Some equipment that I really like

[Boyd Allen]

A long time back, I bought the parts to convert my Rockchucker to Hornady's Lock-N-Load system, that lets dies be changed with a twelfth of a turn, using a bayonet system. At the time, I envisioned the change as being primarily useful for those times when I would take the press to the range to help friends work up loads for their magnum hunting rifles, using threaded dies. Previously, when I had done this, there had been some difficulties maintaining die settings when going back and forth between sizing and seating dies. This conversion was to deal with that situation. As it turned out, I have not had much occasion to do any of that sort of work since I made the change, so the press along with its conversion, have been mostly gathering dust...until recently.

Last night I began a project of evaluating some dies and bushings, and started out working with some old fired brass. Not wanting to disturb my range kit, the Rockchucker was pressed into service, along with the required number of die adapters. After setting the dies, I was able to rapidly change them while maintaining their settings. This was very much like having all of the advantages of a turret press, with none of the disadvantages.

I know that many types of shooting involve preloading, and for those applications I suggest that you might want to consider one of these conversions.

 

[abintx]

I'm using the Lock-N-load Bushings [ http://www.hornady.com/support/how-lock-n-load-works ] on my Hornady Auto Progressive Press [ http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-AP/ ] when reloading for my pistols.

Here's the kit that simplifies the task for other press owners:http://www.midwayusa.com/product/858110/hornady-lock-n-load-press-and-die-conversion-bushing-kit Really saves a lot of time. Isn't technology marvelous!

 

[SGJennings]

Skip's sizing die shims. If it was me, I'd get two sets for each press that I use.

 

[Hippy]

I have a RCBS Reloader Special that I carry to the range- unfortunally my Rock Chucker on the bench is not the same- It gives me a different die setting. I am wondering if the Lock-n-Load would cure this
??

Thanx,
Jim

 

[Boyd Allen]

Probably not, you would still have the difference in height from the top of the shell holder to the top of the press insert, only in the case of the conversion it would be to the top of the stacked flanges of the conversion bushing and the die adapter. In your case, It may be that shimming under the adapter flange of one of your presses could make them the same, if they are close. Of course you could do this with the threaded adapters if the difference is small enough. Whether you go to Lock-N-Load or not, this could save you quite a lot of time. If you decide to do some shimming, make sure that you take your measurements with the ram at the very top of its stroke. Some presses go beyond this point when their handles are as far down as they will go. Recently I used a dial indicator to check this on my Rockchucker and was pleased to learn that the ram is at its highest at the end of the stroke. Having had presses that were not made this way, I can say that my preference is for the way that my Rockchucker is built.