Any RCBS Pro-2000 users here?

[gregshin]

I'm debating on getting a RCBS Pro-2000 w/ Auto Progressive brand new for $478 shipped. The Pro 2000 Auto Index Progressive Press has been updated to with AUTOMATIC INDEXING. It still uses the standard RCBS 5-station shell plate and features; APS priming, quick primer size changeover, Uniflow Powder Measure with Micrometer Adjustment Screw, removeable Die Plate, Cast Iron Frame, includes; bullet tray, loaded ammo Bin, empty case Bin, APS Strips, APS Strip Loader and the RCBS Lifetime Warranty.

I plan on loading .223 and 9mm only.

this would be my first reloading station and i'm on the fence about getting this or the Dillon 550RL.

Do you guys think this is a great deal? for $478 shipped?

 

[fields]

Peter Eich is probably your best for this information. Where are you getting it?
richard

 

[GW Staar]

That's $71 dollars cheaper than what Graf & Sons ships it for. So I'd say it's a pretty good deal. Plus you'll want to take advantage of the RCBS rebate. Add up your RCBS purchases before you claim the rebate.

There's quite a few RCBS owners who check in here from time to time. Obviously not so many this week end. Too busy reloading and shooting I expect.......except me. I've been traveling. (GWhis already replied to your post on Arfcom....that's me over there )

Peter Eick has had a busy too weeks....he'll probably be along in a few days though. You could do a forum search on him and send him a private message if you want to get his attention.

 

[J2FLAN]

I have had my PRO 2000 for over 10yrs and about 130,000 rounds. It has been the press I always wanted, I did buy some of the other progressive presses, but this one, with its features suited me best. I found that I DID NOT like the auto indexing on a couple of the other brands, It wasn`t faster or safer, and it offered far less control.
No issues other than I broke the shell retainer and a couple springs that needed replaceing. RCBS CS is as good as it gets, if you ever need a part, they send it, no need to buy a spare parts kit. As you can tell, I like it, BUT some of those who own 550s or L-N-L like theirs also.

 

[altitude_19]

There are arguments that you shouldn't even get a progressive for your first press. I personally had no problem starting on the PRO2000, but I ended up wanting a single stage anyway (good for low volume production and odd jobs). How mechanically inclined are you? The PRO2000 is robust, but relatively simple machine. There's really not much you can't fix with an allen wrench set on it. The Dillons (at least the high end ones) have A LOT more moving parts. Either get a single stage, then a Dillon, or a PRO2000, then a single stage. Either way, GO SLOW and make sure you understand the process before trying to speed up production. Have you put together any Pro's/Con's list for either press? Which one tickles your fancy and why?

 

[Paul Tummers]

I have a Pro 2000 and experienced some troubles with it;
The upgrade kit did not have the right disc mounting head in it but just the old one for hand operating and I had troubles with the APS feeding system.
A mail to RCBS however has resulted in that all parts I need are on their way to me now- for free!
Personally I think, the Pro 2000 is the better machine, am now thinking to upgrade it with a Dillon powder checker acoustic system and therefore I need to drill a hole in the die plate and have to use the Dillon seater die which builts very low compared to RCBS or Lyman seaters.
I also own a Dillon 650 for which I needed some parts- it looks like their NBS-warranty only works in the USA, I had to pay for everything incl. shipment

 

[GW Staar]

I have a Pro 2000 and experienced some troubles with it;
The upgrade kit did not have the right disc mounting head in it but just the old one for hand operating and I had troubles with the APS feeding system.
A mail to RCBS however has resulted in that all parts I need are on their way to me now- for free!
Personally I think, the Pro 2000 is the better machine, am now thinking to upgrade it with a Dillon powder checker acoustic system and therefore I need to drill a hole in the die plate and have to use the Dillon seater die which builts very low compared to RCBS or Lyman seaters.
I also own a Dillon 650 for which I needed some parts- it looks like their NBS-warranty only works in the USA, I had to pay for everything incl. shipment

Welcome to THR! You are the second person from across the pond that I've come across that has said Dillons NBS warranty isn't any good over there. The other guy (from Germany) also ended up with a Pro 2000 and experienced RCBS's super customer support....even in Europe.

You are aware of RCBS's lockout die for pistol cases only? RCBS and Hornady also have powder checkers that work on bottle neck cases, but unfortunately not acoustic unless you modify them.

If better means simpler, easier to use, less moving parts, cast iron frame, faster/cheaper caliber changes and safer primer system...then yes, I for one agree. Dillon's case feeder is neat but expensive....like RCBS's rifle bullet feeder.

I bought Hornady's super simple pistol bullet feeder for mine...modified it with clear tubing and a stop switch, then I made my own case feeder for $40. My #1 requirement for both was no bottleneck in caliber change time which is important to me the way I reload. RCBS's simplicity made fitting both pretty simple.

 

[Paul Tummers]

Thank You!!

I have the tool head for my .308 with the RCBS checker die in it, it works well but needs continuous visual attention which I do not like, an accoustic signal to warn me when something has gone out of line works better for me I think.
After what I have heard, I better look for a somewhat weaker spring for under the shell-plate lock-up ball to avoid powder spilling caused by harsh movement of the plate when converted to auto indexing.
I certainly would like to have an automatic bullet feeding system but cannot mount it without giving up the powder checking, and certainly would like one for the amount of money you mentioned ( Proves I am a real Dutchman ).
I did not look at the special RCBS dies for pistol ammo, know Dillon makes very good dies and the radius at the entrance looks a good thing to me, even when this means, the cases will not be calibrated all the way down.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Finally back "on line"

GWstarr, I will get that shipment out this week. Too much traveling is going on right now!

$478 shipped seems real cheap for what you get. I would highly recommend the press. It has worked well for me.

I prefer a powder lock out die to a powder checker. I have found though that for big rifle rounds, 223 included that I can hear the powder being dispensed so I tend not to use a powder checker. Your worry is a hung charge bridging the dispenser. If it did you would not hear it dispense and likely the next round would spill and make a mess.

Pistol rounds= lockout die though.

 

[Paul Tummers]

I never considered using a lock-out die, will look after that.
I will have to select some kind of ball powder available over here like AA no.5.
The VV powder range is readily available but this can cause bridging.

 

[codefour]

Not to reserect an old thread, but I just saw this... GWStaar and Peter M. Eick are probably the two members that helped me decide to get a Pro 2000. I have the auto index. I highly recommend it the auto index.. We ll worth it.

All of my friends had Dillons. They were ok, but they seemed, well, kind of erector set like with all the rods connecting here and there. I like the iron of the Pro 2000. I have seen Dillon aluminum pinkages break. I hated pecking primer tubes. Primer change on a Dillon is a HUGE PITA. The APS strips are awesome once you learn them. You will wonder why you never used them before.

And, if it breaks or quits working, RCBS Customer Service is second to nobody..

It is just a great press. The caliber conversions are very simple and much cheaper than a 550B or XL650. And yes, you will lose those caliber conversion brass buttons on a dillon..

Just my $0.02 worth....

 

[edfardos]

love mine, only advice I can give is to not half-cycle the press, that can lead to primer feeding issues, follow this one rule and you'll pump out thousands of rounds trouble free!

edfardos

 

[Paul Tummers]

I am an old machinist, learned the job in the 60's and 70's of past century, and do have an adversion against using plastic in a machine and in a gun with exeption of the butt-plate.
I do own a Steyr-Mannlicher SL in .222Rem, a wonderful and accurate rifle, only Steyr decided to go modern and used a trigger guard-magazine shaft unit made from Makrolon and plastic magazines which up to me really puts the gun down.
I also do not like the aluminium Dillon uses for their press frames without a bushing of good steel and then I do not mean the ram, it is very thick and has a long bearing, so bearing surface will be sufficient but more over the linkage system which has to take considerable forces on an small surface when the press is set-up to load medium cal. rifle ammo.
I still have the old tube primer feeding system with that press as well, but that means possibly that I have to change back to manual indexing, do not know for sure because I do not have the parts RCBS sent yet, hope, there is the possibility to transfer the parts of the old manual indexing to the new auto-indexing shell-plate holder unit if ever needed.