Rock Chucker press

Buster95

Buster95

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
353   0   0
Location
Canada
I just bought a RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master kit and I heard that the press is now made in China :eek: what about the quality?
 
I have the rock chucker supreme kit too and have had no problems. RCBS seems to make some decent stuff and the rock chucker press is nice and heavy.
 
Next time someone is bragging about how great their Rock Chucker is, put a few of their rounds under one of these:

09-175-p.jpg


Then ask them why half of them have over 0.005" of runout if its so good...

You can get the runouts down to a reasonable level, but not to a level worth bragging about. The bragger aren't the type who measure this stuff though. You won't find the people who do pumping it as "the" press to get. It's an ok press, the high-end of low-end equipment. Its a Ford or a Chevy, not a BMW.
 
I am just getting into reloading so I might be wrong. I have done alot of research and found that the die is responsible for creating most of the runout. Am I wrong? Seems to me if I use a redding comp seating die with the rockchucker press I shouldnt have runout issues.
 
kombayotch, what a gorgeous piece of bench-candy. Things sure have progressed since my NECO was the high end of that market (ugh, 15 years ago!).

With good dies, which use floating "case chambers" (e.g. a Redding sizer and seater), does slop in the press really matter? And if so, a little, or a lot?

I don't shoot BR, nor 1000-yd F-Class, just plain old TR/Palma, so my standards are not the very highest. Most of my ammo is loaded on an XL-650, using a Redding neck sizer and seater (floating chamber type). I get typical TIRs of 1.5-2.0 thou on my loaded ammo (~2.82" COAL Sierra #2155 or Lapua 155, measured in NECO runout gauge, supported at the bullet's nose and just above the case web, indicator point on the bullet just in front of the case mouth). I've not noticed any difference, better or worse, if I use a Co-Ax press, or if I use a Wilson arbor style seater.

Are you able to get substantially better TIRs, and if so, what do you find is the key?
 
A recent test I saw somewhere, showed the Forster Co-ax to load the most exact ammo, the video showing the RCBS slop at the top of the stroke was not comforting!!!
 
rnbra-shooter said:
kombayotch, what a gorgeous piece of bench-candy. Things sure have progressed since my NECO was the high end of that market (ugh, 15 years ago!).

With good dies, which use floating "case chambers" (e.g. a Redding sizer and seater), does slop in the press really matter? And if so, a little, or a lot?

I don't shoot BR, nor 1000-yd F-Class, just plain old TR/Palma, so my standards are not the very highest. Most of my ammo is loaded on an XL-650, using a Redding neck sizer and seater (floating chamber type). I get typical TIRs of 1.5-2.0 thou on my loaded ammo (~2.82" COAL Sierra #2155 or Lapua 155, measured in NECO runout gauge, supported at the bullet's nose and just above the case web, indicator point on the bullet just in front of the case mouth). I've not noticed any difference, better or worse, if I use a Co-Ax press, or if I use a Wilson arbor style seater.

Are you able to get substantially better TIRs, and if so, what do you find is the key?
Click to expand...

I've been thinking of upgrading my 550 to a 650 because I want the case feeder and auto indexing.

We were using a Redding competition neck sizer in our comparisons, have it right here on my bench. It doesn't save you if the press has a lot of slop or that kick at the top of the stroke. Tried it on a Rock Chucker (kick) and a LNL AP (slop) and in both cases, we still got the runouts.

The problem with neck sizing dies is that there is some play between the die and the base of the case, especially if you have a tight match chamber. Remember, they make those dies to accommodate brass from large factory chambers too. I get lower runouts with my Redding Type-S FL die, which makes sense since the case body is always supported and it is the bushing that is floating. It only squeezes my brass about 0.001-0.002" in all areas the way I have it adjusted. As such, I don't get head separation issues from over sizing.

My plan for correcting the Redding neck sizer is to have a new sleeve cut with the same reamer as my chamber during my next re-barreling. I am also going to pay close attention to the neck area of the chamber. I find that if you size down the neck more than 0.005" at a time, you start getting runouts over 0.001". So, either you cut your chamber so that the neck is only able to expand by the smallest amount (safe amount), or you size the neck down in several steps. If you're sizing the neck down in one single step with bushing dies, applying a bit of lube to the neck will help runout a lot.

The progressive press makes it easy to size down in steps. You can do it with several bushings or several Lee Collet dies. I haven't tried using several Lee Collet dies on the progressive, but I have tested the idea on a single stage by squeezing the neck three times (each time progressively harder, rotating the case after each), instead of in one stroke. This gave runouts under 0.0005" consistently and it didn't give vertical striation lines you commonly get from the collet die. My idea is to have two or three collet dies that are adjusted to squeeze the neck each a bit more, with the collets rotated to different angles. Then I will probably finish with a bushing die to ensure that the neck tension is consistent.
 
You can get the runouts down to a reasonable level, but not to a level worth bragging about. The bragger aren't the type who measure this stuff though. You won't find the people who do pumping it as "the" press to get. It's an ok press, the high-end of low-end equipment. Its a Ford or a Chevy, not a BMW.[/QUOTE]

I'm curious...not having a Rockchucker anymore, and I'm not being critical of your statement....what in your opinion are better or best choices for a "high-end" press ?
 
Although, for one pass sizing operations, I don't think any single stage is going to beat a solid progressive that steps down the neck in several steps. My 550 with a single sizing does as good as my Rock Chucker did with a single sizing. The LNL AP I had briefly was horrendous... still want to try a 650.

P.S. if you want the best rings ever for the Co-Ax, get the new Sinclair rings (05-3150). They are slightly bigger than the Forster Rings and made of stainless vs. aluminum. They fit even better, but still have some play.
 
Last edited:
I currently use / have a Forster co-ax, a old CH 3 station, Lee Classic Cast, RCBS Ammomaster, and a Dillon 550.
The Forster doesn't have enough opening for 45-120 nor does the CH.
The Lee and Ammomaster are both good for everything I load up to and including 50 BMG.
The 550 works well but it seems difficult to keep a precise bullet seating depth due to the slight movement of the tool plate.
I had the Forster for sale on my table at the Kamloops show and not a single person showed any interest.
Of all the presses I've had in about 40 years of reloading, the Forster and Lee are the cleanest to use, spent primers drop straight down and are caught rather than bouncing onto the floor.
My loading bench started out as just that, but lately it resembles a loading press display !!
 
That full length die is the one I am talking about from redding. You figure that even with that die the press used with still factor in the equation?? If everything is encased it shouldnt matter will it?

I am going to find out here in the next while how it will work. I just picked up a rock chucker and do not have the kick out as in the videos posted. Also will pick up a dial indicator set up for checking my runout just out of couriosity sakes lol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom