RCBS Reloader Special 5 Press

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wylie won

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I'll preface this with I AM BRAND NEW to reloading.

Is anyone using the RS5? I'm really liking the RCBS Explorer Plus Reloading kit. It comes with the RS5. That press looks a little small for 308. Is it large enough to reload 308?

Thanks...

Wylie won
 
I am not familiar with the RS5 but I would recommend the Rock Chucker Supreme Deluxe Reloading Kit or Supreme Master Reloading kit package. It probably contains all of what you need to get started in one package.
Jim
 
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wylie won wrote:
Is anyone using the RS5?
Click to expand...

I'm using a 1979 vintage Reloader Special (no #1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) without compound leverage. I have no problem reloading with it. I also use it for case forming operations without any problem.

And for the record, I'm 5 foot 4 inches tall so I don't have the added leverage of broad shoulders or tall stature.

You will have no problem reloading 308 Winchester on a Reloader Special 5.

Now, you may from time to time looks wistfully at a Rock Chucker and wish you had bought one instead. That happened to me at lot (but remember, my press doesn't have compound leverage like the later RS presses do), but when it came time to plunk down money on a press for the bench I built at the family farm, I bought a 1980's vintage Reloader Special off of eBay, not a Rock Chucker.
 
Engineer 1911 wrote:
Bolt your new press to a strong work bench. A 3/4" thick piece of particle board is not a strong work bench.
Click to expand...

I concur.

When I built my reloading bench, I designed it so that a 2x6 formed the cross-member across the front of the bench. I covered this with a 31/64 inch piece of wafer board. The mounting holes go through the wafer board, but it is the 2x6 that carries essentially all the stress, not the thin membrane at the top; which is there mostly to ensure things don't fall onto the floor below. You need the grain structure of real wood or the crystalline structure of a metal section to carry the stresses of using the press, not a material pressed out of sawdust.
 
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I would think the RS5 would be fine for 308. I would also suggest looking at the Lee Classic Cast press. I had a new Rock Chucker Supreme side by side with the Classic Cast and decided to keep the Classic Cast. More features, bigger opening and less money. The Lee comes in kit/package form also. As mentioned above, I too have an older Reloader Special press from 1978 that still serves me well to this day, but is now a dedicated de-capping press for all calibers I load. I believe at least some of the new RCBS equipment is made overseas, Lee is still made in USA. That makes a difference to me. A lot of good presses out there, enjoy your search :-)
 
As mentioned in your other post........
my old single stroke RCBS is still ticking and does pistol, revolver and 308 and 30-06 loadings.

Since I have the old dies, I just make sure I lube the cases well
before sizing the case to prevent a stuck case....
the rest is easy on the die and ram.

Have fun.
 
Some thread drift here...

Check the specs. of the press and look for the throat opening. If it's larger than a 308 case + a bullet, it'll be fine (more than likely, the press will handle 308 just fine)...
 
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