Rebel (Runout?), Rock Chucker Supreme. Left & Right Happiness

[Sixfiver]

I sold my Rock Chucker Supreme to buy the Rebel as I didn't like the primers going all over the place and stuck in the linkage arms. After using the Rebel, I am not a fan of grease and the grease zerk. Love the through primer shaft. Bought another RC. Mounted them both on my bench. The Rebel is on my left and the RC is on the right. The Rebel is way more accessible left handed than the RC. RC is more right hand friendly than the Rebel. With both set up left and right give me the option to give my right arm a break from repetitive motions and I can do dual press actions without swapping dies (seating and factory crimp or decapping and swagging military crimp). It also breaks up the boredom of doing one process over and over again.

Another complaint for the Rebel is way more ram runout when raising the ram an moving the handle side to side. You can see and feel the end of the ram move and rotate. Is this normal for the Rebel or do I need to contact RCBS?

 

[SeabeeKen]

Ram runout isnt an issue because the die is whats in control. The runout allows things to self center in the die. If the ram was tight the case would still move in the shell holder. However, if it bothers you, call rcbs. Their CS is top notch. Their presses are cast in china but machined here

 

[charlie b]

I agree. I removed the shell holder retaining clip from my press for that reason. The shell holder 'floats' on top of the ram during operations.

 

[6BRA]

Once you use a coax..you will sell the others. The speed that you can change dies is the win win. Floating shell plate for the 2nd win win. It will run with the best of them.

 

[451whitworth]

Ram runout isnt an issue because the die is whats in control. The runout allows things to self center in the die. If the ram was tight the case would still move in the shell holder. However, if it bothers you, call rcbs. Their CS is top notch. Their presses are cast in china but machined here

Did they start sourcing the castings from China again? Or is this just hearsay? I remember they did this about 15 years ago but after too many QC issues they started using a foundry in the USA again.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Did they start sourcing the castings from China again? Or is this just hearsay? I remember they did this about 15 years ago but after too many QC issues they started using a foundry in the USA again.

I didnt know they stopped getting them from there. I asked them a few years ago and was told they were cast in china and machined here

 

[chrometip78]

I spoke to someone at RCBS in the 2010s about where their presses and castings were made. He said they were always sourced in the US until the mid 2000s when new ownership started sourcing castings from China. He said that lasted a couple years, until they figured out how to stay profitable and switched back to US castings again in the 2000s. I was surprised to find out the castings were produced in my little town. I worked in manufacuring and operations for years, running any kind of legitimate business in California is incredibly difficult. I buy RCBS cast iron and steel products to support local business much as possible. Helps that they make great quality stuff up there in Oroville. Using their presses, priming equipment, dies, and powder handling products.

He did say they sourced steel stock from Japan due to it’s higher quality and performed all the machining and finishing functions in Oroville,CA. I didn’t ask about their cheaper aluminum press frames and I know some of their plastic and electronic items are made in China.

 

[evilgenius]

I'm new to pression reloading but I'm using the same old press that was bought in the 60's

 

[Bill Norris]

I agree. I removed the shell holder retaining clip from my press for that reason. The shell holder 'floats' on top of the ram during operations.

Removing that retainer pin and replacing it with an o-ring was a great move with my R C II

 

[M-61]

Once you use a coax..you will sell the others

Not a chance, nor is there even the slightest reason.

 

[M-61]

“Another complaint for the Rebel is way more ram runout when raising the ram an moving the handle side to side. You can see and feel the end of the ram move and rotate”


That has nothing to do with accuracy of the ammo produced. Actually ‘slop’ in the ram can be desirable.
The die is the key.

 

[charlie b]

I do wish there was a good quick change for the RCBS press. I liked the Lee ones I had used in the past so I got the adaptor for the RCBS. I don't know what it was made from, felt like plastic. I stripped the threads on two of them without much force so I went back to just threading the dies in and out.

I've looked at the Hornady quick lock but can't see how accurate the die positioning is. I rely on the die setup for shoulder bump so a few thou makes a difference.

 

[drop_point]

Removing that retainer pin and replacing it with an o-ring was a great move with my R C II

Agree 100%.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Not tiring to hi-jack the Post.
Like you I have 3 Presses on my bench. ( Had a Rock Chuck-er for 30 years). Great
I up-dated after 30+ years of loading.
The New MEC with floating Shel-holder sizes and seats well ??? .000.5 to .001 run out.
Redding Big Boss 2 works well itself.
Old Lyman just to de-prime, 99% of my Brass has small flash holes.

Good point on the O-Ring.

 

[451whitworth]

I spoke to someone at RCBS in the 2010s about where their presses and castings were made. He said they were always sourced in the US until the mid 2000s when new ownership started sourcing castings from China. He said that lasted a couple years, until they figured out how to stay profitable and switched back to US castings again in the 2000s. I was surprised to find out the castings were produced in my little town. I worked in manufacuring and operations for years, running any kind of legitimate business in California is incredibly difficult. I buy RCBS cast iron and steel products to support local business much as possible. Helps that they make great quality stuff up there in Oroville.

I had read a snippet years back that a foundry in CA was doing their press castings again. I too found it amazing that: 1) they switched back from to a foundry in California after leaving the USA for China, 2) California's gov't allowed a foundry to still exist, 3) it was cost effective/price competitive

 

[STOMP442]

I don't use the grease port on my Rebel. I just use a little spray of ballistol on the ram every few hundred rounds and it runs smooth as butter. I kept my Rock chucker just in case I didn't like the Rebel but the Rebel has earned a permanent spot on the bench for me. I set up the Rock Chucker on a separate bench so my wife can help me or when my buddy wants to come over and reload his ammo.

 

[PhilC]

Removing that retainer pin and replacing it with an o-ring was a great move with my R C II

Read about that, and made the change, back in the 90s. Think it was in Fred Sinclair and Bill Gravatt's book on precision reloading.

Finally wore the o-ring out last year, new one replaced it.

 

[Woollybugger]

as an aside, if you don’t prime on an RC press this primer catcher works great. Turn around the ram and primers go out the back into the catch and down a hose.

 

[Fast14riot]

I do wish there was a good quick change for the RCBS press. I liked the Lee ones I had used in the past so I got the adaptor for the RCBS. I don't know what it was made from, felt like plastic. I stripped the threads on two of them without much force so I went back to just threading the dies in and out.

I've looked at the Hornady quick lock but can't see how accurate the die positioning is. I rely on the die setup for shoulder bump so a few thou makes a difference.

All I use is Hornady LnL press and bushings. No issues with shoulder bump variation loading all my match ammo on it. Just put a mark on the die and the press so you know it gets put in the press the same direction every time and can quickly see if it's rotated any.

 

[charlie b]

Thanks. I may have to try those. I did the same with the Lee's, the darn adaptor was just too weak.