RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit Review: Part 1 - Introduction, Specifications and Summary

RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit Review
Part 1 - Introduction and Contents/Specifications
In Work, 2012

I had my first introduction into reloading about 18 years ago during the Christmas holidays when I helped my brother-in-law load up a variety of 9mm, .38 Special and .357 Magnum cartridges. At that time our need for reloading was driven purely by economics. We both liked to shoot but we were both on tight budgets. He was the expert and I was the helper. About a year after we started reloading, he passed away and I for some reason never got back into reloading. Over this past year I have formed a renewed interest into reloading, although the motivating factor is not as much economics. My new found reloading interests are fueled by the desire to gain further knowledge into the details of ammunition and to see if I can produce some custom loads for a couple of my rifles that are better than what is currently available off the shelf. After finally mustering up enough courage to see how deep this rabbit hole will go, I coached my wife into getting me the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit for Christmas.

I selected the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit for several reasons. The first is that the kit should contain all the basic items to get you started into reloading ammunition. When I say "get you started" I mean that you will soon find that you need a few other items like a shell holder, dies, case cleaner, calipers and I'm sure I will find out there is more. The next reasons are that the Rock Chucker seems to be one of the beefiest presses on the market and a good friend swears by RCBS's outstanding customer service. Finally, the kit price along with a rebate was too much to pass up. Cabala's has this kit on sale for $249.99 before Christmas and that price along with a $50 rebate from RCBS made this purchase a "no brainer". Today Cabela's price has gone up to $279.99, but this is a significant reduction from the MSRP of $458.95 so make sure you shop around before making your purchase.

Based on the RCBS website (shown in colored italics) and the side of the box, the kit comes with the following items.

Rock Chucker Supreme Press
5-0-5 Mechanical Scale
Hand Priming Tool
Uniflow Powder Measure
Case Lube Pad
Case Lube-2
Case Neck Brushes
Case Loading Block
Powder Funnel
Hex Wrench Set
Debur Tool
Speer Reloading Manual

Figure 1 - Side of Box

The advertising on the side of the box claims:

Everything you need in one handy kit.
The Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit is the perfect answer for the reloader wanting to start out with the best equipment.
It includes all the tools and accessories needed to get a new bench off to a great start and features the Rock Chucker Supreme with a 4.5" operating window to accommodate larger magnum cartridges, ambidextrous handle and positive spent primer retention.
Complete information for choosing the right bullet, primer and powder, and step-by-step instructions on reloading are included.
Reloading dies and shell holder not included and must be purchased separately.
This kit offers savings over the same items if purchased individually.

Since each item in this kit could potentially be a review of it's own, this review is broken down into multiple parts with this page providing links to each part along with an introduction to the review, contents/specifications and my final "bottom line" comments. Make sure you take time to checkout the other parts of the review because they contain many photos and lots of commentary. Also, there is an extreme amount of detail in those parts which is not covered on this page.

RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit Review: Part 1 - Introduction and Contents/Specifications
RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit Review: Part 2 - What's in the Box
- The contents were packaged well and arrived without any damage. Each primary component came with it's own instruction manual and my first impressions were positive about the quality of the Rock Chucker Supreme press and components.
RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit Review: Part 3 - Rock Chucker Supreme Assembly & Installation

Bottom Line:

TBD

If you would like to be notified about future Gunsumer Reports reviews via Facebook, make sure "You Like This" by clicking the Facebook "Like" button at the bottom or top of this page. If it already says "You Like This" beside the button, clicking it again will uncheck the "Like" status and you will not be notified.


Share on Facebook