A Guide to RCBS’s Reloading Press Options
This article breaks down the different types of reloading presses offered by RCBS – from single-stage models to high-output progressive presses and everything inbetween. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade, we’ll help you understand the procs and cons of each press and which model will best fit your reloading needs and budget.
Common Questions
When trying to select the correct reloading press, the reloader may ask general questions such as: What is a progressive reloading press? What is a turret reloading press? Which press should I buy? Can I use the same press for rifle and pistol reloading? What’s the difference between a single stage, turret and progressive? Or what press should I start with?
Additionally, many handloaders want a progressive press, but were told by others they need to start with a single stage.
Still others have RCBS press-specific questions like what are the benefits of the Summit Press, is the Ammomaster-2 for reloading 50 BMG only, and why would I choose a Partner Press?
We’re going to answer these questions and more to aid the reloader in selecting the appropriate press/presses that best support their reloading needs.
RCBS Press Breakdown
Single Stage Presses
Ammomaster-2 Press, Rock Chucker Supreme Press, Summit Press and Partner Press.
Volume: ~50 rounds per hour
Accuracy: Best, as measured by run out, or headspacing bump consistency
Uses: Ammunition-rifle and handgun, lower volume competition, long range hunting/shooting
Turret Press
RCBS Turret
Volume: ~200 rounds per hour
Accuracy: Better
Uses: Ammunition-rifle and handgun, low to medium volume competition, long range hunting/shooting
Progressive Press
Pro Chucker 7
Volume: ~600 rounds per hour
Accuracy: Good
Uses: Ammunition-rifle and handgun, high volume competition like 3 Gun, IPDA, USPSA, mid-range hunting/shooting
In-Depth Press Type Comparison
You’ve decided to trim your cases. You’ll need to pick up the right equipment. You can trim manually, with a slower hand driven process or you can trim on a powered/electronic trimmer.
RCBS offers both manual and power case trimming options, as well as various accessories.
Single Stage Presses – The Reloading Process
Every pull of the handle on a single stage press completes one stage of the reloading process. For example, let’s take a standard straight wall pistol case like 9mm Luger and go through the reloading stages from start to finish.
- Stage 1 – Size & Decap
- Stage 2 – Expand Case Mouth
- Stage 3 – Prime
- Stage 4 – Powder Charge
- Stage 5 – Bullet Seat
- Stage 6 -Crimp
When using a Single Stage press, the reloader would need to set it up for one desired stage and once complete, set the press up differently for the next stage. Keep in mind, some stages of the reloading process can be combined into one, such as Stage 1/Stage 3, where the reloader can size, decap (or de-prime) and prime with the same set up. Stage 2/Stage 3 can also be combined, so the reloader can expand their case mouth and prime with same setup.
Types of Single Stage Presses
There are two types of Single Stage Presses, an “O” Frame and a “C” Frame. There are pro’s and con’s to each. “O” frame presses are more rigid and less susceptible to deflection but accessibility to the operating workspace is minimal, compared to a “C” Frame. The “C” Frame press has the better accessibility to the operating workspace; however, is more susceptible to deflection vs an “O” Frame Press. Single stage presses can be used for both rifle and handgun ammunition. With single stage presses, you will achieve better accuracy than you will with a Turret or Progressive style press, but at a much lower volume of approximately 50 rounds per hour.
RCBS Single Stage Press Options
Ammomaster-2
RCBS’s biggest single stage “O” Frame Press. No job too big or too small for the Ammomaster-2. This great single stage press often gets pigeonholed as a 50 BMG-only press, and this is simply not the case. The Ammomaster-2 accepts standard 7/8-14 dies as well as larger, 50 BMG dies, so this press will handle every cartridge from 25 ACP up to 50 BMG. Benefits of the Ammomaster-2 include:
- Large operating window of 7 3/8”, allowing ease of accessibility when placing and removing cases from press
- Great visibility of operating workspace
- Large 1.5” diameter ram
- Large toggle block
- Longer 17.5” handle
Combine, this press gives users much more mechanical advantage than other single stage presses. This additional leverage greatly reduces the effort required when sizing your cases and is a must-have for large cartridges like 416 Barrett, 50 BMG and a nice-to-have for common smaller cartridges like 30-06 Springfield, 308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor and 223 Remington. The Ammomaster-2 does not have on press priming, but the Ram Priming Unit can be used if priming with the press is desired.
The Rock Chucker Supreme
The Rock Chucker or RC Supreme is the gold standard that other single stage presses are compared to. With a history dating back decades, this is the top-selling and most trusted single stage press, ever. Also, an “O” Frame Press, the Rock Chucker Press has been part of the RCBS Legacy since the beginning. If you only select one piece of RCBS equipment, it should be an RC. Features include:
- Rugged, durable
- 4.25” operating window
- Ambidextrous toggle block
- 13” long handle
- Offset front column, allows for easier access when placing or removing cartridge cases from press as well as allowing for better visibility of the operating workspace
- On-press priming
The Rock Chucker is the pinnacle of single stage reloading presses and is an essential item to have mounted to your reloading bench. Precisioneered for the reloader who desires the absolute best out of their single stage press.
Summit Press
A “C” Frame style press and unique in the RCBS Press Line up. Most “C” Frame style presses are frowned on due to the potential for deflection when compared to traditional “O” Frame Presses. To overcome this, the Summit was beefed up with a huge 2” Diameter Ram. Coupled with ductile iron, this essentially eliminates any deflection.
Hands down the best “C” Frame press on the market, not only is the Summit a durable reloading press that will handle the largest resizing needs, but it also offers the user accessibility and ability to clearly view the operating workspace with an oversize 4.5” opening.
- The Summit’s design is unique operation. Lowering the reloading die onto the case instead of raising the case into the die, the Summit creates a semi float/float condition where the press neatly and precisely brings together the case and bullet or case and sizing die, eliminating any potential case neck or bullet run out issues – namely, inaccuracies.
- RCBS also offers a short handle for the Summit, ideal for speeding up your bullet seating process. This short handle also lets the reloader mount the Summit press anywhere on their bench – and not just on an edge.
- Like the Rock Chucker, the Summit press has an ambidextrous toggle block for both right and left-handed reloaders.
- Unlike the RC, the Summit press does not offer on press priming; however, like the Ammomaster-2, a Ram Priming unit can be used to allow for on press priming.
- RCBS offers an Arbor Die Conversion Kit for the Summit Press, allowing the reloader to swap out the standard die bushing and shell holder adapter with Arbor Die Conversion components, ideal for most Benchrest-type arbor dies.
The Summit press is without a doubt one of the best presses in the RCBS Press Lineup. Coupled with the RCBS MatchMaster Seat Die, the Summit’s set up for bullet seating is a win/win.
Partner Press
Another “O” frame press from RCBS is the Partner Press. The Partner press is a machined Aluminum Die cast frame and a bit smaller than the other RCBS Single Stage presses. It’s popular for portable reloading set ups, as a spare press backing up a larger Rock Chucker or Summit, or as a dedicated setup for an operation like bullet pulling, primer seating, or even bullet seating.
- 4” operating workspace
- Compound linkage is sufficient for most popular cartridges.
- On-press priming
- Great starter press
- Economical price
If you’re new or unsure about ammunition reloading and want to give it a try without spending a lot of money up front, then the Partner Press is for you. If you are an experienced reloader and need a portable lightweight press to take to the range to use during load development, look no further than the Partner Press, small and lightweight with enough muscle to complete the reloading process.
Turret Presses
Turret press’s versatility allows them to fit nicely between the benefits of a single stage “C” frame style press and a full-blown progressive press. Like single stage presses, one pull of the handle completes one stage of the reloading process, but turret presses carry an added benefit. When the reloader is ready for the next stage of their the process, they rotate or index the turret head to a new station with a new die set up. This allows a quick transition to another reloading operation and reduces the time needed to set up and break down your press.
A turret press can be used as a single stage press, with the die plate or turret head configured with multiple dies and you can run each case through one stage until complete, then move on to the next stage. Or this style of press can be set up and used similar to how a progressive press, where the turret head is configured for one cartridge, with powder measure, powder check, bullet feed dies, etc. so a cartridge can be loaded from start to finish, through all stages of the reloading process, by simply indexing the turret head, increasing throughput to approximately 200 rounds per hour.
Used both for rifle and handgun ammunition, turret presses achieve better accuracy than a progressive, but not as good as a single stage. Throughput will be better than the single stage and not as good aa the progressive.
RCBS Turret Press Options
Turret Press
The RCBS Turret Press is a “C” frame type press which offers the openness of the “C” frame, with the 4 ¾” Opening and the ruggedness of a traditional “O” frame with the large cast iron main column.
- Ambidextrous toggle block is beneficial to both right and left-handed reloaders.
- Comes equipped with on press priming.
- Can be used with the accessory Case Activated Powder Measure to speed up throughput.
- Can be configured for single stage use for multiple cartridges or configured for progressive use for one cartridge.
- Replaceable turret heads makes switching cartridges easy. Set up your dies once.
The RCBS Turret Press is a perfect fit for the reloader who is not interested in a full-blown progressive press but wants or needs a little more than a traditional single stage press.
Progressive Presses
Progressive presses are for the reloader interested in high volume reloading. With a progressive press, round throughput increases from ~50 rounds to 600 rounds per hour.
The difference between the Progressive and Single Stage press? With each pull of the handle on a progressive press, a different stage of the reloading process is being performed, whereas with the single stage only one stage of the reloading process is being performed.
Let’s use the same example we did for the single stage press, using a standard straight wall pistol case like 9mm and go through the stages from start to finish. This time, we’ll be using a seven-station progressive press.
- Stage 1- Size & Decap
- Stage 2-Prime & Expand Case Mouth
- Stage 3-Powder Charge
- Stage 4- Powder Check
- Stage 5 -Bullet Feed
- Stage 6-Bullet Seat
- Stage 7-Bullet Crimp.
From this example, you can see how the increase in volume is improved when using a progressive style press. Every pull of the handle produces a completed cartridge, ready to send down range.
New Reloaders and Progressive Presses
A common question, do new reloaders need to start loading or learn on a single stage press? No, you don’t need to start reloading on a single stage, especially if you know you are interested in high volume reloading.
That said, it is easier to learn the reloading process on a slower, single stage press. And some progressive reloaders still use single stage presses for certain operations like pulling bullets, sizing cases, or for lower volume load development.
Even though the progressive press is meant for progressive reloading, that doesn’t mean you have to use it that way, especially if just starting out with reloading. A progressive press will do everything a single stage will do and more. These presses can be set up with only one die in the die plate and ran as a single stage, or with three dies in the shell plate and ran like a turret style press.
With a progressive the reloader has the ultimate flexibility, but these more complicated and larger presses come at a higher price.
RCBS Progressive Press Options
Pro Chucker 7
The Pro Chucker 7 is an auto indexing 7 station progressive press, which offers on press priming, quick change die plate capability, quick change powder measure functionality, and effortless shell plate and primer size change over. It’s RCBS’s most advanced progressive press yet, and a semi-affordable option as far as progressives go
- Seven station die plate and seven station shell plate.
- Every pull of the handle produces a completed cartridge.
- Large, 4 5/8” operating workspace, allowing for ease of accessibility to cases and optimal viewing of press operation.
- Accepts press accessories like bullet feed die, powder check die, lock out die, prized for high volume reloading.
The efficiency and effectiveness of the Pro Chucker 7 is unmatched. The Precisioneered efforts that went into the design and development of the Pro Chucker 7 are to be admired, with the ease of use and cartridge change over makes this press the best in its class.
Press Recommendations
Every reloader has their own unique reloading process and needs but chances are RCBS has a press that will fit your ideal set up. Now that we’ve highlighted the similarities and differences within the RCBS press line up, it is up to the reloader to determine which press best fits their specific need.
- Are you a long range hunter or competition shooter? If so, lean towards the Rock Chucker Supreme press or Ammomaster-2 press dedicated for Full Length Sizing and a Summit Press outfitted with a Matchmaster Seat die dedicated for bullet seating.
- If 3 Gun Competition shooting or Varmint Hunting is what you like, then I’d recommend the Pro Chucker 7 or Turret Press for higher volume.
- IDPA, USPSA, or high volume plinkers will save money in the long run with a Pro Chucker 7 Progressive Press.
Bottom line? Your choice of press depends on the preference of the reloader. Regardless of which press you choose, you won’t go wrong by choosing RCBS. Invest in the right tool, learn to use it well, and let precision guide your handloading success.
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