Question...

[O4L]

I will be using either an older Rockchucker or a Brown Bair 3 die press.

I haven't decided which one yet. Any suggestions or info on accessories or tips for these?

(Internet pictures)

 

[Aries]

"It's the cost of the equipment" is right.
The last time I looked was before the Pandemic and Lee still offered those "whale on it with a mallet" kits in a few common calibers.
The Lee kits in calibers no longer offered (out of production) were priced like solid gold on Gunbroker even then.
Does Lee still offer their hand press, not bench mounted, that takes one die at a time? That looks slow as the dickens to use.

Yes, they still make them. Google one of these and you can probably find one for a better price.

https://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-hand-press.html

 

[dennishoddy]

I really plan on reloading 9mm but you never know. I might try .223 at some point.



I will most likely be trying the clamp it to the kitchen table method to start with but I'm going to see what I can come up with for a stand if that doesn't work well enough.

Put support like a 2X4 under the table to spread out the pressures generated by a press. You will find some cases can require more muscle to size than others.
Straight wall cases not so much, but bottle neck cases can certainly generate pressure on the resizing.

 

[O4L]

Any suggestions on which one of these presses to choose?

I will be using either an older Rockchucker or a Brown Bair 3 die press.

I haven't decided which one yet. Any suggestions or info on accessories or tips for these?

(Internet pictures)

View attachment 201144View attachment 201145

 

[Aries]

Any suggestions on which one of these presses to choose?

I don't know anything about the other one but the Rockchucker is as good as it gets for a single stage press.

 

[O4L]

I don't know anything about the other one but the Rockchucker is as good as it gets for a single stage press.

I agree. A buddy of mine had a Rockchucker back in our Junior High days that we used a little but that three die set up on the Brown Bair sure has me intrigued.

 

[Aries]

I agree. A buddy of mine had a Rockchucker back in our Junior High days that we used a little but that three die set up on the Brown Bair sure has me intrigued.

It does look like that might be pretty fast.

 

[BReeves]

Use both with a 4 die set. Put the Factory Crimp die in the single die press.

 

[Mad Professor]

Any suggestions on which one of these presses to choose?

My vote is to stick with the Rock Chucker. It will be far less confusing. Do one operation on a time on batches of 50-100 (after initial setup and testing is confirmed) cartridges during the loading operation. You can also still get the primer feed tools for it.

That Bair design has not been seen the last 40-45 years even though Hornady owns the rights.

If you want to speed up the die change operation a bit, you can buy a conversion busing that will allow you to use Hornady lock and load bushings. The kit is about $20 and includes the adapter and 3 bushings. Just have to wait for production to catch back up.

These will allow a 1/4 turn swap of the dies with no additional setup needed. The only way to speed this up any faster (short of a progressive) would be a nice turret press.

That Rock Chucker is a keeper. I’d clean the other up and eBay it to fund additional items.

 

[O4L]

Okay after doing a little investigative research I have discovered that the RCBS press is a Reloader Special (RS), the original version I believe, and not a Rock Chucker.

I don't think there is a lot of difference between the two except the RC is taller so there is more space for loading longer cartridges.

Like I've said before, I don't know what I don't know and although I am trying to read and watch just about anything that has been recommended for reloading, I haven't yet come across any specific suggestions for testing handgun loads.

I know I'll get to some of that eventually but I thought I would ask here what you all recommend given my circumstances.

I will be reloading 9mm. I have enough components to load 500 rounds. The only place I have to shoot outdoors right now, which I highly prefer, is 45 minutes away.

Once I am ready to start making ammo how would you proceed as far as doing some initial load testing?

I know, I know, I should proceed with caution. [emoji16]