Recondition a Rockchucker press?

[CatShooter]

Back to what it never was. I have no infatuation with cam over and bump, the Rock Chucker was never designed to cam over and or bump. Problem with the video, when the ram was raised under a no load condition the linkage got tangled up instead of cramming over. the jamming of the linkage kicked the ram forward at the top.

Another press, the RCBS A2 for example, it is a cam over press and it is a press that is designed to 'BUMP', I have at least 8 presses that cam over, all of them are bump presses. then there are instructions.

F. Guffey

I am curious (and confused) about what you said above.

In your definition, what is "cam over", and how do you tell if as press was designed for cam over... or not?

In your definition, what is "bump", and how do you tell if as press was designed for bump... or not?

The A-2 was designed about 1/2 a century ago, long before "bump" was invented... and thousands of loaders "Cam-over" and "bump" on their RockChuckers.

How can that be?

 

[fguffey]

F. Guffey

I am curious (and confused) about what you said above.

In your definition, what is "cam over", and how do you tell if as press was designed for cam over... or not?

In your definition, what is "bump", and how do you tell if as press was designed for bump... or not?

The A-2 was designed about 1/2 a century ago, long before "bump" was invented... and thousands of loaders "Cam-over" and "bump" on their RockChuckers.

How can that be?

Bump was invented before the A2? Bump as in bumping the shoulder is a creation of the internet, I have instructions from RCBS before the Rock Chucker. both bump and non-bump press instructions are included.

"In your definition, what is "bump", and how do you tell if as press was designed for bump... or not?" I have used a dial indicator, on a bump press the ram travels to the end of its travel (TDC), stops and then starts back down Bump, When the die is adjusted to the ram/shell holder after TDC the distance the ram travels is referred to as bump, meaning the ram goes up and bumps the die at the top. The amount of screwing the die an additional fractional turn of the die came after the bump.

Then presses were made that did not cam over, the ram went to TDC and then locked up, jammed up or went into a bind, like the Rock Chucker, if the press did not cam over at the top, the press would not bump. I have at least 8 Herter presses, all of my Herter presses cam over and bum when the ram hits top dead canter. and there was a reason the Herter was a cam over press.

I have 4 rock Checkers, none of them cam over, and there is a reason for that.

F. Guffey

then it goes back to me claiming there is no way to bump the shoulder, if the shoulder is bumped the case body is bumped at the same time and that includes the neck. As I said, it is assumed the shoulder is moved back.

 

[johara1]

fguffy, I have an A2 press and it has a more positive stop than any new rock chucker. I can't figure what you mean, the stops on the linkage are more pronounced than RC. and with the tapered pins and the nuts on the linkage it is tighter and more costly than the smaller and lighter RC. Mine was for making bullets because it doesn't have the cut for the primer attachment…… jim

 

[CatShooter]

I have 4 rock Checkers, none of them cam over, and there is a reason for that.

F. Guffey

I have one 'Chucker (my forth), and it does. The "reason for that" is the crank goes goes past DTC and the ram starts down, like on my other presses (and on the A-2).

I had an RCBS A-2 press that I bought new in '66, and, while it is a nice press, by 2013, it's more nostalgia that keeps the name alive - there are better presses available now.

 

[fguffey]

Catshooter, I have modified Rock Chuckers to cam over, I adjust my dies to the shell holder ever time. Adjusting the die with additional fractional turns of the die does not offer an advantage for me, I do not insist on overcoming case resistance to sizing by screwing the die down.

F. Guffey

 

[fguffey]

fguffy, I have an A2 press and it has a more positive stop than any new rock chucker. I can't figure what you mean, the stops on the linkage are more pronounced than RC. and with the tapered pins and the nuts on the linkage it is tighter and more costly than the smaller and lighter RC. Mine was for making bullets because it doesn't have the cut for the primer attachment…… jim

Jim, even on my Herters, when determining TDC, I rock the handle back and forth. When rocking the handle back and forth the ram goes to the top, stops and then continues, my bump presses bump twice, once on the way up and again then the ram is lowered.

F. Guffey

 

[johara1]

I don't understand what is the big deal, all i do is size on the press. I use a stub to check the shoulder is back .0015 along with sizing the body and check it for run out and there is none. so what is there to improve on? I have a co-ax and it doesn't do any better than the A2 and the Lee is a spring board, all it's good for is to take the primers out. I have a Redding boss, i use to point bullets anything over a PPC. it flexes. and i will tell if anything cams over it's a Redding boss……… jim

 

[LHSmith]

Redding Boss presses have a roll pin to limit ram travel. I removed the pins on my Boss presses on the advice of a veteran BR mentor, and it allows a double bump with one full stroke on the handle. I like that much better than the RC with it's stop at the top stroke being regulated by the lower press arm hitting the handle attachment block.....if you look you will find at the point of contact, that the metal is actually peening which will cause the upward ram travel (TDC) to vary over time. On the Boss I can observe true TDC, on the RC I'm at the mercy of the built-in stop....which changes dimension over time.

 

[Area Man]

My question is how an individual would come to own at least 12 presses?

 

[CatShooter]

My question is how an individual would come to own at least 12 presses?

I can tell you... it's not hard

 

[LHSmith]

My question is how an individual would come to own at least 12 presses?

I can tell you... it's not hard

Especially if some are used to make bullets...I believe that's 3 alone for each cal. I have several reloading presses because I have dedicated ones for each BR cartridge I compete with.

 

[Area Man]

Especially if some are used to make bullets...I believe that's 3 alone for each cal. I have several reloading presses because I have dedicated ones for each BR cartridge I compete with.

You know those dies will screw out and you can put a different one in there.

There is obviously a lot about this game I don't know.

 

[Nomad47]

+1, Area man.

 

[LHSmith]

You know those dies will screw out and you can put a different one in there.

There is obviously a lot about this game I don't know.

The reason: when practicing or tuning a load for a comp gun, I load at the range. As the barrel heats up I often switch to another comp gun or two. So I have the exact same press set-up every time: press, FL sizer (adjusted for bump to presses true TDC) and S/H ( yes they can vary in thickness, and I use .222, 6 PPC, and 30 BR set-ups). Since annealing after every other firing, I find very few cases that require "tweaking" and just set them aside. I do not alter the FL sizer bump during the season (I address the cases that need more set-back after season by adjusting bump with shim removal)
You must eliminate as many variables as you can to shoot well, and ensuring consistent case sizing is one that is easy to accomplish.

 

[johara1]

Way back i shot short range BR. and i used the Redding Boss to take to the matches to size the PPC. I found how much it camed over when it went against the roll pin so i made sleeves to put over the roll pin to stop the cam over and they are almost 1/8 " thick. The A2 if it does it is so little it is unnoticeable without a indicator. So the roll pin isn't a positive stop but now mine is as good as the A2 …… Both were used to set records…… jim

 

[bigedp51]

When I first tried cam over I got severe carpal tunnel syndrome.

Then I developed a less painful method that gave very uniform results.

 

[CatShooter]

When I first tried cam over I got severe carpal tunnel syndrome.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D