RCBS question

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richhodg66

Well-Known Member
So, the long and short of it is that my brother, who enjoys refinishing iold tools of any kind, got my Dad's Rockchucker, the press he used for like forty years and most of that time it was on a bench on a screened in porch in humid S.C. and used hard. Needless to say, it needed a makeover and it is already looking good.

Now the question; after stripping off the old paint and rust, the press has a "A3" on it. This one would be from the early 70s. Near as I could ever tell, it's a Rockchucker same as my 1991 vintage one except for the bicycle handle instead of the ball.. Of course, the RCBS A2 is famous, but did they originally designate the Rockchucker the A3? I've never heard it called anything but a Rockchucker.

It did have a date stamp on it, but wasn't real clear. Could be a 71, which would be about right. AMong my very earl childhood memories, I was about three or four, was sitting in the basement of a rental house in Columbus when Dad taught at Ohio State and seeing the blue press with the Pacific logo on the primer cup, so he picked up the RCBS after that, probably about the time we moved to S.C. where I started Kindergarten in 1971. Can't ask Dad, he can't remember stuff we talked about two minutes ago now.
 
RBHarter

RBHarter

West Central AR
You might be able to ask . While he can't remember 15 minutes ago he might remember the nail that creeped up out of that screened porch about a week after moving in that hung up his heel and tore the cuff on his almost trousers.

The A's weren't RC's the RCII came out about the same time with the ball handle and another inch or so of handle. It is my understanding that the RC was the original design for the 1939 swage press . I've been wrong before might be this time too .
 
R

richhodg66

Well-Known Member
A year or so ago, he might have, but not now I'm oretty sure. Kinda funny watching someone with dementia, things they were passionate about still are vivid details. I was with him at a gun show about two years old, looked at a 310 tool set which he used to load with. His mind was already going fast but he very carefully and systematically explained how it worked and showed me where a small part was missing. I mentioned this to one of my brothers who reminded me of my grandfather at that stage still playing the piano by ear perfectly (he had a doctorate in music was was the department head of a couple of big universities in his lifetime).

Kinda wonder what I'll still be doing when my mind goes.
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I had three RCBS Rock Chuckers well one was a RCII and two older versions. I gifted one RCII to friend of friend starting reloading and the second RC to my close friend here who needed a second press. I kept worst looking one and stripped and sprayed it, hi hear silver manifold paint. It came out good and lived that way probably ten years. Recently I began re using the press and because of my uTube videos was getting many inquiries about it. Most disliking my color choice. SO, I gave it a skuff and sprayed satin rustolium green.

71311630172__9A541A5A-E803-499D-93CE-A13C27A76BA3.jpeg71302852276__58B04E07-E514-4CBC-9C0C-E52ECA17B375.jpeg
 
3

300BLK

Well-Known Member
apparently the A3 preceeded the current Rockchucker line

rcbs A3

i have several vintage reloading presses; one of them is a RCBS A2. i know that for a short time that rcbs made a A3. can someone tell me about them. bigger,smaller, heavier ??
castboolits.gunloads.com
 
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D

Dusty Bannister

Well-Known Member
I suppose that the paint finish might also be a clue about age. The old presses had the dull wrinkle finish. No help on purchase date because I bought mine used in '86 and added a wood ball to replace the bicycle grip. RC marked cast body.
 
R

rj-35-40

New Member
richhodg66 said:
So, the long and short of it is that my brother, who enjoys refinishing iold tools of any kind, got my Dad's Rockchucker, the press he used for like forty years and most of that time it was on a bench on a screened in porch in humid S.C. and used hard. Needless to say, it needed a makeover and it is already looking good.

Now the question; after stripping off the old paint and rust, the press has a "A3" on it. This one would be from the early 70s. Near as I could ever tell, it's a Rockchucker same as my 1991 vintage one except for the bicycle handle instead of the ball.. Of course, the RCBS A2 is famous, but did they originally designate the Rockchucker the A3? I've never heard it called anything but a Rockchucker.

It did have a date stamp on it, but wasn't real clear. Could be a 71, which would be about right. AMong my very earl childhood memories, I was about three or four, was sitting in the basement of a rental house in Columbus when Dad taught at Ohio State and seeing the blue press with the Pacific logo on the primer cup, so he picked up the RCBS after that, probably about the time we moved to S.C. where I started Kindergarten in 1971. Can't ask Dad, he can't remember stuff we talked about two minutes ago now.
Click to expand...
I have a fantastic memory, unfortunately instant recall is a problem
 
Ian

Ian

Notorious member
John Deere green is actually pretty close. Seems like it would be more yellow than RCBS paint and it is but sude-by-side it's not apparent enough to matter.

If you can find it, Rust-Oleum hammered green looks really good on RCBS tools, though it is a little too much on the blue side. A couple very light coats of bare metal primer after chemical stripping the press helps fill the pits and makes the paint stick better.
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I looked for that Green Hammered when I got a PM about it. I hadn't thought of looking for it. No local places had any.

Here is what I used. Its a Outdoor Décor #7732 satin Forest Green.
 
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R

richhodg66

Well-Known Member
He wanted to get it close to original, which is fine.

Honestly, a press that is niether rare nore collectable like a Rockchucker, I can see a guy getting creative and painting it some wild color just for fun. Nice to think outside the box a little.
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Winelover said:
Original color of an RCBS press. Its a dull crinkle finish. Nothing hammered about it.


View attachment 35682
Click to expand...
Agreed. Altho "Wrinkle" paints have been around for years these "Hammered" paint are simular. They are what RCBS has changed to and they work well and apply easily not requiring extra steps many wrinkle paints need.

Around here the dark earth tones are all that are carried. BLK Charcoal and Bronze are ones I have and have used many times with great sucess.

When it was suggested to me I was suprised I had not thought if it. Amazon had but was costly and long delivery times where quoted, so I looked local. It must not be common as mo one here I could fined, carried it.
 
Pressman

Pressman

Active Member
Rich, the A3 is a rare press. It was made for just one year, one production run in 1971. They were sold into 1972 until the run was sold out then the A series ended. With the success of the Rockchucker the larger and more costly A presses were not commercially viable. They also had the worst paint application of any RCBS tool. It was a light green wrinkle finish that did not adhere well to the iron frame. And it was thin. Rust and paint chipping off was a problem.
 
B

beagle

Active Member
You guys make me sick with all these clean, painted presses and spotless organized benches. I got about 20 feet of bench top, two old Rockchuckers, a #450 sizer and heater, a Uniflow measure and a set of Ohaus scales and a Sidewinder tumbler on it it. Oh, forgot the Pro-Melt.
Then, as Buckshot use to say, I use the "avalanche" method of organizing. Pile it on until there's an avalanche, stop and clean up and start over again.
As has been mentioned, the early Rockchuckers had the "crinkle" paint. Think these were standard until about 89. Then they changed to the slick paint. I accumulated a crinkle pain model about 90 from and estate sale and replaced my Lyman Spartan C with my "new" Rockchucker about 1989. Both do the job. There was a model slightly smaller then the Rockchucker that came out about 1990. Looked the same but not as heavy and bulky. #2 son has one but is in NC and it's not available to look at. These may have been the A3 you're speaking of. If it's an A2, you'll know it by size. Awesome. Probably load a 20MM case. Know it will take a .50.
The crinkle pain is available as I've seen several presses refinished with it. Nice, but can't have things too clean and organized. Don't feel "at home" in a clean shop./beagle
 
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