Pro 2000 caliber change questions???

[AR. Hillbilly]

I’m starting to figure my way around this press but was wondering about the powder measure. it seems it will be the biggest pain about this whole deal.
having to change bushings and cylinder then get it set to drop the correct load of powder. min thinking between 223 and 9mm.
I assume it goes in the hole that’s made in the press and not one of the 4 in the removable die plate?
I wondered if a different powder dispenser could be set up for different caliber.
I’m mostly rambling while I wait for shell plates.

 

[jmorris]

You’ve got a large and small cylinder and a micrometer adjustment. All you have to deal with at that point is height adjustment. If you have a caliper that should be pretty easy to repeat.

p8-10
https://www.rcbs.com/on/demandware....cbsPdf/88875_Pro_2000_MANUAL_7201274_0210.pdf

 

[higgite]

I believe the arrangement originally envisioned by RCBS was
Station 1 - Size and decap
Station 2 - prime case and expand case mouth
Station 3 - powder drop
Station 4 - seat bullet
Station 5 - crimp

But, you can put the powder measure wherever it works for you. I have 2 die plates set up for my Pro 2000, one for 9mm and one for .45 ACP. Each has its own powder measure with powder-through expander in Station 2. No muss, no fuss when changing calibers, except to readjust the lockout relay in Station 3.

 

[GW Staar]

I mount a power die with RCBS's "M" style powder-thru-expander (pistol calibers) in each die plate for calibers I load, in station 2. Station 3 is a good place for a powder cop. With powder die in place and preadjusted for that caliber, it's simple to just add the powder measure. Record and save mic settings for each load you like.

 

[cfullgraf]

Yes, you could get a second powder measure and powder drop assembly and set them up for each cartridge.

Regardless, you should always confirm that the powder measure is throwing the charge you want when starting a loading session. I find that charges drift a little from day to day, probably due to atmospheric changes.

 

[AR. Hillbilly]

Yes, you could get a second powder measure and powder drop assembly and set them up for each cartridge.

Regardless, you should always confirm that the powder measure is throwing the charge you want when starting a loading session. I find that charges drift a little from day to day, probably due to atmospheric changes.

Yes I will. I plan to get a powder checker die. Which one is still up in the air?
Trying to stay RCBS but they’re out of stock and been reading up on the Dillon with a buzzer.

 

[higgite]

Yes I will. I plan to get a powder checker die. Which one is still up in the air?
Trying to stay RCBS but they’re out of stock and been reading up on the Dillon with a buzzer.

Be aware that the Dillon powder checker isn't a simple drop in installation on the Pro 2000. It takes some modification. See this recent thread: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...der-checker-die-223-9mm.881916/#post-11790405

 

[earplug]

All I have to do is change out the powder drop spacers and adjust the throw height and powder drop. when I switch between 9MM and 223. Its a easy quick swap if I remember to put the correct parts in.
The small hopper works for all my pistol and the .223.

 

[cfullgraf]

As earplug said, if you can find a combination of spacers for each cartridge that eliminates the need to adjust the drop die/powder measure relationship, that makes life easier. Adjusting the drop die up or down on the press to to get the powder measure to cycle full stroke is easy.

I bought a Hornady L-N-L progressive press first and did all my development on the Hornady. But everything I did on the Hornady, works on the Pro2000. The RCBS Pro2000 and the L-N-L use essentially the same case activated powder drop system, the L-N-L is a license built version of the RCBS one. I prefer the Hornady L-N-L case activated powder drop die over the RCBS and use it on my Pro2000. There are a couple little differences on the L-N-L case activated drop die that I like but I could live without the changes.

When I finally bought a progressive press, I was loading something more than 10 different cartridges. To make the powder measure changes between the different cartridges, I made custom drop tubes with the idea that no other adjustment of the drop die would be necessary. I got close to the goal but I still needed to tweak the drop die to press adjustment so that the powder measure cycles full stroke. It is not difficult as I use a non-locking jam nut on the drop die so it is easy to loosen the nut, make the adjustment and re-lock the jam nut.

As you increase the number of cartridges you load, you could have a powder drop die and spacers set up and adjusted for each cartridge. Then you should not need a powder measure for each cartridge.

With micrometer adjusters on the powder measures, you can record the setting you use for a particular cartridge and powder charge. Then, when you return to that set-up, it is quick to get the powder measure close, then you can tweak the adjustment to get the powder charge dialed in.

I have an off press powder measure stand that I use to make the beginning adjustments of the powder measure. It is easier to operate the measure by hand. When the powder measure gets close, I install it on the press and finish dialing the powder measure in by operating the press dropping the charge into a case. I use a fired case with the fired primer still in place. I transfer the powder to my scale.

I use a modified Reading 10-X powder measure for most of my handgun powder charging. I reload 204 Ruger and 300 Blackout on my Pro2000 using the Uniflow with the small drum. The same drum would work with 223 Remington as earplug said.

These are some of the things I do but it is by no means the only way to efficiently cartridge change the powder measure on the Pro2000.

I hope this helps giving you some ideas to pursue.

 

[AR. Hillbilly]

All I have to do is change out the powder drop spacers and adjust the throw height and powder drop. when I switch between 9MM and 223. Its a easy quick swap if I remember to put the correct parts in.
The small hopper works for all my pistol and the .223.

This is good news. im sure I’m making a bigger deal of it than it is.
really didn’t want to buy another powder measure.

As earplug said, if you can find a combination of spacers for each cartridge that eliminates the need to adjust the drop die/powder measure relationship, that makes life easier. Adjusting the drop die up or down on the press to to get the powder measure to cycle full stroke is easy.

I bought a Hornady L-N-L progressive press first and did all my development on the Hornady. But everything I did on the Hornady, works on the Pro2000. The RCBS Pro2000 and the L-N-L use essentially the same case activated powder drop system, the L-N-L is a license built version of the RCBS one. I prefer the Hornady L-N-L case activated powder drop die over the RCBS and use it on my Pro2000. There are a couple little differences on the L-N-L case activated drop die that I like but I could live without the changes.

When I finally bought a progressive press, I was loading something more than 10 different cartridges. To make the powder measure changes between the different cartridges, I made custom drop tubes with the idea that no other adjustment of the drop die would be necessary. I got close to the goal but I still needed to tweak the drop die to press adjustment so that the powder measure cycles full stroke. It is not difficult as I use a non-locking jam nut on the drop die so it is easy to loosen the nut, make the adjustment and re-lock the jam nut.

As you increase the number of cartridges you load, you could have a powder drop die and spacers set up and adjusted for each cartridge. Then you should not need a powder measure for each cartridge.

With micrometer adjusters on the powder measures, you can record the setting you use for a particular cartridge and powder charge. Then, when you return to that set-up, it is quick to get the powder measure close, then you can tweak the adjustment to get the powder charge dialed in.

I have an off press powder measure stand that I use to make the beginning adjustments of the powder measure. It is easier to operate the measure by hand. When the powder measure gets close, I install it on the press and finish dialing the powder measure in by operating the press dropping the charge into a case. I use a fired case with the fired primer still in place. I transfer the powder to my scale.

I use a modified Reading 10-X powder measure for most of my handgun powder charging. I reload 204 Ruger and 300 Blackout on my Pro2000 using the Uniflow with the small drum. The same drum would work with 223 Remington as earplug said.

These are some of the things I do but it is by no means the only way to efficiently cartridge change the powder measure on the Pro2000.

I hope this helps giving you some ideas to pursue.

yes it does and thank you. it may increase to other cartridges.

 

[Tilos]

I have 2 piggybacks on rock chuckers, one on an ammo master and have removed the Uniflo measures and the clap trap mechanism that operates them, from all of them.
That's not what's used on the Pro2000 though.
I replaced them with Lee auto disks and Lee powder thru the expander dies, with the powder measure being activated directly by the case.

I use the wrap-around spring arm with and extension spring.
It's way easier to disconnect the spring to throw a test charge to weigh that way.

I have to use Lee risers(2) to clear the indexing rod, even after cutting it short to remove the part that attached to the Uniflo(not app to the Pro2000)
This also frees up a station for a bullet feeder too


I tried a Lee Auto Drum too, but didn't like the stiff spring or the mechanics of it's operation, and it was difficult to throw a test charge to weigh.
just me though,

.