I keep debating on a Rock chucker kit or

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Ernest II

New member
If I get the rock chucker kit it comes with alot better scalke than the partner kit. I would rather have electronic scales though. Im trying to spend my money wisley so should I get the Rock chucker kit and get a diff scale later or piece everything out and buy a used press(rock chucker) and thenm get all the other stuff. Im thinking at least with the kit I would have a decent scale and a manual. Most of the othe rstuff in the kit I dont care for like the powder thrower. Ive never use a thrower I like weighing all my charges. Any rccomendations?
Thanks Daryl P.
 
Regardless if you get an electronic or not, it's always good to have a good beam scale. I always check my electronic to the beam for consistancy. And never say never. I once thought I'd never use a powder thrower but there's a few rounds I load for that I wouldn't use anything else. There a lot more accurate than you'd think.
 
I bought the RC kit several years ago and love it.. Have never looked back. I also bought an electronic scale but still have my beam scale. Buy the RC kit and dont look back. You can buy an electronic scale a little later.
 
I bought seperate items to get what I wanted and what i wanted to spend.
I have alot of Pacific/Hornady because thats what I found bargins on. I also have Redding, RCBS and Lyman items.
I will say the quick change die holders (Lock-n-load,Breech-lock, etc..) are nice and make it easy to swap between calibers with little hassle.
I dont think any of the name brand equipment is bad its just a matter of taste/budget.
You should have at least one balance beam in the loading room.
There will be a time when you question the electronics and it nice to be able to verify any doubt.

I use a Pacific powder throw to load all my stuff. When you get it dialed in with an easy to work powder I dont have to check all my charges.

In the end its your money and you can always try to sell the items you dont need/want.

Just get something and get after it.
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Depends on the scale that comes with the kit. Most presses that RCBS make are all of the same quality. If it's with a 505 scale then no thanks (for that scale).
 
I throw a powder charge and trickle the rest. I weigh each and every round. I don't use an electronic scale. I use a 10/10 RCBS. I'm not in a hurry, so I guess that is where the difference is. I enjoy reloading and don't look at it as a production thing.

Tony
 
Lee classic cast turret from factory sales. It's so much nicier to have all the dies for one cal all dialed in on a turret plate. Then add used e-bay rcbs beam (stay away from the cheap one 505?) you can use cheap lee dippers and a trickler to measure charges.
 
I use a beam scale to dial my powder measure in to the desired charge, Then I chearge right out of the powder charger. I only check every ten rounds.. If you develop your load correctly yu will be in the sweetspot and a slight difference in powder weight won't matter..

I prefer a good beam scale to an electronic one..
 
The rockchucker kit is money well spent.I use everything that comes with it except the case lube and pad,imperial wax is easier for me.You can get by fine with the thrower and beam,just takes a bit longer to redial it in when working up loads.
you will need to buy a trickler and calipers and multiple reloading manuals are imo needed as well.You can always upgrade as funds allow but the rc will turn out some amazingly accurate rounds as is.
I think I am into it for 900$ or so now with dies and other associated stuff but I wouldnt hesitate to do it again.I think the rc kit is a great starting point.
Might as well get a bullet puller also,you will eventually need it
 
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I started out by buying a kit but since then have found that I have pretty much replaced everything in it with "upgrades." I would say that my kit was a good starting place until you learn more about it.
 
I started out with the Rock Chucker kit. It was great to learn on but today I don't use any part of the kit. I think Redding makes a better press and scale. I also prefer to spray my brass rather than roll them. If I had to over again, I would get a Redding press(the Boss II mentioned above), an electronic scale and some Dillon or Hornady spray. I upgraded like others and in the long run and it cost me more money. If money is an issue and I had to buy a kit don't worry about it. You can make some great ammunition. I would probably buy the Hornady kit over the RCBS and you get free bullets.
 
You will probabbly want a Beam scale.

You will probabbly eventually want the Rock Chocker.

I would either get the kit, or part it together.

I did start with the partner press, not the kit, still use it from time to time, but use my rock chucker much more. You can also upgrade the rockchucker with the piggyback if you decide. I use my beam scale every time I load.
 
I believe you are over thinking this whole process, buy the RCBS kit and start reloading. You won't know what you want to up-grade until you have had some experience. As far as the 505 scale is concerned, I started with an Ohaus 505 which is the same scale and I only used it for the first 35 years and it served me well.
 
I bought the Rockchucker kit many moons ago. I believe the things you don't use in the kit won't save you enough money to justify buying it seperate unless you have enough time behind a press to already know exactly what you do and don't like. I'm using my 5-0-5 balance beam in my kit still after about 12yrs and tried the electronic scale route. It was overrated in my opinion. I use the powder thrower to this day still to short throw my charges then trickle the last couple tenths of a grain in. Trickling more than 10gr. of anything smaller than Blue Dot is tedious and slow. I quit using the lube and pad about 2 years ago and went with One Shot as a personal preference. I quit using the press mounted primer after a couple of years and went with a handheld. The trimmer I still use and some of the hand tools I use, but I did upgrade to the case prep center to save on my acking hands after doing everything manually for about 10yrs. All in all, I don't think I quit using more than about $20 worth of stuff in the kit and actually used it all at some point and still use most of it today.
 
I just so happen to have an extra press kit for sale.I have it listed on phoenix, AZ. backpage under sports equipment.It is the rcbs rc supreme deluxe kit so it has all the nice stuff that most people fill in later in their reloading stages.This kit is new in the box unopened. The only additional purchases to get started are dies, shell holders and cartridge components. Kit includes: Rock Chucker Supreme Press, Charge Master 1500 Powder Dispenser/Digital Scale Combo, Trim Mate Case Prep Center, Trim Pro Case Trimmer, Universal Hand Priming Tool, Speer No. 14 Reloading Manual, Quick-Change Funnel Kit, Precisioneered Handloading DVD, 4-oz. Case Slick Spray Lube, Universal Case Loading Block and Die Lock Ring Wrench.the kit retails for 799.99 plus tax and shipping(about $900).I have it listed for $650 cash in phoenix.I know the shipping on such a large and heavy kit will be alot so to a fellow predator hunter I will come down a little to help with shipping.let me know if you might be interested.see backpage ad or cabelas for stock pics or reviews.I can take a picture of the box or my kit if youd like.
 
My experience has been the exact same as ARCOREYs, with slightly different time frames and I haven't gone to a prep. center yet.

-S
 


What are you going to load? I went to a rock chucker 15 years ago because I started loading 7mm rem mags. A plan C press is fine for most loading. Buy a used one save your money for powder, bullets and brass. I still use my C press I bought in 1963; Ebay has a lot of them for sale. You could put your extra money in a good loading bench.
 
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