As a counterpoint to all the negative nancy clones here, I find the Summit perfectly adequate for my needs. Of course it isn’t a Rockchucker, anyone who spends even two minutes researching before they buy knows this and would not buy it as a replacement. I moved four years ago, and instead of setting up my Rockchucker in limited space I set up the old Reloader Special 5. As it turned out it did every thing I needed it to do, including mild case forming. When, after 40 years of banging my knees on the RC and RS5 under the bench, I tried the Summit. It does everything the RS5 does for me, FL sizing takes the same effort and I do get less runout on most rifle cartridges than I got on the O presses. Of course I don’t use hair tonic or lard as a sizing lube….
I don’t do heavy duty case forming anymore, but from .45 ACP to .338 Magnum the cases full length size just fine. I enjoy the more open work area, the free space under the bench, the improved concentricity and yes the novelty of the design. I did install one of the linkage pins to replace two bolts, RCBS did err when they modified the Summit for .50 BMG dies and weakened the handle bracket. The pin reduces the risk of breakage, which was a rare occurrence.
The Summit isn’t for everyone, especially those who can’t read, follow directions or fail to understand how simple things like nuts and washers are supposed to work. In many reviews I read “complaints” from fools who think that the linkage bolts weren’t properly tightened at the factory, in complete ignorance of how wave washers are supposed to work. They are there to allow the die holder to self-align to the shell holder, improving concentricity like the sainted Forster Co-Ax press does. They complain about the “slop”, see above. They don’t tighten the operating handle, then complain that the press broke. They expect it to be a Rockchucker replacement…foolish.
By all means get a more traditional O press if you need RC power, don’t mind the press hanging down under the bench or are not comfortable with change. But to repeat the commonly heard line that the Summit is only good for crimping bullet seating simply confirms that the speaker either probably hasn’t the knowledge to properly setup and use the press, is afraid of change, or has requirements that exceed the Summit’s capabilities. Different opinions are usually welcome here.
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