RCBS rockchucer supreme kit

[Whiskey Banjo]

Im a new reloader.. looking for a press kit that will do one thing. Reload multiple cartidges safely.

Im not looking for a progressive press... just looking for something I can make reliable cartidges.

Time is not a concern, but im ready to make my press kit purchase. Should I go with the turret press? Or the rockchucker press kit?

Havent been able to fine much info on the rcbs presses which is why I ask

Thanks in advance for any rcbs users.   Or maybe I should go with the lee... loooking for experienced reloaders to lead me to a solid press

Im looking to reload 45colt, 30-30, and .40s&w. Thats about it.

What say u reloaders?

[Yeso Bill]

What are you loading? 

I started with a Rock Chucker over 40 years ago and still have it mounted on the bench.  I now only use it to load 30-30 and larger.  You can't beat it for a single stage press. 

For my cowboy guns I use the Dillon 550 B Progressive. (For 25 years ?)  (I haven't ever used the 650)  I see no reason why the 550 would not easily load the 30-30 but I have never done it.  My 550 will load ammo as straight as anybody's and I swear by it.  You can leave your dies set up on a removeable toolhead.  That is nice.  The toolhead holds four dies so it is easy to seat bullets with the third die and crimp with the  fourth. 
     You don't have to use all of the bells and whistles such as the auto prime and powder measurer / dump.  I prime all of my brass with an RCBS hand tool and hand weigh a lot of loads. 

[Yeso Bill]

Excuse me.  I did go back and read your post and saw what you are reloading and meant to delete my 1st sentence.  Maybe I should be asking, how many are you going to load?  If it is over a few boxes of each, you will never regret getting a progressive press.

[Sagebrush Burns]

You won't go wrong with rock chucker.

[Old Top]

Whiskey Banjo,

I have been loading for a while and found the Rock Chucker to be hard to beat for ease of changing calibers.  The turret press will do the same thing but you have three or four dies so you just turn the turret.  I do everything on my RCBS including powdering the cartriges with a powder thrower.  Reload about 300 a month, 44-40, 45-70, 308 ect.

Old Top

[Whiskey Banjo]

So for a highly mechanically inclined beginner (Im a sheetmetal and chassis fabricator by day) of reloading would u guys recommend the rock chucker or the turret press? Im kinda leaning towards the rock chucker since its so renowned for a single stage.

Im in no rush to reload.. I would just like to be able to do 500 rounds per week. Mainly .45 colt, but also 30-30, and .40sw.

Im think the rock chucker press kit is the way to go. Do u guys feel its better to buy the press seperate and get the accessories or should I buy the kit?

Thanks in advance guys.  Its very much appreciated. 

[Old Top]

Whiskey,

If you have nothing in the way of reloading things, the rcbs supreme kit has eveything that you will need, lube pad, powder thrower, scale, and primer tool. Do not forget to get a good reloading manual although RCBS has a good tutitorial to follow.  Pick your powder and have fun do not rush things then you will make mistakes, and you do not want mistakes!

Old Top

[rickk]

The Rock Chucker is a really heavy duty press.  It will certainly handle just about every task you could ask of it.

On the flip side, the LEE Turet press is also a decent press. It's not strong enough to swage bullets with like the Rock Chucker (few presses are), but for loading just about anything except for some extremely large calibers (50 BMG for instance), the Lee Turret press work fine and last "forever".  It is a whole lot cheaper as well.

The nice thing about the LEE turret press is the ease of changing calibers. It takes about 10 seconds to swap turrets and the shell holder and you are all set for a different caliber. I love mine for loading stuff that doesn't justify the expense of setting up a complete top end for one of my Dillon RL550's. I have probably 20+ turrets full of rifle dies and handgun dies in calibers that I don't need to load thousands of round for at a sitting.

Rick

[Cliff Fendley]

If it's within your budget go with the RCBS. Besides being a great press, it's the other accessories that come with the kits that are hands down better with the RCBS.

The Lee dies are good.

[Whiskey Banjo]

Thanks for the info guys.  Im gonna go ahead and order up the rockchucker kit.. hopefully they arent backordered or something stupid because of the gun rush.

Looks like all ill need besides the kit is dies and shell holders.. besides brass, bullets, primers, and powders of coarse.

Thanks again for the info guys.. hard to find real straight answers on the web. Especially when my internet is slower then dial up

Whiskey

[Whiskey Banjo]

So I went ahead and ordered the rcbs rockchucker kit..

I also ordered the lee 3 set carbide dies. Its come with a shell holder correct?

Is the 4th die necessary?  I saw they had 4 die kits as well but they were out of stock.

Also looking for a good online or local source to sacramento area for. 45colt brass and bullets. Seems everywhere ive looked is out of stock. U think a good option would be just to buy a few 250 round packs off the sass site then just reload those? Just seems everyones out of stock of coarse. Im pretty sure I can find bullets in town or in reno.. powder and primers are no issue.

Thanks in advance.

[rickk]

Unlike other brands, LEE does include the shell holder with their die sets.

The fourth die isn't necessary, but it eliminates problems of lead shaving that sometimes occur with three die sets. This happens mostly with lead bullets. Jacketed bullets are rarely a problem.

Once you have battled a bit with lead shaving and then cure it with a separate crimping die, you will probably never go back to three dies again.

Fortunately for you, just about every die manufacturer sells their version of a crimping die separately, so if you decide to try one, you don't have to replace everything you already have. Just back off on the crimp adjustment in the seating die so that the seating die only seats and doesn't crimp and then you can run the round thru a separate crimping die.

Probably the best source of brass is direct from Starline. You usually have to place and order and wait until they make a run. They pretty much don't stock anything any more.  You may find some Starline at the distributors. I just checked, and at this very instant Midway has Starline 45 colt in stock.

Bullet scrounging can be quite a hassle. Lead is heavy. Shipping is a killer. There used to be a cast bullet manufacturer near where I live. I passed by his house on my way to and from work every day. His shop was in his garage. I could pick up whatever I wanted in person - no shipping charge. When he closed up shop I invested my money in casting equipment and no longer have to scrounge for bullets. When I want some, I just make em... one less hassle to worry about.

Rick

[Johnny McCrae]

Here is a source for lead bullets:
http://www.snscasting.com/

Their quality and service are top notch along with decent prices.

[Whiskey Banjo]

Thanks guys. Went ahead and ordered 1000 of each... looks like the brass is backordered for a few weeks

[rickk]

You can also keep your eyes on Brassman's web site. They sometimes have 45 COLT.   I got some from them last fall, so I know it happens. Sometimes they have stuff that isn't on their web site, so a phone call cant hurt.

[cpt dan blodgett]

Lead shaving is not much of a problem if you set the expanding die correctly.  Not far enough into the case and bullets will shave.  Too far into the case and you work the brass too much and it work hardens can end up with split cases in way too short of time.

I have found making a dummy round helps to set seating / crimping combo die.