Really liking my RCBS Summit press!

[steve123]

I've been looking to buy a new reloading press for a few years now because I'm a little disappointed with my old Redding.

I gave thought to buying a Forster COAX but some of my custom dies are larger diameter 11/4-12 thread so I abandoned that idea.


The main things I didn't like about the Redding press I've been using are;

1. When the primer is punched out of the case it misses the primer catch tray or comes out of the front of the ram sometimes.

2. The ram itself gets filthy with burnt primer and powder residue which makes a mess that needs constant cleaning and lubing.

3. The top of the press where the die screws in is powder coated. The powder coat breaks off in places where the die lock ring snugs up.

4. The press must be mounted high at 5" above my bench to avoid bending over when operating the handle on it's lowest stroke.


The RCBS Summit press rocks!!!

The things I like about it are;

1. The primers make into the tray every time and the primer tray is mounted to the press but easily removed.

2. The ram is massive, does not move and is about 2.5" away from the shell holder so it doesn't get any residue on it.

3. The linkage is adjustable for resistance so I don't have to use a full stroke every time. It can be set to stop 2-3" above the shell holder or wherever you want it set. Great for seating bullets or sizing small cases.

4. The front of the press is open!!! You just don't realize how nice that is until you try it. Very very convenient not having to reach around the front like with the old press and faster as well.

5. It provides a lot of force or at least how the force is applied and the way it feels.

6. Where the die lock collar snugs against is machined.

7. I mounted it 2" above my bench on a piece a cut off a solid core door. I don't have to bend over at all on the bottom of the stroke to operate it. Also I discovered I can lean against the handle on it's top most of the stroke which takes strain off my back.

8. It can be mounted above a drawer if wanted.

9. Overall the heft and quality of this press impresses and looks to be superior to any press I've used to date. I've owned Hornady, Lyman, Lee, RCBS, Redding and Dillon.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97_iFx70TU8

 

[flashhole]

Congratulations on your new press.

What model Redding are you disatisfied with? I have two Ultramags that I will never part with as long as I can still reload. Primers are dropped through a hole in the ram. Very clean very controlled. I had a Redding model 25 that I could not warm up to because of the backward tilt.

Yours is the second favorable review of the Summit I've read, no negative reports that I have seen.

 

[steve123]

Thanks, I seated 200 bullets on some 380's for the G42 yesterday. Nothing I can complain about with the Summit! It's nice to not have to do a complete stroke of the handle to size or seat for small cartridges.

I think it's the old Boss press. Doesn't have the new primer catch system. Linkage is getting a little slop in it too. That handle has been cranked many a time over the years.

 

[sakobob]

load some rifle rounds on it and let me know what you think as far as
it works for seating and shoulder bumping.
my lgs has one of these on display and i keep thinking i may want one after
checking it out a couple times.
the question i have learned to ask rather then "what do you like about it"
is what don't you like about it? thanks

 

[memilanuk]

The adjustable stroke sounds good... actually it sounds like it should make a really handy range press. I noticed in the 2014 RCBS catalog that they have some adapter plates/inserts for using it as an arbor press, which sounds kinda nifty as well.

 

[LawnMM]

I'm glad you had a good experience. I've not had a similar situation. The ram absolutely flexes, noticeably on full length resizing. Its because the manner the ram is bolted into the base is not sufficient to resist the torque on a C frame press. My case holder base came loose and I had to unbolt the whole press from my bench to fix it.

I do my full length sizing on an O frame RCBS press. Summit for neck sizing and seating only. CoAx is on order and then I'm selling the summit. Buy a classic rock chucker O frame or a CoAx, skip the summit.

 

[steve123]

Hmmm,

I haven't had a chance to size any bigger cartridges yet, well bigger than 223 anyway. I didn't notice any problems at all sizing 300 223 cases. When I get around to resizing the bigger ones I'll check case runout for both presses and see if there is a difference.

 

[milo 2.0]

Hmmm,

I haven't had a chance to size any bigger cartridges yet, well bigger than 223 anyway. I didn't notice any problems at all sizing 300 223 cases. When I get around to resizing the bigger ones I'll check case runout for both presses and see if there is a difference.

Steve I do believe you're in a minority group with your findings. I liked the looks of the thing up front, friend bought one, used it for about 4 hours, every set screw on the thing came loose. Not sure if it got aligned right when he retightened shit, but wasn't long after he snapped the handle off at the base. I look at it in a different light today.

He gave it away, I think to his father in law who he's not so fond of!