RCBS Waranty

[Duckhunter39480]

I had a small primer tube that the small plastic end on the primer tube broke and I called RCBS for a replacement. In the past any call to replace a broken or bent part was replaced without questions and it was shipped to me in a few days. I called them about replacing the damaged/worn plastic fingers on my primer tube and was told that I would need to ship the primer tube to RCBS and then they would ship the tube. It will cost me more to ship the tube than the plastic part would cost. In addition, they do not replace the plastic fingers anymore, they replace the entire primer tube. The new tube will be the 100 primer tube, NOT the 50 primer tube that I have used for 45 years (50 tube no longer available). I am a fan of the RCBS line of reloading tools in large part because when something broke, bent or failed RCBS would replace it. What gives with these changes in the RCBS warranty process? and when did these occur? End an almost rant.

Real question now. Who makes a replacement primer tube that will work with the RCBS press mounted primer tool? I prefer one that is just the tube and cotter key. I do not need a complete primer system.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I use the online warranty service through customer service.
I had a similar issue when I bought my Turret press, it came with 2 small primer tubes, no large primer tube. They also wanted it back, I am in Australia, no way was I shipping parts back to them.
In the end, they sent both small and large with extra clips and fingers.
This is the only time I had difficulty getting a missing part.
I had their universal case trimmer fail on me, just needed the 2 collets replaced, they sent the entire assembly to me at no charge.

Cheers.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Real question now. Who makes a replacement primer tube that will work with the RCBS press mounted primer tool? I prefer one that is just the tube and cotter key. I do not need a complete primer system

I have seen them listed at Brownell's, Cabelas and Midway in the past, maybe do a search on replacement primer tubes.
I think Greg at Primal Rights sells them.

Cheers.

 

[Seabeeken]

IIRC, they were bought by Hodgdon. Ugly reloading makes an excellent set of tubes that work fine with RCBS and Redding presses. I highly recommend them. Perhaps too many people abused their generosity.

Premium Reloading Primer Tubes Set | Colored Tubes w/ Pickup Tips & Secure Hair-Pin Clips – Ugly Reloading USA

www.uglyreloadingusa.com

 

[jason367]

All the good old guys are now gone. I think with prices the reloading days are weakening. Less people learning to reload. Probably cutting into rcbs profit/loss equations. They charge for shipping on replacement warranty parts too. Ask them a question now on something I have in my hand marked rcbs and they say they never made that. Not the old knowledgeable guys anymore. Go by what the computer says. Good days gone bye.

 

[BRADMOTO]

RCBS used to have THE BEST CS of any company on the planet. As mentioned, there was no extensive questions, something wrong and they fired a new part/unit with no hesitation. After Vista Outdoors bought RCBS the CS went in the toilet. I couldn't even get them to send me a new cap for the hammer style bullet puller. In the past I just told them when they broke and they sent a new one right out. Lately, the rep said I had to send in the bullet puller first. I asked if I could just send a picture of the broken cap, and the answer, NO.

 

[std7mag]

Due to two separate negative experiences with the RCBS Customer Service, I've sold or given away everything except for a chamfer/deburr tool and a beam scale that I got at a flea market.

First instance was with a set of dies that were stamped 284 Win. Neck was way too small in diameter.
RCBS told me that I should get the "correct die set" not 6.5-284.
I emailed the picture of the stamped "284 Win".
Answer remained the same.
So I did as they advised and bought a Forster set of 284 Win dies.

The second time, I had an opportunity to buy 2 Chargemaster dispensers.
But for some reason the scales were missing.
Contacted RCBS to see if I could buy the scale part and how much they would be.
So simply buying parts.
I was informed that they absolutely would not sell the scales.
That THEY would sell me brand new Chargemasters, at the full cost of course.
Needless to say that I did not buy anything.

 

[Bob Wright]

This is sad!

 

[Quintus]

It doesn't take Vista long to destroy the reputation of every company they have ever acquired.

 

[Duckhunter39480]

It is my understanding that a Vista subsidiary sold RCBS to Hodgdon Powder Company back in May, 2024. It is no longer the RCBS I started with 40 years ago.

 

[Bobby Bailey]

It is my understanding that a Vista subsidiary sold RCBS to Hodgdon Powder Company back in May, 2024. It is no longer the RCBS I started with 40 years ago.

It wasn't when Vista had it for sure.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I just got a main pin for a Rockchucker a bit over a year ago free of charge. I called with the broken part # and got another within a week or so.
Some parts are simply not in spare inventory anymore and they aren't going to be able to help. Other times it is simply cost effective to simply buy spares. I have 2 sets of Rcbs primer tubes and a set of Redding 1's for the Big Boss I bought new as a second press. I bought the spares myself. I also bought a second primer catch for my rcbs press when the first 1 crapped out. Same with my lube pad; I buy new 1's when the current 1 nears the end of its service life. I currently have a Hornady pad as a spare in use and a second Rcbs 1 new in the back room.
Nickeling and diming companies for parts on stuff that's really past its service life (or cheaper to rebuy than ship) seems a bit off to me. It's a good way for a company to actually want to change its warranty procedures. If it isn't worth it for you to send it out for replacement is it worth it for them?

 

[98ramtough]

I called them a month ago or tried to and kept getting a voice mail that they would be closed for the holidays around Xmas etc. i gave up on it. Then i ordered a new match master trimmer. The blades came installed backwards on the cutter head…. Took me a few to figure that out. Thought it was quite the *** . I recently ordered a couple extra trim heads in certain calibers. They are supposed to send it pre set and ready to go. Nooope….

On the flip side, a decent call to Lee and Frankford was nothing short of amazing. Shipped parts and even spares with no fight or hassle.

 

[BRADMOTO]

Couple years ago I broke a new Summit press. I researched this was a problem and RCBS had an upgrade kit for this problem. When I called in the rep wouldn't admit it was a known problem, but said they would send out the upgrade kit. She was actually kinda snotty about it. That kind of doublespeak ****es me off. So, they would ship the press upgrade kit upon photos of the broken part, but wouldn't send the kinetic bullet puller plastic cap that cracked with a photo provided. I would have to ship the whole puller back on my dime.

Hey, at least RCBS polishes the inside of their sizing dies. Redding dies are rough lately, and if sent in for polish, they come back just a little less rougher. Scratching brass. I got back a rough die and just through it in the trash.