OT, sorta - Reloading: RCBS Service and presses

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:34 pm

Many summers ago, I bought an RCBS JR 3 press. I used that press until it wouldn't make good ammo any more. There was too much play in the ram and the cases would snag on the sides of the dies on the way in.
I retired it in 1988 when I bought my Rock Chucker press. It was brought out of retirement briefly in 2000 when my step son wanted to load some 9mm ammo.

Several years ago I noticed my Rock Chucker was starting to do the same thing as the JR press. The ram had developed too much side to side play at the top of the stroke and the cases were starting to catch on the dies.
I put up with this until a year or so ago when I could not get the bullets seated straight in my 30-30 cases.
I tried a new shell holder, tried a different set of dies, double checked the die adjustment, with no improvement.

I decided that the presses had to go back to RCBS for overhaul. I called them about it and they asked me about the cases hitting the edges of the dies. I guess that's their criteria for repair.

Not long after that I picked up my two used Bonanza Co-Ax presses. These have to be the best single stage presses I've ever used. Far better than the RCBS presses in several ways.
Not to mention that with the ancient 30-30 dies they make straight ammo.

So, February 5th of this year I sent both of my ancient RCBS presses back for over haul. I got them back yesterday.
They replaced the old cast iron JR III press with an aluminum Reloader Special-5 press. Cute little thing.
And they overhauled my RC II press. That pleased me no end as I really did not want it replaced.

The tech who did the work hand wrote a note, and I quote him: "All presses will develop some amount of play after breaking in please keep in mind alignment comes from dies not ram."
He did replace the ram and the top bushing though.
In this case I disagree with him because the same dies produce very good ammo when popped into the Co-Ax presses. But I won't argue with him.
I'm just tickled to get that press back overhauled.

And at no cost to me other than my cost to ship them to CA.

So, before you guys with RCBS presses made way before Custer made his last stand ask me how I ended up with worn presses I'll tell you. When you decap a case on an RCBS press the crud from the fired primer accumulates at the bottom of the ram where it slides in and out of the press body. That stuff is abrasive and will eventually cause wear. Then add oil to this stuff and you have a great grinding compound. I did not know this at first and made no effort to keep the area clean.
That's my story and I'm stickin to it.

Now, I have four presses. The Co-Ax presses will be my primary presses from now on. The Rock Chucker will be put in reserve and the new Reloader Special-5 press will become a dedicated ram prime station.

So now I'm in need of a new reloading bench. A bigger one that I can use all four side of.
Any body got any designs laying around they'd like to share.

Joe

Terry Murbach · Post by **Terry Murbach** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:47 pm

YOU ARE CORRECT, JOE, THAT PRIMER ASH IS WHAT WORE OUT YOUR RCBS RC PRESS. NOW LET THAT BE A LESSON TO ALL OF US :
CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GUNNYNESS.

I USTA HAVE THAT SIGN ON MY LOADING BENCH 40 YEARS AGO. MY 1967 RCBS A2 PRESS IS AS TIGHT AND AS SMOOTH AS THE DAY IT LEFT OROVILLE ON IT'S WINDING TRIP TO NIRVANA, MY LOADING BENCH. I NEVER LEAVE IT GET DIRTY FROM THE PRIMER stuff AND ALWAYS LUBE IT WITH THE HIGH TECH STUFF LIKE FP10 OR ONE OF THE TEFLON LUBES, THE NAMES OF NONE I CAN RECALL AT THE MOMENT. [ YE GADS...]

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:54 pm

Terry,

I'm interested in those lubes you can't remember the names of. When you find them please post them. I'm interested and want to keep the presses I have now running till I push up daisies.

Joe

Terry Murbach · Post by **Terry Murbach** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:13 pm

WELL SHUCKS.....puff pufff....I HAD TO RUN DOWNSTAIRS TO SEE THE BOTTLES OF LUBE I' VE USED SINCE MOSES WAS A CORPORAL.
THERE IS TRI-FLOW AND BREAK FREE, BOTH ARE TEFLON LUBRICANTS AND CLEANERS THAT WORK VERY WELL INDEED.
THE THIRD WAS THAT FP10 MENTIONED EARLIER. THIS MAY WELL BE THE BEST ALL AROUND LUBE I'VE EVER USED, JOE. IT IS GREAT ON GUNS AND ANYTHING ELSE NEEDING A SUPERIOR LUBRICANT, LIKE OUR LOADING PRESSES.
I DID NOTE YOU WERE ONE OF THE MANY LOVERS OF THE CO-AX PRESSES. I AM ONE OF A VERY VERY VERY!! SMALL GROUP WHO HATED THE CO-AX I BOUGHT. THERE WAS LITERALLY NOTHING ABOUT IT'S FORM, SHAPE, AND USAGE THAT DIDN'T pee ME OFF TO NO END. IT WAS SO EARLY IN THEIR PRODUCTION IT HAD A VERY DARK BROWN CRACKLE FINISH. A PAL OF MINE BOUGHT IT FROM ME FOR WHAT I HAD IN IT AND WE WERE BOTH HAPPY. LAST I KNEW HE WAS STILL USING IT NOW SOME 40+ YEARS LATER.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:51 pm

Terry,

There is a couple things I find awkward about the Co-Ax, the priming set up leaves a lot to be desired, and sometimes getting the bullet to stay square on top of the case when the universal shell holder hasn't grabbed the case yet is a pain.
But over all, I like the straight up and down motion of the moving parts, and the fact that there is two ram shafts rather than one. They also have more leverage than the Rock Chucker does and that makes it easier to work with.

Mine are about 20 or so years old according to Forster, and they are a red orange crackle color.

I'll have to hunt up some of the FP10 lube and give it a try.
I've been using a Break Free product called Industrial PCL. It's very hard to find and most folks think I'm talking about CLP but I'm not. A gunshop owner in Phoenix told me about it many years ago and I've been using it on my guns ever since.

Joe

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:48 pm

I have a very old RCBS single stage. Bought sometime in the '70s. It doesn't have the compound leverage, but I can't recall the model. I clean it after every use and before every use. Since I only load my rifle ammo on it, it can go several months between uses.

I only use dry graphite powder as a lubricant.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:00 pm

Other than a dozen Lee FCD's and a few other oddball stuuf, RCBS is all I use. Single stage Jr.Rockchucker, Piggyback, and Pro-2000 serve me well as does the factory service. The Jr press all the way to the right was my first press, bought in '72--the Rockchucker, under the Piggyback was bought in 74 and the Pro-2000 came home about 2002. Between 'em, they have loaded close to a quarter mil. -----Sixgun

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 2:16 pm

Sixgun,

That is one well organized disaster. I am designing a loading bench / room of my own for the future. Don't think I'll ever get as much equipment as you have, but you never know.

Joe

GEOFF · Post by **GEOFF** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:54 pm

Good info.

I'm using the same RockChucker RCBS press that I've had since 1980 when I was 17 years old. Still nice and tight and 1000's of rounds loaded but I WILL commence to pay better attention to that primer ash grinding compound. Good heads up and I'm glad RCBS service was good!

Geoff

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:16 pm

J Miller wrote:Sixgun,

That is one well organized disaster. I am designing a loading bench / room of my own for the future.

Joe, the stuff creaps up on you, especially after packing your own for 36 years. The bench started out as a simple one that is 32" high and 10 feet wide. Additions were added about once a year to the point that the bench just about wraps around the room. Pity the poor soul who inherits all this junk------Sixgun

Dewight · Post by **Dewight** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:43 am

I have a cheap ($20)Lee press with a universal depriming die that is dedicated for depriming.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:30 am

Sixgun,
Will you adopt me?????? Seriously though I have quite a bit of stuff boxed up and not out for use. I'm planning on building a loading bench that is a stand alone bench in the center of the room. With all my presses and other assorted tools on each side, not crowded together. Then of course the shelfs around the walls. But that will have to wait till I find a new home.

Dewight,
Does that cheep twenty dollar press have a primer drop tube out of the bottom like some of their higher dollar ones do? If so that is probably what I will do. Been thinking about it.

Joe