Hello all,

I have recently aquired an RCBS press that is unlike any I have ever seen before.

It is a huge cast-iron press that works on the up-stroke of the lever...NOT on the down-stroke like all I have ever seen. I bet the thing weighs 30 lbs...maybe more.

It is painted Army green and I am wondering if it is Army Surplus or something.

I know...I know...post pics!

I will soon as I get time to take some.

Until then...anyone who has any knowledge of such a press...please shed some light for me. I want to get rid of it but do not know what to tell folks it is.

My e-mail address is ledvm@msn.com

It's very rare on Earth. It's from Mars. They're layin' all over up there. Can't give 'em away...

What is it called?

Rcbs and huge. Probably an ammo master. Send a pic, pleas

Pretty sure it is NOT an Ammomaster. This is an OLD press. It is all cast-iron except the ram and the handle. It has nothing but RCBS cast into the frame. It is the biggest press I have ever seen and the heaviest. It works on the up-stroke of the lever. IE: The lever handle hangs down and ram is down. Pull lever-handle up...ram comes up.

Will get pics and post as now it has my curiosity up. I bought it to use with my large series dies...but...when I took out the bushing...the hole was 1 1/4" but the threads were finer than my dies (LEE FCD).

Is it possible that someone put the linkage on wrong?

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
Is it possible that someone put the linkage on wrong?

Don't think so. I will post pics soon as I am really interested now.

Does it take 7/8X14 dies, or is it set up for the biggies? I recall that RCBS made a big one years ago, .....might be worth a call to Huntington's and ask Butch what his dad made like that.

That handle is obviously homemade. It almost looks like someone reversed the linkage and it was mounted horizontally or somthing. That handle looks welded though.

That looks to be set up to make/ swage bullets- that would explain the added bracing etc.. The old timers made 22 bullets using 22RF cases as jacket material

Well...if anyone wants it...it is for-sale. It would work fine for me if the 1 1/4" hole threads were right for large series dies but they are too fine.

Anyone seen one like it???

I believe the linkage is reversable so that you have the choice of upstroke or downstroke. Quite a number of older presses had this feature.

Has the frame been broken and rewelded?

You can get a bushing to reduce from 1.25" to 7/8" for standard dies. My older Lyman Orange Crusher has this type of bushing. You remove it for dies made for (believe it or not) shotshells and .50 BMG.

Hello Stonecreek,

I bought the press to use the large hole for Lee FCD's for my large caliber rifles...specifically my .500 NE

The threads in the large hole are finer than on the Large series Lee dies. So...it won't work for my application. I do have the bushing which does enable standard 7/8 dies to fit.

I just needed it for large dies and they won't work so now I want to peddle it.

Thank you for looking sir!

never seen one like it! and the linkage does look reversable ...

Maybe it's an original Rock Chucker Bullet Press---hence the name RCBS

Sorry---Rock Chuker Bullet Swage

Unbolt the Handle, turn it 180deg(as viewed from the Top of the Press Down), reattach the bolts and it will work like any other Press.

Nothing wrong with the Press and it should make a nice addition to your Reloading Room.

I have a buddy who is getting ready to sell off a bunch of Reloading stuff his Father had and duplicates of what he has. One of the things is a Rock Chucker. It will probably end up beside the one I currently have.

If you show the pics to Pressman on Castboolits, he will be able to ID it. My guess is that it is an original RCBS that came out before their 'A' press.

If you contact him, post the results here.

The original RCBS presses were made for bullet swaging, and were not green. I'd say it's most likely a really early model.

OK...I sent pics to RCBS.

They say it is a really old A2 press.

Last night I tried to reverse the linkage and it CANNOT be done.

RCBS tech confirmed that this press can only work on the up-stroke.

I just bought it the other day from Charcoal Burner here on AR. I gave $125.00 + shipping for it which was high cause it is so heavy ($42.50).

Will sell for $125.00 + shipping or pick up is fine.

quote:

Originally posted by drewhenrytnt:
I sent you an email. I need a single stage press for loading 600 OverKill. I can make the adapters I need for my dies which are 1-14. I get to north Texas once in awhile and I know where Gainsville is. If price is right I may just drive up and get it. Heck it looks like it weighs enough to really raise the shipping rate. Beside I have friends I need to visit.

Andy

Replied to your e-mail...sir.

I have to make sure ISS does not want it which I don't think he does and it is yours!

Andy,
New e-mail CC to you.

What I really need to know is how tall is the window of the press? If it is not at least 4.5 inches It probably will not work for me.

Andy

I think it is around 5" but will measure tonight and get back to you!

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
OK...I sent pics to RCBS.

They say it is a really old A2 press.

Last night I tried to reverse the linkage and it CANNOT be done.

RCBS tech confirmed that this press can only work on the up-stroke. ....

I'd have lost the Farm on that one. Sure looks like if the Toggle Link ran across to the Front of the Press - instead of at the Rear - that it would work. But, if you say it won't, I believe you.

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
OK...I sent pics to RCBS.

They say it is a really old A2 press.

Last night I tried to reverse the linkage and it CANNOT be done.

RCBS tech confirmed that this press can only work on the up-stroke. ....

I'd have lost the Farm on that one. Sure looks like if the Toggle Link ran across to the Front of the Press - instead of at the Rear - that it would work. But, if you say it won't, I believe you.

I'll bet that RCBS tech was a lot younger than the press. Like HC, I still think there is a way to reverse the handle stroke. If we're both wrong, that will be at least the second time for me; somebody else will have to keep score for Hot Core.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
OK...I sent pics to RCBS.

They say it is a really old A2 press.

Last night I tried to reverse the linkage and it CANNOT be done.

RCBS tech confirmed that this press can only work on the up-stroke. ....

I'd have lost the Farm on that one. Sure looks like if the Toggle Link ran across to the Front of the Press - instead of at the Rear - that it would work. But, if you say it won't, I believe you.

I'll bet that RCBS tech was a lot younger than the press. Like HC, I still think there is a way to reverse the handle stroke. If we're both wrong, that will be at least the second time for me; somebody else will have to keep score for Hot Core.

I'll post one more picture for you guys tomorrow. It will be an engineering test for y'all. Once you see a pic with ram all the way up...you'll see why it can't be reversed.

A nice thread on old RCBS A series presses

Ripped off photos of RCBS Granny model





Text Ripped off

Originally Posted by robertchambers View Post
The press with no marings and the strut reinforced bench mount is known as the 1st production model. Before this, the presses were welded parts rather than cast steel. All 4 presses you purchased are cast steel...made before the "ductile steel" models were advertised...by the time of the late A2's, the material being used was cast iron due to it's much lower costs of production. The late A2's can be spotted by the cast-in bench mounting slots rather than the drilled holes found in the steel predesessors. The RCBS presses evolved in 4 separate areas that overlap in marked models. The frame, the pivot block,
the operating handle, and the benchmount all evolved independantly. These model variations have not been sorted out yet...not even by the remaining Huntington sons.

Iff'n you fellers would like to discuss this subject in detail, I have a boat load of data to contribute...including letters hand written by the co-inventor Fred Huntington...I have NOTHING on Albert Swift as of yet...very little is known about the San Francisco foundry who cast these presses for RCBS or the exact dates they went from welded--to cast steel---to ductile steel--and finally to cast iron.

Looking at SR4759's flick, I'd try driving the Ram Pin out, swing the Handle and Toggle Link to the Front, Lift the Handle and see if I couldn't get the Ram Pin back in. May need to rotate the Ram 180deg inside the Press depending on how the Slot is cut, but I'd expect it to be the same on both sides due to ease of manufacturing.

No doubt I've been WRONG before and probably will be again. I thought moscow-bill clinton couldn't get re-elected, and I never expected a Terrorist in the White House. So, yes I've been BAD WRONG before!

HotCore & Stonecreek,

Follow the C-shaped linkage the handle fis onto from full open to full closed.

Nice progression of history. Stonecreek and HotCore...y'all can see that RCBS eventually figured it out .

quote:

Originally posted by drewhenrytnt:
For the record, I am still interested in the press unless someone else had first dibs. If they pass on it I will be glad to trade cash for it in person the weekend of the 24-26 Sept.

Andy

Andy,
The window is only 3 7/8" tall!

3-7/8" Ouch! A loaded 600OK is a bit over 3-5/8" That would make it really difficult to get that big bullet into the case before seating and crimping. Guess I'll have to pass on this one.

Andy

I see now.

But, it has me wondering if a "newer" Handle Assembly would attach to the Toggle Links. It shouldn't cost too much from RCBS if the dimensions match-up.

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
I see now.

But, it has me wondering if a "newer" Handle Assembly would attach to the Toggle Links. It shouldn't cost too much from RCBS if the dimensions match-up.

Maybe but since I now know it is a "rare" antique...think I'll leave it be.

Hey ledvm, I was thinking about your Press last night. The way it works would make it excellent for "Bullet Pulling" - if you need to do much of that. I know I do from time to time.

"These are pre-A presses. They are the first RCBS cast frame presses and were made between 1951 and 1955. Yours is the 1955 version. A series of running changes was made to these presses during their production run ending with the press you have. It was followed by the Model A press from 1955 to 1959, then the 2A from 1959 to 1961, the A2-1st model from 1961 to 1967, A2-2nd Model 1967 to 1969 and finially the A3 from 1969 to 1971. That was the end of the actual A line. The later A4 is something different and not related to these presses."

as stated by Ken @ Herters

Lane,
Thanks for the final chapter.
I never knew they started so far back or that there were so many versions of the pre-A model presses. I have been watching Ebay for the big presses for about a year and nothing but a few standard A2s and A4s have shown up.
I have never seen an A3 anywhere and your press was the first RCBS dinosaur that I have seen.