RCBS Summit Single Stage Press what say you?

[Dave T]

I ordered an RCBS Summit Single Stage Press, I'm sure there has been a thread on this subject but if you have one of these please tell us what you think.
Dave T

 

[M-61]

I own one and am very pleased. Made my own adapters to use it as an arbor press also. Reading through the below link will give you an idea of what others think. Personally mine had no issues as another OWNER mentioned, but you will see he solved them all by himself.
I also bought the optional (shorter handle).




http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3834742.0

 

[amlevin]

I absolutely love mine. Been using it for about a month now. (that works out to about 400 rounds of .308)

Mine came with everything loose but the Nylock nuts on the linkage bolts. The guide screws on the back were finger tight, The upper and lower casting screws were loose.

After I tightened all the screws on the castings and adjusted the guide screws to my liking everything works great. Yesterday's batch of Lapua brass, sized using a Forster BR F/L sizing die all measured less than .0005" TIR with over 60% .0003" or less.)

A serious caution. If your instruction manual contains the instructions to tighten the upper pivot bolt so the die holder will remain in place when you release the handle, IGNORE THIS. If you do, the casting that the handle screws into will snap in half. It didn't happen to me as I figured this out before I over tightened the bolt. In talking to RCBS they agreed someone screwed up when they wrote this and they've seen numerous broken castings.

As for the Guide Screw adjustment, I tightened the screws to the point that they stopped the casting from moving on the column. I then backed them off until the casting JUST started to move and tightened the lock nuts. I did this one screw at a time (there are two) and then put a good grease in the bottom of the "keyway" the screws run in. This resulted in a nice snug fit on the column with almost zero movement other than straight up or straight down.

The moving casting has a zerk fitting for regular lubrication. I chose a bicycle lube that doesn't leave a bunch of black residue on everything.

To make all the spent primers "go away", I cut the bottom out of the primer catcher cup and put a piece of 1" clear vinyl tubing (from Lowes) over it. It's now routed next to the leg of my bench and drops all the primers in a #3 sized metal coffee can.

The top casting on my press was too loose on the column for my taste so I inserted a cut shim (.001"). It goes around the top of the column, covered by the casting, and has just enough gap to allow the screws to pass through and secure the cap. When I get some time I'm planning on just "Bedding" the upper casting to the column using some Devcon. RCBS is aware of this mis-match so maybe they'll close it up in manufacturing. No big deal because Devcon, Marine-Tex, or J-B Weld will fix it in a quick session.

" RCBS Summit Single Stage Press what say you?"

I say it's a great press if you're looking for a good solid press that doesn't hang over the front of your bench and doesn't have a bunch of knee-knocking apparatus underneath. Is it better than a Harrell's, Forster, etc? Can't say. I CAN say that mine is producing some fine, almost non-existent run out, consistent length, cartridges. Good enough for me.