Rock Chucker - What era to buy?

[Dimner]

I have an RCBS 10-10 scale I bought about 5 years ago. At that time in my reloading, I was not aware of the difference in quality of the older USA made ones vs the newer versions.

Is something like this similar with the Rock Chucker Supreme? Should I look for a vintage one from a specific era, or are the new ones off the shelf the same quality as the old?

I'm replacing my Lee Breechlock that has served me well, but I'm not 100% confident in it's ability to make very tight tolerance reloads. I mean, it get's me to the mid to upper .4 moa. And I'm more than pleased with that for the most part, but at this point I need to setup up to a new level of reloading to get below 0.3moa and beyond.

I'm sure I want a rock chucker based on reviews of it being able to produce concentric repeatable tolerance reloads. Eventually, when I hit another wall in my reloads, I will invest in an arbor press. It's my understanding I cannot FL resize with an arbor press.

So what era of rock chucker should I look for?

 

[Rodney]

I purchased my rock chucker 5 years ago and it’s a solid press. The build quality is excellent and the tolerances are tight. I’ve reloaded a lot of ammo with that press including my 600 yard competition stuff and have placed well amongst my peers. Can’t speak for older presses because I’m relatively new to the game.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

RC II’s from 80’s eras are great. Someone had a big boss in the classifieds that looked to be a good deal.
A Redding big boss 2 would be tempting with it’s internal primer catching tube.

 

[Bill Clifton]

My first press is a Rock Chucker from the late 80s early 90s and I also have an RC Supreme from around 15-20 years ago. I think really one is about as good as the other. Condition is more important I think if you are buying used.

 

[Dkk37058]

My first press was a 1980s Rock chucked its solid and good. I purchased a Forester Bonanza in middle 90s not because the RCBS was bad but because of quick die set up and not having to change she’ll holders. I still have my Rock Chucker and don’t intend to get rid of it.

 

[RGRobinett]

Which ever 'era', look for cast-iron linkage arms - avoid the stamped arms. That said, for reloading, as opposed to bullet making, the stamped arms should hold-up for tens of thousands of rounds. Under heavy load, the holes in the stamped straps elongate - kept oiled, the cast-iron go, "ever onward" . . .

RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Single Stage Reloading Press - having noticed one of my pals using one of the current Rock Chucker Supreme presses for case-forming and heavy resizing, I recently acquired and converted one of these for bullet swaging - it works pretty well. RG

 

[justinp61]

I have a Rock Chucker that I purchased 20 or more years ago used and always was curious about what year it was made. A google search told me how to where to look, turns out mine was made in 1968. It's only seven years younger than I am. LOL

 

[Bat Rastard]

I don't think there is a "bad" Rockchucker out there. There might be varying degrees of better out there.

If I were at your crossroads, I would get a Forster Co-Ax. The way they change dies looks damn handy.

 

[freebird22/250]

I have a Rock Chucker that I purchased 20 or more years ago used and always was curious about what year it was made. A google search told me how to where to look, turns out mine was made in 1968. It's only seven years younger than I am. LOL

The Vintage RCBS Rockchucker presses were stamped with the year date next to the die bushing.

 

[dcali]

The new ones are better. Not that the old ones were bad. Personally, if I were getting a new press today, it'd be a Lee Classic Cast.

 

[deadidarren]

The 90s mod has a great primer catcher but the new one I have now is crap

 

[ShtrRdy]

I bought my Rockchucker around 1975. It looks terrible but still works good. The RCBS dies from that time were high quality too.

 

[hotshot828]

I bought mine in 1978, along with the complete starter kit. Every thing works great. Powder measure, bench mounted priming tool and all the original die sets.

 

[centershot]

Mine is stamped '69. Still have the original box! There was some discussion about the newer ones made in China. Don't know if it is true. Hope not.

 

[Dimner]

I did some research, and I cannot find anywhere that has solid proof that they are or were made in China.

I just bought it and some hornady die bushings off Amazon. Reviews there from as late at 2022 say its made in the USA. So I'll let you guys know what I see when it arrives tomorrow.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I feel better about buying new.

 

[Bill Norris]

The Rock Chucker Supreme is a great press. I have compared mine to a couple of older ones from back in the late 80's owned by friends and I see no difference in the quality or the quality of loads they turn out.

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

The Vintage RCBS Rockchucker presses were stamped with the year date next to the die bushing.

Mine is definitely the first model of Rock Chucker, have had it for years...and there is no year date stamped on mine.

I agree that most all of the Rock Chuckers are great presses. I also have a Summit 2000 and it's got advantages in use also, and compliments the Rock Chucker. I use the Hornady LNL bushings on both presses.

 

[451whitworth]

RCBS did source the castings from China for a few years but did the machining in Oroville, CA. I think in was in the mid 2000's. They ended up bringing the casting back to the USA because of quality issues. When they brought it back to the USA they were using a foundry in CA, I think it was in Oakland(?). I don't know about anything from the past few years.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I have an RCBS 10-10 scale I bought about 5 years ago. At that time in my reloading, I was not aware of the difference in quality of the older USA made ones vs the newer versions.

Is something like this similar with the Rock Chucker Supreme? Should I look for a vintage one from a specific era, or are the new ones off the shelf the same quality as the old?

I'm replacing my Lee Breechlock that has served me well, but I'm not 100% confident in it's ability to make very tight tolerance reloads. I mean, it get's me to the mid to upper .4 moa. And I'm more than pleased with that for the most part, but at this point I need to setup up to a new level of reloading to get below 0.3moa and beyond.

I'm sure I want a rock chucker based on reviews of it being able to produce concentric repeatable tolerance reloads. Eventually, when I hit another wall in my reloads, I will invest in an arbor press. It's my understanding I cannot FL resize with an arbor press.

So what era of rock chucker should I look for?

I use a 2014 Rock Chucker. It does everything I ask of it, especially with respect to concentricity. What year(s) were the Rock Chucker models issued that were used in the various reviews to which you are referring? I have seen a few reviews over the last couple years that gave the Rocker Chucker high marks and unless I'm mistaken, they reviewed brand new units.

 

[Just Say Moe]

I have an original Rock Chucker I bought used in 1992. Several years ago I repainted it with green hammered paint and added an Inline fab spent primer collector along with a case ejector of my own design - looks and works great!