RCBS JR3 Upgrade... and a small rant
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ก.ย. 2024
- Yep, it is one great little press. I can not ask more from this $20 gem. It just keeps working and doing what it is supposed to do. Not too shabby for an almost 50 year old reloading press.
Watch the video for a 10% off code at primer catchers dot com.
Thanks and Take care
The RCBS warrantee is the best in the business…Dillon is right up there with them 👍👍👍…I’ve never been disappointed with either one…I’m still loading on a Dillon RL 450 from 1983 IIRC…I still use an old RCBS Partner single stage press for loading my rifle ammo (the Dillon is used for bulk Cowboy Action .45 Colt pistol)…this is a great video 👍👍👍
Thank You!
I just finished restoring my Dads RCBS Rock Chucker Jr. operational since mid 70's. Good to go for another 45 years!
That is awesome!
Congrats! They are tough to beat!
Thanks
Can you share some pics along with what spray paint you used? In the same boat but mine is just sitting it the garage lol.
Great video. Thanks for all the info. Bought an RCBS JR 3 several years ago with a powder measure, several shell plates, a few loading blocks, few thousand primers, a couple hundred 30 cal bullets, a few hundred 308 brass, a few hundred 30-06 brass, and 4 sets of dies for $75.00 still have everything. Figured that was a great deal. Just now getting it set up. No buyer remorse. Maybe late but cheap
That sir was a great deal even several years ago! Even more so in todays craziness!!!! SCORE
The JR3 is a solid press that gets the job done... nothing fancy but it just flat out works well.
Thanks for stopping by.
I agree with your assessment of the JR series. I own a JR2 that I got 3 years ago. Made in 1968... 51 going on 52 years old. Great press. I have loaded .30-06 that I could make groups big enough to cover with a quarter at 100 yards.
I added a counterweight to keep the handle from slamming down by itself when released. I drilled out the factory hole in the toggle, tapped it, and threaded in a 5/8ths x 11 tpi 6” hex bolt. I took an old 1 3/8ths -3/4 drive socket, slid it up the hex bolt to the head end, and jam nutted it below the bolt head for the counterweight. perfect balance the handle rides in a level position now instead of slamming to the bottom. That made the press 100% better to use.
Good tip.
Ever since I added the new spring washers I haven't had any problems with the handle coming down... I even cut off the old bicycle grip and put a 3D printed 2 inch solid ball on the end.
I love RCBS and my JR3. In a move I misplaced a box with parts for my JR and hand primer. I contacted RCBS today to find replacements. Even though my fault and not a warranty issue, they are sending me everything under warranty. I was blown away. Hell my hand primer is probably 20 or more years old.
I purchased a lie classic cast press and have been using that too manufacturer precision rifle 3:08 ammunition and have had some issues with bullet and neck run out. I'm ordering a rock chucker Supreme tomorrow because of the tightness between the ram and the actual cast iron frame. It gives you almost 0% run out very high quality. RCBS make some really good stuff. Thanks for the video. Brownells has The Rock chucker for Supreme which is the newest model on sale for $159.
hey, i have an old jr3 and a new lee classic cast. the classic cast sucks. i dont get why it is many times recommended. i just use the lee classic for priming and depriming now.
Can’t beat that kind of customer service 👍
I love Trips down memory lane, Old dogs, old men with a story to spin. But most of all, old presses kicking it hard in 2019. Great video Papa, thank you for sharing, and RCBS makes some great reloading equipment, and has one of the best customer service support teams in the world..
That is really cool, customer service definitely goes a long way👍👍
My 40 year old press is a Pacific 007. It's still going strong, too. Very enjoyable to see how other presses work, especially old ones. Thanks for the interesting video, Papa's Place.
RCBS has great service, my Rockchucker served me well for over 40yrs. Still use it for some things
I have a pair of these and still is going strong 👍
I have the same press as you! I started reloading in 1982! I make ammo for most of my friends! Never had any problems! RCBS takes care of their customers!! That’s not real any more!! They do!!
You won't hear me say anything bad about the customer service from RCBS!
Hello, I have the Jr 2 single press and bought for 30 bucks. A lot of people don't know this but on the very top of the press (the flat surface) is stamped two numbers, very small. This is the year of your press. Mine is 68 for 1968. I love my press and RCBS has done the same for me giving parts for free. I am a RCBS fan ……..
Thanks for the info!
I have a 1975 JR3. I have been making ammo on it since 1976.
Nice set up upgrades man ! congrats on the stuff from RCBS too !
...bought my Rockchucker while stationed in Germany for (IIRC $26) back ca. 1972...still have it and USE it...
FYI - I've been reloading for many years with an RCBS Jr3 single stage press made in 1973 and have seen and read many comments about spent primers winding up on the floor. I found that if you don't install or if you remove the primer arm, you will reduce the number of flying primers by at least 50-70%. The culprit is the flat spring on the primer arm. The slot in the ram is directly opposite the slot where the arm is installed and I've found that the majority of the spent primers stay in the primer catcher tray.
With the primer catcher 100% of the primers go down the tube to the catch bottle. It was well worth the money not to have to find and pick up the primers off the floor! lol
...they sent me a whole new spent primer catcher assembly when I called to see if they still had the little piece of plastic that held it to the press...They ARE good!!! BTW - I like that primer catcher...great tip/link!!!
You can never fault RCBS for their lack of customer service!
Thanks and take care
Awesome video I got even luckier mine Jr3 press was free from a generous old man at my gun club love it 😀
I love my rcbs rock chucker old press. It is the best.
In the Future (2021) these little presses cost over $100 used and shipped, without powder measure and accessories. They still function as designed.
These are some crazy times for sure.
Thanks for stopping by!
I have the same press, it’s a good one!
If you need to replace the handle, RCBS doesn't make them any more. You will have to buy the handle plus some other parts. For about $8, you can get a length of all-thread. 9/16" with 18TPI threads will do it.
Thanks!
I just did that today for an RS press I picked up that was missing the handle.
Rcbs is without a doubt the best company in America totake care of their products and customers!
Yep. I know of no other company that goes anywhere near as far as RCBS does to take care of their customers.
Nice video, thank you. I have the rs that’s supposed to be the same thing. Mine made in 79. I think I’ll get this same catcher. Hope all is well.
Right on
Just picked up a jr3 4 sets of dies trickler and trimmer for 100 bucks guy said he was selling it because of primer shortage told him I’ve got primers for life as long as I have the reagents to make them I’ve got one other setup my dad started me out on when I was 8 years old and it still runs ammo like it did when I was 8 it was just too good of a deal not to get
Nothing like a great quality tool to make the job easier!
Fascinating primer catcher. TY
Vanessa Kitty Yes ma’am Miss Kitty I have the same thing for my rock chucker press it works really good you just have to be gentle with it or your snap it I broke my first one
You don’t need the rubber band! I just picked up a old (1973) JR3 yesterday and have read in a couple places that you can put a slight bend in the link between the ram and handle block and it will put enough friction between the link and block to keep the handle up. One person had the RCBS rep tell him that.
I contacted RCBS and asked them about the wave washers... they sent me 2 new ones . I put one on each side of the link and the handle stays up just as pretty as you please.
I inherited mine from my grandpap. I love it
That is a slick primer catcher, similar same idea as my Hornady Prog.
Place a stack of magnets - I use fuor circular ones I got from Harbor Freight - on the handle. Just enough to make contact with the body and hold the handle. You have to replace the magnets every 6 months (they start to crumble) but it works. I can send you pictures if you want.
on one more thing... you will need to use a zip tie to create a stop for the stack of magnets. I love these older presses - they all work the same.
I contacted RCBS and asked them about the wave washers... they sent me 2 new ones . I put one on each side of the link and the handle stays up just as pretty as you please.
Yes sir I love my Rock chucker press
Unfortunately people are trying to sell these things for $100 and up. Doesn’t make sense for me to pay that when I can get a rock chucker supreme or rebel for under $200
There is a whole lot of truth in your statement.
I have got to get the primer catcher!
I love the one I have... no more bouncing spent primers all over the place.
Very cool Brother!!
good to know ! I just bought a RC 1 off ebay alot less then the more expensive presses. Plenty of them on ebay, RC 1 & 2 rather then the RCBS Rebel, or RC 4 and supreme press. Other than loading magnum cartridges, they work great. Dies? I agree. Standard Redding dies aren't expensive and are just as good as Forster BR dies. Thanks Popa !
You are more then welcome!
Yep... the newer presses are crazy expensive...the oldies just keep on cranking out good ammo for a lot less money.
@@papasplace2 My Lee cast classic single stage ram moves by eye. The New Rebel is more than the supreme press ! Go figure ! The sad part is marketing works and people buy the stuff ! I look at my bench and see a Lee Classic cast, a FA coax, and the RC. I just sized a case with a standard Redding FL die with .0005 runout on the shoulder and neck unlike standard Lee or RCBS dies.
I assume that it'll do some swaging too ..saw one at a barn sale last year (mostly reloading gear and component) but bought other items if he has a sale this year I'll snatch it , not sure if it's junior or not but at the time $85 seemed lil high, I'll low offer and maybe take it home this time, thx for sharing
I got it thank you very much I appreciate it
Glad I could help
It is hard to RCBS single stage press. I have had a rockchucker for 30 yrs
just ordered a catcher for my Jr2, code still works!, thanks I hate having primers fall all over the place!, was going to order the primer feeder attachment next but looks like they don't carry it anymore?
How cool is that!!!!!!!
I believe that the rock chucker priming set up works just fine. Verify with RCBS though.
@@papasplace2 br nells doesn't carry it anymore but found it at local supply, going to give it a try(usually prime off press while watching tv)
Nice press thanks for sharing
Hey great video. I just got a RCBS JR 2 how do I figure out when it was made and do these have a lifetime warranty or something? How'd you get the parts for free?? Mines missing several parts
If you look at the top of the press there should be 2 digits stamped into the flat unpainted area.
Just contact RCBS and tell them what's missing and see what they tell you. There are some parts no longer made for it.
When you called RCBS did you tell them you have a TH-cam channel, or did they treat you that well as a normal customer?
They have no idea that I have a TH-cam channel... they treat everyone that way.
Any of the reloading companies are quick to correct any problem you have, I've found.
I find if you put the spring washer on the left side of the pivot, it for some reason adds more friction on that side than the right side. If I install it on the left, the handle stays up but if I install it on the right the handle falls.
RCBS sent me a couple of new spring washers for free so i put 1 on each side.. the handle doesn't even think about falling now.
@@papasplace2 I think people lose them over the years. Mine is a hand me down that went through my father and a few of his hunting buddies. By the time I got it about 5 years ago it only had one spring washer. Mines a 1973.
@@Backin_Theday Back in the day they only used 1 spring washer. Just contact RCBS and they will be more then happy to send you a couple for free... they have outstanding customer service! I tried to pay for mine and they refused to take my money!
Mine is a 1974
@@papasplace2 yes, RCBS will let you buy a press from the Cabelas bargain cave, missing all the parts, and then send you all the parts to make it complete. No charge all you have to do is the leg work of submitting a missing parts list.
Great video I just bought a rock chucker like yours it looks the same, how do I know if it’s a jr 1 2 or 3 model
If you look on the side of the back upright it will be cast into the metal.
👍 I just subscribed!
How do you get the handle to stay in the upright position on this press... Mine falls down and it's frustrating.
RCBS has spring washers that go between the frame and the handle. If you call them they will send them to you for free, that's where I got mine. Just pull the pin and insert the spring washer..
Easy peasy.
I love RCBS! Great company and great people there too.
Sir also what is the primer attachment called the upper part and bottom part I’m missing both of those on my rcbs
The lower part is called the primer arm... www.brownells.com/reloading/priming-tools/benchmount-tools/universal-primer-arm-2-prod54253.aspx
The upper part is called the primer feed... www.brownells.com/reloading/priming-tools/benchmount-tools/auto-primer-feeder-tube-large-sku747000003-54187-125728.aspx
Does anyone have an issue with thes presses resizing newer cases like 6.5 creedmoor? It takes a huge amount of force to resize them. I have ensured theres plenty lube and they are tumbled before resizing
I have no problem resizing 30-06 or 6.5 Creedmoor on mine. When resizing you need to make sure the inside of the neck has some lube too. I use the lanolin oil/alcohol case lube and have never had any issues.
Mine is wore out.
Next week if you call RCBS customer service I think that they will be more then willing to help you out. A friend had a Rock Chucker that was worn out and they sent him a brand new press... just saying. you won't need a receipt and even be the original purchaser. They stand behind what they sell.
Is it ok for 308?
He says in the video that he does .30-06 on it. I do .30-06, .308 and .45-70 on my JR2. Your more then good to do .308 on a Rcbs JR.
Yes. Easy peasy.
Hey...Yo...Does that thing press out meatballs?
I would buy your press for $110.99
Things are certainly crazy right now...I look at the prices people are selling stuff for and shake my head.
This isn't the first time this has happened... and probably won't be the last. Hang in there and wait till the craziness passes and prices get back to a somewhat normal level. It is people panicking that's driving the shortages and prices. Companies are making more now then ever before in ammo, reloading components and reloading tools. I believe that it will get better... just not sure how long that's going to take.
Hang in there and thanks for the comment.
@@papasplace2 just busted handle bracket off my vintage lee press. to be fair I was forming 8mm brass out of 30/ 06 range brass.