RCBS vs Hornady

Well, I think I'm going to take the plunge into reloading. I've looked at the RCBS Rock Chucker Single Stage Master kit and the Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic Single Stage kit to start with. Opinions please.

You have chosen well.

I chose the RCBS and have no regrets. The press is built like a tank. RCBS customer service must be the best of anybody's anywhere.

I had trouble changing the seaters for between small and large primers. They sent me whole new kits for each (sm & lg) for free. Now I have assy's for each that makes changing over simple.

When I had them on the phone, I wanted to order a new shell holder, because the one I had (different mgf) was poor quality. They sent me the new shell holder also for free.

I have only bought (3 sets) RCBS dies, because of their customer service.

By the way, I bought the RCBS master kit on ebay for a great price. after a couple of years, I don't have the need or want to upgrade anything that came with the kit.

Both are excellent presses, and the customer service of both RCBS and Hornady is superb. I currently own a bunch of equipment by both firms, and have always been well satisfied with both. Although the Rock Crusher is a good press, the Hornady Lock-N-Load single stage press has several advantages, chief of which is the Lock-N-Load bushing system, which will not only allow very rapid changes between calibers you are reloading, but will significantly speed up the reloading process on the single-stage presses as you switch between stages, as, once the dies are adjusted in the L-N-L bushings, you just install them, with no need to re-adjust them (such as expander dies, seating dies, crimp dies, etc.). Since both firms offer superb customer service and stand behind their products exceptionally well, and both presses are very well made, I believe the ease of use gives the edge to the Hornady press.

Not too long ago I was also searching for a single stage press and ended up with a Redding Big Boss II and it is a nice well built press and if you like the Lock-n-Load bushings there is an adapter sold for it.

i'm a fan of RCBS...great equipment,super tech.support,excellent customer relationship

I did some research before I bought my reloading press. Hornady, RCBS, Redding, Lyman, and Lee all have great customer service which is hard to find these days. I ended up buying a Redding Big Boss II press because the primers drop through the ram. I got the rest of the stuff I needed slowly and now I have everything I need to build nice reloads. The first thing I got was a reloading manual from hornady.I read that book like no other and also would frequent reloading forums.

What do you intend to reload?

You will need a few manuals, a scale, a micrometer, before you set up a bench. Then you may need to look at progressive system to avoid repetitive purchase. A local mentor will be worth its weight in gold.

Regards,

Tam 3

The RCBS Rock Chucker is the press to which all others are compared. I believe the ram of the Rock Chucker is slightly larger in diameter than that of the single stage Hornady Lock-N-Load, which makes it a bit tougher. That said, I don't think you can go wrong with either press. Both are more than tough enough. I do like the fact that primers go through the ram of the Redding presses. This controls them better and they shouldn't occasionally go flying onto the floor like they do with my original Rock Chucker. If I didn't already have a Rock Chucker, I think I would buy a Redding Ultramag press. I like the compound leverage arrangement of that press, plus the fact the dead primers go through the ram. It is a more expensive press, however, than either the Rock Chucker or the Lock-N-Load.

RCBS customer support is the best and the O press is a RCBS patten all before were mostly C press

I'm a little new at this so pls excuse my typing ....... but ..... lately I've been using a Hornady L-N-L AP press for 45 ACP. Now I like Hornady stuff and their service can't be beat .... but .... this AP press leaves something to be desited. The case feeder could use some help, ie: the cases tend to jam at the top of the drop tube 'cause they turn sideways. That was fixed with a piece of card stock. The feeder into the shell holder tips the case occasionally, bad for speed. That can be over come or lived with. My major thing is that the L-N-L bushings come loose unless cranked in with a wrench, ruins the "quick change" feature. Before anyone out there gets all set to flame me for what I just said understand I still like and will continue to buy Hornady products just don't ask me to fall in love with the L-N-L feature. I just thought I might forward my observations.

Oh yeah, just to let you all know my press is a Dillon RL550B.

I can't comment on the Hornady presses, I've never used one. I do have three RCBS presses, including a Rock chucker and I've never had a problem with any of them. I've also had great support with their customer service on other RCBS products including free parts for items I bought used or were given to me and replacement parts for stuff I lost.

I know a lot of folks like to replace the locking split ring on RCBS dies, but if used properly they make it so you don't have to readjust your dies all the time like some may think. You adjust them, lock them and when you want to use them again they go back to where they were.

Nearly all of my reloading equipment is RCBS, I prefer it for all the reasons mentioned so far. I have tried Lee, Hornady, and others and always come back to RCBS.

I have a 1971 RCBS Jr press that I would like to replace, but I can't wear the thing out. True, it's dirty, but that's all. 39 years of service; no repairs of any kind, so I never got the chance to experience RCBS's customer service.

I think new reloaders do themselves a favor by not going directly to a progressive. I'm a firm believer that the safest, highest quality ammunition is assembled on single stage presses. But....once you've some experience, you're going to want a progressive, at least for pistol ammo. For that, I recommend Dillon.

cp1969 said:

...I think new reloaders do themselves a favor by not going directly to a progressive. I'm a firm believer that the safest, highest quality ammunition is assembled on single stage presses. But....once you've some experience, you're going to want a progressive, at least for pistol ammo. For that, I recommend Dillon.

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I agree! Everyone should start out with a single stage press so that they get a better understanding of reloading and how to fix small problems that crop up. After that, THEN go to a progressive. I have two Dillon presses; a 550 that I use for many calibers and a Square Deal that is permanently left set up to load .45 ACP. The Dillons are GREAT! All of the other companies have been producing progressive presses to compete with Dillon. I haven't used them, so I have no idea if they are worth a damn or not. The Dillons work so well, and their customer support is so good I see no reason to try other progressive presses. I'm a middle aged fart, so I'm probably set up for life with what I have. I teach reloading, so I have more single stage presses than an average person would want or need. Several are set up to be mobile so I can take them to the reloading classes. Because they need to be mobile, I lean towards lighter presses to use for bullet seating and things that don't require a lot of power. I use an RCBS Partner Press mounted on a reload-a-stand and a Lyman Acculine mounted on plywood for light work. For resizing, it is best to have a strong, heavy press. For that I use an original Rock Chucker. The Partner Press would probably resize just fine, but I like the stoutness and power of the Rock Chucker. I got tired of constantly mounting and unmounting that original Rock Chucker from my bench to take to class, so I bought a Rock Chucker Supreme (it has a larger opening for the ultra-mag cartridges compared to my original Rock Chucker) to leave mounted on my home bench, and I use my original Rock Chucker mounted on a Sinclair Press Stand to take to the classes. Although the Rock Chucker Supreme will do anything I need a reloading press to do, I wish I had bought a Redding Ultramag press instead. I like the way the Redding presses handle the dead primers, and I like the way the straps on the Ultramag press essentially pulls down on the top of the press the more pressure you put on the handle. A friend of mine has a Forester Co-Ax press and he calls it the Rolls-Royce of reloading presses. I've never used one, so I can't say. There are a lot of good presses out there. A person can hardly go wrong with any of them!

Either should work well for you. Look at them and see if one looks easier for you to use than the other.
RCBS customer service is almost ledgendary. They're great and respond quickly when you need something.

Thank you all for the responses. BTW, I'll be reloading 9mm and .38 spl. to start.

palmetto99 said:

Thank you all for the responses. BTW, I'll be reloading 9mm and .38 spl. to start.

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The .38 Special is a great cartridge to start reloading. The 9mm is probably OK, too, but there are some pitfalls with it that the .38 Spl, when used in a revolver, does not have.

The 9mm is a high-pressure cartridge (the .38 is about half of the 9). Be very careful that no extra powder ends up in the case. Also, bullet setback can cause pressure increases as well. Bullet setback occurs when the bullet, for one reason or another, mostly inadequate tension letting the bullet slide back when it hits the feed ramp. So, seating depth and crimp are a bit more important on the 9 than they are on the .38.

With the 9mm be sure to taper crimp, and crimp at lease .003" to .005". Easiest way to set crimp is with an empty case that has been neck expanded ready to seat a bullet in. Measure the outside of the case at the neck, and gradually turn the die in and run the case into it until you get the desired measurement. I usually only turn the die in a quarter turn at a time. Then lock down your die. You will then have to establish your seating depth, but that may depend on the bullet you are using and the gun you are shooting it in.

Howdy

I have been using a pair of Hornady Lock and Load AP presses for a number of years now. I am a big fan of the Hornady Lock and Load bushing system for quick caliber changes.

HOWEVER...................

I think the Hornady bushing system is overkill for a single stage press. Changing calibers quickly is not that big a deal on a single stage press. To change dies on the RCBS unit you will unscrew one die and screw in another. Then you will use that die for many minutes until it is time to change dies again. Quick changes on a single stage press is just not a very significant issue. Any good die will have a locking ring, and if you have properly set it up you will screw in the die until the ring bottoms out on the press body. That's it, you are done and ready to start pulling the handle. Time to screw the die in maybe 5 seconds. Is that very significant when you will then sit and pull the handle for an hour or so while you process a pile of rounds through that die? I learned to load on an old Lyman single stage press and 'quick changes' of dies was just not an issue.

When it is time to step up to a progressive press, it becomes an issue, but frankly, even though I love my Hornady progressive presses, I think the whole idea of the bushings on a single stage press is silly.

Look at the other merits of the two manufacturers, the bushings are a non-issue.