New RCBS Summit Single Stage Press - Weird Look and Operation!!

[o6Patient]

The die moves to the brass instead of the other way around, gravity would be helping instead
of being "lifted"..interesting, looks like a cross between an old hollywood and a co-ax with a little
innovation thrown into the mix. If they stop making them in a couple of years we can pick them up
on 'de bay for about $7000 dollars ten years from now...have you seen what some of the lovely old
pig iron is going for now? Whoo, I better get me one before I know anything about it! YesI'm an addict!

[ReloaderFred]

I played with one at the SHOT show this past week. It has the same leverage as a Rockchucker, and is made from cast iron. It's plenty smooth to operate, and there is an adjustment screw on the back of the sleeve that keeps it from twisting on the column, and for taking up any slack from wear. It's very similar to the adjustment screw on the later Hollywood Senior presses. The biggest advantage to this new press is the open front and larger work area for loading longer rounds.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[o6Patient]

I played with one at the SHOT show this past week. It has the same leverage as a Rockchucker, and is made from cast iron. It's plenty smooth to operate, and there is an adjustment screw on the back of the sleeve that keeps it from twisting on the column, and for taking up any slack from wear. It's very similar to the adjustment screw on the later Hollywood Senior presses. The biggest advantage to this new press is the open front and larger work area for loading longer rounds.

Hope this helps.

Fred

Did the bottom casting look adequately stable to you?- just taking another look at the pictures in more detail-
does a 2" ram seem "beefy" for this type of press? They have engineers.. and what do I know?
I think they look really interesting and I'd love to try one. thx for the update

and thx rgmj for starting the thread

[ReloaderFred]

The base looks plenty strong, but when I asked if it was rated for swaging bullets, the rep told me the only RCBS press ever rated for swaging was their very first one, which was cast steel. All the subsequent presses have been cast iron, so his answer was "no". The most obvious advantage was the open front of the press, much like my Hollywood presses. There's nothing to interfere with handling the case or bullet. My specific question was about leverage, and he said it was the same as the Rockchucker.

The solid ram also looks very similar to the ram on my Hollywood presses, and I've been using one of them for 50 years of handloading, and I bought it used from one of my college professors in 1963. I would say it looked "beefy" enough for reloading.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[429421Cowboy]

Very odd, looks almost lake some sort of arbor press with dies actually mounted to it. I have to trust the guys that make reloading equipment for a living, but to me, leverage looks reduced. But what do i know? I suppose the real advantage to it would be not needing to be bolted down. Which as somebody moving to a condo this fall to continue studies at a new school and won't be able to take my press setup, doesn't seem like a bad deal. Not sure how RCBS claims it's for faster single stage loading, i can't understand how it'd be faster than a RC but it seems like an awful lot of throw to the press handle.
Interested to read what you guys had to say and where this goes!

[ReloaderFred]

It definately needs to be bolted to a solid bench. It won't work if it isn't. The ram is mounted to the base via 6 machine bolts, 3 on each side in vertical rows. It looked like the ram was steel, while the base, die mounting and top portion were cast iron. The linkages are of steel, as are the two handles. One handle is long, and the other is shorter, probably for loading handgun cartridges, where it doesn't take as much leverage to size the cases.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[o6Patient]

Short one would probably work good for bullet seating and crimping also.

[novalty]

Shot Show 2013 Video of Summit Press.

[dromia]

Thanks for that link!

[Roundnoser]

[thehouseproduct]

The base looks plenty strong, but when I asked if it was rated for swaging bullets, the rep told me the only RCBS press ever rated for swaging was their very first one, which was cast steel. All the subsequent presses have been cast iron, so his answer was "no". The most obvious advantage was the open front of the press, much like my Hollywood presses. There's nothing to interfere with handling the case or bullet. My specific question was about leverage, and he said it was the same as the Rockchucker.

The solid ram also looks very similar to the ram on my Hollywood presses, and I've been using one of them for 50 years of handloading, and I bought it used from one of my college professors in 1963. I would say it looked "beefy" enough for reloading.

Hope this helps.

Fred

Odd. I had a RCBS rep tell me the huge 2" ram made this strong enough for swaging. Either way, I liked the press.

[ReloaderFred]

The rep I talked to at the SHOT Show said it was the cast iron base that wouldn't stand up to bullet swaging. That's where the stresses are, since the ram is connected to the cast iron base, which is bolted to the bench with two bolts.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[1bluehorse]

I think that is a really cool press...I like it. I'm not gonna pull the Ammomaster SS off the bench to add one, but if I were looking for something new I'd consider it..kinda spendy though..

[flashhole]

It is spendy. You can get 3 Lee Classic Cast presses for the same amount of money. I'm not impressed, at least as it relates to the asking price on the press. My Ultramags won't feel threatened.

[doulos]

Maybe its just me. But the only advantages I see is that it doesen't hang over your bench. Might be good if you have limited space. Also I hope the spent primer catcher is better than my Rockchucker's. Its interesting. But I dont think I'd replace my Rockchucker with it. I can think of a few single stage presses I would buy before that one.

[panzerr]

Seems solid enough to me. Frankly, I don't see the difference between bringing the cartridge to the dye or the dye to the cartridge.

The thing I like about it is the ambidextrous setup. Punching out rounds using the same arm is no good, especially if you are punching out thousands in your XL650 along side the single stage. That's a great way to irritate old shoulder, wrist, elbow and even back and neck injuries. A guy has to switch it up and this press lets you do that.

I am in the market for a single stage and I'm torn between the Summit and the Forster. Even with no units out there right now and no reviews I'm leaning towards the Summit.

[LUBEDUDE]

Looks like a good solid press. If you get one, please be sure and give us a Bench Review.

[seagiant]

Hi,
Interesting press,but I think I'll just keep my Lil Hollywood!

[LUBEDUDE]

Hi Seagiant, definitely keep that little jewel!

Here is the taller, stronger, twin brother.

[seagiant]

Hi Lube,
I have a buddy that has 2 of the taller Seniors,just like mine (no rod like yours) except it is a couple of inches taller and he will sale me one but wants $200! Should I get it???