Best single stage press and why - Page 3

alexcue · October 11, 2016, 02:45 PM

RCBS RS (Reloader Special) I think the frame is dated in 1977, but it's not in front of me at the moment. It served me well for many years to do all kinds of things. When i upgraded it pretty much went into depriming duty. I also used my brothers Rockchucker, and it was no comparison in terms of how beefy it was. It was also Heavy! Wow.

Anyway, I started using Lee products, added a LCT and because of it I picked up a Lee Classic Cast! I love it. It's also much cleaner to run than the RS. The primers just drop straight through to a bucket underneath. It'll handle pretty much everything I can personally throw at it. Why didn't I get the Rockchucker? Cost, for what I use a single stage for, I just didn't need that much of a press anymore. Especially because I rotate my presses on stands. My only permanently mounted press is XL650.

AzMandella · October 11, 2016, 03:41 PM

I guess I am one of the only people with the New Hornaday Iron Press. Love it . Great primer system .

F. Guffey · October 11, 2016, 04:22 PM

I have three Rock Chuckers, something went wrong the other day with one of them. Suddenly and without warning the ram slid out the bottom and hit the floor. There was no use in me trying to blame the wife because she has never used that one. I called RCBS to order the new Special Order Catalog etc. and mentioned the problem with the press. When finished they transferred me, I got tired of waiting so I hung up, in about 2 hours RCBS called about the press.

They said they would send me a new one; I wanted to know 'a new what?' because I am not trading for a new one. They said they would send a new ram and instillation kit. It has taken me years to get this one looking the way it does. I do not believe I have enough years left brake-in another press.

F. Guffey

dieselbass · October 11, 2016, 10:44 PM

Rock chucker jr 3 here. Got it from a friend and am very happy. Loading 30 06 with hopes for pistol soon (once wife decides). No plans for anything fancy press wise. Lee enfield indeed.

kmw1954 · October 11, 2016, 11:47 PM

As I stated earlier, one can't go wrong with a single stage press. It's as simple as it gets, in theory or practice. Sure some are built heavier than others but again I still see many Old C presses being bought and sold on ebay. Like the old Lyman, C&H, Herter's and some I've never heard of.

towman32 · October 12, 2016, 01:07 AM

"What is "match grade consistency" in terms of group size, to you?"

To answer the question it would be .5"
However my point is if you run 5 loads through a measure using extruded powder atleast one charge will be off .1 grain or more.

F. Guffey · October 12, 2016, 07:44 AM

Quote:

sold on ebay. Like the old Lyman, C&H, Herter's and some I've never heard of.

I have an old press I purchased at a flea Market in Napa, California. When being operated it looks like a spider doing push-ups. It became affordable when I convinced the dealer it was not a juicing machine, he specialized in commercial kitchen equipment. One day I will dig it out, it has little value as a sizing press, as a juicer it would require mounting it upside down or under the table.

F. Guffey

jmorris · October 12, 2016, 09:59 AM

Quote:

To answer the question it would be .5"
However my point is if you run 5 loads through a measure using extruded powder atleast one charge will be off .1 grain or more.

One can get 1/2 MOA with volume thrown charges, if the rifle likes everything else. Depending on the round, (total volume/weight of charge) .1gn isn't that much, less than a half percent in a small case like .223

It would be a 0.4% change in a 25 grain charge. I know some precision shooters that claim a .2 gn variance isn't a deal breaker for accuracy. If you ladder test your loads you can actually prove this to yourself.

If your the kind of guy that just sleeps better knowing things are precise, you can always find a spherical powder that will shoot and meter well.

Or I built this so I could see the difference between volume and weighed charges. It will make them the same within a kernel or two of powder (fraction of a tenth grain).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACd3yt0J3Bg

October 12, 2016, 01:07 AM	#56
towman32 Member Join Date: April 4, 2015 Posts: 57	"What is "match grade consistency" in terms of group size, to you?" To answer the question it would be .5" However my point is if you run 5 loads through a measure using extruded powder atleast one charge will be off .1 grain or more. __________________ Liberals want gun control. Concervatives just want to be left alone with their guns

October 11, 2016, 02:45 PM	#51
alexcue Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2015 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 134	RCBS RS (Reloader Special) I think the frame is dated in 1977, but it's not in front of me at the moment. It served me well for many years to do all kinds of things. When i upgraded it pretty much went into depriming duty. I also used my brothers Rockchucker, and it was no comparison in terms of how beefy it was. It was also Heavy! Wow. Anyway, I started using Lee products, added a LCT and because of it I picked up a Lee Classic Cast! I love it. It's also much cleaner to run than the RS. The primers just drop straight through to a bucket underneath. It'll handle pretty much everything I can personally throw at it. Why didn't I get the Rockchucker? Cost, for what I use a single stage for, I just didn't need that much of a press anymore. Especially because I rotate my presses on stands. My only permanently mounted press is XL650.

October 11, 2016, 03:41 PM	#52
AzMandella Junior Member Join Date: January 17, 2016 Posts: 14	I guess I am one of the only people with the New Hornaday Iron Press. Love it . Great primer system .

October 11, 2016, 04:22 PM	#53
F. Guffey Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Posts: 7,249	I have three Rock Chuckers, something went wrong the other day with one of them. Suddenly and without warning the ram slid out the bottom and hit the floor. There was no use in me trying to blame the wife because she has never used that one. I called RCBS to order the new Special Order Catalog etc. and mentioned the problem with the press. When finished they transferred me, I got tired of waiting so I hung up, in about 2 hours RCBS called about the press. They said they would send me a new one; I wanted to know 'a new what?' because I am not trading for a new one. They said they would send a new ram and instillation kit. It has taken me years to get this one looking the way it does. I do not believe I have enough years left brake-in another press. F. Guffey

October 11, 2016, 10:44 PM	#54
dieselbass Junior Member Join Date: July 22, 2016 Posts: 4	Rock chucker jr 3 here. Got it from a friend and am very happy. Loading 30 06 with hopes for pistol soon (once wife decides). No plans for anything fancy press wise. Lee enfield indeed.

October 11, 2016, 11:47 PM	#55
kmw1954 Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2016 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 1,524	As I stated earlier, one can't go wrong with a single stage press. It's as simple as it gets, in theory or practice. Sure some are built heavier than others but again I still see many Old C presses being bought and sold on ebay. Like the old Lyman, C&H, Herter's and some I've never heard of.