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RCBS Rockchucker Reloading Kit
Posted by Junior Shooters
Juniors Reload Too!
By: Cody Leeper (16)
Beginners and novices alike would enjoy this kit. It arrives at your bench with everything except dies and components. It just does not get any simpler to get involved in reloading. Pick up a set of dies and some components, and you’re ready to start cranking out loaded rounds.
(The Rockchucker kit is a great kit for juniors and adults and can be used to teach the art of reloading, provide hours of fun and reduce the cost of ammunition. Includes: Rock Chucker Supreme Press, 5-0-5 Mechanical Scale, Hand Priming Tool, Uniflow Powder Measure, Case Lube Pad, Case Lube-2, Case Neck Brushes, Case Loading Block, Powder Funnel, Hex wrench set, Debur tool and Speer Reloading Manual.)
Well, okay, it is a little more complicated than that. You will have to do some reading, but there are complete directions included that will walk you through setting up the equipment. The kit even includes a Speer reloading manual that will pump you full of helpful information as well as supply you with quality loading data. While you are picking out dies and components, you will want to pick up a quality caliper to measure cases, as this is the only thing that is not included.
The press is a single-stage, O-frame design that will handle most cartridges. The press operates smoothly with its long handle that provides plenty of leverage. It has a primer arm that can be hand-fed. There is also a hand-priming tool that can handle small and large primers. A spent primer catcher is held in place with a plastic clip and is easily removed for dumping. Though the press is solid enough to provide a sensitive feel for seating primers, I still prefer to use the hand-priming tool. The ram is designed to accommodate removable shell holders which are held in the ram with a spring clip, no set screws. Just snap in a shell holder and you are ready. These don’t come with the press and will need to be purchased separately. You can find shell holders to accommodate a giant range of cartridges.
(Though a single-stage press, the Rockchucker is extremely versatile.)
A Uniflow powder measure is included in the kit that can speed up the loading process dramatically. I am not sure how long RCBS has been producing the Uniflow, but it has proven itself for years. 
The measuring screw protrudes from the back of the measure and can easily be adjusted to throw the exact charge you are seeking. It has a lock ring designed to be tightened with thumb pressure and it stays put. The bushing that carries the measuring screw runs in a cast groove in the measure body, which allows for smooth, consistent operation with a solid stop at each end of the crank travel. Extruded powder has the normal shearing effect expected with this type of powder measure, however ball and flake powders feed through it smoothly.
The 5-0-5 powder scale is a beam-type scale that uses magnetic damping to stop swing quickly. Zeroing the scale is accomplished with a large leveling foot at the left end of the scale. Simply rotate the foot to bring the beam to zero and you’re ready to go. The beam has a high contrast finish, which makes it easy to read the graduations. It uses three poises, 1 in 10-grain increments, 1 in single-grain increments, and 1 in 10th of-a-grain increments. The scoop or powder hopper rests on a base that hangs from the right end of the beam instead of being cradled on a wire. This makes it simple to set on the scale and quicker. A powder funnel included in the kit gives you a big target when pouring powder into the cases.
(Cody Leeper (16) next to his Rockchuker kit that he reloads for competitive rifle and pistol competitions.)
Included in the kit is a deburring/chamfering tool that works great. It is big enough to grip and yet does not fatigue your hand. The kit also includes a Case Lube Kit that works great.
(Right: Side view of single-stage press)
There are two nylon neck brushes and one handle, a bottle of lubricant, and a lube pad with cover. Simply put a teaspoon of lube on the pad and spread it around. Select the proper brush for your case neck, roll the brush across the pad a couple of revolutions, and then push it into the case neck. You can do two or three cases, and then pick up more lube on the brush. Do eight or ten cases and then lay them all on the pad. Roll them back and forth with light pressure once or twice, and you’re ready to size them. The pad material is firm enough that unless you roll the cases too hard, no lube will get on the shoulder of the case. I have tried spray on lubricant and was not impressed. RCBS makes a spray on, but I did not try it. The pad system works better than any other method I have tried.
I think the package is an excellent buy. The kit contains nearly everything a beginner needs to get involved in reloading without draining the bank account. Shop around; prices seem to vary on the kit, but I have seen them on the Internet for under $250 plus taxes and shipping. So in the end, the RCBS Rockchucker kit has it all for the beginning reloader and will definitely teach you the basics of reloading but is still serious enough for the avid reloader.
Editor’s Note: Cody reloads all of his own rifle ammunition for his competitions and tunes his load to his rifle. He is currently using a Next Generation Arms (NGA) X7 .223/5.56 for 3-Gun competitions provided by Junior Shooters magazine and NGA. His cartridge components include CCI primers, 26 grains of Hodgdon Varget powder, and Sierra 69-grain Match King bullets. He says this combination of rifle and load is perfectly matched and has contributed greatly to his success.
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