Many thanks in advance to all who respond. I bought, here in England, a Simplex Master press at auction.

I have an RCBs Rockchucker that I've had from new for thirty years.

Is the Simplex Master which seems similar a BETTER press? Will it last as long without problems as the RCBS?

Certainly although the ram is not a big a diameter that seems "tight" enough.

But there is some wobble on the toggle linkage as the machined steel "arms" that come down from the press body to the toggle don't seem as close to tolerance in their slots as do the cast metal arms on my RCBS.

This is an older Simplex, I am told, as there is no black ball on the handle.

Any opinions welcome! Is it as good as, better than, or a poor sister to my RCBS Rockchucker.

Should I as was my idea when buying it sell the Rockchucker and keep the Simplex Master?

I have the Simplex master O Frame press. It measures 107mm top to bottom inside the 'O'-Frame and has a removeable nut in the top of the frame that holds standard dies and when removed allows the use of larger 1.25x12 TPI dies.

Is this the press you have bought ?


There is a standard (not so long) Master Simplex press as well. http://www.jansa.com.au/simplex7.html


Your description of the press has all the foibles I have in my press. I have had the press for over 20 years now (since new) and can still turn out sub 1" at 100 yards hunting ammo for a number of calibres from .218Bee to .416 Rigby.

If it's any help the earler ones were 'supposed' to be a better build quality.

While I don't have a 2nd press, I think having one set up would be a good idea so keep that RCBS press.

Thank you. Mine is indeed an "O" Frame but does not seem to have (as does my RCBS) that removable nut at the top for the larger dies for .577 etc., etc..

Not like the one with the turret. Like this one. But not actually this one. I took the picture off eBay Australia.

[IMG]http://i.ebayimg.com/19/!B+C1rtQEGk~$(KGrHqQOKk!EzLFKm6t-BM-fP(zRPw~~_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007[/IMG]

Mine has just a standard threaded hole for the common American 7/8" dies. Like the one in the picture above it seems.

But no nut insert, just a plain bored and screwed hole direct into the top of the "O" Frame casting.

Ok, I don't have that model so I can't help you any furthur. Sorry mate.

I must admit you don't see them second hand for sale too often and I've never seen one 2nd hand in gunshops here.

Depending on the job there are better presses than a Rockchucker.
However none of them are named Simplex.
Had my Rockchucker since 1975 and it will outlive me by centuries!
APB

These are really much of a muchness with the Rockchuckers of the same era. Solidly built, and will last well with occasional cleaning and lube.
Not sure if they have any advantage in terms of opening height; you'd have to measure both up.

What you have is one of the earliest examples. The toggle block is RH handle only; later examples were ambidextrous [see pic of current model], and had the ball handle. Only the very late models have the large 1.25" die thread and bush.

It may have a production date stamped on the top machined surface in MM.YY format.

Mine has 12.85 on it, and is 7/8"-14 thread only, with the LH/RH ball handle. Same 107mm frame opening as Code4's, so that hasn't changed for a while!

Pic of current model like Code4's: http://www.jansa.com.au/simplex7.php

I bought a brand new simplex O frame press back in the late 70s. Like yours it is threaded for 7/8 dies and has no ball on the handle. I have no idea how many rounds have been loaded with it but it would have to be 10s of thousands....no sign of it wearing out yet.they're as good as any other O frame press ...enjoy.

Pete

I have an early master simplex as well. Bought it in the early 80's, and it is date stamped '82.
It has also done a lot of reloading over the years. I still do most of my reloading on it thesedays, and it still works great. The only time I don't use that press is for bullet seating on extra long cartridges like .470NE.
It's a robust well made press.

I was also offered a later one, stamped 4-85 or 5-84 - IS THAT A GOOD QUALITY YEAR, that has the ambidextrous lever position and bought that too!

Mainly for the extra clearance over my Rockchucker.

It also has a little "side to side" at the bottom toggle (my Rockchucker has NONE - ZERO) but I've bolted it to my bench and am trying it.

Certainly it doesn't spit the spent primers all around when decapping as does the Rockchucker (with either plastic or my old aluminium catcher).

I've yet to load ammunition with it.

However it is strong enough to have ripped the rim clean off a 270 case I was sizing and didn't lube enough in an small base die! (Had to perform a stuck case removal!)

And I think that it seats primers better than my Rockchucker. Certainly none of the over seating issues that my Rockchucker gave!

It seems that ambidextrous arm being slightly raked back helps that.

So, for the moment, sentimentality about "my old faithful" (RCBS Rockchucker) aside I'm well pleased with it!

But the proof will be in the shooting!

BTW how much did you pay for it?

I have two.

The first I bought at auction (silly me) thinking it would have the same at least if not a taller window than my RCBS. It hasn't it is a less tall opening! Doh!

That is the "early" one with the lever on the right hand side only and no black ball. Cost UK £ 73 = AU $ 117 but the other...

That's the one with the ambidextrous handle toggle design and the taller window that I actually wanted. Plus the black ball. That cost UK £ 50 = AU $ 80 so not bad I guess?

Now I've got THREE presses (the two Simplex plus the Rockchucker as so far no buyer for the RCBS item)!

But I've the ambidextrous Simplex now bolted to my bench and that extra clearance is a real benefit when reloading 270 Winchester that is certain!

I don't have the "push the bullet up the die two step" anymore!

That sounds like a good deal to me.
"He who dies with the most presses wins"