Debating which single stage to get

[xBEEFEDGEx]

It's between the RCBS Rock Chucker, Lee 50th Anniversary Challenger kit, and Hornady Classic Kit.

Things I know about each:

-Lee scale is trash
-Rock Chucker is solid on all fronts + $50 MIR
-Hornady is in-between the two on quality (when compared to Dillon), has a digital scale - that is anywhere from .02 - 1.0 grain off, however 500 free bullets

That being said, I know most of you are partial to Dillon. My dad loads on a Dillon 550b, measures each load's powder with the Dillon 'Eliminator' scale by hand (which is how he taught me, and how I plan on loading...which is why I'm sold on a single stage).

Looking to load 9mm, .38spl, .357, .40, .44 spl/mag, and .45acp for pistol and .223, 30-30, .30 carbine, .308, and .30/06 (die's and $ permitting obviously).

Just trying to get a better idea on what you have had the best/worst experiences with. Any input would be appreciated!

[Abenaki]

If it was me?
I would get the Rockchucker.

Your Great Grand kids will still be using it! It's that tuff!



Take Care
Abenaki

[ireload]

Get the Rockchucker. I have and love it. Several to many reloaders here has that press of 70's and 80's series and still going strong. Plus RCBS customer service is top notch.

[anyracoon]

I bought a Rock Chucker back in the 90's and still get alot of use out of it still even though I have lots of Blue KoolAid sharing the benches.

[Colt562]

I like the hornady kit if you get 500 bullets. it will pay for itself in no time.

[M27]

I have a rock crusher and the Hornady classic.

I love the lock and load of the Hornady.

Both have great customer service.

the rock crusher I have is stamped 79 and is still running strong even though a little rusty

the Hornady won't rust because it is aluminum not steel

Hornady has a little more side to side slop in the handle

The deprimeing on the Hornady is better than the RCBS

the scale in the Hornady kit is crap

the hand priming tool in the Hornady kit is crap

get an RCBS hand priming tool IMO

I got my 500 free bullets in less than a week after I sent in my rebate

If you get the hornady press and dies call them and you can send in all of your rebates in at once and save on shipping.

I know this doesn't say one or the other but it might give food for thought

[Kappy]

Single stage? Why wouldn't anyone get the Rock Chucker?

Here's the deal... I have a Rock Chucker which is older than I am. I think it's probably circa 1965? It has built thousands of rounds under my hands and probably tens of thousands before me. And it's still ticking with no sign of EVER stopping.

Here's the story... when I first started shooting centerfire ammo a few years back, my shooting guru called me up one day and said, "So... you want to get into reloading, I have something for you. Stop by." He handed me this HUGE piece of steel. "This was a press I gave my son years ago. He just bought himself some new equipment, so he gave this back to me. I'm not sure why, since he bought himself another one of these along with a Dillon progressive." Then he handed me this plastic thing which catches the spent primers. He told me, "So... I lost the primer catcher for this press. That's OK, though. I stopped off in Oroville last week while fishing and went to the RCBS factory. I showed them this thing and asked how much a new one was. They just went ahead and handed me one for free. Wouldn't take money for it."

And the rest of that story went something like this: "Now... that didn't really surprise me. My buddy had another Rock Chucker which had been used badly. He bought it at a gun show. He asked them how much to refit it. They just grabbed it, took it in back, brought it back out looking brand new except the powder coating. Wouldn't take a penny."

I wouldn't believe this except that, first, this guy doesn't lie. Second, I went with a buddy of mine up to Oroville with an RCBS inertia bullet puller which he'd smashed down upside-down on a piece of wood and broke the retaining cap. They just gave him a new one, even after he told them exactly what fool thing he'd done.

I'm essentially sold on RCBS, at least as far as their single-stage reloading equipment. It's all I buy, for the most part, except for Lee (because it's so damned cheap).

[Kappy]

Oh... and RCBS has some kind of rebate running right now. Look for it.

[Divernhunter]

RCBS is the way to go. I have a Rockchucker that I got in the early 1970's and have tried to wear out by loading too many rounds to count. Recently I cranked out 6,000 223 and 2,000 204 on it again. Still working fine. I also over time picked up a RCBS Jr press I like for bullet seating due to less leverage(more feel). It was a friends from the 1960's.
I lost a pin in the press somehow while moving called for a new one and free. I have also received parts for dies and new hammer bullet puller(old one from the 1970's), parts for my power trimmer that I bought the wrong ones replaced with correct ones at no charge etc all for free. Only took a phone call to a toll free number. Cannot get any better than that.
I have also had excellent free service with Hornady for Dies and have one of their presses for my 50bmg.
Believe it or not I had a problem with a new Dillon causing a broken decap pin due to not being tight from the factory. When I called the guy gave me some crap and then finally would only send me 1 pin. When I broke a RCBS pin due to my fault and called them they sent a pack of 5 of both styles and packs of decap rods free and no BS.
Lee ---Oh crap---When I had broken parts they wanted a copy/original of the sales reciept(which I never keep), for me to mail the old one in, charge me for shipping or part cost on the part etc. I have just given up on them. Their stuff I buy is cheap and now I just buy another or a different brand

Bottom Line: Get the RCBS product---they have been around forever and there is a good reason for it.

[ExtremeX]

I bought the RCBS Rock Chucker Masters kit… the included accessories (scale, powder measure, priming tool etc.) are all top notch.

The only thing the Hornady has as a value added feature over the Rock Chucker is the LNL Bushings, which is a $10 upgrade and works in the RCBS RockChucker, IF you even want it…
Link:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/799411/hornady-lock-n-load-press-conversion-bushing

The RCBS RC Master Kit was my 2nd press, and I didn’t NEED to buy the full kit, but I wanted to upgrade some of the accessories I already had from my first press (RCBS Pro 2000) purchase, one of which was the Hornady Digital scale… It works, but it makes me nervous when I start playing closer to max load as it’s constantly floating and I found myself checking and re-checking the same thing. You can zero a case with a charge and add .2gr of powder and have it still show its zero… not cool.

RCBS Powder measure is fantastic, the priming tool is great, and you really can’t go wrong with it.

Both are offering some form of a rebate, $50 vs 500 bullets…

RCBS Customer service is A+, I don’t mind owning other brands, but RCBS has never given me a reason to jump ship…

The only thing that could be better on the Rock Chucker is the spent primer catch system… it’s really my only gripe. Im thinking of getting a cheap $27 lee press just for universal decapping if it really starts to bug me…

[NorCal Einstein]

RCBS seems to have awesome customer service! Maybe I should have picked up a turret from them...

[xBEEFEDGEx]

Wow, thanks for all your responses! I had put the Lee out of my mind simply because I would have to upgrade too many important things down the line, so it's become a choice between the Hornady and RCBS. After reading all your input, sure sounds like a no-brainer for the Rock Chucker. I like Hornady's LnL-AP, and Dillon's 550 down the line,but with $ the way it is, you have all sold me on the Chucker!

Oh... and RCBS has some kind of rebate running right now. Look for it.

Definitely is - $50 mail in for $300 spent, or $10 per $50 spent

The only thing the Hornady has as a value added feature over the Rock Chucker is the LNL Bushings, which is a $10 upgrade and works in the RCBS RockChucker, IF you even want it…
Link:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/799...ersion-bushing

Exactly what I was thinking of doing

[Colt562]

I only have experience with the Lee Single Stage. I personally dont find anything terribly wrong with it. Although I dont like how if there is no primer arm the primers fall everywhere. It seems to be built pretty well.

I don't have any major complaints on it. Although I think you would be better off with the Rockchucker or Hornady (500 bullets is a big plus)

[xBEEFEDGEx]

I only have experience with the Lee Single Stage. I personally dont find anything terribly wrong with it. Although I dont like how if there is no primer arm the primers fall everywhere. It seems to be built pretty well.

I don't have any major complaints on it. Although I think you would be better off with the Rockchucker or Hornady (500 bullets is a big plus)

The main thing to turn me off of the Lee, is the scale, after shipping and everything else, I'd be closer to $200 with the Lee and a different scale. Figure for $50 more with the mail in rebate or bullets between the RCBS/Hornady, they would be a better deal.

Hornady Bullet Redemption form

Item # Description 1 Box FREE
(100 bullets)
5 Boxes FREE
(500 bullets)
2266 22 CAL .224 55 GR SP W/C $18.27 $91.33
2453 6MM .243 100 GR BTSP $28.41 $142.05
2730 270 CAL .277 130 GR SP $31.28 $156.40
2825 7MM .284 139 GR BTSP $33.41 $167.05
3031 30 CAL .308 150 GR SP $31.52 $157.60
35540 9MM .355 115 GR HP/XTP $22.77 $113.85
35700 38 CAL .357 110 GR HP/XTP $22.99 $114.95
40000 10MM .400 155 GR HP/XTP $28.37 $141.85
44050 44 CAL .430 180 GR HP/XTP $30.51 $152.55
45100 45 CAL .451 185 GR HP/XTP $30.13 $150.65


As you can see from the selection, it's a pretty good deal.

[ExtremeX]

Wow, thanks for all your responses! I had put the Lee out of my mind simply because I would have to upgrade too many important things down the line, so it's become a choice between the Hornady and RCBS. After reading all your input, sure sounds like a no-brainer for the Rock Chucker. I like Hornady's LnL-AP, and Dillon's 550 down the line,but with $ the way it is, you have all sold me on the Chucker!




Definitely is - $50 mail in for $300 spent, or $10 per $50 spent



Exactly what I was thinking of doing