RCBS RockChucker -- the Agony

[cowboy94916]

I started loading on an RCBS Jr' around 75. Did all pistol and rifle rounds on it. I was shooting a lot of 357, 45 acp and 44 mag at the time. I loaded many 1000nds of rounds with that setup. Oh the hours I spent.
When RCBS brought out Green Machine for 45. I had daughter removing crimp in military brass for 45, for a penny a round That insured less problems with priming on GM. Cut my loading time significantly. Split the time savings between more ammo and family time.
In the early 90's I aquired a another Junior and 2 Rockchuckers (all used). I setup 1 for trimming with a dillion and sequenced the rest for loading all remaining calibers. More time savings. Something to do in wisconsin winters.
Then in mid 90's, I bought a used 550 Dillion for small primer pistol rounds and 223. Shortly after that, I found another used Dillon 550, I set it up for large primered pistol rounds and 308 rifle. They covered all my volume reloading. Got a used third as backup and currently dedicated to small primered 45.
I still load all my target 45 on the green machine. I load all other rifle calibers, other then 223 and 308, on the RCBS Rockchucker and jr. setup. I also, load all my shotgun ammo on progessives in 12,20, and 28 ga.
Now all I need to do, is figure out which if any of my kids or their spouses want to take up reloading. instead of dad supplied ammo. My plaan is to say your components, your time, and I will teach you. Your other choice is I hold a garage sale on equipment and you buy your ammo.
Right after I finish my lifetime supply for my needs.

 

[kiyoty]

I started with the Lee kit, but after launching the priming punch too many times, bought an RCBS JR and 45 ACP and 38 Special dies, then threw the Lee kit as far as I could chuck it. Used the Jr for years for loading everything from 32 Long to 300WM, as well as bullet swaging with C-H dies. Did everything I asked of it, but then I fell in lust with the Rockchucker and never looked back. Started shooting PPC in the mid-80's and since the department didn't provide enough practice ammo and I couldn't afford a progressive, I loaded what seemed like barrels of 38 wadcutters on the R/C. Used to do each stage on every round before moving to the next on buckets full of brass. I generally loaded, on average, 7,000 rounds of 38 and 3,000 0f 45 ACP every winter for 3 years on that old 'Chucker. I did splurge on an RCBS bench mounted priming tool, because the press priming system was a joke.

After 3 years of that I bit the bullet and bought a Dillon 550. What a relief! I was in pig heaven. Finally had time to eat and sleep in the winter. Used that for a few years, until my department switched from 9mm to 40 and needed to rid themselves of a room full of fired brass in 38, 357, and 9mm. They were going to throw it away, so I offered to do the job for them, and they agreed. Took me three heavily loaded truck loads to do it. Took it home, inspected and separated it, then traded the good stuff to a commercial reloader who was also a Dillon dealer for a 650 with case feeder, strong mount, and conversion kits/dies for 9mm, 38/357, 44, and 45 ACP. Even threw in some primers!

Still have the R/C , which I use for load building, small lots, odd calibers, and case conversions, and have both Dillons. Since I retired, the 650 is usually set up for 45, and occasionally 10mm, and the 550 for 38/357 or 40. Never liked loading rifle rounds on them. I've since added 2 Co-ax presses, using them for most rifle reloading. Like the quick pre-set die changes and universal case holder, one each for large and small primers.

I find it ironic that when you're old enough to afford all this equipment, you're too old to shoot!

 

[Skeet 028]

A fellow sold me 18 rounds of Remington 35 Rem ammo 5 bucks...I kinda think they re reloads. Gotta set up the old A2 press...pull the bullets...dump the powder...take the de-priming rod out...lube and.size the cases...de-lube 'em put powder of my choice back in and then reseat bullets after setting seating die... . Going to keep the press set up cause a friend is sending me 20 cases and 5- bullets...I only have 8 rounds of ammo for that old waffle top marlin 336 . 35 Tem ammo is hard to find...I knew there was a reason I pretty much quit loading rifle ammo

 

[M E Morrison]

I started loading in 1964, using the original Lee cigar box loader in several calibers.

 

[dshuf118]

Sitting on the reloading shelf was 48 empty 45-70 cases and some cast bullets. You know the drill: clean, lube, resize, trim & deburr, tumble brass; then bell case mouths, load powder, seat and crimp bullets. This simple activity was s -- l -- o -- w . Resetting dies, trimming cases with a Lee trimmer, dispensing powder and flaring case mouths with a Dillon powder measure mounted in a RockChucker took about 2 hours, not counting tumbler time. I can't imagine loading 100 rounds ONE-step at a time using a RockChucker press and RCBS powder measure. I love my Dillon presses.

Just finished 100 rounds of 9mm on my 1976 vintage RockChucker. Took a little over two hours and was a relaxing time. I look at it as a hobby in and of itself.

 

[aklim69]

Started loading 44 mag with a Lee Classic Loader. Went to a Single Stage and finally got to a RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme and thought I was "arrived" Later on, I got a Hornady AP progressive loader but things changed and I didn't even manage to do more than install it on the bench. Sigh....

 

[Lance Boyle]

A fellow sold me 18 rounds of Remington 35 Rem ammo 5 bucks...I kinda think they re reloads. Gotta set up the old A2 press...pull the bullets...dump the powder...take the de-priming rod out...lube and.size the cases...de-lube 'em put powder of my choice back in and then reseat bullets after setting seating die... . Going to keep the press set up cause a friend is sending me 20 cases and 5- bullets...I only have 8 rounds of ammo for that old waffle top marlin 336 . 35 Tem ammo is hard to find...I knew there was a reason I pretty much quit loading rifle ammo

Ha! It sounds like you are in the exact situation to be a reloader! If you cannot find ammo then you have to make it!

Years ago a friend bought an old home and property as a lakeside investment. The previous owner left a ton of reloading gear, he, the seller, took the main stuff but left swaging dies, a cannalure tool that was a Corbin I think, not cheap whatever brand it was and piles and piles of .35 Remington cases and bullets. gallon bags of cases, bullets, both jacketed and cast. There must have been 3000 jacketed bullets and more than that of cast. I had no use for it not loading that caliber nor did my friend who also was a reloader. I think the only thing I acquired was a nickel oiler from the early 1903 Springfields.

I think my friend took two years selling off the side windfall that he got with the house by selling at swap meets,

 

[Neumann]

100 rounds is nothing in a Rock Chucker (any single-stage) press. Execute all 100, one stage at a time - deprime, resize, bell and prime, charge, seat, crimp (I crimp separately for consistency). The dies have a lock nut, and can be quickly replaced in a single stage without adjustments.

Mount the powder funnel on a stand, and charge separately into a charging block. It's also a good idea to prime separately. These operations require more setup and care than the others, and can be done efficiently off-line.

I would use the same process with a turret press, sans screwing and unscrewing the dies. I have a Dillon Progressive (low end), with which I could load 400 rounds with the same effort.

 

[rustic39]

I started reloading 9mm in the mid-1960's using a Lee Loader - too slow and cumbersome to be practical. Not too long after, I bought a Lyman All-American 4-station turret press, and have never needed anything better. It's loaded 38 Special to 45 Long Colt, 22-250 to 450 Black Powder Express, as well as many obsolete calibers in between.

 

[ggibson511960]

I handload a bunch of calibers and gauges just for fun, not speed. Like several posters above I began with a Lee Loader in .38/.357 which I found unsatisfactory. Neck sizing cases leads to seating problems in revolvers and setting off primers indoors annoys people. An RCBS Jr. served faithfully for years till the siren song of a cheap Lee 1000 progressive fooled me. Got it to work in .38, 9 mm and .45 but the time lost in setup and jams negated loading speed, not to mention the substandard reloads. The RCBS Jr. carried on faithfully as the Lee junk was given away. A new day dawned when I sprang for a Forster CoAx. What an upgrade! I load several obsolete calibers with much brass alteration and fiddling and the CoAx makes this fun by eliminating shellholders and slide in die changes. Finished ammunition lives up to the CoAx promise of concentricity. The Jr. still lurks in a storage cabinet for really abusive case forming chores like .375 H&H to .300 H&H to save wear on the CoAx. It's all fun.

 

[Skeet 028]

Running a single stage press after loading on any progressive turns the work into an onerous chore...just kidding guys...but there is a big difference after using either the Dillon 750 or the 1050...Heck O think I am gonna spring for a bullet feeder...mainly for the 223........little bullets...big finger syndrome.

 

[kadams]

I've loaded on my single stage RCBS presses for 20 yrs. I usually prep brass all at once then prime with a hand primer, I've resized and trimmed about 3000 brass in four or 5 calibers this summer just slipping to the reloading room an hr at a time here and there. I keep prepped brass ready to load and drop all of my powder charges from an rcbs chargemaster and then verify them on an another digital scale I use two matched weight powder pans to keep moving. I couldn't imagine using a progressive as much as i obsess over charge weights, COAL, crimp etc.

 

[picker77]

I do all my pistol loading on a Rock Chucker and rifle on a Co-Ax. I have modified the RC with a Hornady bushing to make setup faster and shell kicker; One of these; to speed things up a bit. I still weigh every load and probably load more than most. Below is my pistol loading bench.

View attachment 784002

Holy Moses, I had no idea Sheldon Cooper was a reloader

 

[GypsmJim]

Some talk about dillons, and others talk about a progressive press. For me, neither is practical.

I load 26 different calibers, and for some I use several different types of Boolits. Thus, I have to adjust the dies every single time.

My setup now includes 4 Lee single stage presses, plus a Lee APP for when I have to process more than 50 of the same caliber during the same session.

In 54 years of handloading I have encountered one single sqib. I expect that was when I was listening to the radio and was upset by some political commentary.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I have 4 Dillons.........Yet I load my rifle hunting ammo on my old RCBS JR..........

 

[Tommezgun]

I started reloading in 1967 with a single stage press and never wanted to change ... I like doing things one step at a time .
Keeps me out of trouble and I prefer simple way of life .
Some feel the need for speed but I like to take my time and do the job right ... it's just my way !
Gary

I too started reloading back in 1967. I bought a Lyman 310 tool. that was slow and I had to have my brother-in-law buy the powder and primers because I was only 14. Seventy-five pieces of .30-06 bras was the goal. I did them and shot them all one day then started over. Later I went to the RCBS Jr. and used that for .30-06, .357, .45 ACP, and .44-40. I had the chance to help a friend set up a Dillon 550 to reload .45 Colt. I later bought the tool head dies and powder measure for the Dillon and would reload .44-40 while other .44-40 brass polished in his tumbler. Got an opportunity to buy a used Dillon 550 and grabbed it with dies for .45 Colt. Gave my RCBS Jr. To a coworker who was just starting to get interested in reloading, when I bought a Rockchucker. I needed the Rockchucker to reload 12 gauge all brass. I also use it for my rifle rounds.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Sitting on the reloading shelf was 48 empty 45-70 cases and some cast bullets.

… I can't imagine loading 100 rounds ONE-step at a time using a RockChucker press and RCBS powder measure. I love my Dillon presses.

You should enjoy the Zen of Reloading.

I load 30-30 in batches of 100 on my Rockchucker. But for my handgun competition of course a progressive.

 

['79 Magnum GT]

You should enjoy the Zen of Reloading.

I load 30-30 in batches of 100 on my Rockchucker.

As do I with my 44mag/spl on my Big Max.

 

[diver61]

Sitting on the reloading shelf was 48 empty 45-70 cases and some cast bullets. You know the drill: clean, lube, resize, trim & deburr, tumble brass; then bell case mouths, load powder, seat and crimp bullets. This simple activity was s -- l -- o -- w . Resetting dies, trimming cases with a Lee trimmer, dispensing powder and flaring case mouths with a Dillon powder measure mounted in a RockChucker took about 2 hours, not counting tumbler time. I can't imagine loading 100 rounds ONE-step at a time using a RockChucker press and RCBS powder measure. I love my Dillon presses.

That's how I reload, except I weigh each load individually.

 

[Rick H.]

It's funny how so many reloaders follow the same path. Start with the cheapest equipment to see if you like reloading and then start buying more expensive gear to make the job easier and faster. I too, did the same thing, but went on some different side trips. I currently use a Redding turret press for all my rifle caliber reloads. I also use it for sizing and depriming all my brass. For pistol caliber work I use a Hornady LNL progressive press and it works well but I have yet to find any press that yields accurate priming function so I do that as a separate function on an RCBS Auto-Priming tool. At one time I used another priming tool but blew up a stack of primers in it. That was an experience I never want to repeat, flames hit the rafters in my basement! You haven't lived until you experience seeing close to 100 primers light up almost all at once.

I have used a couple of different machines for powder dispensing and most worked okay, just not terribly accurate. So a couple of years ago I bought an Auto-Trickler powder dispenser with the A&D scale. This was one of the best investments I ever made for charging cases with powder. No muss, no fuss, it just flat works for dispensing powder accurate to 100th of a grain. When adjusted correctly it will drop a charge in about 10 seconds. It doesn't like low charge weight drops for pistol loads but there is a way to accomplish the task using the trickler only.

A few years back I started using a powder lock out die from RCBS on my progressive press and it works quite well. These days it serves as more of a back-up to my Auto-Trickler, but it serves its purpose and gives me peace of mind. I have also converted, or purchased only seating and crimp dies with micrometer adjustments on them. The micrometer adjustments work much faster then turning a screw, knob or nut.

RCBS recently came out with a Match grade micrometer adjustable seating die for rifle calibers and I bought one for use in .223 caliber. This die has a "window" in it to allow the user to just drop a bullet into the die body and seat it with the ram. The die body holds the bullet in place until contacted by the seating stem. I didn't need a new .223 match grade seating die, but the idea of the window for dropping the bullet into the die body sounded great to me to avoid pinched fingers holding little .223 bullets in place. It works just great and it very accurate. It takes a bit of use to get in the habit of dropping the bullet in the die body instead of holding in place over the case.

With few exceptions most everything I buy these days has some serious thought to it. There is a lot of stuff one can add to the reloading room that sounds like a good idea, but really is kind of a waste of money so buyer beware. For me I look for anything that adds to safety in reloading first and as a secondary benefit, speeds things up. It is amazing how much money one can spend on reloading equipment to save money reloading!!

Rick H.