Pro chucker 7 anybody got one yet???

I think it may be a mythical creature. Kinda like the lochness & Bigfoot

GW Starr didn't buy 2 of them yet??

Nope, both of us are more careful than that.

I did buy a couple of parts (small metering screw & cylinder) to convert one of my Uniflows to the Quick Change Uniflow that comes with the new presses.

Did so to test the concept of using multiple metering screws set once vs. a Mic screw as came on the Pro 2000 where you just record the setting for each load.

However the two parts don't line up perfectly.....so I'm waiting for an RCBS response. Somebody drilled the pin keeper hole .006" off.

I started a thread on the Quick Change conversion yesterday....with pictures showing the less than perfect match.... so probably prematurely.

I'm in no hurry ..... they haven't even intro'd the case feeder yet .... besides.... I'm still put off by the pipe bomb priming system. Waiting for all to be sorted out, guys. But you all jump in anytime....I'll support you!

As soon as they get the case feed working and in production they will offer them.

I have to ask what features Dillon's have that "just don't do it" for you?

As much as they differ they also all have things in common, more so now that the new RCBS progressives are tube fed.

I have yet to feel one, what is it that you like about them?

Only thing negative I have read so far is problems with the primer slide (they send extras with them so they expected the problem).

As far as looks, I would load with a cowpatty, if they worked better than what I use.

So maybe you just like green?

Honestly, I like Dillon's fine. The Dillon 650 was the second finalist behind the Pro 2000 for me.....and it didn't have anything to do with looks. It had to do with simplicity, one time calibration, strength, and easy, cheap caliber changes. Fast Caliber changes aren't nearly so important if you only load 2 or three calibers, but even then they make you smile.....like the whole 10 seconds it takes to change primer size on an RCBS Pro 2000?

If a case feeder is important to you, Dillon makes the best case feeder....easily beating out Hornady's due to the fact it just works, without the babysitting, tweaking, and adjusting to make the Hornady work for each caliber. I'm hoping the new (first) RCBS case feeder is built more like Dillon's, and I'm all for them taking as much time as they need perfecting it. Hornady shoulda done that.

I didn't want to spend the money for a case feeder, nor did I think I needed one......you see, I wanted to load all my calibers on my ONE press and that gets expensive.......and complicated on a Dillon. If you plan to only reload 2 or three calibers the Dillon is more than fine, but the case collator, IMO, isn't optional since you load cases on the right side where you need to be stroking the press not loading cases by hand.

On Hornady and RCBS presses you load everything with the left hand, so feeders can be optional. At my age I found that I had trouble remembering so many steps, and at the same time giving the all important focus to the important part.....powder charge! So I bought a Hornady Bullet feeder (simplicity was the reason....again having to do with multiple caliber expectations) Then I modded it to suit me.....the idea again was making caliber changes (press and bullet feeder both) in less than 5 minutes.

But if you are just loading a couple of pistol calibers, and you can afford the Dillon and a Mr. Bullet Feeder, it's really hard to do better. And if you build yourself a video powder level monitor, you don't need more than 5 stations.

Still? Green is an awesome color and 7 stations is cooler than 5! But, No APS primer system is offered, and that's a big disappointment for most of us Pro 2000 users. We all think that's the best feature of all.

I haven't felt the new presses either. I know they are lighter (aluminum) and they are too new for me. There are bugs to work out..........and if RCBS will just send me one gratis like they did Gavin, I'll do a better review than he did on the Pro Chucker 5! .......

You asked about the casefeeder timeline? RCBS said in January late summer. Well late summer is nearly gone. But that's normal. Late summer meant October for their last offering, The Summit Press, but this one may be lucky to see the light of day by Christmas......and that's not a safe wager.

you can do less on this press but you can't do as much on other press's

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They really needed to add a swage station to compete with the 8 station 1050 and beat out the 650 and LNL by good margin.

Since there is no part of the case feeding system on the press(shuttle), that case feeder kit is going to set you back somewhere north of $300 easy. Being RCBS I won't be shocked if it cost the same as their bullet feeder($500). Those extra couple stations are going to need to sit up and whistle Dixie to make that whole thing worthwhile.

I really don't see it happening and I am fearful the 7 station press will be even rarer out in the wild than the Pro-2000 is.

horsemen61 said:

anybody got one yet????

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We thought you were going to buy one so you could do a review for us?

It's my understanding the 5 station version is upgradeable to the 7 station if/when it comes available. My thoughts about the case feeder is they have the critical item on the subplate, a place for the shell carrier to ride.

With that in place, it would be extremely easy to simply make a case collator/feeder these days. The information is out there on how to do so on multiple forums and on YouTube as well.

With the feeder base in place and all those pre-drilled and tapped mounting locations, I wouldn't hesitate if I wanted a case feeder for the Pro Chucker to simply make my own.

I like the Pro Chucker's simple and well thought out mechanics as much as any progressive I've ever seen. The plastic primer slide can/will be fairly easy to correct and the bullet/case feeders are a non-issue to me. The only thing I really don't like is they did not stay with the primer strips. I really love that part of my Pro 2000 and it's close to a deal breaker for me. If they had the primer strip system on the Pro Chuckers, the 5 would be on my bench now instead of my Pro 2000.

Just my .02,

Dave

If your going to make a case feeder and collator instead of fixing the current priming system make a conversion so it uses the strips from the pro 2000.

You might have a money maker after that as your not the only person who doesn't like seeing the strips go.

I have to agree with Dave on most of what he said.....and jmorris too.....trouble is you have to commit and buy the new press to do any of that. And who knows I might do that someday if I get bored and need a project. But the pro 2000 is working so well for me, I'm just not in a terrible hurry.....and it has the strips, I have the "improved" strip loader, and I have both bullet and case feeders that work for my trusty old Pro2K. It may be a dinosaur for some now....but then so am I. If they'd put those dinosaurs on clearance prices, I'd spend some more money....its still the best kept secret in progressives.

I still haven't made my annealer yet! That for me has to come first, so I hope none of you are waiting on me. All reloading is on the back burner for a few weeks....I've got a doctor's house from hell to finish designing...they obviously still make too much money...inspite of ObamaCare..............then I have to built it, (12-12 roof pitch)......praying for a warm winter.

And I'm with GW Staar on what he said. I think my money and efforts are better spent on the Pro 2000 and upgrading it than buying the new press at this point.

JM,

I'm not 100% positive, but based on the design of the strip primer feed, I think it would be a major redesign to come up with an aftermarket conversion kit to change the Pro Chucker to strip primer feeding, to include redesign and milling of the subplate. A lot of effort, whereas correcting the flaws with the pipe bomb are much easier.

I've been hearing some scuttlebutt about the primer feeder. Seems that the shell plates have already received a "fix" that supposedly helps the breakage problem.............I was wondering why shell plates went on clearance all of a sudden at Midway a while ago. then I heard from a user who got a call from RCBS and they offered to replace his.

I have not heard any resulting experience due to the redesigned shell plates yet. If I do I'll let you all know.

BTW, RCBS's web site has the following new picture showing the upcoming CASE FEEDER! (somebody must have slipped )
I tried to blow it up...just giant square pixels...nuts!
So the million dollar question: Is it coming for Christmas....or are they saving it for the shot show. My bets on the shot show. list price a million dollars.

have the "improved" strip loader, and I have both bullet and case feeders that work for my trusty old Pro2K. It may be a dinosaur for some now....but then so am I.

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If all your touching it the handle and get one loaded round per pull, you have a winner, doesn't matter how old it is.

Midway USA has them in stock for sale now. Somebody pony up and get one. I want know how it compares to my Dillon RL550B. It would have to very "special" for me to convert. Very special.

Pro Chucker 7 at Midway

In regards to Dillon.

since you load cases on the right side where you need to be stroking the press not loading cases by hand

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. Although the 550b is my first progressive and not doing enough homework I am glad to hear someone else say this. I find it cumbersome to load a case on the right a bullet on the left. Takes time to become efficient at it.