I was attempting to swage a bullet today and it happened. My Rockchucker failed. snapped one of the connecting links where the pin goes through. Contacted RCBS and they gave me the option of sending it in and getting a new press orthem sending me the part. I opted for the part. It appears that the links are made of a cast and not a forged metal. Pics attached. Brand new press too. Got for Christmas.
Last edited by Sasquatch-1; 08-08-2012 at 08:30 AM.
WOW ...
Have used a Rockchucker for more than 40 years without a failure. You must have REALLY honked on it, or the new parts are not the same strength of the old ones.
This is one of the new RC4's. If you look at the third picture you can see it is not forged but appears to be a cast of some sort.Originally Posted by mstarling
I must say,this is the first "breakage" of this sort that I've seen with the RC,or really any brand. Other than the drive hub on certain LNL's.
Remember Sasquatches do have quite a bit more strength than humans,so it probably could happen to any of them.
sent via hammer and chisel
need oversized powder funnels , PTX's or expanders ? just ask, I make 'em for most brands plus my own styles.
Cast Iron is unbelievably strong. Have to get out my books to give you the tensile strength But cast iron is very fragile I would bet that it was dropped either in shipment or manufacture not pulled apart by even a Sasquatch LOL
Are the RC's cast steel or cast iron ?
At any rate I think I would make some new arms from carbon steel stock for swaging.
Me too-!
It sure would not cost very much.
I disagree. Depending on the type of cast iron the tensile strength of cast iron is about half that of mild steel. http://www.eformulae.com/engineering/tensile.php
Cast iron is brittle and has a low tensile strength compared to mild steel or cast steel. The early RCBS A2 presses are cast steel. RCBS figured out that was overkill for most applications and switched to cast iron on the later A2 presses.
Cast iron is cheap and it’s adequate for most press applications but it is not unbelievably strong even compared to mild steel.
I did the same thing in almost the exact same spot on my Classic Cast press swaging bullets.
Give me a long enough lever and I will move the world.
Or break anything made with cast or sintered metal!
I agree. While the mild steel likely won't fracture if exposed to repeated stress it may however bend or distort. I do have an earlier Rockchucker- probably of the stronger variety. Funny that the comparable Reddings, while they may not break the castings, will break the link pins if stressed pretty hard. Also, probably true that most of this stuff is made to a "Normal Usage" standard- I'd guess more true today than in years past.
That's why for my bullet swaging I "bit the bullet" and bought a dedicated arbor press designed for swaging and only use the RELOADING press for reloading- even though it is the earlier, stronger model. In the long run doing that may have saved $ and for certain saved frustration.
No conventional press is made for bullet swaging. I've always gotten a chuckle at those who loudly tout the RC as unbreakable; NOTHING is fool proof to a suficently determined misuser.
That is disappointing, but not surprising this day and age.
Sorry, man.
lmao!
That is REALLY SAD.
I am afraid it signals the end of an era.
I honestly believe you couldn't break my 1960s model Rockchucker with a D6 Cat.
.
First reload: .22 Hornet. 1956.
More at: http://reloadingtips.com/
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Either someone doesn't know how to read or speak English or are inserting words. I sure dont see where I said cast Iron was stronger than steel. I said it was strong. and I stand by what I said. cast is fragile and is bad about fracturing. But I would like to see even one man alive that can pull it apart. its tensile strength is more than sufficient for any operation even swaging It however is not a good material to handle shock loads.
I agree with you about the tensile strength.
And I am not going to argue with any engineer types. However, it appears that vector forces are more than just pulling on the links like pulling taffy. There are downward stressors as well. Proven by the breakage.
Even the mighty Blue's castings break down at the pivot areas as well. Not uncommon with SDB's and 550's.
wonder if the other side maybe stressed ?
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Ordinary low carbon steel has about twice the tensile strength of grey (cast) iron.
Cast iron comes with millions of built in pre-cracks. caused by graphite.
I heard that "the mighty blue" casts their presses out of magnesium.Even the mighty Blue's castings break down at the pivot areas as well
As to the OP, wow just wow. I never thought I would see the day. Being that I am the self sufficient do-it-myself type, I would remake those arms out of steel. However, If you arent set up for that, RCBS should make it right by you. Their CS department is spoken of in hushed and reverent tones.
If they tell you you are SOL because of abuse etc. etc. PM me. I'm a machinist and I can certainly hook you up with a new arm.
Precision in the wrong place is only a placebo.
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