anyone know if and when we pro 2000 owners can get a caseloader for it?the bullet feeder is nice but a case feeder would be great.
You may have to wait for the next reincarnation of an RCBS progressive. On the Pro 2000, because station 1 (where a case is fed) is in front with the APS primer system just below, the front casting to the right and finished case ejection to the left, it's pretty difficult to design a good working case feeder that's not in the way of other operations.
The reason for that architecture is to make hand feeding of both cases and bullets possible with the left hand allowing the right hand to never have to leave the handle of the press. That's a good thing, while one learns the progressive, recoups the funds spent on it to the point one can afford to upgrade with a respectable bullet feeder.
Both Hornady and Dillon architecture make it easier to mount a case feeder...the Dillon 650 at the expense of hand loaders who can't swing the expense of the case feeder at first. Ever seen a Dillon catalog showing a picture of the 650 press without the case feeder? That's a hell of an expensive "option" that isn't really. 650's are great machines as long as you buy the case feeder.
RCBS chose to design and develop bullet feeders instead. (or maybe because of their design) When you analyze it, a bullet feeder (if you have to choose just one feeder) is better, because it is faster & easier to place a case on the shell plate by hand, than the hand-aligning of a bullet on a case mouth and keeping it aligned into the seater. (no possibility of smashed fingers either)
All that is well and good...an "equalizer" to the other two presses, but RCBS made their bullet feeders workable on the two case-fed presses as well. Nice of them wasn't it.
But reality for me, is that both sides automated is more speed and less control than I am comfortable with. Others with quicker detail-oriented talents & faculties may feel safer.
I personally would enjoy at least one feeder...and since I use the Pro 2000, it will have to be a bullet feeder. I waited for the RCBS pistol feeder from 2009's comdex to release in August...but it uses two stations and requires over-belled cases. I didn't buy it. Comdex 2010 came and we saw a single station Rifle feeder. So again I waited months until it is now available. but now they expect you to buy three collators! One for several pistol (reasonable) and one for just .22 cal. and another for .30 caliber. Now I'm just pissed me off...really pissed off with RCBS. What they promised, as an "equalizer," isn't is it? The case feeders/collators of Dillon and Honady work for most pistol and rifle cases. One collator, not three.
So now Hornady is making a new Pistol Collator/Feeder with optional changeovers for most pistols....and rifle kits for it is coming. The Hornady again uses up two stations to feed and seat, but at least ONE COLLATOR will do it all, for crying out loud.
I will be buying the Hornady Bullet feeder for my Pro 2000. RCBS can stick theirs where the sun doesn't shine! RCBS is "thinking" about making "kits" for the rifle collator so you buy .22 for example, and get a kit for .30. That, they say will depend on requests, sales, and demand. STUPID! They are guaranteeing low sales by making a product for only one caliber.