Lee cast iron vs Rockchucker Supreme.

[Buttonbuck]

Wanting a single stage press for rifle bullets, sizing, maybe making some brass 410 shells etc. I have the cast Turret kit and bought an additional lee perfect powder measured. I was hoping to use lee dies with quick change dies preferably Hornady L&L because they are cheaper than lee. I've been looking at the deals on the rock chucker supreme press with its rebate vs the Lee cast iron press cost wise it's a wash. The strongest thing I see is the RCBS powder dispenser that comes with the kit. I would be loading 30/30 and 30/06 when I buy one this spring. I have been downsizing the number of firearms/calibers and striving for versitility and simplicity in the wood shop and want the reloading/casting area to be uncluttered by redundancy.

[triggerhappy243]

I look at this.... this way. you buy both side by side. 2 or 3 years from now, both presses break beyond repair. Which one will replace it for free? RCBS WILL.

[Buttonbuck]

So will the RCBS powder drop handle stick powders?

[jmort]

Not sure how useful it is to pick a press based on a 2-3 year life expectancy. They will both last much longer. On Midway USA the Rock Chucker Supreme rates 4.3 based on 97 owner/user reviews. The Lee Classic Cast rates 4.9 based on 127 owner/user reviews. Either one will do the job, and then some.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I had a USA made Rock Chucker and the Lee Classic Cast on my bench for three months comparing them with no bias, as I like both companies. I still have the Lee, the RC has been sold long ago. The Lee was simply the better press.

[Ovationdave]

So Far, I have loaded Varget, Unique, Titegroup, Bullseye & HS6 and the only issue I ran into was some of the powders seemed to get "crushed" and clump in the Rockchucker powder drop. Then, based on a suggestion from this forum, I switched over to a smaller drum and cylinder (the small RCBS one), and everything is fine now. Working flawlessly.

[sghart3578]

What are you going to do to a Classic Cast that will break it in 2 or 3 years? I have had mine for a long time and it is still going strong.

And enough about the vaunted RCBS customer service. I have tried twice to get simple replacement parts for my turret press from them. After waiting on hold, and offering BOTH TIMES to pay for the parts and shipping, I was promised that "we will get it out to you right away". It has been 9 months and no parts. So spare me.

That did not influence my decision to go with the Classic Cast. In fact, I have an old Rockchucker also. There is nothing that the Rockchucker can do that the Lee can't. And I like the way the Lee deals with spent primers versus the RCBS.


Steve in N CA

[WFO2]

I use the Lee to resize .308 matter of fact I do most of my resizing on it .

[triggerhappy243]

I was just using an arbitrary number. 2-3 years 20 to 30 years. whats the difference? you break an RCBS press that is 20 years old, they will replace it. LEE?............. I hear crickets. sorry. and as far as replacement parts go sghart3578, I was not privy to your phone conversation, but every time I needed parts, they arrived 3 days before I thought they would.

buttonbuck, I hand weigh all loads that use stick powders. I dont care what it is. If you hear that crunching sound while dumping stick powder, I assure you the powder kernels are being shattered.

and as far as the rock chucker supreme press is concerned... i dont own one. the 4 I have are all PRE-SUPREME models. I heard of the spent primer disposal issue with it. Yes, it needs help.

[rpludwig]

Have RC supreme, great press, my second RC. Primer disposal issue is easily solved. It will likely outlast you, and I have never had to pay for or wait for any RCBS replacement parts...including those where I was at fault. Their powder measure works fine, get the micrometer adjustment add on...you will be cutting longer stick powders with most measures from my experience.

Great products, exceptional service.

[toallmy]

I can't compare Lee to RCBS , but for 20-30 year's when I break a Lee part thay replace it. Usually the shipping is more than the part.

[Garyshome]

I don't think the Lee will hold up like the RCBS. I have one of each but the Lee [breechlock challenger?] gets the light duty dirty work [de prime] and the RCBS does the heavy clean stuff [sizing cleaned cases....].

[Petrol & Powder]

Both of those presses are more than strong enough. Personally I'd go with the RCBS just because I like the company.

[dragon813gt]

Lee for primer disposal. Once you have one w/ a hollow ram the catch cups are just stupid. As far as lasting. People swage w/ the Lee Classic Cast. Far be it from me to tell others how to spend their money. But paying more for a press because of the name on it foolish.

[Bonz]

I have broken parts on my Lee Classic Cast twice now and Lee refused to cover the parts under warranty. I was honest and told them I was swaging bullets. I have broken parts on my Lyman T-Mag II twice and had to pay for the replacement parts myself. I have broken parts on my RCBS and they shipped parts for free, even though I told them it was my fault. I have broken several parts on my Hornady LNL and they have sent replacement parts for free.

[dudel]

My experience has been similar to Bonz ^^^^^, I've had parts break on a Lee Classic Turret, and got no satisfaction from Lee. My experience with RCBS has been like Dillon and Hornady. Parts shipped out very quickly at no cost to me.

[fg-machine]

heres the differance between the lee press and the rock chucker .

the lee press is 100% made in the usa , that rock chucker is a chinese casting

[dkf]

heres the differance between the lee press and the rock chucker .

the lee press is 100% made in the usa , that rock chucker is a chinese casting

I thought they tried getting castings from China, had a lot of issues and went back to US castings? Still glad I bought the Classic Cast though.

[fg-machine]

that is quite likely , but once these companies start to out source anything i quickly lose interest in them and buy elsewhere when possible .

[eli]

I have the Lee machine and though most of my reloading kit is Lee product, I selected my set-up for value, function and safety, in any order you might care to consider. I also have RCBS, Redding and Lyman tools, bought at the same time as the Lee stuff, because it was top quality and met the above
I think the Lee press is the better choice than the RCBS.