a nagging question about the Rock Crusher

Randolph_Howell · March 21, 2009, 12:05 AM

I have what I assume to be a Rock Crusher. It has in raised letters casting on one side "RCBS" and on the other "RC" and then is stamped A-1. But, from what I have read the A-2 was a heavier press and was discontinued. Was the A-2 the predecessor to the Rock Crusher? I assume the Rock Crusher got its' nickname from the RC cast in the side.

dmickey · March 21, 2009, 12:12 AM

The RC is for Rock Chucker! I have two of the A-2 presses and you're right. They are massive!

FrankenMauser · March 21, 2009, 02:48 AM

Quote:

I assume the Rock Crusher got its' nickname from the RC cast in the side.

The acronym "RCBS" originally came from the first press made by the company. It was called the "Rock Chucker Bullet Swager". The original design was created to accept special dies for forming .224" jacketed bullets from spent .22 Long and Long Rifle hulls. Hence, the Rock Chucker bullet.

The Rock Chucker presses now continue to wear that name. (or initials)

snuffy · March 21, 2009, 03:45 AM

Fred Huntington was the guy that started RCBS.
Here's an biography;

RCBS, Inc. was founded by Fred Huntington in 1943 in Oroville, California and later became one of the world's largest manufacturers of reloading equipment. The name RCBS is derived from the name of the dies the company was founded to produce: "Rock Chuck Bullet Swage."

As few good varmint bullets were produced prior to the early 1940's Huntington decided to make his own and designed dies to swage .22 rimfire cartridge cases to form jackets for those bullets.

Below is a reprint of chapter 13 in Sam Fadala's book, "Great Shooters of the World".

Go here to read the rest of the story;

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=Fred+huntin...linterest.html

Jim Watson · March 21, 2009, 07:42 AM

I see no mention in old Gun Digests of an RCBS A-1 press, but I do not have a full set for the late 1950s - early 1960s. By the time the first Handloader's Digest came out in 1964, the A-2 was available. Most likely the A-1 was a short term product between the original Model A and the famous A-2.

Does yours have interchangeable shellholders? I suspect that might be the difference between A and A-1.

Somewhere there is a board for reloading equipment collectors, if you could find it, somebody there could tell you more.

45Marlin carbine · March 21, 2009, 10:57 AM

at any rate the 'big green' is the ticket for forming brass 'wildcats' and sizeing bottlneck cases. a sort of a 'specialized' piece of reloading equipment. not neccesary for sizeing pistol cases but handy when it's really needed.

Randolph_Howell · March 21, 2009, 04:59 PM

Jim, It does take the standard shell holders. This thing weighs about 20 lbs....makes the new ones look puny.

March 21, 2009, 12:05 AM	#1
Randolph_Howell Junior Member Join Date: March 13, 2009 Posts: 9	a nagging question about the Rock Crusher I have what I assume to be a Rock Crusher. It has in raised letters casting on one side "RCBS" and on the other "RC" and then is stamped A-1. But, from what I have read the A-2 was a heavier press and was discontinued. Was the A-2 the predecessor to the Rock Crusher? I assume the Rock Crusher got its' nickname from the RC cast in the side.

March 21, 2009, 12:12 AM	#2
dmickey Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2006 Posts: 124	The RC is for Rock Chucker! I have two of the A-2 presses and you're right. They are massive!

March 21, 2009, 03:45 AM	#4
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	Fred Huntington was the guy that started RCBS. Here's an biography; RCBS, Inc. was founded by Fred Huntington in 1943 in Oroville, California and later became one of the world's largest manufacturers of reloading equipment. The name RCBS is derived from the name of the dies the company was founded to produce: "Rock Chuck Bullet Swage." As few good varmint bullets were produced prior to the early 1940's Huntington decided to make his own and designed dies to swage .22 rimfire cartridge cases to form jackets for those bullets. Below is a reprint of chapter 13 in Sam Fadala's book, "Great Shooters of the World". Go here to read the rest of the story; http://www.ask.com/bar?q=Fred+huntin...linterest.html

March 21, 2009, 07:42 AM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,163	I see no mention in old Gun Digests of an RCBS A-1 press, but I do not have a full set for the late 1950s - early 1960s. By the time the first Handloader's Digest came out in 1964, the A-2 was available. Most likely the A-1 was a short term product between the original Model A and the famous A-2. Does yours have interchangeable shellholders? I suspect that might be the difference between A and A-1. Somewhere there is a board for reloading equipment collectors, if you could find it, somebody there could tell you more.

March 21, 2009, 10:57 AM	#6
45Marlin carbine Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: South-Western North Carolina Posts: 1,124	at any rate the 'big green' is the ticket for forming brass 'wildcats' and sizeing bottlneck cases. a sort of a 'specialized' piece of reloading equipment. not neccesary for sizeing pistol cases but handy when it's really needed.

March 21, 2009, 04:59 PM	#7
Randolph_Howell Junior Member Join Date: March 13, 2009 Posts: 9	Jim, It does take the standard shell holders. This thing weighs about 20 lbs....makes the new ones look puny.