RCBS powder measure - convert to case drop system?

[rajb123]

I recently got an RCBS powder measure that came with the RCBS Rock Crusher press. It does not have any linkage or drop tube, however, to use it with a case drop system on a progressive press.

Is the RCBS case drop linkage hardware ONLY sold separately? Do I need separate drop tubes for small and large cases?

The RCBS powder measure looks exactly like the Hornady powder measure. Are the parts from these two powder maesures interchangeable?

thx...

 

[Reloadron]

Is this kit the one you have? That would be the RCBS Rock Chucker kit. It should include the RCBS Uniflow Powder Measure as can be seen here.

The press is a single stage reloading press. I use my uniflow powder measure with this stand. Is that what you are getting at?

Ron

 

[cfullgraf]

I recently got an RCBS powder measure that came with the RCBS Rock Crusher press. It does not have any linkage or drop tube, however, to use it with a case drop system on a progressive press.

Is the RCBS case drop linkage hardware ONLY sold separately? Do I need separate drop tubes for small and large cases?

The RCBS powder measure looks exactly like the Hornady powder measure. Are the parts from these two powder maesures interchangeable?

thx...

Hopefully, I understand your question.

The Rock Chucker kit is a single stage press and normally, the powder measure is normally not used on the press. But, you could thread the measure onto the press. So, the powder drop system used on the RCBS progressive is not included in the kit. By not including the case activated kit, it helps keep the cost lower.

The powder measure should have come with one or two short, plastic drop tubes that threads into the bottom outlet of the powder measure. They have a conical shape for adapting to different case mouths. I have two of these for my Uniflow, one for small calibers, the other for larger calibers. I believe they also make a 17 caliber tube.

If you had purchased the progressive press kit, it would have included the case activated powder drop system.

I suppose, you could buy the case activated powder drop kit and use it on your Rock Chucker. But, I believe you would find it more convenient to get a separate powder measure stand and batch charge your cases from a case loading tray operating the measure manually.

The RCBS case activated powder system and the Hornady case activated system look very similar. They probably could be interchanged as the threads for the drop tubes are the same and the systems use split collars to attach to the measure. The lever arm that attaches to the drum may require some modification as the mounting holes may not line up.

I was able to adapt a Redding 10-X to work on my Hornady progressive, so not rocket science.

Hope this answers your questions.

 

[rajb123]

I bought a progressive press and I want to have separate powder measures; one measure for large cases and one measure for small cases. In order to do this, I would need to buy the drop linkage so my RCBS powder measure could work in a progressive press.

 

[cfullgraf]

Yes, the quickest powder measure change would be to buy another case activated linkage kit. See the link.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/802477/rcbs-uniflow-powder-measure-case-activated-linkage-kit

I would get another RCBS unit as opposed to the Hornady unit as the parts are interchangeable within the same manufacturer.

Depending on the number of different cartridges you load, you may want a powder drop die for each cartridge so that you do not have to re-adjust the die with each change. Then you would need the pistol powder expander for each caliber you load.

 

[GW Staar]

Yes, the quickest powder measure change would be to buy another case activated linkage kit. See the link.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/802477/rcbs-uniflow-powder-measure-case-activated-linkage-kit

I would get another RCBS unit as opposed to the Hornady unit as the parts are interchangeable within the same manufacturer.

Depending on the number of different cartridges you load, you may want a powder drop die for each cartridge so that you do not have to re-adjust the die with each change. Then you would need the pistol powder expander for each caliber you load.

You didn't say which progressive you bought...makes a difference as to what advice you get. If RCBS Pro2000 or Hornady AP, Chuck's on the right track. A little more info to hopefully clarify things for you:

All you need is the linkage-kit that Chuck just linked for you from Midway above, to use the Uniflow on station 3. It comes with drop tubes for everything, no other parts needed.

However ..... if you want to expand and charge together on station 2, (so you can open up another station for things like lockout dies, bullet feeders, separate crimp dies) then you need powder-through expanders as these from RCBS. http://www.midwayusa.com/find?userSearchQuery=RCBS+powder+though+expander

Using station 2 on a Pro 2000, or any other progressive with exchangeable tool heads, means the Uniflow (or Hornady P.M.) is mounted on the tool head. This explains why Chuck thought you might want extra powder dies to mount on all your pistol tool heads (or in extra bushings if Hornady) if you want the quick-change between calibers, you have two options and one is expensive: a new P.M. setup mounted to each tool head (Dillon style), or extra "powder die assemblies," Hornady/RCBS style. On a Hornady AP of course, you mount your extra powder dies, preset to a depth for a particualr caliber, on extra bushings. (Notice the Hornady assembly sold as a kit (Quick-Change) as well as the Hornady powder-through expanders on the following link) Hornady Parts.

To make this as clear as mud, actually you can use Hornady parts on the Uniflow. Their linkage, their "quick-change powder dies", and their expanders. BUT its all or none. Think assemblies. Hornady assembly parts are not exchangeable with RCBS's. But you can use the Hornady case-activated assembly on a Uniflow just as easy as the RCBS one. Pro 2000 users like me did just that before RCBS finally saw the light and provided powder through expanders of their own last January. I use both.

I do prefer the RCBS expanders though. They are more versatile to expand a little or the lot (necessary for bullet feeders). The Hornady expanders are designed to be pushed in all the way, to expand for the bullet feeders.

The only hang up with RCBS is that they don't offer a Hornady-like "quick-change kit" discountable at Midway, et al., to mount on each tool head. To get that you have to email or call up RCBS and order the separate part, called the "Powder Die Assembly". At least that is better than what they used to offer....each part of the assembly ordered separately.

Hope this helps. IT took me 10 edits to even make it clear to myself! Which Progressive do you have....very curious.

Just a bit of trivia. Yes the powder measures are similar. RCBS invented the Uniflow, Hornady licensed the design from them. Hornady came up with the first case-activated linkage for the design that really worked well. We don't want to talk about RCBS's first attempts. Anyhow RCBS licensed the Hornady linkage. For all I know the two licenses could have gone away, canceling each other. Hornady would have the advantage there if RCBS wanted the linkage bad enough!

 

[rajb123]

...Wow - Thanks!

My progressive is a Hornady L-N-L with 5 stations... In addition to the press which comes with a Hornady case-activated powder measure drop, I also purchased the small case drum that meters powder very well from .5 - 15 grains and the matching micrometer.

I would like to use the L-n-L powder measure for small cases and set up my RCBS powder measure for large cases in the progressive. I think the RCBS linkage kit shown above should do the trick.

At this point, I'm not sure I want to use a separate powder drop/case exander die for each caliper change. Isn't this necessary only if you have bullet feeder and separate crimp die?

 

[GW Staar]

...Wow - Thanks!

My progressive is a Hornady L-N-L with 5 stations... In addition to the press which comes with a Hornady case-activated powder measure drop, I also purchased the small case drum that meters powder very well from .5 - 15 grains and the matching micrometer.

I would like to use the L-n-L powder measure for small cases and set up my RCBS powder measure for large cases in the progressive. I think the RCBS linkage kit shown above should do the trick.

At this point, I'm not sure I want to use a separate powder drop/case exander die for each caliper change. Isn't this necessary only if you have bullet feeder and separate crimp die?

First understand that the "powder die for each caliber" thing is not the same as the "charge in station two thing"...totally separate.

Whether or not you use powder-through expanders.......you still have to setup the P.M. for a particular case. The height you screw in the powder die depends on the height of the case? Right?

So you are going to have to screw in the powder measure differently depending on whether you are loading 9mm or .357, or 30-06 ...and that's true...even when you change drop tubes. A work around is to machine a special drop tube for each case to compensate for that, as cfullgraf in fact did for his. (beyond my abilities, by the way) Soooo, Hornady came out with their "Quick-Change Kit" where you can set up a bushing/powder die for each case, screwed in to its bushing uniquely for that case, for much quicker caliber changes, and eliminating any need to have a P.M. for each case/caliber.

As for using station 2 to expand, that's necessary only when you need or want another station. If you charge in station 3 you have 2 left. If you charge in station 2 you have 3....simple as that. Bullet feeder, powder cop/lockout die, separate crimp, even then you need 6 stations to do all 3 extra steps. Of course nothing says you can't finish with the progressive and run the batch through your Rock Chucker afterwards to crimp 'em all separately. Choices, choices.

 

[cfullgraf]

GW Staar filled in the information nicely.

The thing to remember, the powder measure is "case activated" and not "press activated". So different cases, which are different lengths, require different settings of the powder die and powder measure.

It will depend on whether you want to spend time adjusting the powder dies or money buying one for each cartridge you load.

 

[GW Staar]

GW Staar filled in the information nicely.

The thing to remember, the powder measure is "case activated" and not "press activated". So different cases, which are different lengths, require different settings of the powder die and powder measure.

It will depend on whether you want to spend time adjusting the powder dies or money buying one for each cartridge you load.

Exactly.

Rajb123, one tiny point I intended to make before and forgot. You are planning on two P.M., one for the small powder cavity, one for the large one. Just a suggestion from my experience: Use the small cavity for absolutely everything you can....then if the charge is just too big, use the large drum/cavity. You will find that the Uniflow and the Hornady P.M. both meter best the fuller the cavity. And the small one meters better than the large one.

When I bought my press, I also had a Uniflow that I used for 40 years Rock Chucker loading. So I had the same Idea as you ... one for big, one for small. Once I started gaining experience, I discovered that I much preferred to load pistol in station 2, and so I bought Hornady parts so I could do that. Then I had to try out RCBS's new powder-though expander, and I liked that one too. So now I have two Uniflows set up nicely for Pistol, both using small cavity drums, one in Hornady clothes and one in RCBS clothes. Therefore to charge large rifle I have to "mess up" one and do a drum change. That can't stand, am looking for a 3rd Uniflow.....or heck even a Hornady P.M. will be fine.

 

[fguffey]

A Uniflow powder measure can be converted to case activated with a kit from RCBS.

A Uniflow powder measure can be converted to case activated with a kit from Hornady.

I have three presses that use the Uniflow powder measure with case activated linkage, I have a conversation kit from Dillon that allows me to use the Uniflow on the 550B.

F. Guffey

In the beginning the RCBS Piggy Back did not have case lock out linkage, the Piggy Back 11 came with the case lock out linkage.