RCBS "Summit" Single Stage Press

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
After hunting up and ordering a 45 ACP/AR roll-crimping seater die yesterday (RCBS #18942, for the trivia buffs) my puter started getting RCBS ads flashed onto my Facebook page feed. It was a scrolling series of 4 photos of their latest new goodies, one of which intrigued me a bit. Whutdaheck izzat? It looks kinda press-like.

A bit of Google-Fu produced an answer--the tool was indeed a single stage press, known as the "Summit" model name. It has a unique (to me) operating scheme--the shell holder and casing remains stationary, and the die is lowered onto the case. The ram is of impressive size--2" diameter.

Mind you--my ancient RCBS Rock Chucker does fine work. No complaints of any kind, and I am a great believer in the strength of the O-frame press concept. Has anyone here seen or run one of these Summit machines? There are gun shops and reloading stores in the Free World that have demo models set up for people to try out. One such store outside Eugene OR had a Ponsness-Warren P-200 on display (c. 1999), rigged with 22 Hornet tooling. 10 minutes with that critter.....and I had to have my own machine. And did, a few months later. I am also mindful that I am the in-house social science major, and that most of the members here have actual lifetimes spent in engineering, machining, and tool-using venues. Give this press a look-over, and see what you think. At a $234 MSRP, I am not curious enough to spring for a test drive at that tariff level--not with a fine Rock Chucker and P-200 already on the bench.

ETA--The $900 electronic powder measure discussed here a few days ago is another of the four-photo scroll series mentioned above. You have been fairly warned.
 
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Rick

Moderator
Staff member
What no link? Without a link to it there is no Summit. :rolleyes: Yeah I'll fess up, I'm lazy.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
The Evil Empire (Bwana Larry's Shipping Rip-Off Emporium) lists these for 195 bones currently.

I watched a couple videos to see the tools in action, and the users made noises that they liked the work done by the tool. The press is a compact, efficient-looking little critter in action, I will say that. FWIW. It has a zerk fitting for lubrication, too.

Thank you for posting that link, Rick.
 
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Ian

Notorious member
Bwana recognized the error of his ways some time ago and has some of the best shipping services in the industry. He earned my business back after the correction.

I watched a utoob video by Reloading Bench who reviewed something like 25 presses in great detail. In an evaluation to produce true and consistent ammunition, the Summit was near the top but behind the Rockchucker Supreme and some $900 Russian marvel of precision.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
I bought the first one I saw, because I don't have much of an elbow so have a really hard time pulling the lever up with a press that has a handle that drops below table. So after five years, I have an opinion, as you would guess. It is a heavy all iron beast with no flex that I can find. It has very small footprint on the bench, but it has to be very close to the edge. To me, it is a Rockchucker turned upside down, but does have shorter links and a little less mechanical advantage. You can only prime on it with an accessory die. Or like me, I use a hand tool. I like the grease zerk for lubing the pillar which I do once in a while, because I clean the tool every week of so. Also I made a shorter and lighter handle for small cases and seating bullets, as the large one is overkill unless making 22/250's from 30/06's.

Picture is of my inside reloading desk from before I bought the Summit and was using the Redding press.
reloading and work bench.jpg
 
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CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
I prefer Graf's, but Bwana Larry still gets a bit of my coin. The scrolling ad listed the Summit as "New"--from Ric's text, it has been around for a while. I need to get out more, or pay better attention to RCBS ads. Or something.
 

Cherokee

Medina, Ohio
Midway service is fast and efficient. I frequently get 2 day delivery.
Don't need or want a new press - I really want a good reliable easy to use hand operated primer seater that will seat the primer to the bottom of the primer pocket below flush with the case head. Sorry for the drift...no, not sorry.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I have had a summit for,,, well since I couldn't find an initial red/white/blue one, and just bought a green one.

you do lower the die down onto the shell holder.
I use mine mostly for seating with the short handle, if I have to full length size something I put the long handle back on.
or move over a foot and use the lyman 0-frame, or another foot and use the RCBS chucker.
I prefer not to size on it.
the little crappy primer tray is ridiculous, I'm surprised they haven't offered a metal upgrade of some sort.

for a second press, or an easy to use bullet seating press yeah,, as a first or only press... no.
if your bench is kind of lower and you can stand over the top of it to size,, meh, it'd be a bit easier,, but you really don't have any compound linkage working for you more like brute force.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Interesting, Lamar. I had the same idea, OK for a 2nd press--but not as useful as a RC. The videos I watched don't specify WHAT KIND of sizing being done, and ignore the priming operation entirely (harking back to Ric's text).

I wouldn't be able to make much use of even a GOOD hand-priming set-up, given my hand strength/endurance issues. I do OK with the pivot arms on the press, or with the now-ancient RCBS Ram Priming System. Few things indicate your age like the era your tools came from, eh?
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
IIRC, they were green when introduced, then the "Wounded Warrior" donation presses that were numbered and red, white and blue. Like fiver says, there is less leverage than with a RC or any of the big C or O compound presses. My bench is just a little kids school desk, but the press forces are straight down so nothing is tied to the wall or floor. Also the platen is adjustable fore and aft and tightness. Primer disposable system is really poor.
summit press.JPG
 

Ian

Notorious member
The review I watched also tested handle pull force to resize cases and the reviewer also commented that contrary to looks, the force required was surprisingly high.
 

DHD

Active Member
Midway service is fast and efficient. I frequently get 2 day delivery.
Don't need or want a new press - I really want a good reliable easy to use hand operated primer seater that will seat the primer to the bottom of the primer pocket below flush with the case head. Sorry for the drift...no, not sorry.
Well well, take a look at the Frankford Arsenal primer tool that Midway has. I've busted a few Lee's over the years, and when not busted, seated primers as deep as THEY wanted to. The newish Frankford Arsenal tool has an adjustment wheel that can seat primers a .001" or so deeper per click. Pretty robust set up and 1/2 the cost of a 21st Century tool that does the same thing.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Ian, Maybe I am not as weak as I thought in my old age!:) But I do have to stand to size 45/70 cases to 40/65 in one push.