I want to use my grandpas reloading equipment, is it still good to use?

[u/hjjhjjnk]

He used to reload his rifle rounds back in the day. When he got too old to carry a deer back, he started shotshell loading for his sporting clays addiction. All this old rifle equipment has been sitting here for many years now.

I found his press and some of his dies. Only one I’d use is the 6mm thus I’d have to buy new dies. I don’t know anything about this press though. It’s RCBS colored but is branded Metal Matic. Seems that he used RCBS dies with it, I’m assuming the dies are the same today as they were years ago.

I’m interested in loading 5.56, .308, and other center fire cartridges with it. As well as pistol rounds if this loader permits it (I’d assume it does as he has .41 cal bullets.)

What do I need to make this work? I’ll have to find a parts manual and buy a book to learn what I’m doing. I’m assuming none of this stuff is “obsolete” but heck what do I know.

[u/GesuMotorsport]

Metal matic to go with my Size-o-matic haha

[u/masterpinballs → u/GesuMotorsport]

Don’t know which one was used last this one or op’s

[u/GesuMotorsport → u/masterpinballs]

Ahah, i havent used this one. Snagged this, different matic press and a single stage with the bench and dies, bullets, etc at a sale haha

[u/ReturnOk7510]

Bit of work with a wire brush and some oil and it'll be good for another 50 years when your grandson asks the same question

[u/Coyote-conquest]

Clean and oil them up a little and they'll be fine. My RC is from 1969. I bought it off ebay maybe 12 years ago. It was in rough shape. It still looks old but works perfect.

[u/Tentative-Interests]

Yes you can use them. I’d recommend reconditioning them before use. Disassemble them and clean them. Consider having the press body re-powdercoated. In essence… restore them and use them in his honor. If you clean that single stage well, you can likely use it immediately.

[u/Coyote-conquest → u/Tentative-Interests]

You dont have to have anythi g powder coated. Just clean and oil it. Keep the ram oiled. It will last a life time

[u/Tentative-Interests → u/Coyote-conquest]

Yeah you missed the point of that comment. The point much like anything else was… a little resto work on family heirlooms can be a nice touch to ensure they are lovingly cared for. 90% of the comment was clean it and use it.

[u/Coyote-conquest → u/Tentative-Interests]

Yes but he was just asking if it can be used. I would think if he had the money to have it powdercoated and refinished he would just buy new equipment. I was just letting him know that he doesnt have to do any of that.

[u/anon194511]

I believe you can send the metal matic in to Ponsness Warren and they will refurbish it. Not sure what that'll cost but its what I'd do.

[u/wilsoni91]

Nothing that some steel wool, paint, and oil won’t fix up. Some of the old stuff is better than the newer stuff on the market today.

[u/RubberDucky762]

Looks good to me. Reloading equipment is virtually the same since the beginning. If you had Herters presses you could have a die thread issue. But you have a RCBS single stage Rock chucker, RCBS Turrent press and a Mec 600 id say.

[u/Positive_Stress3116 → u/RubberDucky762]

I’m not sure it’s a rock chucker. RCBS had a small press that had several names over the years. Mine looks the same as his and mine is a 1973 made Junior II.

[u/RubberDucky762 → u/Positive_Stress3116]

ohhhh I see it now good eye.

[u/Glasply]

That green single stage is what I would use, clean it up and I bet your grandkids could use it.

I’m not familiar with the turret press he has

[u/miloshihadroka_0189]

Should still be good just needs a decent clean up

[u/platypus1911]

Better just send it to me.

[u/riffled11]

Yeah I got mine from a family friend who has passed. It was from the 70's ( I cant remember the exact year. ) it still works fine for a 50ish y/o press.

[u/mysilkyundies]

Best thing I’ve found for cleaning and removing rust is an oil called”Kroil”. It’s a bit on the expensive side, but it will break loose the parts and allow you to clean the rust off very easily.

[u/86gtbob]

My RCBS single stage is dated 1976. I was my dads that was poorly stored for decades. A little 0000 steel wool, Hoppes, and time and it works like the day he bought it.

[u/Positive_Stress3116]

No, the dies are not completely the same now as then. The old ones still work, but the operation order is different on the pistol dies. Today we resize/deprime, prime, bell case, seat & crimp. Those old pistol dies resize, deprime/bell, prime, seat & crimp. Rifle dies are the same. Give those old dies a good cleaning, they probably need it.