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On our market, a wide selection of single-stage reloading presses is available in various levels of quality and price; however, their basic design usually follows the same “pattern” with a fixed O-frame. One of the few exceptions is the Summit model from RCBS.
Introductory photo: RCBS Summit single-stage reloading press.
The Summit is a single-stage reloading press from the renowned American brand RCBS that immediately catches the eye with its unusual design and compact size. Its overall height is only 28 cm and it occupies a footprint of 12x13 cm on the bench. Thanks to its design, the Summit is one of the few presses that does not “hang” over the edge of the bench. The advantage is not only space saving, but also greater flexibility in press placement. It does not have to be mounted at the edge of the bench, as is common. The core of the design is a fixed “ram” secured to the base, which also houses the component into which the case holder is inserted. A moving head with a die station is mounted on the ram and travels along it via linkage connected to the operating handle. Simply put, the case remains stationary and the die “comes down” onto it during the cycle—opposite to what is common with other presses.
Advantages of the Summit
The Summit’s design is not merely a way to stand out from the competition; it also offers real advantages. In addition to the aforementioned space efficiency, the reloader will appreciate the widely open, 140 mm high access to the shell holder from all sides, without the frame rib obstructing access as on conventional presses, yet without sacrificing rigidity as with open C-frame designs (see, for example, the Lee Breech Lock). The press is compatible with standard 7/8"-14 dies and, after removing the reducing bushing, also with 1-1/4"-12 dies.
Despite its compact dimensions, the Summit is built very robustly. It weighs over 8.5 kg, which speaks for itself. The ram has an impressive 51 mm diameter, the linkage is appropriately massive, and everything is made of steel or cast iron. I have no complaints regarding manufacturing quality, surface finish, or tolerances. Some will also appreciate that it is manufactured in the USA, with no outsourcing to China.
The feel of the stroke, compared to traditionally designed presses, is somewhat different and subjectively offers slightly more resistance, but I certainly cannot rate it as poor. On the contrary, the stroke is smooth and consistent. The handle can be installed on either the right or left side; otherwise, the design is symmetrical, so it can be operated comfortably with either hand. Installation is simple: unpack the press, bolt it to the bench with two screws, thread in the handle, attach the spent primer catcher, and you are ready to start reloading. As for maintenance, it is sufficient to occasionally wipe the press clean and lubricate the ram either directly or via the integrated grease fitting.
Detail of the base with the fixed part for inserting the shell holder.
Detail of the spent primer catcher. It can be positioned as shown in the photo; alternatively, if the press is mounted further from the edge of the bench, the catcher can be inserted lengthwise.Pros/Cons
+ Quality
+ Space-saving design
+ Produces top-quality ammunition
- Higher price
- Priming system
Functional Clearance
Regarding tolerances, the head exhibits a slight lateral “play,” while in other directions the clearances are minimal—and this is intentional, not a flaw. In press design, there are two different approaches to achieving maximum precision and uniformity in reloading. One aims for minimal clearances throughout and maximum rigidity. The other deliberately incorporates greater clearance in certain areas, allowing the case to “self-center” optimally in the press. Of course, there are budget presses on the market with poorer tolerances simply due to lower manufacturing quality, or designs that attempt to compensate for this with excessive play, but this is certainly not the case with the Summit. The debate over whether minimal or functional clearance is superior can continue, but measurements of reloaded cartridge dimensions (overall length, bullet seating depth and concentricity, neck concentricity) and their uniformity can provide useful insight.
An independent comparison of a wide range of single-stage presses showed that in this regard the Summit ranks among the absolute top performers, with figures nearly comparable to RCBS’s flagship Rock Chucker Supreme, which represents the minimal-clearance design philosophy. (More about the test at ultimatereloader.com)
While results on paper are influenced by many variables, the test at least clearly verified that the moving-head design of the Summit does not come at the expense of achievable precision, so there is no reason to be concerned about its unconventional layout. For reference, I personally load ammunition on it with which I achieve groups under 0.5 MOA.
Photo: Summit with the handle in the upper and lower positions. A single-stage press with a moving head is an unusual but functional solution offering several advantages.
Buy a Priming Tool
Among the downsides, the space around the die is somewhat limited. On my Summit, I use, among other things, a somewhat “oversized” RCBS MatchMaster seating die (maximum diameter 26 mm), so I believe that virtually any die will fit into the press without issue—it just takes a bit more time to thread it into position. However, this is a negligible drawback. The same can be said about the plastic spent primer catcher. The designers did not have much space available, so the catcher has limited capacity and, in my view, could be more robust. That said, I cannot deny that (albeit at the cost of more frequent emptying) it works as intended: spent primers do not bounce out, emptying and reinstalling it takes only a moment, no tools are required, and even if something were to happen to it, replacement would be easy. It should be added that foreign forums mention issues with one of the linkage pivots, but this concerned only the first generation of the Summit; with the current version, you will not encounter such problems.
Another point worth mentioning is the absence of a built-in priming system. This must be purchased separately. RCBS offers one under the name Ram Priming Unit. It threads into the die station, setup is simple, and it works very well, but you should add an extra 1,282 CZK to the price of the press. While on the topic of accessories, for 678 CZK you can purchase a shorter handle. You will need to apply slightly more force, but with a bit of exaggeration you could then reload even in a closet if necessary, as the press can be mounted virtually anywhere on the bench. Since those considering the visually compact Summit are likely short on space, I will add that due to handle movement you need at least 31 cm of clearance in front of the press and 64 cm vertically above the bench surface, or 20/53 cm respectively with the shorter handle (not including space for the operator).
The space around the die is somewhat limited, but still sufficient for installation and adjustment of any model.Conclusion
The price of the press alone is 11,319 CZK, placing it among the more expensive cast-iron presses on our market. For comparison, the aforementioned Rock Chucker costs 8,866 CZK. On the other hand, the price corresponds to the quality of the press and the ammunition it produces. The Summit combines the potential for very precise reloading with generational durability, while being one of the most compact presses on the market. It is easy to operate, straightforward, and fits almost anywhere. Thanks to the open working area without a frame rib, handling cases and cartridges is quick and comfortable.
All this gives the press an unusual degree of versatility. It will serve equally well reloaders aiming for maximum long-range precision and those who “just” want something simple, functional, and compact. It is also an interesting option for those who primarily load on a progressive press but want a high-quality single-stage press for smaller batches and load development. Virtually any hunting cartridge will fit in the Summit (the height from the shell holder to the underside of the head is 115 mm), and it is strong enough to resize even cartridges that offer significant resistance during sizing, such as the .444 Marlin. For the purposes of this test, I loaded 6.5 Creedmoor, .223 Rem, .44 Mag, .300 Blackout (for which I also formed cases from .223 Rem), 9x19 mm, .300 Win Mag, and the aforementioned .444 Marlin. The total volume at the time of writing was approximately 1,000 rounds, and I have nothing to criticize about the press. Perhaps only a built-in priming system would be a welcome bonus, saving some time (and money), although this may not concern those who prefer separate priming tools. Otherwise, I am completely satisfied.
The Summit press, like other RCBS products, can be purchased from STROBL.CZ s.r.o. More information can be found at strobl.cz, or directly on the manufacturer’s website rcbs.com
The Summit is a compact yet highly robust press, manufactured to top quality standards.Photo sources: Author’s archive
Author: Tomáš Prachař
The article was originally published in Lovec magazine by Extra Publishing
