Your videos are always top notch, informative and very well done. I have the same hang up with the LnL bushing system that I do with the new Lee breech lock adaptor system. Both are excellent systems but, both also prevent you from putting a counter clockwise torque because that releases the dies from being held in place by the bushing. When the Lee system is used with the Breech Lock press the little button holds the bushing in place to prevent that. I have many LnL bushings from the past and tried the Hornady adaptor with my Redding Big Boss and it worked perfectly except when applying a counter clockwise torque to the die....ultimately I took it out and reinstalled the regular threaded adaptor. All of my presses are blue or green and I just received a bunch of the new Lee splined lock rings with wrench...my first reaction is that they just might be a game changer. I am hoping that Lee sends you their new APP press and primer pocket swager to review because they both look like real solid problem solvers. Exceptional videos, thank you.
What a nice comment, thank you! I know what your saying about not being able to make CC adjustments without the risk of removing the whole thing. I guess I have just become use to using two wrenches to counteract the torque. I haven't tried the new breech lock bushings yet, but I do have one and the little wrench thing that came with the kit. I doubt Lee would send me the APP press. They have asked me for links to my channel in the past, but have never commented one way or the other. Some of my videos are unconventional uses of their products so I dont know how they would feel about that. Ive never asked to feature any of their products, and they have never offered.
I have an old RCBS Rock Chucker about the same vintage as yours I inherited from my dad that I plan to convert to quick-change bushings. I reckon I'll have the same problem installing that bushing as you did so I'm glad I saw your video first or I'd thought something was wrong. I really enjoy your channel and all the mods you come up with. Yours is the "thinking man's" reloading channel. Thanks TTF.
I have an old A-2 press just like that one, Bomb proof tough. It's nice that someone finally came out with an adapter for the older presses like the Rock chucker. I always wondered why they didn't do this a long time ago when breech lock became a thing.-Dave
Hey Dave, in my research on these old RCBS presses, I found out they used to stamp the manufacture date on them in the 60's and maybe even into the 70's. Its pretty small and kinda hard to see. They stamped it at the 12 Oclock position if your looking down on the die bushing. If the die bushing lands just right it might even cover the stamp.
They are built tough. I have used mine with Corbin Dies to bond jacked .30 cal bullets, I had to go get a proper size cheater bar at Home depot to get the leverage and pressure needed. It was like water on a duck's back for my old Rock Chucker. those bullets I made shot amazingly accurate, I seen then why people make their own jacketed bullets. It is along story why I don't do it anymore, I didn't own all the equipment to myself. that was the biggest reason.anyway, Good Video-Dave
If you indeed have one like pictured it can not possibly be an A or A2. ALL of the As n A2 are two piece (press and tiltable mounting bracket) and the bushing threads are an odd 18 TPI.
RCBS began date stamping the A2 in late 1967, which coincided with their redesign and use of cast iron vs cast steel. Date stamp equals cast iron, no date stamp equals cast steel. It should be noted the A2s and Rock Chucker coexisted for about 5 years until the A2 was discontinued, but there is no such thing as a Rock Chucker A2.
Thank you very much, I just found this product too and I was really excited to see it. I just converted everything I had to breech lock and now looks like I can keep using my single stage RCBS. Great video and good timing.
I did the hornady adapter in my rock chucker. Made a brass spacer so the stroke length is VERY CLOSE to my Inl press. I can setup my dies on my rockchucker...and just move to my lnl.
Wouldn't hurt to use a little anti-seize on the new bushing threads. Dissimilar metals like aluminum and steel will gall the threads of the bushing, making them bind.
Turns out the bore was apparently slightly undersized for the female threads they cut so the peak of the threads extended just a little too far into the bore. I used an inside flap disk to dress the threads kinda like you would use a cylinder hone. Just took a couple of passes and all bushings went in without any problems, including the original it shipped with.
Nice, if you think about it, come back and let us know if you had trouble with the threads. Also. FYI, some of these presses have the mfg date stamped on the top at the 12 o'clock position, looking down on the bushing.
@@TreeTopFlier I just received the Hornady bushing kit for my RCBS. Because the original insert was a little gummy, I cleaned the threads with the Dremel wire brush, some CLP, and brake cleaner to degrease. The threads were smooth with no binding upon install. Hornady bushing went in by hand very easy. It looks like the manufactured date is 79-S or S-64. It's a light strike on the 7/4 and I'm not sure bout the proper orientation.
Cool. Love your stuff. Thinking of a new Lyman single stage press for no good reason other then it's new and I like orange and it's probably more precise. This looks like a great solution for any conversion from my breech-lock dies.
Thank you Jack! I love reloading gear, I would have every press made if I could. I really like the looks of all the new Lyman presses. Don't think they use a bushing in any of the brass smith presses if you wanted to add the quick change feature. That would be required for Hornady or Lee.
...I hadda get my gunsmith to remove/replace the adapter on my 50 year old Rockchucker - at 74 I no longer have the strength...I'm fixin' to use it again for the first time sine 1974 - 78 when Iused it to reload 44Mag/Spl - I switched to progressive reloaders in the mid/late 80s but now need to load a few different styles of bullets in .38/.357 as test loads for what will eventually become runs of progressively loaded rounds for range usage...
I eventually had to lightly hone the threads on the inside of my press to get the adaptor to fit properly. Now it fits perfectly. Nice to see you still pulling the handle after all these years. Keep it up!
Sounds very much like the RC press has a slightly tapered threading for its bushing setup. You should be able to check this by measuring the OD of the bushing threads at the top, and then at the bottom of the threading. While it's possible that only the female press threading is tapered, it's more likely both the bushing and the press are tapered to ensure that the bushing comes to a firm, tight fit just as it snugs down to the top of the press. That also explains why it was so easy to remove the original bushing once it was "broken loose" with a wrench.
I think what it is, is the RC press threads come to a very sharp point. And the bottom of the threads in the bushing are flat, very common in threaded aluminum. I could probably take a brake cylinder hone to the press threads and knock those sharp peaks down and it would be fine. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I have this stuff on order in the mail. My RBBS press is a 1990 vintage. I really hope they work out. I’ll report back. Edit: I installed these breach lock bushings on my 7 dies and the press adapter bushing fit great into my press. I would highly recommend anyone who reloads get this system. You just set each die one time, not every time. I put the red one on my Decapping and sizing die, the white one on my expanding die, and the blue one on my bullet seating and crimping die. So they are color coded red, white and blue for the sequence of the loading process.
You should be fine. Some time later on I used a flap wheel sanding device on the inside of the bore and removed the sharpest part of the threads in the press. Didnt take much and the bushing went right in. Pretty sure you will be fine. Its a great addition.
Funny just recently had a friend give me a bunch of old equipment and got the exact same press. He said his Dad got it somewhere around 1966. I already had the Rockchucker II that I bought new around 1999, so now it's twins! Was thinking about that breech lock kit but that's a lot of dies to get the adapters for...
It really is a nice way to go for the single stage presses. I fooled around with the old thread method just to be nostalgic but I got over it fast LOL.
great videos, i want to calibrate 457 458 459 bullets but my question is does this new LEE BREECH LOCK BULLET SIZER KIT fit for RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme IV press? how so how to screw? is there any need for an adapter or is it possible to use a standard one?
It should fit the Rock chucker fine as long as it has a removable busing. You would need the kit described in this video. You would also need the breech lock bushing die holder. www.midwayusa.com/product/1021760375?pid=388571 Then you need the individual bushings and push pin www.midwayusa.com/product/1021760239?pid=967351 You can also use the older style sizing dies without any of this. www.midwayusa.com/product/1018523537?pid=982621 Hope this is what you are asking.
I dont think so because I tried threading it in from the underside and had the same results. The peak of the threads seem too tall and sharp. Probably could knock those down a little with a brake cylinder hone and solve the problem, but for now its working.
I'm pretty sure those old presses had cut threads. Almost all new machining processes use rolled threads.rolled threads have a bit of interference built into them so they confirm to the shape of the other thread. This makes for a greater contact area than using cut threads to cut threads. wHy guess is that installing a roller thread into a cut thread will result in greater surface contact between the threads and make a tighter connection.
It's the newest old thing to me, so I love it. I wish I knew more about the gentleman it belonged too. He was a fellow reloader, and caster with a penchant for wheel guns. I know this because I had the privilege of sorting out what remained of his gear.
I know, I even looked into powder coating it. I shook down the RCBS guys for color codes with no luck. After I scrubbed it with some acetone (just enough to remove oil and make the paint tacky) it really brought the old color back and I started liking the character the chips brought. The clean distressed look. The handle is supposed to be steel but I blued it with gun blue.
TreeTopFlier You actually did everything I was thinking, My next step would’ve been to take a couple of nerve pills.... dismount my newer Rock chucker logged it to Home Depot and hope they could match me up a quart of rust-oleum..... I have yet to meet a reloader that isn’t bugged by the details😂
You asked me a while back to let you know when I started making powder stands again for the Lee Turret press. I have some made if your still interested.
what is the thread form on that interrupted thread that the plastic piece screws into, I need to have an .729 sizing die made in the 7/8-14 won't have enough meat left
To use the Breech Lock bushings on dies in a non breech lock press you would need to remove the stock bushing and install this kit. By calibration kit I assume you mean bullet sizer and punch.
They flagged my videos for TOS violations because I "showed how to make ammo" So I had to remove them to stay on UA-cam. They are still available at TheReloadersNetwork.com , Gunstreamer.com and UGETube.com Link gunstreamer.com/@TreeTopFlier?page=videos All under the handle TreeTopFlier.
RCBS Rock Chucker presses are NOT high carbon steel, they are cast iron. The early RCBS A and A2 presses were cast steel, but even the late model A2's 1967 forward went to cast iron. The RCBS As and A2s (prior to cast iron) are 1-1/4-18 TPI and will never accept the Lee adapter. None of this explains your issue, but will hopefully save an A or A2 owner from much frustration.
I dont know why I said High....I was just trying to indicate to the inevitable worry warts that the aluminum bushing wasnt going to hurt the threads in the press even if I forced it a little.
Your videos are always top notch, informative and very well done. I have the same hang up with the LnL bushing system that I do with the new Lee breech lock adaptor system. Both are excellent systems but, both also prevent you from putting a counter clockwise torque because that releases the dies from being held in place by the bushing. When the Lee system is used with the Breech Lock press the little button holds the bushing in place to prevent that. I have many LnL bushings from the past and tried the Hornady adaptor with my Redding Big Boss and it worked perfectly except when applying a counter clockwise torque to the die....ultimately I took it out and reinstalled the regular threaded adaptor. All of my presses are blue or green and I just received a bunch of the new Lee splined lock rings with wrench...my first reaction is that they just might be a game changer. I am hoping that Lee sends you their new APP press and primer pocket swager to review because they both look like real solid problem solvers. Exceptional videos, thank you.
What a nice comment, thank you! I know what your saying about not being able to make CC adjustments without the risk of removing the whole thing. I guess I have just become use to using two wrenches to counteract the torque. I haven't tried the new breech lock bushings yet, but I do have one and the little wrench thing that came with the kit.
I doubt Lee would send me the APP press. They have asked me for links to my channel in the past, but have never commented one way or the other. Some of my videos are unconventional uses of their products so I dont know how they would feel about that. Ive never asked to feature any of their products, and they have never offered.
I have an old RCBS Rock Chucker about the same vintage as yours I inherited from my dad that I plan to convert to quick-change bushings. I reckon I'll have the same problem installing that bushing as you did so I'm glad I saw your video first or I'd thought something was wrong. I really enjoy your channel and all the mods you come up with. Yours is the "thinking man's" reloading channel. Thanks TTF.
Come back and let us know if you had the same problems as I did. Would be very helpful to others. Thank you for the kind comments.
I have an old A-2 press just like that one, Bomb proof tough. It's nice that someone finally came out with an adapter for the older presses like the Rock chucker. I always wondered why they didn't do this a long time ago when breech lock became a thing.-Dave
Hey Dave, in my research on these old RCBS presses, I found out they used to stamp the manufacture date on them in the 60's and maybe even into the 70's. Its pretty small and kinda hard to see. They stamped it at the 12 Oclock position if your looking down on the die bushing. If the die bushing lands just right it might even cover the stamp.
They are built tough. I have used mine with Corbin Dies to bond jacked .30 cal bullets, I had to go get a proper size cheater bar at Home depot to get the leverage and pressure needed. It was like water on a duck's back for my old Rock Chucker. those bullets I made shot amazingly accurate, I seen then why people make their own jacketed bullets. It is along story why I don't do it anymore, I didn't own all the equipment to myself. that was the biggest reason.anyway, Good Video-Dave
If you indeed have one like pictured it can not possibly be an A or A2. ALL of the As n A2 are two piece (press and tiltable mounting bracket) and the bushing threads are an odd 18 TPI.
RCBS began date stamping the A2 in late 1967, which coincided with their redesign and use of cast iron vs cast steel. Date stamp equals cast iron, no date stamp equals cast steel. It should be noted the A2s and Rock Chucker coexisted for about 5 years until the A2 was discontinued, but there is no such thing as a Rock Chucker A2.
Thank you very much, I just found this product too and I was really excited to see it. I just converted everything I had to breech lock and now looks like I can keep using my single stage RCBS. Great video and good timing.
Thanks for watching, glad you found it useful.
I did the hornady adapter in my rock chucker. Made a brass spacer so the stroke length is VERY CLOSE to my Inl press. I can setup my dies on my rockchucker...and just move to my lnl.
That's really smart!
Thats awesome they came out with this! Im ditching the LnL kit. I have so many of those bushings. Thanks for sharing this!
I know right! This is actually long overdue. I cant imagine why they didnt make these sooner.
Cool stuff, Man! I like the old press. All my presses are Lee. Great to see a video from you Brother. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you sir! I have a few more video ideas in the future.
Wouldn't hurt to use a little anti-seize on the new bushing threads. Dissimilar metals like aluminum and steel will gall the threads of the bushing, making them bind.
Turns out the bore was apparently slightly undersized for the female threads they cut so the peak of the threads extended just a little too far into the bore. I used an inside flap disk to dress the threads kinda like you would use a cylinder hone. Just took a couple of passes and all bushings went in without any problems, including the original it shipped with.
I use that same press. It was my dads and now I use it. I plan on getting the hornady kit for mine.
Nice, if you think about it, come back and let us know if you had trouble with the threads. Also. FYI, some of these presses have the mfg date stamped on the top at the 12 o'clock position, looking down on the bushing.
@@TreeTopFlier I just received the Hornady bushing kit for my RCBS. Because the original insert was a little gummy, I cleaned the threads with the Dremel wire brush, some CLP, and brake cleaner to degrease. The threads were smooth with no binding upon install. Hornady bushing went in by hand very easy. It looks like the manufactured date is 79-S or S-64. It's a light strike on the 7/4 and I'm not sure bout the proper orientation.
correction: the press is a 79-S. anyone know what the "-S" means?
@@wdtriplett Thats good news, the Hornady bushings were tight on mine also, so it would seem the Lee kit would work fine for you.
@@wdtriplett I looked but couldnt find anything. I think they made a press called the "special"? Maybe thats the S ?
Cool. Love your stuff. Thinking of a new Lyman single stage press for no good reason other then it's new and I like orange and it's probably more precise. This looks like a great solution for any conversion from my breech-lock dies.
Thank you Jack! I love reloading gear, I would have every press made if I could. I really like the looks of all the new Lyman presses. Don't think they use a bushing in any of the brass smith presses if you wanted to add the quick change feature. That would be required for Hornady or Lee.
...I hadda get my gunsmith to remove/replace the adapter on my 50 year old Rockchucker - at 74 I no longer have the strength...I'm fixin' to use it again for the first time sine 1974 - 78 when Iused it to reload 44Mag/Spl - I switched to progressive reloaders in the mid/late 80s but now need to load a few different styles of bullets in .38/.357 as test loads for what will eventually become runs of progressively loaded rounds for range usage...
I eventually had to lightly hone the threads on the inside of my press to get the adaptor to fit properly. Now it fits perfectly. Nice to see you still pulling the handle after all these years. Keep it up!
Sounds very much like the RC press has a slightly tapered threading for its bushing setup. You should be able to check this by measuring the OD of the bushing threads at the top, and then at the bottom of the threading. While it's possible that only the female press threading is tapered, it's more likely both the bushing and the press are tapered to ensure that the bushing comes to a firm, tight fit just as it snugs down to the top of the press. That also explains why it was so easy to remove the original bushing once it was "broken loose" with a wrench.
I think what it is, is the RC press threads come to a very sharp point. And the bottom of the threads in the bushing are flat, very common in threaded aluminum. I could probably take a brake cylinder hone to the press threads and knock those sharp peaks down and it would be fine. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I have this stuff on order in the mail. My RBBS press is a 1990 vintage. I really hope they work out. I’ll report back.
Edit: I installed these breach lock bushings on my 7 dies and the press adapter bushing fit great into my press. I would highly recommend anyone who reloads get this system. You just set each die one time, not every time. I put the red one on my Decapping and sizing die, the white one on my expanding die, and the blue one on my bullet seating and crimping die. So they are color coded red, white and blue for the sequence of the loading process.
You should be fine. Some time later on I used a flap wheel sanding device on the inside of the bore and removed the sharpest part of the threads in the press. Didnt take much and the bushing went right in. Pretty sure you will be fine. Its a great addition.
Hornady makes these also. I bought some for my Lee a few years ago.
Funny just recently had a friend give me a bunch of old equipment and got the exact same press. He said his Dad got it somewhere around 1966. I already had the Rockchucker II that I bought new around 1999, so now it's twins! Was thinking about that breech lock kit but that's a lot of dies to get the adapters for...
It really is a nice way to go for the single stage presses. I fooled around with the old thread method just to be nostalgic but I got over it fast LOL.
Thanks , this is the first I've seen of this on a video .
I dont think there are many of them out there yet. When I was first looking for the part number I only found it at MidwayUSA and Titan reloading.
great videos, i want to calibrate 457 458 459 bullets but my question is does this new LEE BREECH LOCK BULLET SIZER KIT fit for RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme IV press? how so how to screw? is there any need for an adapter or is it possible to use a standard one?
It should fit the Rock chucker fine as long as it has a removable busing. You would need the kit described in this video.
You would also need the breech lock bushing die holder. www.midwayusa.com/product/1021760375?pid=388571 Then you need the individual bushings and push pin www.midwayusa.com/product/1021760239?pid=967351 You can also use the older style sizing dies without any of this. www.midwayusa.com/product/1018523537?pid=982621 Hope this is what you are asking.
Good video, I wonder if RCBS tapered the threads and bushing for a tighter fit, such as they use in tapered pipe thread. Just a thought...
I dont think so because I tried threading it in from the underside and had the same results. The peak of the threads seem too tall and sharp. Probably could knock those down a little with a brake cylinder hone and solve the problem, but for now its working.
I'm pretty sure those old presses had cut threads. Almost all new machining processes use rolled threads.rolled threads have a bit of interference built into them so they confirm to the shape of the other thread. This makes for a greater contact area than using cut threads to cut threads. wHy guess is that installing a roller thread into a cut thread will result in greater surface contact between the threads and make a tighter connection.
Bringing new life to an old press, love it 👍
It's the newest old thing to me, so I love it. I wish I knew more about the gentleman it belonged too. He was a fellow reloader, and caster with a penchant for wheel guns. I know this because I had the privilege of sorting out what remained of his gear.
I landed an old Spat-T from a yard sell it's great and still tight tolerances 👍
I see those presses on ebay pretty often.
That’s a terrific Press! if it was mine..... I would be driven insane with the feeling to sand it down and repaint it😂 use it in good health!
I know, I even looked into powder coating it. I shook down the RCBS guys for color codes with no luck. After I scrubbed it with some acetone (just enough to remove oil and make the paint tacky) it really brought the old color back and I started liking the character the chips brought. The clean distressed look. The handle is supposed to be steel but I blued it with gun blue.
TreeTopFlier You actually did everything I was thinking, My next step would’ve been to take a couple of nerve pills.... dismount my newer Rock chucker logged it to Home Depot and hope they could match me up a quart of rust-oleum..... I have yet to meet a reloader that isn’t bugged by the details😂
You asked me a while back to let you know when I started making powder stands again for the Lee Turret press. I have some made if your still interested.
do you like the lee quick die bushing system more then the hornady? if yes why ???
what is the thread form on that interrupted thread that the plastic piece screws into, I need to have an .729 sizing die made in the 7/8-14 won't have enough meat left
Not super sure what your asking but my best guess is the thread on the press that the bushing threads into? That would be 1 1/4" -12 threads per inch.
@@TreeTopFlier thats the bunny, thanks!
I understand to install this new calibration kit, I must have this adapter? 1 1 / 4-12 BREECH LOCK UPDATE KIT?
To use the Breech Lock bushings on dies in a non breech lock press you would need to remove the stock bushing and install this kit. By calibration kit I assume you mean bullet sizer and punch.
Is that A2 tapered maybe?
It doesent look tapered to me but the threads are sharp and do remind me of pipe threads.
What happened to your Lee hand press tutorials?
They flagged my videos for TOS violations because I "showed how to make ammo" So I had to remove them to stay on UA-cam. They are still available at TheReloadersNetwork.com , Gunstreamer.com and UGETube.com Link gunstreamer.com/@TreeTopFlier?page=videos All under the handle TreeTopFlier.
@@TreeTopFlier Good grief! Thanks for the reply, and I'm glad they're still available,Keep up the good work.
thanks great info .
RCBS Rock Chucker presses are NOT high carbon steel, they are cast iron. The early RCBS A and A2 presses were cast steel, but even the late model A2's 1967 forward went to cast iron. The RCBS As and A2s (prior to cast iron) are 1-1/4-18 TPI and will never accept the Lee adapter. None of this explains your issue, but will hopefully save an A or A2 owner from much frustration.
They are ductle iron
there weren't any smart people here , just me . LMAO !!!!!! i'll definitely be using that one ;)
Ha it was true though lol 😆
My hornady is a busted ass pos and I think I'll convert it to Lee 🤣
Rats .. my Lyman press doesn't allow this....
High carbon steel? Pretty surr its ductle iron
I dont know why I said High....I was just trying to indicate to the inevitable worry warts that the aluminum bushing wasnt going to hurt the threads in the press even if I forced it a little.