For the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme users (possible cool upgrades)

[Scipio]

Hello all

I am myself likely to soon start reloading given the calibers i use, and Denmarks decision to go all lead free for hunting ammo.
So, i am quite tempted by the foster co-ax for its rep of quality, good service and ease of use, with the main alternative being a rock chucker for half the price.
The slower die change and need of a shell holder of the rock chucker doesnt bother me much, as i am not a heavy reloader of any sorts, however the rep the rock chucker has for having a poor primer catcher system does. But then i found this video:



That looks pretty cool imo, and i thought i might also interest other reloaders on here, who like me are considering what to buy, or who already have the rock chucker, or know someone who has .

 

[aris]

You can get quick change die systems for the rock chucker from both Lee and Hornady.

 

[enfieldspares]

The ejection is a knock off or later interpretation of the excellent RCBS "Case Kicker" that for some odd reason RCBS now no longer catalogue. A shame as it worked.

 

[Scipio]

Hello chaps

You can get quick change die systems for the rock chucker from both Lee and Hornady.

good to know, Aris, thank you

The ejection is a knock off or later interpretation of the excellent RCBS "Case Kicker" that for some odd reason RCBS now no longer catalogue. A shame as it worked.

Weird to discontinue it, and also odd that they never themselves fixed the unoptimal spent primer catching system, which the rock chocker seems to have. Especially as the fix seems so minor. However good on the Inline Fabrication guys for fixing it then, although having to order the stuff from the US isnt optimal.

But do both of you lads use Rock Chuckers ? - if so i'd love to hear your experiences with it, and opinions on presses in general

 

[enfieldspares]

But do both of you lads use Rock Chuckers ? - if so i'd love to hear your experiences with it, and opinions on presses in general

I used a Rockchucker for nearly forty years from 1977 until I sold it in 2011. I loaded everything on it from .380ACP through .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .38-44, .44-40, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, .45 ACP and .455 Webley. In rifle .243 Winchester, 6mm Remington, .270 WCF, .280 Remington, .303, 8x60S. And yes used a Case Kicker on it when they came out.

What I never loaded on it was .30/06 and thereby the reason I sold it. My Rockchucker being one of the 1970s gtype didn't have a big enough "gape" to comfortably load .270 Winchester length cartridges. And as by 2011 following the Tory handgun ban all it ever loaded were rifle cartridges. So I sold it and bought a secondhand Australian Simplex press.

Simplex Master ''O'' Frame Press

Simplex Master 'O' Frame Press is one of the great range of Standard, Obsolete, and Wildcat Ammunition Cases, Dies, Reloading Equipment and Accessories available from Northern Shooters Supplies and growing.

www.northernshooterssupplies.com.au

The Simplex is an Australian knock-off of a Lyman Orange Crusher and so, like the Orange Crusher had a taller "gape" that made it better for those .270 Winchester length cartridges. Do I rate RCBS Rockchucker presses? Yes they were when I bought mine pretty much the best of the best. Would I buy a current one now? No. I wouldn't as I prefer to de-cap on the press and to retain the ability to prime on the press using the sprung arm that rode in a slot in the press ram.

The modern current Rockchucker is a different animal from the one that I had just as the later Orange Crusher in its Lyman Orange Crusher II as it was finally to be made was a really poor do. Also Lyman back-up of their products stinks. Very poor customer service. Abysmal and, alas, it seems that RCBS is going that way also.

 

[Scipio]

I used a Rockchucker for nearly forty years from 1977 until I sold it in 2011. I loaded everything on it from .380ACP through .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .38-44, .44-40, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, .45 ACP and .455 Webley. In rifle .243 Winchester, 6mm Remington, .270 WCF, .280 Remington, .303, 8x60S. And yes used a Case Kicker on it when they came out.

What I never loaded on it was .30/06 and thereby the reason I sold it. My Rockchucker being one of the 1970s gtype didn't have a big enough "gape" to comfortably load .270 Winchester length cartridges. And as by 2011 following the Tory handgun ban all it ever loaded were rifle cartridges. So I sold it and bought a secondhand Australian Simplex press.

Simplex Master ''O'' Frame Press

Simplex Master 'O' Frame Press is one of the great range of Standard, Obsolete, and Wildcat Ammunition Cases, Dies, Reloading Equipment and Accessories available from Northern Shooters Supplies and growing.

www.northernshooterssupplies.com.au

The Simplex is an Australian knock-off of a Lyman Orange Crusher and so, like the Orange Crusher had a taller "gape" that made it better for those .270 Winchester length cartridges. Do I rate RCBS Rockchucker presses? Yes they were when I bought mine pretty much the best of the best. Would I buy a current one now? No. I wouldn't as I prefer to de-cap on the press and to retain the ability to prime on the press using the sprung arm that rode in a slot in the press ram.

The modern current Rockchucker is a different animal from the one that I had just as the later Orange Crusher in its Lyman Orange Crusher II as it was finally to be made was a really poor do. Also Lyman back-up of their products stinks. Very poor customer service. Abysmal and, alas, it seems that RCBS is going that way also.

Hello endfieldspares, and thank you for some most useful input

Yeah, that rcbs seems to be going that way in terms of customer service, or a lack thereoff, was also my impression when researching it.
It is a bit sad really, and it is also one of the major reasons as to why i havnt bought the rock chucker over a co-ax already, even though the co -ax is twice the price.
Because whilst the rcbs is cheaper the co-ax just seems to have an ease of use, thougtfullness in its design and quality about it, and the Forster company still maintains a rep of excellent quality and good service, should one need it.
So spending a bit more now, vs potentially having frustrating trouble later on, might be the way to go. After all the press is something that will probably be in use for decades , so is saving 250 euro in the short term really worth it?

This said, Forster has expanded their production to almost double recently, but hopefully they have done so being true the core values which has made them famous. We'll see i guess.
These upgrades really would improve the RC a good bit though, it has to be said.

I dont think i have ever seen a simplex press over here btw, - Are you happy with it ?

 

[Kiwiguy]

The Foster Co-Ax press is an excellent piece of equipment. For the last 12 or more years I have been reloading for 20 center fire rifles on my
Co-Ax press and it hasn't dropped one spent primer. It produces very straight ammo with extremely low concentricity figures.

Foster made a change to the shell holder plates three or four years ago and they now retain the two small springs instead of them going flying when swapping them for a different size shell holder.

My original press was a RCBS Junior that I used for 30 odd years. It was a solid unit but not in the same class as the Co-Ax.

Redding is another great press and their
Big Boss II may suit your needs. I have the Redding Boss press that is used when I want to check bullet seating while using the Redding Instant Indicators. With the dial indicator they are too long to fit under the yolk of the Co-Ax press.

 

[Moose67]

£21 from eBay - works a treat on my RC

 

[aris]

I have a Rock Chucker with an add-on primer catcher - it does the business. I don't load tons of ammo at a time - maybe 50 in one session be that pistol calibre or rifle.

If you can afford the co-ax, go for it. I know someone who has it and it is VERY nice.

Both are a buy-once-cry-once affair - should last you a lifetime.

There are a few new presses which are trying to emulate the co-ax's action - but they haven't been around long enough to know the long term value.

 

[Scipio]

Hello everyone , - some great advice and input here, thank you all

And keep those rcbs rock chucker upgrade tips coming! This way this thread can perhaps serve as inspiration for current rock chucker users, with regards to potential useful upgrades for their press

 

[crow juice]

My Rock Chucker is the older design purchased around 1990. A close friend just got the new one and in my opinion it is an excellent piece of equipment. About half my equipment is RCBS and I recently needed parts for an old A2 . Same great service as always. Currently I am using my original RCBS jr3 bought in 1979 , my RockChucker, and a T7 purchased in 2011. I have always thought Forrester equipment was excellent but I'm not convinced your going to get any measurable value by spending twice the money.

Now the primer catcher isn't the best but it works ok. This gets more hype than deserved. I purchased a printed one on line that improves spent primer catching on both the JR and the RC.

 

[phaedra]

I have the Inline Fabrication case ejector, case slide and bench plate with the bin holder, had it for about 10 years at a guess. Works perfectly.

Basically the same kit shown here,

I also have a left side primer catcher/ejector which goes into a Lee tube. I got the original from the US but now get my friend to 3D print one for me when I need a new one

 

[angusb1]

I have a Lee Classic Cast press which catches primers in the tube that goes underneath the ram. Works really well. If I wanted to spend more on a press I would get the Forster. As already mentioned they are a design which aids concentricity.

 

[Scipio]

Hello lads, and thank you for your input angusb1 and phaedra

Angus i agree, - the forster co-ax does look nice, and it sounds like it is the easiest press to use, whilst forster also seem to have the best customer service. Those are all valuable factors.
However, i got to say, that with some of the upgrades showcased in this thread, especially getting the spent primer issue sorted, the rock chucker also looks a decent piece of kit imo. Perhaps especially if one only loads for a couple of cartridges, and dont have to switch dies around very often.

As for the precision of the loads produced, i remember watching the ultimate reloader big press comparison a while back, and i think the rock chucker actually quite well indeed. But tbh i think almost all the main brand presses will likely produce better ammo than what most of us are capable of shooting to it's fullest potential, (not that i am calling us poor shots or anything).

Nice video @phaedra ! That is a pretty cool set up, and yep, the rock chucker might be best served with a few useful upgrades to it, to take it up a level. Interesting to see that whilst he had done quite a few upgrades to his Rock Chucker, he had not not addressed the spent primer issue.

 

[GreenSix]

The case ejector looks brilliant, didn’t know they did anything like that!
Although I have the RCBS Rebel press and don’t think it works on that.

Was thinking about one of those primer catchers though

 

[Scipio]

The case ejector looks brilliant, didn’t know they did anything like that!
Although I have the RCBS Rebel press and don’t think it works on that.

Was thinking about one of those primer catchers though

Hello Buddy, have a look on the inline fabrication site : RCBS – Inline Fabrication - If necessary you can send them a mail to ask if the rock chucker ejector spring will work, or can be made to work, on the rebel press. And if not, maybe someone else makes one that will. The primer catchers are also sold on their website. Good luck! ,-)

 

[aris]

Go onto YouTube and search for “rcbs case kicker”

There are several ingenious solutions which could be done DIY.

 

[Scipio]

Right lads, i saw a video yesterday with a guy installing the hornady quick change bushings on a rock chucker. So between sorting the spent primer collecting issue, adding the quick change bushings and maybe the case kicker too, the rock chucker really can seemingly be sassied up a good bit, and it's without costing hugely too.

My hands might be forced towards the co-ax though, which i was strongly considering as it was already, as the seller who markets the RCs for a good price here in Denmark, doesnt expect to have them available before the spring. And even then he is expecting a price hike (something which i suspect might soon happen to a good few of the things being imported from the states).

But do keep the spotted cool updates for the rock chucker coming in this thread, it might come in very handy for other forum users

 

[aris]

There is also an adapter for the Lee breech lock quick change system.

1 1/4-12 Breech Lock Update Kit

Convert your green or red press to allow use of Lee's Breech Lock quick-change bushing feature.

leeprecision.com

Looking at the price of the Co-ax in the US makes me cry

Co-Ax® Reloading Press with “S” Jaws – Forster Products

Co-Ax Press, supplied with “S” jaws. No need to complicate the reloading process. Our Co-Ax Press keeps it simple while still delivering famous Forster precisio

www.forsterproducts.com

even if you take into account that our price includes extortionate VAT.

 

[Scipio]

There is also an adapter for the Lee breech lock quick change system.

1 1/4-12 Breech Lock Update Kit

Convert your green or red press to allow use of Lee's Breech Lock quick-change bushing feature.

leeprecision.com

Looking at the price of the Co-ax in the US makes me cry

Co-Ax® Reloading Press with “S” Jaws – Forster Products

Co-Ax Press, supplied with “S” jaws. No need to complicate the reloading process. Our Co-Ax Press keeps it simple while still delivering famous Forster precisio

www.forsterproducts.com

even if you take into account that our price includes extortionate VAT.

i agree mate at least you only have to bite the bullet once though, as it should last decades and decades, but yeah, the european prices vs the us ones do seem very high at times for shooting related goods. A part of Forster BR dies is 2/3rd of the price in the US vs In Denmark or Germany. :-/