Rockchucker for pistol

OPC · March 14, 2008, 11:24 AM

I purchased my Rockchucker with the sole intent of reloading for my rifles in less common chamberings (.22K-Hornet, .45-70, .375H&H...) and never really planned on reloading for pistol. I've been using it for a couple of years on those calibers and all has been well and good.

But now prices and ammo availability have combined to make shooting my .41RemMag and .44Spl/Mag quite a chore, sooooo let's reload. I don't plan on reloading buckets, just 20-50rnd batches as these pistols tend to see limited range time -- they come up about once a month on the practice rotation.

Any tips on getting the most from the Rockchucker Supreme for pistol cartridges? Any tips for these specific cartridges? Anyone use those holder/cylinder extensions to shorten the press stroke? Also, I was planning on continuing to hand prime as a separate operation - I've never used the built in priming arm. Good? Bad?

intruder · March 14, 2008, 11:36 AM

Buy carbide dies saves lubing and cleaning. Seperate priming is ok. Most people think you can get a better feel for the primer seating. I always hand prime. As for shortening the ram stroke it will save you a few tenths of a second per round,for 20 to 50 rounds I don't think you will see the difference. For 41 and 44 mag you mite want to buy a seperate criming die. These rounds usually need a heavy crime for powders like 296 and H110

mrawesome22 · March 14, 2008, 11:38 AM

It'll be exactly like reloading rifle rounds except you will flare the case mouth and crimp them. I use my RCS for 454Casull, 44RemMag, .357MAG, and .40S&W. Works like a charm. I would also suggest crimping in a separate process. It's simpler that way and gives you more time at the press. Yay!

OPC · March 14, 2008, 11:52 AM

Carbide dies
Separate crimping die
Heavy crimp
Hand priming is ok.

Got it! Thanks, guys. Any other tips?

Sevens · March 14, 2008, 11:52 AM

After 20 years of reloading, and mostly for handgun ammo (see my sig line), I'm still rolling single stage.

First tip would be to do everything in batches. Let's say we are talking .41 Mag. First step is to tumble clean all the .41 Mag brass you own. All of it. No matter how much, get it all done. Then, set your sizing die and all you do is resize .41 Mag brass until you can't stand to do it anymore or until all of it's done. Enlist the help of relatives or shooting buddies. It doesn't take any knowledge of the process to resize brass. Just do it for 30 minutes (or 2 hours) a day or 3 times a week until it's done.

Then you have a bunch of brass ready for loading in whatever size batch you wish to make. When it's time for .41 Mag ammo, just prime 50 cases, flare 50 cases, and charge & seat 50 cases.

As for making the ram throw shorter, you can do that by adjusting the position of the ram. Instead of throwing the full range of the ram, set the lever so it's 3/4 the way to full throw while the lever is at rest. Should be easy to adjust.

Nothing wrong whatsoever about hand priming. The only advice I would offer is to leave the priming for when you are ready to load. In other words, I wouldn't prime 500 cases and leave them sitting for 16 months until you decide it's time to reload them. Primers are best left in their box until it's time to make ammo, then sealed up in to loaded rounds shortly after. No, you don't have to roll ammo within an hour or even a couple of weeks. I'm just saying that priming 50 cases and then leaving them in the basement sitting on the bench for 6 months is just asking for your primers to be compromised. Anyone who disagrees likely hasn't been assaulted by MICE in the basement as I have. (it sucks!)

OPC · March 14, 2008, 03:43 PM

Sevens -
Batches. Ok, that's how I do my rifle reloads, too. So "do as before."
Thanks for the tip on adjusting the ram throw, I did not know it could be adjusted to do that. Nice. That'll pay off on those little 22 K-Hornet rounds, too.

Good stuff.

mrawesome22 · March 14, 2008, 05:21 PM

I don't see a way to adjust ram throw on the Rock Chucker Supreme. Can you explain that one a little more Sevens?

Sevens · March 14, 2008, 06:11 PM

Nope, I sure can't explain that! Sorry, gentleman, as I assumed most single stage presses were built relatively the same. The two different Lee single stage presses I've owned take a half-turn of a wrench and the lever can be ratcheted to or fro in either direction to put the leverage where you need or want it.

I didn't realize you can't do that with the RCBS.

mrawesome22 · March 14, 2008, 06:16 PM

I see. Thanks. For a minute there I thought I was missing something.

Wibb · March 15, 2008, 12:04 PM

I expand my case mouths and prime the cartridge at the same time. Of course this means using the built in primer arm. I find it saves a little time.

Alleykat · March 15, 2008, 12:50 PM

Lee Speed Die! Works as advertised!

funon1 · March 16, 2008, 07:18 AM

There is another thing to do to save some bank. In the .44 Spl. quit the 255/2400 for casual plinking and get some Bullseye and 180 grain lead bullets or cast your own and load it light. You will save a bundle on powder/lead. You could roll your own .41 with lead and 231 as another inexpensive load combo example. If you don't want to cast or shoot straight lead, buy plated bullets. Less than jacketed but still without the mess.

Funon1

45Marlin carbine · March 16, 2008, 11:18 AM

you might consider buying another, smaller press (used, garage sale - etc) and set it up in tandem with your chucker. get spare shell holders and you can set up the process in sequence - speeds thing up. I have a chucker set up that way. use a Lee hand primer. the suggestion to process in batches is the key.
not as fast as progressive but I have NEVER had a protuding primer or a squib.

March 14, 2008, 11:24 AM	#1
OPC Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2007 Posts: 206	Rockchucker for pistol I purchased my Rockchucker with the sole intent of reloading for my rifles in less common chamberings (.22K-Hornet, .45-70, .375H&H...) and never really planned on reloading for pistol. I've been using it for a couple of years on those calibers and all has been well and good. But now prices and ammo availability have combined to make shooting my .41RemMag and .44Spl/Mag quite a chore, sooooo let's reload. I don't plan on reloading buckets, just 20-50rnd batches as these pistols tend to see limited range time -- they come up about once a month on the practice rotation. Any tips on getting the most from the Rockchucker Supreme for pistol cartridges? Any tips for these specific cartridges? Anyone use those holder/cylinder extensions to shorten the press stroke? Also, I was planning on continuing to hand prime as a separate operation - I've never used the built in priming arm. Good? Bad? __________________ *José*

March 14, 2008, 11:52 AM	#4
OPC Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2007 Posts: 206	Carbide dies Separate crimping die Heavy crimp Hand priming is ok. Got it! Thanks, guys. Any other tips? __________________ *José*

March 14, 2008, 11:52 AM	#5
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,775	After 20 years of reloading, and mostly for handgun ammo (see my sig line), I'm still rolling single stage. First tip would be to do everything in batches. Let's say we are talking .41 Mag. First step is to tumble clean all the .41 Mag brass you own. All of it. No matter how much, get it all done. Then, set your sizing die and all you do is resize .41 Mag brass until you can't stand to do it anymore or until all of it's done. Enlist the help of relatives or shooting buddies. It doesn't take any knowledge of the process to resize brass. Just do it for 30 minutes (or 2 hours) a day or 3 times a week until it's done. Then you have a bunch of brass ready for loading in whatever size batch you wish to make. When it's time for .41 Mag ammo, just prime 50 cases, flare 50 cases, and charge & seat 50 cases. As for making the ram throw shorter, you can do that by adjusting the position of the ram. Instead of throwing the full range of the ram, set the lever so it's 3/4 the way to full throw while the lever is at rest. Should be easy to adjust. Nothing wrong whatsoever about hand priming. The only advice I would offer is to leave the priming for when you are ready to load. In other words, I wouldn't prime 500 cases and leave them sitting for 16 months until you decide it's time to reload them. Primers are best left in their box until it's time to make ammo, then sealed up in to loaded rounds shortly after. No, you don't have to roll ammo within an hour or even a couple of weeks. I'm just saying that priming 50 cases and then leaving them in the basement sitting on the bench for 6 months is just asking for your primers to be compromised. Anyone who disagrees likely hasn't been assaulted by MICE in the basement as I have. (it sucks!) __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

March 14, 2008, 03:43 PM	#6
OPC Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2007 Posts: 206	Sevens - Batches. Ok, that's how I do my rifle reloads, too. So "do as before." Thanks for the tip on adjusting the ram throw, I did not know it could be adjusted to do that. Nice. That'll pay off on those little 22 K-Hornet rounds, too. Good stuff. __________________ *José*

March 14, 2008, 06:11 PM	#8
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,775	Nope, I sure can't explain that! Sorry, gentleman, as I assumed most single stage presses were built relatively the same. The two different Lee single stage presses I've owned take a half-turn of a wrench and the lever can be ratcheted to or fro in either direction to put the leverage where you need or want it. I didn't realize you can't do that with the RCBS. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

March 14, 2008, 11:36 AM	#2
intruder Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2006 Location: pa Posts: 128	Buy carbide dies saves lubing and cleaning. Seperate priming is ok. Most people think you can get a better feel for the primer seating. I always hand prime. As for shortening the ram stroke it will save you a few tenths of a second per round,for 20 to 50 rounds I don't think you will see the difference. For 41 and 44 mag you mite want to buy a seperate criming die. These rounds usually need a heavy crime for powders like 296 and H110

March 14, 2008, 11:38 AM	#3
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	It'll be exactly like reloading rifle rounds except you will flare the case mouth and crimp them. I use my RCS for 454Casull, 44RemMag, .357MAG, and .40S&W. Works like a charm. I would also suggest crimping in a separate process. It's simpler that way and gives you more time at the press. Yay!

March 14, 2008, 05:21 PM	#7
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	I don't see a way to adjust ram throw on the Rock Chucker Supreme. Can you explain that one a little more Sevens?

March 14, 2008, 06:16 PM	#9
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	I see. Thanks. For a minute there I thought I was missing something.

March 15, 2008, 12:04 PM	#10
Wibb Member Join Date: August 13, 2006 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 44	I expand my case mouths and prime the cartridge at the same time. Of course this means using the built in primer arm. I find it saves a little time.

March 15, 2008, 12:50 PM	#11
Alleykat Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2007 Posts: 3,668	Lee Speed Die! Works as advertised!

March 16, 2008, 07:18 AM	#12
funon1 Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2007 Location: WA state Posts: 361	Well, since you want to save money There is another thing to do to save some bank. In the .44 Spl. quit the 255/2400 for casual plinking and get some Bullseye and 180 grain lead bullets or cast your own and load it light. You will save a bundle on powder/lead. You could roll your own .41 with lead and 231 as another inexpensive load combo example. If you don't want to cast or shoot straight lead, buy plated bullets. Less than jacketed but still without the mess. Funon1

March 16, 2008, 11:18 AM	#13
45Marlin carbine Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: South-Western North Carolina Posts: 1,124	you might consider buying another, smaller press (used, garage sale - etc) and set it up in tandem with your chucker. get spare shell holders and you can set up the process in sequence - speeds thing up. I have a chucker set up that way. use a Lee hand primer. the suggestion to process in batches is the key. not as fast as progressive but I have NEVER had a protuding primer or a squib.