Total Speculation

[200Apples]

I have abused my Rockchucker recently but just bought it new four years ago to load .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum and .44 Special.

I now also load .45-70 and have dies and components for 7.62 X 39, .308 Winchester and .45 Auto (dies only, no projectiles and plenty of brass that has flown far away).

I say "abused", because I mean it literally. From time to time I load pressure-lapping ammo. One loads a bullet coated in a specific silicon carbine abrasive into un-sized cases, and some won't seat without some subtle and not-so-subtle pounding of the lever.

I should disassemble it and inspect the linkage bores and axles for any deformation. It's probably fine. I do keep the press covered, clean and oiled.



As for the OP's $100 price tag, don't forget the requisite paraphernalia: powder measure, funnel, scale, loading trays, brass/primer prep tools, ammo cases, etc and so on and so forth. Might as well get, if buying new, the Rockchucker Master Kit.

What's made life much easier for me is an electronic powder measure and digital scale combo. No more bending down each round and checking weights (I weigh every single charge).

[Divernhunter]

I have a RCBS RC and a Jr press. I got the RC new in the late 1960's and the Jr as well used in the mid 1970's.
I have sprayed them down with brake clean spray and used some Trim-Flow on them once. I do keep them covered now but for many years I did not. They work perfectly and I load many thousands of rifle/pistol ammo on them each year.

Batch process your brass for faster progress. I also hand prime my brass while watching TV. I often do all of the prep when it is bad weather outside. Then I always have brass ready to load with powder and bullet. A turret is a waste of time if you batch process. It takes 30 seconds to change dies and with straight walled pistol brass you will have 3 and maybe 4 different dies.

Best to buy a KIT so you get other stuff you will need. Also buy Carbide type dies so you do not have to lube the brass. BUT FIRST buy the Lyman #50 Reloading Manual and READ it!!! That will answer 90% of the questions.

[fishnbeer]

Interesting. I have never considered the service life of a loading press. Perhaps after sever thousand rounds the sizing dies would wear or expand, but the actual press does not experience a crazy amount of pressure. The moving parts may wear slightly, but the gap created by wear of the pins could be negated by readjusting the dies. Regular cleaning and lubrication of the moving parts is not difficult.

I am leaning towards your 38 wearing out before your press.

[ar15barrels]

Perhaps after sever thousand rounds the sizing dies would wear or expand

I have a friend that went over 250,000 rounds through a set of 38 super dies before he started having ammo fit problems.

[ACfixer]

For mass pistol stuff it's hard to beat something like a Dillon 550 for the value and speed... like if you need to do 1,000 a week or something. Otherwise, I sold mine and just use my Redding Big Boss II. I only reload for my hunting rifles and my 500 magnum and the occasional .44 magnum stuff. If you don't need to crank 'em out then for me the single stage is a heck of a lot simpler and I might even say therapeutic.

[hambam105]

I'd like to thank you all for your responses.

ACfixer really hit the nail on head by mentioning the word, Therapeutic.

For some of these high earners, $300 is a Bar tab. And if he can afford to park a new BMW
next to the proposed Reloading work bench he can afford to cough-up some ponies for Redding
or Harrels. Neither I which I own. Hey, he asked me.

But I don't own a BMW either. And 3 bones is closer to a annual tab verses a weekly tab over at Moe's Tavern.