RCBS Rebel Press - Initial Impressions

[Petrol & Powder]

Saw a photo on the Midway site--we should call it Son Of Rockchucker. The parentage is pretty obvious. Its pricing is a bit more than the Rockchucker, but not excessively so. I remember some time back The Old Western Scounger sold a press he called The Rock Crusher. Maybe this Rebel is the offspring of dalliances between those two machines.

I think Son of Rockchucker is a very appropriate name for the Rebel. The linkage geometry is similar, the toggle is the same style, even the mounting hole pattern is the same. I agree, the parentage is obvious.

The steel plate link arms are likely stronger in tension than the cast versions of the Rockchucker (and probably less expensive to produce). The omission of on-press priming reduces complexity and cost. I suspect RCBS came to the conclusion that most users prime off the press anyway and decided to simplify and strengthen the design. I think that was a good trade off.
Initially I thought the zerk fitting was a bit of a marketing novelty but now I'm thinking it may be a useful addition. There's a cavity cut inside the bore that intersects with the zerk fitting to allow the grease to flow completely around the ram. So they actually spent a little effort on the feature.

The fact that every pivot on the linkage is easily removable is significant. RCBS could have saved some money and used simpler, non-removable press fit pins, but they elected to take the high road.

As I said previously, I'm not sure if the Rebel is intended to replace the Rockchucker or compete with the Redding Big Boss.
I do believe that RCBS was seeking to reduce manufacturing costs while holding the quality high. I think they did a pretty good job.

 

[CZ93X62]

That is exactly what it sounds like. I don't know if RCBS still makes/sells their Positive Ram Priming Unit or not, mine still works well and could snap in to this press easily.

 

[RicinYakima]

The RCBS Summit press does not have a primer built in either. Yes, they still have the ram prime and mine works very well as long as I use RCBS shellholders. Some of my older ones, Texan and Lachmiller, have the pass thru holes too big and require a little adjustment if I want to use them.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

That is exactly what it sounds like. I don't know if RCBS still makes/sells their Positive Ram Priming Unit or not, mine still works well and could snap in to this press easily.

MidwayUSA still lists it but it is currently unavailable.

A good old hand priming tool will do the job just as well, a lot faster and they don't cost much more.
In terms of cost and durability, the ram prime probably wins. In terms of what my patience can tolerate......the hand primer wins for me.

 

[CZ93X62]

These days, 80%-85% of my cartridge reloading gets done on the Ponsness-Warren P-200. Its priming station is on-press and the function flows along nicely as part of its manual progressive scheme.

 

[Glaciers]

I use a RCBS bench mounted priming station when using the single stage presses. The on board priming system for my LEE Classic Turret Press works well. The hand held priming always seem to have a glitch for me, so I gave up on them. There's half a dozen in the same pile with the extra scales, powder measures waiting for the next gun show.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

When it comes to handgun cartridges, it is done on a Dillon 550.
But, I still load rifle cartridges on a single stage. Some handgun stuff that I don't have tool heads set up for gets done on the SS.

 

[RicinYakima]

These days, 80%-85% of my cartridge reloading gets done on the Ponsness-Warren P-200. Its priming station is on-press and the function flows along nicely as part of its manual progressive scheme.

Loaded many thousands of rounds of 45 ACP soft ball on mine during my Bullseye NRA days. Sold to another fellow who used it for his grandkids 45 ACP's. With good maintenance they will last forever. I too liked the fired case enters on the right and a finished round come out on the left. Plus you can stop and check every stage and never have a error or miss feed.

 

[CZ93X62]

And the machine uses all of same tooling your single-stage press uses.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

So after a little more time with the Rebel I'm going to declare that it was a good purchase.

The lack of offset to the frame opening has proven to be a total non-issue. The offset handle (and you pick which side) coupled with the large opening in the frame; allows plenty of access.

There's plenty of leverage. I can't say it's any better than any other press in this class but it is certainly more than enough.

I've had zero issues with any of the hardware loosening or backing out. After mounting the press to the bench I did disassemble the press and clean everything. Everything was oiled or greased prior to re-assembly and everything was tightened appropriately.

The disposal of spent primers via the hollow ram is a huge plus and one of the press' best features.

The price of the Rebel, combined with the current RCBS rebate, makes the Rebel a good value. While it's not a screaming hot deal, it is a lot of press for the money. It's impossible to predict the service life of something this new, but I wouldn't be the least bit concerned about the durability of the Rebel.
In its class, the Rebel is as very good value. IMO.

 

[RBHarter]

Per RCBS the Partner press , the little aluminum frame light duty unit , has an engineered design life of 50,000 rounds , so 2.75 times or 113,000+- strokes . Cast iron against a clean steel rod with minimal side loading under thrust load (based on life experience) should be 3-4x that plus 1 for load area increase . I would think easily 600-650,000 strokes well into 200,000 rounds of loaded ammo more for 2 dies only . It should hold the grand kids most of their lives .

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Im working on my room expansion. Benches on two walls entire length approx 10x14' room. I kept a old red Pacific O press Cause it was always "good" to me. It bas a small ram so outta fation today as everyone seems to thing big fat rams somehow make things soo much better.

Anyhow, Im gonna set up a additional 550 on one end. My APP on an extream end (it dosent need room or "supporting equipment
Like a scale or powder measure. Then a Shotshell area with removable presses for gauges. (I learned early on it was easier to grab a new press then to change out and set up a different Gauge. So I have a 410, 20 & 12. Never found a 16 or 28, but I have a 28 set up I have used in the 20....

Anyhow for some reason that Ol Red Pacific Press is constantly on my mind... So the RCBS's will stay under the Bench for some longer years.
CW

 

[Ian]

The disposal of spent primers via the hollow ram is a huge plus and one of the press' best features

RCBS finally bought a much-needed clue from John Lee.

No priming feature saves money on the press and boosts sales of bench and hand priming tools. Win/win.

 

[CZ93X62]

That perspective follows fashion as well--off-press priming seems to be The Thing these days.

 

[RicinYakima]

Keep the little red Pacific mounted. There are many times when you just want to do a single operation to a few cases.

 

[waco]

Keep the little red Pacific mounted. There are many times when you just want to do a single operation to a few cases.

I had bought a new Lyman all American 8 to replace my old RockChucker. I mounted the RC out in the shop for "just in case uses"
It has come in handy several times.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

RCBS finally bought a much-needed clue from John Lee.

No priming feature saves money on the press and boosts sales of bench and hand priming tools. Win/win.

I doubt that RCBS omitted on the the press priming to boost sales of off-press priming tools but I do think they omitted the on-press priming because it has, 1. fallen out of favor & 2. simplifies the press and therefore reduces cost.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

CWlongshot, if you're building new benches I can HIGHLY recommend attaching those benches to the wall. I made my benches mate with a ledger board attached to the wall and the bench attaches to the ledger board with carriage bolts inserted from the wall side of the board. That allows the bench to be secured with nuts and washers but it can be removed if needed.

 

[Ian]

"Ledger board", thank you. I've been struggling to recall that proper term for nearly a decade and yes, that is THE way to secure a bench to a wall.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

UPDATE:

A little over a year with the Rebel. Absolutely no complaints, this is a keeper.

I know this may be heresy, but the Rebel will likely be the new Rock Chucker.

I’ve used this press mostly for rifle cartridges, but I also loaded handgun cartridges on the Rebel, including several hundred 32 ACP cartridges. That taxed my dexterity but not the press. This press has handled everything I’ve asked of it (not surprising) and there have been no problems.

The hollow ram which allows spent primers to fall through and into a trash can is a nice feature. The offset handle (you can choose a left or right offset) is working out fine. There’s nothing extraordinary about this press; it’s just a large iron, O-frame frame press – but RCBS seems to have got it right.