Hornady Lock-N-Load v. RCBS Packages

[Dr.J]

Nachez Supply has the RCBS Rockchucker Surpreme and Hornady Lock-N-Load packages on sale for $279 and $259 respectively. The Hornady comes with dies, electronic scale, deburring tool, and 500 bullets. The RCBS comes with a balance beam scale, but no deburring tool, no reloading manual or bullets. I'll be reloading .223 and .30 caliber. Are there any downsides to going with the Hornady. It looks like a much better deal for less money? I'd appreciate your comments. Thanks, Dr.J

 

[X Ring]

My Rockchucker Supreme kit came with a manual and deburring tool. Nothing wrong with Hornady though.

 

[A.O.]

LEE Turret kit!

 

[68sixspeed]

I bought the Hornady kit last month, cabelas had it for $259 and then a coupon saved more. So far I like it, it seems well made and the quick change die bushings are a plus. But there is nothing wrong with rcbs either.

 

[madd matt]

I started reloading about 5 years ago with the hornady classic kit. Either setup will load quality ammo, but the 500 bullets make the hornady hard to pass up. No press kits come with dies, you have to purchase these seprately. The hornady does come with a few l-n-l bushings, you will want to buy more as they make die changes very quick and easy.

 

[arjay]

The quality of the scale is what I would go by.Do a search for reviews of it.

 

[SMSgt]

I'd pick the RCBS solely on the basis of the beam scale. My 505 is 35 years old and has never had an issue. I don't have anything electron that's lasted that long or has been as reliable.

The quick-change bushing, IMO, are overrated. Really--how much trouble or how long does it take to unscrew a die and screw in another one? Plus you'll have to purchase additional bushings for every set of dies, thus nullifying any savings on the kit itself.

No manual/one manual--you'll end up buying additional ones anyhow. Bullet company manuals list only that company's bullets and only the powders it chose to use. Any substitution of powder or bullet voids that manual's data.

On the opporational side, either set will do the job as well as the other.

 

[SMSgt]

Dr.J, I just got an email from Natchez for the $279 RCBS kit and it shows a deburring tool and a manual. I'd consider jumping on it if I were you.

Like some other companies, RCBS is great to deal with when you have problems. I lost the expander ball on an old-style RCBS die. One call to them and in a few days I had a new updated decapping pin with extra decapping pins--for free. That kind of service is hard to beat, although, in all fairness, I've heard Hornady CS is much the same.

 

[Twoboxer]

I have no experience with the Rockchucker, but have lots of other RCBS equipment. The press has a great reputation.

I use a LnL Classic (and a LnL AP). The Classic does everything I ask of it and makes great precision ammo.

Hornady's customer service is hard to beat, and RCBS is right up there as well.

The Hornady manual is very useful. I didn't find much value in the Hornady digital scale - no digital scale at that price is going to be consistent, and you should have a good beam scale (and a set of RCBS check weights) on your bench. Using the checkweights, a beam scale is the only kind you can calibrate at weights very close to weights you will actually be using. Digital scales calibrate at 50 &/or 100 grams with no provision to adjust at (eg) 5 to 50 grains.

It's a tough call because I think the LnL Classic is as good as the Rockchucker and has the bushings, but I'd want a good beam scale. It may come down to whether you would actually use the free bullets lol.

Either one is going to serve you well, so go with your own gut. You will be adding/replacing the other gear as you grow in the hobby and learn your own needs and preferences.

 

[THEWELSHM]

I have a 1978 RCBS JR3 and a 2013 Hornady LNL. I love them both and customer service is in my opinion the same ( great) I guess your down to what is your favourite color????

Either in single stage work for me....

thewelshm

 

[Razir66]

SportsmanSupply2 was doing no reserve penny auctions on ebay last summer on a lot of reloading equipment. Looks like they dont have much now. I got my hornady classic for $200, as others said the cheapo electronic scale is useless and I also had to buy a pistol rotor for more accurate powder drops.

 

[novalty]

The RCBS is eligible for a $50 rebate when you purchase $300 in RCBS products--which a set of dies in will get you over $300.

 

[Hairtrigger]

Both great choices. I have received great loading advice when I have called Hornady Tech line, not for anything mechanical but for assistance with load data. I never have needed to call RCBS
I did see awhile back,on slickguns, a GREAT deal on the Rockchucker press but it has expired

 

[MasterTech1960]

I think you can not go wrong with ether press. Both are quality units. I have a RCBS Rockchucker that I bought in the 70s. It is still rock solid. I do like the L-N-L feature of the Hornady. It can now be had for any press as a kit.

Hornady Lock-N-Load Press Die Conversion Bushing Kit

You can not lose with what ever choice you make.