First reloading press/RCBS rebates

[GuillermoAntonio]

Hi guys,

I have been saving brass for years in expectation of the day I decided to finally buy me a press. With the new laws coming this new year, I have no more time to waste.
As I have been having this purchase pending in my head for a few weeks, I just stumbled on what appears to be a sweet deal from PSA and RCBS:

PSA has the RCBS EXPLORER RELOADING KIT - 09286 for $279.99 and also the RCBS -RC SUPREME MASTER KIT - 9354 for $291.99

RCBS has a rebate for $100 when you spend over $300.

Basically I'm looking at a new RCBS press kit for $200, that to me is great

My questions are:

1-Which should a newbie like me buy? I have never reloaded or even seen a single round reloaded.
2-What other products do I add to my order in order to be able to reload my first cartridge?
Not interested in upgrades now, just the basic stuff I believe I will need dies and shell holders?
I plan on starting my reloads with 9mm, 223 and .308. In that order
Thanks in advance!

[hambam105]

No Kits.

Spend the extra hundred bucks and get the Redding Big Boss 2.

All U.S. made far as I know which cannot be said other brands, anymore. If you want to Prime off the Press, non better than on the Redding, angle is off set for easier access to the ram and the primer catch system is great. This is the Press that all other higher end Presses are compared to.

Don't go cheap on the Front End of Reloading.

[gryffinwings]

Hi guys,

I have been saving brass for years in expectation of the day I decided to finally buy me a press. With the new laws coming this new year, I have no more time to waste.
As I have been having this purchase pending in my head for a few weeks, I just stumbled on what appears to be a sweet deal from PSA and RCBS:

PSA has the RCBS EXPLORER RELOADING KIT - 09286 for $279.99 and also the RCBS -RC SUPREME MASTER KIT - 9354 for $291.99

RCBS has a rebate for $100 when you spend over $300.

Basically I'm looking at a new RCBS press kit for $200, that to me is great

My questions are:

1-Which should a newbie like me buy? I have never reloaded or even seen a single round reloaded.
2-What other products do I add to my order in order to be able to reload my first cartridge?
Not interested in upgrades now, just the basic stuff I believe I will need dies and shell holders?
I plan on starting my reloads with 9mm, 223 and .308. In that order
Thanks in advance!

Honestly, my plan is the same, but I'm getting the Rock Chucker Supreme Master kit, they have a deal on amazon for like $282 right now and you can still do the deal with the RCBS kit. Should get you started well enough. Honestly I don't see what's so special about the redding single stage, plenty of people having success with the RCBS unit it seems. No point in spending the extra money when there might not be a budget for it.

From what I heard, Hornady dies are a good way to start, it's what I plan on using.

Minor Caveat: People say you will end up upgrading certain parts of your kit later on, so keep that in mind.

[TexasJackKin]

They would both work, but I'd get the RC SUPREME MASTER KIT - 9354 , it's only $12 more and has the better press, in 30 years from now, the press, powder measure and maybe the scale, are the things that you will still have and be using.

You can't go wrong with the Rocker Chucker press, my Rock Chucker is well over 30 years old, and even though I do most of my loading on a Hornady progressive press, I still use the Rock Chucker now and then.

It's a great hobby, and over the years, you will upgrade bits and pieces, to suit yourself. Keep in mine for your rifle rounds, you will also need a case trimmer.

Don't forget to come back here with honest questions, to get honest answers, but keep in mind you may have to sift though a little BS, to glean the nuggets.

[shoebox56]

Good to go with the RC SUPREME MASTER KIT. Maybe also budget in a tumbler.

[BigBronco]

The only choice is the Rock Chucker supreme master kit. Unless you go with a Forster.

One must first and foremost consider the press. The RC5 press is aluminum. The Rock Chucker Supreme is cast Iron and your great grandchildren will be using it long after you are gone. That is if there is still a second amendment and the reside outside of California.

The Supreme master kit comes with a powder measure and a hand priming tool while the lesser kit does not. The $20 more gets you about $125.00 more gear and a press that lasts forever.

Yes you will need to add dies and shell holders for each caliber. For bottleneck rifle you will need a caliper and a case trimmer. I like the Trim-it trimmer. Best deal on those is eBay. Free shipping compared to the manufacturer. Or send me a PM I think I can still get Calgunners 15% off on them. As I did a group buy on them once. Of course the best trimmer out there is the Giraud, Though it costs more than your whole kit.

Caution reloading gear can get like fishing and golf, there is a gadget for almost everything. Ask me how I know.

[castgold]

The kits might give you stuff that you will quickly grow frustrated with using. I had to immediately get rid of the die lube gear, analog balance, and powder hopper in favor of a Chargemaster which cost more than the press, and I'm looking at getting a Sartorius scale in the future. RCBS, Redding, Forster, Lee all make a press that will outlive you, along with the dies and manuals. If the intent is to load rifle cartridges for accuracy, brass selection and case preparation/uniformity will become important along with creating consistency between charges.

I'd get a bare press and invest in a powder hopper and trickler, a digital scale, more than one manual for reference, brass prep station and trimmer, tumbler and media, good dies, imperial sizing wax, and go to town.

[JackEllis]

I use a Rockchucker with mostly RCBS dies and a Cabelas electronic powder scale (that I can check against an Ohaus mechanical scale). I have the time and patience to measure each charge individually, and I'm happy to make do with a basic setup. Once I have cases prepped and primed, I can charge and seat 40-50 rounds per hour, which is more than good enough for the amount of shooting I do (mostly .223 on squirrels).

[MrElectric03]

If you do t already have a book, get that first. Lyman's 49th or I think it's 50th now is a good one. Make sure you are willing to out the time in to load correctly and not cut corners.

Of the two choices definately the rock chucker. My rock chucker is 60 years old and still cranking out rounds. You will quickly upgrade the scale, Frankfort arsenal makes a decent little digital one.

Don't worry about a different press yet, you will use the rockchucker no matter how much you get into reloading. I have a Dillon 1050, 650, Forster co-ax, RCBS ammomaster2, and STILL use my rockchucker. I disagree with the above post about the Redding press, nothing wrong with Redding stuff but rcbs is great quality and very well supported. That said I also disagree with the comment about Hornady dies, I've only owned two sets and had sizing issues with both which were very poorly handled by Hornady CS. I use Dillon, rcbs, Forster and Redding dies for different uses. For you I'd stick with rcbs.

To load your .223 and .308 you'll need to trim. I'd highly suggest the Wilson trimmer, caseholders are cheap and it's very accurate. Also the Forster uses a few collets rather than a different case holder for each round.

Buy a case gauge in each caliber you'll load. You can use a barrel to test of needed but that doesn't show you length and I don't suggest it. It's an easy $15 on sometching that will never wear out and you will always use. You'll need calipers as well if they don't come in the kit, you can get the cheap digital harbor freight ones, I don't care for digital and prefer dials but it's whatever you are comfortable with.

[hambam105]

MY 1978 Rock Chucker is still in service and going strong with zero complaints or problems.

I see RC recommendations based on 1980s & 1990 standards.

However, RCs have not kept current with Press improvements that I've already mentioned, but will briefly go over again:

BB2 priming system is light years ahead;
Access to the ram is better, a lot better,
Spent primer catcher update.

Again, RCs have not kept current on Reloading Press design and improvements. And the price difference between the two choices is minuscule when compared with the benefits of a upgraded Press.

[tamalpias]

buy the kit, you will get hands on experience with it and upgrade as you go along. you will see what you like after you get started with the kit. don't over spend and buy expensive things you don't need. everybody is different and what you prefer might not be what others like. hence as you can see so far so many opinions.

2 examples:

powder thros with the kit vs electronic trickler. I like the throw with the kit more because it is a LOT faster. I can dial it to hold within 1/10 of a grain on pistol powder 99.999% of the time. I own a trickler but i would not trade it for my cheaper powder thrower.

2) buy the hornady bushing conversion kit for your rcbs kit. it is under $20 for the conversion kit but it will save you a ton of time having to readjust the dies every time you change them out. once you set it the way you like it, with a 1/4 turn you can swap out dies to change in seconds.

good luck

[GuillermoAntonio]

Honestly, my plan is the same, but I'm getting the Rock Chucker Supreme Master kit, they have a deal on amazon for like $282 right now and you can still do the deal with the RCBS kit. Should get you started well enough. Honestly I don't see what's so special about the redding single stage, plenty of people having success with the RCBS unit it seems. No point in spending the extra money when there might not be a budget for it.

From what I heard, Hornady dies are a good way to start, it's what I plan on using.

Minor Caveat: People say you will end up upgrading certain parts of your kit later on, so keep that in mind.

$245 AT MIDWAY USA with free shipping!

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/937051/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-master-single-stage-press-kit

[GuillermoAntonio]

The only choice is the Rock Chucker supreme master kit. Unless you go with a Forster.

One must first and foremost consider the press. The RC5 press is aluminum. The Rock Chucker Supreme is cast Iron and your great grandchildren will be using it long after you are gone. That is if there is still a second amendment and the reside outside of California.

The Supreme master kit comes with a powder measure and a hand priming tool while the lesser kit does not. The $20 more gets you about $125.00 more gear and a press that lasts forever.

Yes you will need to add dies and shell holders for each caliber. For bottleneck rifle you will need a caliper and a case trimmer. I like the Trim-it trimmer. Best deal on those is eBay. Free shipping compared to the manufacturer. Or send me a PM I think I can still get Calgunners 15% off on them. As I did a group buy on them once. Of course the best trimmer out there is the Giraud, Though it costs more than your whole kit.

Caution reloading gear can get like fishing and golf, there is a gadget for almost everything. Ask me how I know.

Are you the same Bronco I met at a BJ's in the Ontario/Rancho Cucamonga area several years ago (like 5) when "Panda" came to visit from the Bay area??
Thanks for the reply sir!

[BigBronco]

Usually!

[GuillermoAntonio]

By the way, are reloading components affected by the new ammo restrictions?