.
3. Free bullets (whenever they get here :)
4. Powder measure looks like a keeper.
5. What I have read leads me to believe the hand-loading/specs book is very good and VERY useful for beginners.
6. LnL is definitely a NICE feature.
7. Will not take much more $$$ to complete to usefulness (dies, holder).
8. Hornady has an excellent reputation and I hear they have awesome customer service. (Although, I am not sure it applies to Canadians?):confused:

Well, there it is folks, my plan and my reasons. Again thanks for all the helpful advice!! :p
 
Hornady is great to deal with! Any issues, just call and they will make it right. Their stuff has a lifetime warranty.
Yes, the free bullet deal is still on, they carried it over to 2011. Just go to their site and look under promotions and YES, it is good in Canada and their warranty is out standing up here. It took about a month to get the 700 bullets they sent me.
 
Wayne9 said:
First off, my particular needs:
1. multi caliber pistol reloading, will not be doing rifle or shotgun. Most likely calibers I will reload are 9mm, .40 and/or .45 acp.
2. Time is not as important as cost, therefore progressive is not in the picture. (I like my quiet time :yingyang: )
3. Initially, I will only be reloading 9mm (other calibers maybe in a year or 2 from now).
Click to expand...

This is a no-brainer. Get a Lee Classic Turret. A little bit more money than a Single Stage but way faster production and the CT will last forever given reasonable care and lube. Just buy a couple of extra square ratchets.
 
Wayne9 said:
2. Time is not as important as cost, therefore progressive is not in the picture. (I like my quiet time :yingyang: )
.
Click to expand...

I have a rockchucker and a LEE 1000 progressive. The LEE is half the cost of the single stage rockchucker. If you are doing mainly pistol, progressive is the way to go. That being said, there is definately a benefit to learning on a single stage.
 
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