Rockchucker make over

[lppd4]

Decided my late 70's Rockchucker needed a make over. Looking a little ragged so I had it bead blasted and cerakoted. Hope I didn't commit some cardinal sin by painting it grey instead of green. Before and after pictures included. I think it turned out pretty nice

 

[raljr1]

looks good. It earned a bath and paint after faithful service.

 

[yeti]

Looks good. Weird, but good.

 

[Rlg#17]

I just sent mine back in several years ago. They completely rebuilt it and spiffed it up for no charge. It was well worn fer schizzle. It was at least 50 years in service when I sent it in. Good for another 50 I'm sure.

I woulda stayed with the mean green. Your press, you do you, boo!

Regards, Rick Gibbs

 

[lppd4]

I just sent mine back in several years ago. They completely rebuilt it and spiffed it up for no charge. It was well worn fer schizzle. It was at least 50 years in service when I sent it in. Good for another 50 I'm sure.

I woulda stayed with the mean green. Your press, you do you, boo!

Regards, Rick Gibbs

I did not know RCBS would redo the press, guess I should have checked. I never liked the green that was on my unit it was a very light green and a rough texture. Newer models had a slicker finish and had a darker color that looked better to me. The price was right, it cost me 2 breakfast at a local taqueria

 

[Rlg#17]

I did not know RCBS would redo the press, guess I should have checked. I never liked the green that was on my unit it was a very light green and a rough texture. Newer models had a slicker finish and had a darker color that looked better to me. The price was right, it cost me 2 breakfast at a local taqueria

All good my friend. I've just owned this one a longtime and used to the Mean Green! I just called them to see what it would be for a refurb, and it was zip, nada!

They replaced a few parts, cleaned it really nice and sent it back. Hard to beat that! I took an RCBS 9mm shell holder that was so worn it wouldn't hold a 9 anymore to the nra show. The tech couldn't believe I had worn it out. But it was and they sent me a new one with a hat, stickers, etc. A good company to deal with.

Regards from the Commonwealth,
Rick Gibbs

 

[Old_Cop]

Now you have ruined the collectability.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Agree, totally ruined it's collectability but it certainly looks nice. You'll probably never get your money back out of it now. Wink wink, nod nod.

 

[lppd4]

I remember it well, I got a Rockchucker reloading kit for Christmas in 1979. My parents gave it to me and only agreed to buy it after they had talked to a family friend and he assured them it was safe. I was 21 at the time and had been saving .38/.357 magnum brass for a couple of years in anticipation of getting a reloader. Loaded thousands of rounds on that machine. Even parted ways with it for several years but found I needed a single stage press again and bought it back to the friend I sold it too. Even paid him the same price for it. $75.00 And yes RCBS is a great company to deal with.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Looks great. About 8 or 10 years ago I noticed some wobble in
my 1973 Rockchucker. Called RCBS about a rebuilt. They said
mail it to us. About a week and a half later brand new Rockchucker
showed up. No invoice. Thank you Dillon Precision for forcing
all the other brand to get better!

 

[Ruger 13]

Looks good from Shiner!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Not a bad look and it looks a lot cleaner.

I have a suggestion for 2 more upgrades.

First a new primer catch tray. The newer ones are slightly different and will match the new color of your press too.
Buy Primer Catcher and More | RCBS

Next is a new handle. The newer handles have a round ball at the end which is easier on the hands when loading. I have added both to my Rockchucker. I can't find it on their site but if you call RCBS they will send you one. It's the handle on this press.
Rock Chucker Supreme Press | RCBS

 

[Paul in Nevada]

When did they change the colors from the old olive to the current emerald?

 

[Skeet 028]

Heck they've had at least 3 different greens since they started making 'em in 67 or 68. The original light green was the color of the old A3. Never wore well. Yours looks good refinished but it really didn't need it. Good ol presses... Not the product that the A2 was but handled most reloading chores just fine. Surprisingly...I don't own one at present.Old presses continue to work. A friend calledme last night. He bought a seldom seen Herter's 2 hole C type(M 84 or 89?) press with dies scale powder measure etc etc. Got whole bunch of cases bullets primers and some old Herter's powder. Even worn the way yours was...it was still prettier than his Herter's when it was new. Now when you start loading even the press will look new

 

[Bayou52]

I just sent mine back in several years ago. They completely rebuilt it and spiffed it up for no charge. It was well worn fer schizzle. It was at least 50 years in service when I sent it in. Good for another 50 I'm sure.

I woulda stayed with the mean green. Your press, you do you, boo!

Regards, Rick Gibbs

I've sent in tons of parts for replacement to RCBS but it never occurred to me to send in an entire Rockchucker for repair.

Good to know.

BTW, the best thing I ever did to my 1977 Rockchucker was to replace the original handle with the bicycle grip to a new, ergonomic handle with a smooth ball grip. Makes all the difference in the world!

Thanks,

Bayou52

PS - I wish I had a penny for every stroke of that press!

 

[lppd4]

I've sent in tons of parts for replacement to RCBS but it never occurred to me to send in an entire Rockchucker for repair.

Good to know.

BTW, the best thing I ever did to my 1977 Rockchucker was to replace the original handle with the bicycle grip to a new, ergonomic handle with a smooth ball grip. Makes all the difference in the world!

Thanks,

Bayou52

PS - I wish I had a penny for every stroke of that press!

I saw one tip that said loosen the ball on the handle just a bit and the ball would naturally turn when you operate the handle. Makes sense to me,

 

[Bayou52]

Nice tip, Ippd4!

Thanks, Bayou52

 

[lppd4]

Not a bad look and it looks a lot cleaner.

I have a suggestion for 2 more upgrades.

First a new primer catch tray. The newer ones are slightly different and will match the new color of your press too.
Buy Primer Catcher and More | RCBS

Next is a new handle. The newer handles have a round ball at the end which is easier on the hands when loading. I have added both to my Rockchucker. I can't find it on their site but if you call RCBS they will send you one. It's the handle on this press.
Rock Chucker Supreme Press | RCBS

Thanks for the hint called RCBS and parts you suggested are on the way. That should complete the make over

 

[SMSgt]

RCBS sees that and they will repossess it.

 

[FN509Fan]

Inline Fabrication Rockchucker roller handle

BTW, the best thing I ever did to my 1977 Rockchucker was to replace the original handle with the bicycle grip to a new, ergonomic handle with a smooth ball grip. Makes all the difference in the world!

I have a RCBS JR3 purchased well used along with a hand primer for ~$30 in the 90's. I used it for 45 Auto Rim since Dillon didn't have a shell plate for AR for my SDB. I recently started loading 45 Colt for my New Vaquero and with Dillon out of stock, purchased Colt dies for my single state. As I have now used this more for Colt than I ever did for AR, I treated myself to a new roller handle from Inline Fabrication. It had the stupid bicycle grip which was a pain. Here's the link for the Rockchucker, I highly recommend it. Ergonomic Style roller handle for the RCBS Rock Chucker IV Supreme Rel – Inline Fabrication


I had thought about painting it blue to match the rest of my bench equipment, but have recently purchased some orange equipment so I'm sticking with the rainbow look. Plus if I ever send it in for a rebuild, I suspect it would come back green.