RCBS Rock Chucker - Will it load .470 Nitro?

[deewayne2003]

Gentlemen,

While I am no stranger to reloading ammo, this is my first attempt at loading for my new .470 Nitro Express.

I have an RCBS Rock Chucker(Not supreme) and the clearance is showing to be 3.5"

Question is...

Will this press be able to size and load .470 Nitro Express with the case being 3.25" and the OAL of the loaded cartridge being 3.98"?

Not looking for mass production, just wondering if its possible.

 

[Ridge Runner]

FIRST STEP:
Call RCBS Tech Service for professional advise and recommendations!!!

I will have to refresh myself on the Rock Chucker, as I have an RCBS turret press and Lee single stage press.

For now:
Is this a progressive press?
Inline or rotary (circular) design?
Are your intentions to attempt to use this press as a single stage or turret press?

Using a loaded factory cartridge:

Insert the cartridge into the shell holder: Can you insert and remove the cartridge: in and out of each of the dies?

Can the dies be adjusted and secured to allow proper function of the respected die?

It would seem the brass will easily load into the press. However,... once a bullet is seated you may have to angle it free of the shell plate and die.

The clearance issue could be anything from a pain in the ass to a major (remove the die each time to remove the completed cartridge) problem.

 

[deewayne2003]

Its a single stage rock chucker, that I have not bought yet..... trying to make sure it will work before I have a buddy ship it to me.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I have the Supreme and it works, but it's close. I feed the bullet up into the seating die with my fingers and then raise the ram until the bullet is touching the case mouth. If I try to put in case mouth first, there's not a lot of clearance.

But I think your problem is going to be removing the loaded round even if you can seat a bullet. I think you may not be able to as the bullet will be too far in the seating die and you won't be able to slide the case out of the shell holder.

But there's really only one way to find out......

 

[Bullthrower338]

I have loaded them on a rockchucker, you have to do just like Phil is saying, feed the bullet into the seating die first, after it is seated, I had to unscrew my die several turns to get the loaded round out of the shell holder. I bought a 50 BMG press because I needed one and to load the 470 and 505 Gibbs on. The rock chucker is a pain but not as bad as paying for loaded ammo!

 

[DrBob]

Gentlemen,

While I am no stranger to reloading ammo, this is my first attempt at loading for my new .470 Nitro Express.

I have an RCBS Rock Chucker(Not supreme) and the clearance is showing to be 3.5"

Question is...

Will this press be able to size and load .470 Nitro Express with the case being 3.25" and the OAL of the loaded cartridge being 3.98"?

Not looking for mass production, just wondering if its possible.

Gentlemen,

While I am no stranger to reloading ammo, this is my first attempt at loading for my new .470 Nitro Express.

I have an RCBS Rock Chucker(Not supreme) and the clearance is showing to be 3.5"

Question is...

Will this press be able to size and load .470 Nitro Express with the case being 3.25" and the OAL of the loaded cartridge being 3.98"?

Not looking for mass production, just wondering if its possible.

Go with Hornady Lock-N-Load Die Bushings. This allows quick detach of dies. You could then put case in press with powder, raise case to put bullet in mouth, put seating die over and lock die in place... seat bullet... remove die and remove loaded round. Takes longer to read this than to do it. The Bushing base replaces the insert at top of press...if it is like the Supreme with removable insert. for regular dies.

 

[Shootist43]

Loading the 470 NE in a Rock Chucker Supreme is a fairly straightforward process.

 

[CAustin]

Gentlemen,

While I am no stranger to reloading ammo, this is my first attempt at loading for my new .470 Nitro Express.

I have an RCBS Rock Chucker(Not supreme) and the clearance is showing to be 3.5"

Question is...

Will this press be able to size and load .470 Nitro Express with the case being 3.25" and the OAL of the loaded cartridge being 3.98"?

Not looking for mass production, just wondering if its possible.

I know the Rock Chucker Supreme works very well. Friends help me select that press specifically for the 470 NE

AH member @Shootist43 helping me learn that skill!

 

[Excessexpress]

I managed to put together a few hundred on a Lee Hand Press so I would think a Rock Chucker will do it nicely.

 

[sestoppelman]

Oh it will do it, just how much trouble do you want to go thru to load one round? I have to do the tip method with any number of longer rounds, but at nearly 4", it would be a pain. I think I would look into a taller press, made for these long rounds.

 

[deewayne2003]

Agreed!

Currently looking for a Lee Classic Cast - Not fancy but it will be the dedicated .470 press

 

[BeeMaa]

I've been doing a lot of reading recently about single stage presses.
I will also preface this with the fact that I have no personal experience reloading.
Just badgering AH friends and asking questions.

If you get the RCBS, get the Supreme (marked IV) so it will fit the larger cartridges.
People seem to like the Redding Big Boss 2 primer catcher over the RCBS system.
There are many comments on-line about this on reloading forums.
The price between the two is within 10% of each other, so I'd call it a push.
Both presses are good quality and will give excellent service.

Also, both of these presses will accept the Hornady Lock-N-Load system.
Making changing of calibers much easier.
The Lee press will not.

I'm currently working on a spread sheet for cost analysis reasons.
Trying to justify the time and money invested for saving on factory ammo.
If you would like, send me a PM with your email and I'll send it to you.
Mine is specific to 300WM, 375H&H and 416RM so you may need to make some adjustments.

 

[BeeMaa]

I'd also recommend taking a look at this guy on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9q5g_4gZ76p7fFDwD6XY2A
Very informative and technical information.

 

[CAustin]

Agreed!

Currently looking for a Lee Classic Cast - Not fancy but it will be the dedicated .470 press

The Lee Classic press is in the foreground and the RCBS is in the background. I found the Lee press on sale at Midway and got it for use with the Lee Custom Crimping die I had made for the 470 NE. If you haven’t purchased one yet watch Midway for their sales. Being new to reloading I wanted to not remove the plug from the Rock Chucker Supreme when crimping 470s for fear that I might mess up adjustments. Well now I know that I really didn’t need to do that but I can load on the Rock Chucker and Crimp on the Lee at the same time......not that I will.

 

[Luvthunt]

RCBS Rockchucker #4 (Supreme) works.

 

[Rare Breed]

Loading the 470 NE in a Rock Chucker Supreme is a fairly straightforward process.

Shootist43 I need to buy a hand primer manual tool for my 470 NE. My RCBS does not work. She’ll to wide. Thanks for your expertise

 

[krish]

Gentlemen,

While I am no stranger to reloading ammo, this is my first attempt at loading for my new .470 Nitro Express.

I have an RCBS Rock Chucker(Not supreme) and the clearance is showing to be 3.5"

Question is...

Will this press be able to size and load .470 Nitro Express with the case being 3.25" and the OAL of the loaded cartridge being 3.98"?

Not looking for mass production, just wondering if its possible.

Buy the supreme press.

Gentlemen,

While I am no stranger to reloading ammo, this is my first attempt at loading for my new .470 Nitro Express.

I have an RCBS Rock Chucker(Not supreme) and the clearance is showing to be 3.5"

Question is...

Will this press be able to size and load .470 Nitro Express with the case being 3.25" and the OAL of the loaded cartridge being 3.98"?

Not looking for mass production, just wondering if its possible.

Here are two pictures. I would go with the supreme press. It is shown with 470 ne brass and barnes tsx 470 bullet. Not only that full size resizing and bullet crimping could create problems.

 

[Shootist43]

Rare Breed, I appreciate your consternation. A year or so back I helped CAustin another AH member get into reloading. He too has a 470 NE in his arsenal. It took me a long time to find a hand priming tool and shell holder for that caliber. But you are in luck, there is one. It is a Hornady Hand Primer with a # 55 shell holder. You may have to order directly from Hornady since the 470 NE is not a common caliber. Let me know how you make out.

 

[Rare Breed]

Rare Breed, I appreciate your consternation. A year or so back I helped CAustin another AH member get into reloading. He too has a 470 NE in his arsenal. It took me a long time to find a hand priming tool and shell holder for that caliber. But you are in luck, there is one. It is a Hornady Hand Primer with a # 55 shell holder. You may have to order directly from Hornady since the 470 NE is not a common caliber. Let me know how you make out.

So appreciate your help. Just ordered per your recommendation. Once I receive I will be using IMR 4955 at your reload recommendation on your quick load 99.7 grains for my 470 NE

 

[Shootist43]

Rare Breed, you are one lucky dude. Midwayusa has the # 55 Shellholder in stock. It is their product number 76653.