RCBS case activated linkage kit? Plus parts?

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Maximumbob54

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I'm posting this in several places to try and get the best answers. I will reply if anything positive pops up.

Does the linkage kit + the powder expander+ Uniflow powder meter= the ability to take a previously sized and primed case and both flare it open and drop the powder at the same time? As in I already have a Uniflow but if I buy the linkage kit and the powder expander, will that all work in one station on a press? I want to have an alternate to a Lee Pro Auto Disk system on a Classic Turret or to be able to load on my Rock Chucker. Am I missing some key component to this happening? Without having said parts to test I can't tell how you even adjust the flare. How far the threaded tube is into the press opening? I got to thinking about this from the threads that have the different options for trying to meld various powder meters with various linkage kits and one guy had an adapter milled to match up with his Lee powder through expander die. This seems a whole lot less complicated unless I'm missing some important part still.

Linkage kit in question:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=802477


And expander add on part:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=152982

I do note that Hornady offers a similar add on as well:
http://www.hornady.com/store/Powder-Through-Expanders/

Does the bottom part of the linkage kit act as a die body that the expander set inside of??? I feel like I'm missing something somewhere somehow... I know I'm onto something here but it sounds too good to be true. So does this work, am I missing parts still, or does the reality just not match the dream???

Add this to the parts list for each turret head:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=231522
 
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I have RCBS progressive presses with case activated powder systems, the RCBS powder system uses a funnel without an expander, with a 5 position tool head there is room for an expander, the Hornady case activated powder system comes with enough parts to use with the Hornady powder system or the RCBS system.

The Dillon 550 B has a 4 position tool head and when using Dillon dies crimping has a separate position, this system forces neck expansion/tapper and powder to be used on the same location, I have the Dillon but do not use the dies, I will not load on a progressive press without a lock out die so I seat and crimp on the same position, the Dillon uses an expander through powder die. There is a Dillon adapter for the uniflow by RCBS.

F. Guffey
 
Maximumbob54 said:
Does the linkage kit + the powder expander+ Uniflow powder meter= the ability to take a previously sized and primed case and both flare it open and drop the powder at the same time?
As in I already have a Uniflow but if I buy the linkage kit and the powder expander, will that all work in one station on a press?

Yes, RCBS's expander was made to open up another station of their Pro 2000 progressive press, so that a Lock-out Die could be used. Using the expander, the Uniflow could be moved to station 2, where normally, pistol cases are expanded only. Now they can be expanded and powder dropped in the same station, same stroke.

I want to have an alternate to a Lee Pro Auto Disk system on a Classic Turret or to be able to load on my Rock Chucker.

I suppose you could use this on a turret or single station. That means mounting the Uniflow to the press. I might could see the reason on a turret, but on the Rock Chucker, I'm not convinced that's a great speed improvement. Well...a LnL conversion might improve things. On the turret, the desire is usually to mount dies and leave 'em. Buy extra turrets and populate them with different calibers one time. You would want to order separate "Powder Dies and Linkage Base" for each turret. The link was for a product that Hornady has added. RCBS version of the same thing is not offered yet as a separate product from Midway. Separate order of the two parts by part # from them directly is possible.

Am I missing some key component to this happening? Without having said parts to test I can't tell how you even adjust the flare.

You adjust the flare with the depth you screw in the Uniflow.

How far the threaded tube is into the press opening?

You adjust the Uniflow down over a fully raised shell holder holding a sized case. How far depends on the amount of flare you want.

I got to thinking about this from the threads that have the different options for trying to meld various powder meters with various linkage kits and one guy had an adapter milled to match up with his Lee powder through expander die. This seems a whole lot less complicated unless I'm missing some important part still.

The RCBS expander is new. Before this year, people (me included) bought Hornady's Linkage kit and expander and installed them to the Uniflow. Simply done I might add, no mods required. I bought the RCBS expander because I have 2 uniflows and wanted to compare the two. Both work fine. The RCBS expander design was based on lessons learned by Hornady on theirs which required a redesign of the expander.

I have Lee dies with their flow-thru expander die, but I've never bought or used their powder measure....so no experience there.


Linkage kit in question:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=802477


And expander add on part:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct..._vc=cross_sell

I do note that Hornady offers a similar add on as well:
http://www.hornady.com/store/Powder-Through-Expanders/

Does the bottom part of the linkage kit act as a die body that the expander set inside of???

Yes...simple as that. As the ram is raised the expander enters the case and rises with the case until it stops....with depth adjusted right...the ram continues up until the bell is completed...at the same time the linkage rotates the Uniflow's drum and it dumps its powder load.

I feel like I'm missing something somewhere somehow... I know I'm onto something here but it sounds too good to be true. So does this work, am I missing parts still, or does the reality just not match the dream???
Click to expand...

I will screw them into my Rock Chucker tonight and see if there are any snafu's using the setup there.....I don't have a turret...so that's somebody else's test.;) If you really want to do that on a Rock Chucker, I would order a bunch of Hornady LnL bushings and use them on all your dies, including the Uniflow powder die....otherwise its going to be a pain to unscrew the Uniflow every time you want to size or seat. Hornady makes a LnL conversion part that is made for the Rock Chucker.

btw your links don't work.
 
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Maximumbob54 said:
I will reply if anything positive pops up.
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Add this to the parts list for each turret head:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=231522
Click to expand...

Slow down Maximumbob, if you want the best info...you need to reply to anyone who adds to your base knowledge. I noticed that you added what I suggested (Quick-Change Powder die) to your original post. But noticing the change was luck. Ordinarily I would only notice a reply. And there could be a problem.

You can't use that part with the RCBS linkage, that only works with the Hornady linkage. You can call RCBS and order their "Powder Die Assembly" and get what amounts to the same thing (but not from Midway), only it works for the RCBS linkage and expander. I don't know the cost of that assembly.

The other option is to get all the Hornady stuff: That would include:
Hornady Case Activated Powder Drop @ $55
Hornady Quick Change Powder Die for additional turrets @ $24 ea.
Hornady Expanders for each bullet diameter @ $9.00 ea.

If you go the Hornady route and if you have trouble making it fit the RCBS Uniflow, PM me...its not hard but not obvious to some people either.

Also if you go with Hornady parts, you will want THIS Part as well....makes expanding bullets that way put no stress on the powder measure.

I set up the Uniflow/Hornady unit on my Rock Chucker and there's not a problem, except what I expected. Screwing and unscrewing is not as fast as with a die. Again, if I want to do that I'd get a LnL Conversion Kit. You may need more die bushings.

One more note. The Uniflow doesn't come with a locking nut...the Hornady does. If you use the RCBS parts, you will need to buy a lock nut....preferably the Hornady or Forster brand lock nuts.
 
I have an RCBS mounted on Hornady linkage on a Dillon press (talk about mixed breed). Don't recall ever seeing the RCBS linkage in person, but I can't tell any difference looking at pix. Hornady cost less.
 
Actually at Midway if are buying the whole setup the powder die the linkage and the expander RCBS is less by .50 costs more to change calibers with the RCBS
 
powder expander questions

I have a Pro 2000 and I am currently using the Uniflow in station #3. If I add the power through expander to the Uniflow and move to station #2, how does the expander work.??

My question is: Do you screw the whole Uniflow assemblby in deep enough so when the drum rotates up it stops on the micrometer..?? RCBS says 1/16 of an inch gap to just barely touching is the optimal space between the micrometer screw insert and and the cylinder. So, do you just let the micromter screw ram against the upper portion of the cylinder causing the expander to force open the case mouth. That seems like a lot of force on both the micrometer screw and cylinder.

Or am I missing something here..??
 
My question is: Do you screw the whole Uniflow assemblby in deep enough so when the drum rotates up it stops on the micrometer..??
Click to expand...
That's it exactly. Once the drum can no longer rotate (micrometer jammed against uniflow body), the case is expanded... how much is determined by how far down you screw the powder measure.

It's not really that much force... I've done thousands of rounds with mine, and no ill effects. Besides... if anything does break, RCBS will replace it free of charge.
 
Yep your right my Hornady came with my LNL AP I had an extra uniflow I was going to put the Hornady linkage on.I called Midway they told me I needed the linkage kit,the die and the expander since the rcbs was about the same money I went with the RCBS.Since looking closer at the pictures on Midways site everything looks to be there coulda saved a couple bucks
 
I bought this:

http://www.powderfunnels.com/

and it is so much better than the one that came with the Hornady powder measure or the expanding option that came with the bullet feeder (.45ACP). I won't swear that it's 100% universal but it must be darn close. I like that it has an angle that makes shaving my cast lead bullets a thing of the past. I even tried it with some .30-30 and my cast bullets slid right in with no shaving. Then the Lee FCD closed her right up perfect.
 
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