Mangled Press. Which one Now?

Cain R · August 31, 2002, 02:03 AM

Wow, last night I completely destroyed my Lee Challenger press. Blew the linkage all to he** and bent the handle almost to a 45 (where's the little symbol on the keyboard for degrees? Jeeze I think this Cuban Rum is interfering with my typing ability???)

And all I was doing was trying to resize some surplus 7.62 IVI brass.

So far Iv'e narrowed my choices down to the Lyman Crusher ($149 CDN) or the RCBS Rock Chucker ($189 CDN). I'll be using it for cartridges up to .416 Rem and .375 H&H as well as mil-spec 7.62 and 5.56.

So whats your favorite single stage heavy duty press

sricciardelli · August 31, 2002, 02:35 AM

Rock Chucker

Swamp Yankee · August 31, 2002, 07:25 AM

Either, both are well made and rugged as they come.
I would probably give the nod to the RCBS only because of the wonderful customer service received from them in the past.
Take Care

Dan Morris · August 31, 2002, 08:30 AM

Rock Chucker!
Dan

WESHOOT2 · August 31, 2002, 08:44 AM

Lyman = 3 bolt-down holes

RCBS = two bolt-down holes

Also suggest not discounting the superb presses from REDDING............

My single-stage heavy-duty's include a Lyman Crusher II and the superior Bonanza (now Forster-Bonanza) Co-Ax.

JackM · August 31, 2002, 12:12 PM

Ram stroke:
RCBS Rockchucker 3 5/16"
Redding Boss 3.4"
Lyman Crusher II 3 7/8"
Forster Co-AX 4"
Redding Ultramag 4 1/8"

Maximum Cartridge Overall Length of the .375 and .416 is 3.6 "

Bye
Jack

swifter... · August 31, 2002, 01:17 PM

Redding Ultramag -- my primary singlestage...
The secondary is a Rockchucker, in semi retirement after years of good service... And it still gets used as lot!

You've discovered the big problem with Lee: Great designs, so-so manufacture

.

Tom

Unkel Gilbey · August 31, 2002, 01:29 PM

The Compound leverage links on the challenger are the weak point of the design. Mine started to develop cracks, and when I noticed this, I swapped them - as the crack was only on one side. But this was only a temp fix, as the second piece soon cracked.

I'd thought that perhaps the 3 or 4 thousand military cases I'd swaged the crimp out of the primer pockets was the primary cause of the breakage, and this may be true. It might have also been the 12-15 thousand rounds that I'd loaded to boot. Who knows?

But now the challenger sits as a backup, and I've started to use an old JR 2 press from RCBS. This thing is rock solid and I doubt I'll ever wear it out. This is (in a way) unfortunate, as I would really like to get a Rock Chucker! Anyway, that would be my suggestion to you - go RCBS. If for nothing else, do it for the customer service.

Unkel Gilbey

JackM · August 31, 2002, 03:12 PM

You won't wear it out. Bought my RCBS Jr. in 1968 and it's still going.

Bye
Jack

C.R.Sam · August 31, 2002, 03:36 PM

45°

alt 248 = °, use the number pad for the numbers.

Above good word re stout presses.

Sam

Southla1 · August 31, 2002, 07:23 PM

"Bought my RCBS Jr. in 1968 and it's still going strong"

I know what you mean Jack.

I bought mine in 64 and it's still like new.

Been through a hurricane and all. Hell Andrew removed the roof of my shop, dumped s*** on the reloading bench and soaked everything with 10 inches of rain. It was 2 weeks before I could even START to clean it up. The only thing I lost were some old reloading manuals, and thanks to E-Bay I was able to replace those. I think that there is no way to abuse stuff more than that...........leaving things wet, and EVERYTHING was OK. Had some rust but cleaned up just fine. that RCBS green is good stuff.

The only thing that ever broke on my JR was the 2 lil aluminum "tits" that the rubber band goes around on the primer catcher. I drilled 2 holes and put 2 machine screws in them and just put the rubber bands on that now.

Ya just CAN'T kill the thing.

NG Bruce · August 31, 2002, 08:51 PM

Cain R, Been using a RCBS RockChucker since 1978 - you won't ever wear it out. But, check out the "Big Boss", new from Redding, just like the old Boss, but has a bigger opening for the longer cases (375 H&H, etc.).

Southla1 - know what you mean about those hurricanes. My gear has gone under water twice (Fran and Floyd) - my Dad dunked it all (press, powder measure, scale, dies, brass, etc.) in pails of motor oil (I was in CA with the NG for Floyd) and I cleaned it up twice - what a mess! I have since moved it all to my garage - we are on higher ground here, HOPEFULLY never again.

NG Bruce

Southla1 · September 1, 2002, 12:58 PM

Amen to that Bruce!

Bogie · September 4, 2002, 11:56 AM

Use either more, or a higher quality, case lube. I prefer Imperial Die Wax.

August 31, 2002, 02:03 AM	#1
Cain R Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2001 Location: Peoples Dominion of Kanada Posts: 288	Mangled Press. Which one Now? Wow, last night I completely destroyed my Lee Challenger press. Blew the linkage all to he** and bent the handle almost to a 45 (where's the little symbol on the keyboard for degrees? Jeeze I think this Cuban Rum is interfering with my typing ability???) And all I was doing was trying to resize some surplus 7.62 IVI brass. So far Iv'e narrowed my choices down to the Lyman Crusher ($149 CDN) or the RCBS Rock Chucker ($189 CDN). I'll be using it for cartridges up to .416 Rem and .375 H&H as well as mil-spec 7.62 and 5.56. So whats your favorite single stage heavy duty press

August 31, 2002, 02:35 AM	#2
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	Rock Chucker __________________ http://stevespages.com/page8.htm

August 31, 2002, 08:44 AM	#5
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Lyman = 3 bolt-down holes RCBS = two bolt-down holes Also suggest not discounting the superb presses from REDDING............ My single-stage heavy-duty's include a Lyman Crusher II and the superior Bonanza (now Forster-Bonanza) Co-Ax. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

August 31, 2002, 01:17 PM	#7
swifter... Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 1999 Location: So. CA Mountains Posts: 540	Redding Ultramag -- my primary singlestage... The secondary is a Rockchucker, in semi retirement after years of good service... And it still gets used as lot! You've discovered the big problem with Lee: Great designs, so-so manufacture . Tom __________________ There are damn few situations so screwed up that adding government to them will not make 'em worse... The best homeland security is an armed & informed citizenery! Molon Labe!

August 31, 2002, 01:29 PM	#8
Unkel Gilbey Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 1999 Location: Danby, Vermont Posts: 349	Had a similar experience... The Compound leverage links on the challenger are the weak point of the design. Mine started to develop cracks, and when I noticed this, I swapped them - as the crack was only on one side. But this was only a temp fix, as the second piece soon cracked. I'd thought that perhaps the 3 or 4 thousand military cases I'd swaged the crimp out of the primer pockets was the primary cause of the breakage, and this may be true. It might have also been the 12-15 thousand rounds that I'd loaded to boot. Who knows? But now the challenger sits as a backup, and I've started to use an old JR 2 press from RCBS. This thing is rock solid and I doubt I'll ever wear it out. This is (in a way) unfortunate, as I would really like to get a Rock Chucker! Anyway, that would be my suggestion to you - go RCBS. If for nothing else, do it for the customer service. Unkel Gilbey

August 31, 2002, 07:25 AM	#3
Swamp Yankee Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2000 Location: Northeastern Ct. Posts: 1,019	Either, both are well made and rugged as they come. I would probably give the nod to the RCBS only because of the wonderful customer service received from them in the past. Take Care

August 31, 2002, 08:30 AM	#4
Dan Morris Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2001 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 342	Rock Chucker! Dan

August 31, 2002, 12:12 PM	#6
JackM Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2001 Location: Sask. Posts: 108	Ram stroke: RCBS Rockchucker 3 5/16" Redding Boss 3.4" Lyman Crusher II 3 7/8" Forster Co-AX 4" Redding Ultramag 4 1/8" Maximum Cartridge Overall Length of the .375 and .416 is 3.6 " Bye Jack

August 31, 2002, 03:12 PM	#9
JackM Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2001 Location: Sask. Posts: 108	You won't wear it out. Bought my RCBS Jr. in 1968 and it's still going. Bye Jack

August 31, 2002, 03:36 PM	#10
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	45° alt 248 = °, use the number pad for the numbers. Above good word re stout presses. Sam

August 31, 2002, 07:23 PM	#11
Southla1 Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 19, 2000 Location: Jeanerette, La. Near the Posts: 1,999	"Bought my RCBS Jr. in 1968 and it's still going strong" I know what you mean Jack. I bought mine in 64 and it's still like new. Been through a hurricane and all. Hell Andrew removed the roof of my shop, dumped s*** on the reloading bench and soaked everything with 10 inches of rain. It was 2 weeks before I could even START to clean it up. The only thing I lost were some old reloading manuals, and thanks to E-Bay I was able to replace those. I think that there is no way to abuse stuff more than that...........leaving things wet, and EVERYTHING was OK. Had some rust but cleaned up just fine. that RCBS green is good stuff. The only thing that ever broke on my JR was the 2 lil aluminum "tits" that the rubber band goes around on the primer catcher. I drilled 2 holes and put 2 machine screws in them and just put the rubber bands on that now. Ya just CAN'T kill the thing.

August 31, 2002, 08:51 PM	#12
NG Bruce Member Join Date: February 2, 2001 Location: Beaufort County NC Posts: 51	Cain R, Been using a RCBS RockChucker since 1978 - you won't ever wear it out. But, check out the "Big Boss", new from Redding, just like the old Boss, but has a bigger opening for the longer cases (375 H&H, etc.). Southla1 - know what you mean about those hurricanes. My gear has gone under water twice (Fran and Floyd) - my Dad dunked it all (press, powder measure, scale, dies, brass, etc.) in pails of motor oil (I was in CA with the NG for Floyd) and I cleaned it up twice - what a mess! I have since moved it all to my garage - we are on higher ground here, HOPEFULLY never again. NG Bruce

September 1, 2002, 12:58 PM	#13
Southla1 Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 19, 2000 Location: Jeanerette, La. Near the Posts: 1,999	Amen to that Bruce!

September 4, 2002, 11:56 AM	#14
Bogie Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2000 Location: Job hunting on the road... Posts: 3,827	Use either more, or a higher quality, case lube. I prefer Imperial Die Wax. __________________ Job hunting, but helping a friend out at www.vikingmachineusa.com - and learning the finer aspects of becoming a precision machinist. And making the world's greatest bottle openers!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search