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Does the aluminum bend or crack with age?

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This calls for a delicate blend of psychology and extreme violence. Vivian- The Young Ones

I have a Lyman single stage,Lee Turret press,Lyman Turret press.I have all three lined up on the bench.I use the two turrets to load on and crimp on the Lyman single stage, Just to keep from changing dies all the time.I will say this. You can load just as good ammo(MHOP)on the Lee Presses as you can on the others. If you wanted to load some 50BGM or some other monster you might be better to get a steel press.I cannot tell any difference in ammo loaded on one or the other. for a starter I would highly recommend the Lee, especially if you are not going to load a gazillion rounds per day.

The linkage has gotten loose and the ram where it goes through the press is a little wobbly. There also is no positive stop at TDC when the ram is at the top. I don't like that feel of camming over the top and starting to come back down so I put a metal stop on the underside of the press linkage to give a positive stop when the ram is TDC.

After 5 years of use I would describe the press as being loose but still doing ok.

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Proud union member 30+ years. ICWUC/UFCW
Single-actions, Double-actions, Lever-actions and Assorted Ruger Firearms.

Mine is an RCBS aluminum frame and it has had no loosening in 25 years of use.

I have TWO RCBS single stage presses. They don't get any better IMO.

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Old Judge Creek
SASS Badge 8188 Life Member

Hey CaptainKirk,

I bought my RockChucker in the late 60s, and I still have two RCBS Jr. presses along with an old massive RF Wells "C" press. All of them are steel - none are aluminum. Are you sure your RCBS press is not steel. I just do not remember RCBS ever making an aluminum press.

As far as the RCBS RockChucker presses now being made in China, I don't have any first hand knowledge as to how well they are made, but I do know the Chinese have been making very good steel tools for some time now. I would not be surprised to learn the current RCBS presses are actually well made. I think we should hear some first hand experience from those who have actually purchased the new RCBS presses.

If folks have a problem buying RCBS products just because they are being made offshore instead of in America, then they are also going to have trouble finding a lot of other products not made offshore. Much of our former industrial products have long gone offshore. Automobiles, the steel that makes them, and even copper wire to run them. If you want a TV or almost any other electrical product with an IC board in it, good luck trying to find any made in America. I remember a long time ago when finding something made in Japan meant that it was considered junk. That simply is no longer true. Our TVs and computers are better products than ever.

I don't know how good or bad the RCBS presses made in Japan are today, but I would not be surprised to find they are actually high quality products. CaptainKirk surprised me, however, when he said he had an RCBS press made of aluminum. I would like to know if this is actually accurate.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

-LEE Reloader (broke on its first stroke; still used for flare/powder-drop)
-LEE Challenger (broke during its first session; in box under bench since then)
-Bonanza Co-Ax
-Lyman Crusher II

I have one bench I stand at with the three single-stagers attached; used for development work.
One big bench I sit at with the 650; used for production.

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WESHOOT2@aol.com

"all my ammo is mostly-retired factory ammo"

Was the Challenger the Aluminum or Steel version that broke?............................................

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

NRA

Hi,

Yes, the Captain's correct: the RCBS Partner and the current series of Reloader Special presses ARE aluminum. I believer the earlier Reloader Specials which were really just a copy of the old Jr series are "iron" (or steel?)

Dunno how the Partners hold up, but the current RS will hold up quite well. My brother in law's been using one for 20+ yrs. Only thing about aluminum presses I've seen is they require that you keep 'em quite clean, and lubed, for max life. I put 12,000 rounds thru my Lee Challenger as a "test." It gets a wipe down and spot or two of oil each session, and it's still as snug as when I started. I'd estimate it's good for 50-100k rounds, while some of the "big boys" like the Rock Chucker have been reported to have made 250-500k rounds.

For some, that 12k rounds on the Lee is not much ammo. For others, it's several lifetimes. So I've got no complaints... if one chooses the tool according to the job they're planning on doing, aluminum will serve well.

Rick C

+1

This current kit offering is very close to what I bought many years ago:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/373711 ... cm_vc=S014


In the details you can see it is made from aluminum. The body of the press is aluminum. The ram, arm, and linkage are steel. The threaded insert for dies is steel also.

captainkirk

I've got a big old Lyman turret press cause someone gave it to me about 35 years ago. It came along with all the accessories, powder throw, case trimmer, a few die sets, etc.
I used it maybe twice to load some 44 mag cases before I said "man there's got to be a better way". Then I went out an bought my Dillon 450B progressive and never looked back.
If your loading for very low volume rifle shooting the single stage is fine.
If your looking to load for high volume handgun shooting, spending money on a single stage first is a waste of time and money..
JMHO
Sal

RCBS press and dies.
RCBS scale.
Lee hand primer.
Lee measure.
Wilson chamfering tool.
RCBS and Lee pocket cleaners.
RCBS flash hole de-burring tool.

DGW

I bought a Lyman Crusher ll after a few years of using a T-Mag ( not ll). Like 'em both.

Hornandy. Bought full kit back in very early 80s. Built like a tank. Never needed another one since. Only thing I never liked about it was the priming system, but that's okay as I bought a RCBS hand primer way back as well. Otherwise it has been excellent press (and kit).

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A clinger. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns! Ruger SA .45 Colt (Sometimes improperly referred to by its alias as the .45 'Long' Colt or .45LC) - Don't leave home without it. Oh, a SA .44Spec is acceptable too....

My Lee Challenger that came with my Anniversary kit is the only one I have. Every single round I've ever reloaded has come out of it and the press is still as good as new. I am planning to upgrade to a turret press at some point this year.

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Single Six, P95, 10/22, GP-100, Service Six, SR9c