Wile forming brass, I discovered today that my old RCBS's Ram is off center and there is a considerable amount of slop in it.

This in it self is bad, but what is worse is my limited budget. The way I see it I have about $70 max to spend on a press which puts me in a RCBS Partner or a LEE "C" frame, Lee challenger, or a lee 3 hole turret press. At the moment I reload 7mm-08, and 7mm TC/U I will need something that will handle the normal reloading tasks, plus reforming 223 to 7mm. any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated

Check with RCBS or give them a call...They just, mind you, just might repair it for the cost of postage to them. If you can explain the problem in good detail they might just send you the necessary parts...Give'em a call...

I'm with Bushy on that one. It may be cheaper to fix your old RCBS. I would sure not give up on it yet.

I guess thats worth a try I'm going to have to cross my fingers though...my press has been discontinued. and they state on there site that the parts my be available. So until Monday, do any of ya have alternative opinions on those other presses?

LOL I still use a Partner press. I could only afford the "Partner kit" back when I bought it in Highschool. I've been meaning to upgrade to a rockchucker but I dont reload enough to justify it yet... and I have a list of other snazzy toys I want first. Partner's while not the strength of the Rockchucker, are still good presses.


-DallanC

When I started reloading many years ago I'm glad I waited until I could afford the Rock Chucker. I'll never be able to wear it out I'm sure.

RCBS has excellent customer service and a great guarntee (sp?). At the same time if they won't fix it, Lee does make some very good equipment and is probably the best buy for the money out there. If any of the local gunshops carry used or reconditioned equipment check them closely, also the local pawn shops.

Welcome aboard chris112 ...... I see you joined a while back but this is your first post. Don't be bashful, join right in ............

I would call RCBS toll free and talk to them first. They will do you right.

But you can also find Rockchucker on feabay for around $50 but watch the shipping charge.
Mean while use the press by going half stroke. Then turning cartridge 1/2 turn and stroking again. Might help some? Good luck! James

Thanks for the tip, but I've been doing that from day one. Was picking up primers or somthing at Scheels and they had a video that advised to do that for seating bullets. I've started doing it for sizeing, primeing and seating. Makes everything take longer, but I'm not doing this to win any speed awards. Thanks again. And after thinking about it, I think I'll wait and buy a rockchucker or a boss. A little extra money for a better product.

Body, if your only concern is over the "slop" in the ram you really don't have a problem, don't tell your old friend good bye yet!

There are ONLY two requirment of a press; one, it must push the brass into and out of the die and, two, it doesn't drive the brass into the die off its center line. It is obvious your press it doing the first requirement ok. I doubt your have a problem with the second.

Cases WILL center themselves into the dies IF they are not locked into a hard misalignment. In other words, we can't make the fit better but we can make the fit worse! Since ALL mechanical devices have some manufactoring tolerances, perhaps small but real, a tightly fitted ram is less likely to produce a precision fit than a looser ram that allows the two parts - case and die - to come together as they need to. That's part of why bench shooters use arbor presses and dies that don't screw into their press at all.

So, my suggestion is to keep your old, worn but excellant press as it is and smile about the fact that it is finally "broken in." Perhaps you should get a concentricity gage to reassure yourself that your ammo is straight as your dies can make it!

And, if you really want a new press anyway, and as a long time RC II owner myself, I would reccommend you buy the new Lee "Classic Cast" (as in cast iron, no alum alloys). I think your present stash will completely cover the price. Of course, I rapidly admit I suffer from NO silly brand loyalty, I buy and use whatever works right and costs me less, color doesn't matter to me at all.

What??!!?? No "Blue Cool aid"??. On your side...What works best for me is on my bench. Have to admit though. I have mostly Lee and RCBS.

You have a point on that ram that I never thought of. You could be right, wincchester...

Bushy, keep working on the value of a sloppy ram idea! If I can figger that out, anyone can! ;-)

And it only took me about 30 years of reloading to see it, ten years ago, well after I got a concentricty gage and started thinking!

well I'm off to make my self deaf and make my hands numb. 4 days of shooting and lieing about my groups to my friends. just in case I manage to burn through all my loaded ammo I'm bringing along my Lee hand press. good luck and good shooting everyone

Matt