RCBS PRO 2000 Powder measure, changing powder??

[Rule3]

Been watching videos on progressives. How do you empty the powder measure on the Pro 2000?? Is it just unscrew the whole unit??

I am comparing to the the Hornady LnL with the quick change bushing.

Does RCBS have a quick change bushing??

I have a RCBS stand alone Uniflow and it is simple just unscrew the lock ring around the metering and dump it out.

 

[higgite]

Check this thread out. Same topic.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=747842&highlight=rcbs+powder+measure

 

[cfullgraf]

Yes, check out the thread indicated by higgite.

Short answer is unhook the spring, remove the hand screw on the linkage and the powder measure lifts out from the powder die. The powder die stays with the press.

The linkage is basically the same as the Hornady L-N-L case activated system.

 

[Rule3]

My other brother Darryl wrote that thread and forgot to tell me about it.

Thanks

Still hemming and hawing between the two.

(NO!, I do not want to hear about the Blue Smurfs!)

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I used to do that. Now I just pull the two pins to the whole die plate, slide it out and flip the whole thing over and dump it into a big funnel back into the can. Work the microscrew a few times to clear the uniflow and then put it back in and repin it. Pull the baffle out of the funnel and put it back in the uniflow. Put the cover on the uniflow, put the funnel away, screw the cap on the powder and you are done. Easy.

 

[GW Staar]

Great Idea!

That works super if you are loading pistol and drop charges on station 2. If you have the Uniflow on the stationary station 3 for rifle loads.....do it the other (disconnect the spring and lift the hopper out) way!

 

[Rule3]

OK guys. another question. When I change calibers on a RCBS 2000, as the Powered measure is in a stationary spot, does it require removal and then use another powder through die or is the powder dies universal??

I am coming at this for long term use of a LEE Turret where I unscrew the powder measure and put it in the powder measure expanding die for each caliber.

 

[cfullgraf]

Great Idea!

That works super if you are loading pistol and drop charges on station 2. If you have the Uniflow on the stationary station 3 for rifle loads.....do it the other (disconnect the spring and lift the hopper out) way!

Since my Pro2000 is mounted to its own stand, i just pick up the press to dump the powder hopper.

And i have some ocean front property in TN for sale, cheap!

 

[cfullgraf]

OK guys. another question. When I change calibers on a RCBS 2000, as the Powered measure is in a stationary spot, does it require removal and then use another powder through die or is the powder dies universal??

It depends. Several options are available.

I made some custom drop tubes for my case activated system so that I do not have to readjust the powder die when changing cartridges.

Some folks dedicate a powder die for each cartridge. They change out the die and drop tube when the change cartridges.

Of course, you could re-adjust the powder die when you change cartridges.

Or buy a press for each cartridge that you load.

 

[Rule3]

Or buy a press for each cartridge that you load.

I can hire an undocumented person to come and pull the handles all day also.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Sorry guys, I forgot that the default is powder in station 3. I always put the powder check in 3 and dispense in 2 just for these reasons.

 

[GW Staar]

OK guys. another question. When I change calibers on a RCBS 2000, as the Powered measure is in a stationary spot, does it require removal and then use another powder through die or is the powder dies universal??

I am coming at this for long term use of a LEE Turret where I unscrew the powder measure and put it in the powder measure expanding die for each caliber.

When you change calibers from one pistol to another, you use the same powder die (if you use stationary #3 station ...... but different PTX's (powder-through expanders).

1. release the spring, thumb screw, & linkage (a few seconds) & lift the P.M up and off the powder die.
2. pour the powder back in the can.
3. Push the PTX out from the bottom of the powder die. (stick something in there to lift the PTX so you can grab it...then pull it out.) Drop in the correct one for the new case you plan to load.
4. Replace the P.M. and hook it back up....spring, lever, thumbscrew.
5. Readjust the powder die height for the new case. (so that the linkage fully travels the necessary stroke to fill and release the powder plus properly bell the case for your bullet and/or bullet feeder.)
6. Pour in the new powder and set the mic for the new load.

pretty simple. but as #5 pointedly shows, the bottle neck is readjusting how much the powder die is screwed in. That's why the preferred thing to do is to populate each (pistol) die plate with its own separate preset powder die in station #2. (the lower parts that comes with a case activated kit.) So then what do you do with stationary station #3? Powder cop, lockout die works good there.


Hornady sells such as a "quick change kit" and is sold in places like Midway USA. RCBS so far requires you to gather the parts numbers and order from RCBS direct. Many bag that and just order Hornady parts for their Uniflows. (think that requires that they replace RCBS linkage with Hornady though)

They even use the superior RCBS PTX with the Hornady linkage and die....Ask Peter Eick.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

GW, you know I owe you a package. It has just gotten lost on my desk at work. Every time I think of it I am at home.

GW is right. Using the PTX and the Hornady setup on the Uniflow is the best of both worlds. I should really do a post on all of the mistakes I have made or "learned" as I slowly worked out how to load. Lots of fun but I need to do it some day.

 

[Rule3]

GW,

Thanks much for the details.

That powder change and going through RCBS sounds like a PITA (not that bad)

But how is that compared to the Hornady system as to changing powder dies?

I change calibers a lot!. Probably change more than I load a specific amount of ammo, I can still use the Turret for less common calibers but say just switching from 9 to 40 to 45? Not even considering all the revolvers:banghead:

 

[GW Staar]

Yeah Pete I wait by the mail box every morning. (I wish) I have so many fires to put out every day, I haven't even reloaded this month......checking my "forums" a couple of times a day is necessary therapy.....unwinds the stress.

The major fire storms this week was paying off Uncle Sam, finishing a remodeled bathroom for a daughter expecting company, getting a "Barbi" head removed from a sink drain in her other bathroom (well stuck 14' beyond the trap),and backing up my partner and brother, while he spent the week at his wife's bedside after emergency surgery. (almost lost her with a perforated bowel).

Life is so fun..... Thanks to the O.P., and all my friends on the gun forums, I can get a pleasant diversion from a bad week here and there.

 

[GW Staar]

GW,

Thanks much for the details.

That powder change and going through RCBS sounds like a PITA (not that bad)

But how is that compared to the Hornady system as to changing powder dies?

I change calibers a lot!. Probably change more than I load a specific amount of ammo, I can still use the Turret for less common calibers but say just switching from 9 to 40 to 45? Not even considering all the revolvers:banghead:

Going through RCBS for the "lowers" isn't all that bad...just takes a morning phone call....and you want to order more than one if you load a lot of calibers. Somewhere I have part numbers.....I'll look. It's cheaper by RCBS because you don't have to buy the whole linkage, if you already have one......otherwise Hornady's linkage and quick change dies, like Pete says, works great.

How does that compare to an AP? The same process exactly, excepting instead of having populated and pre-adjusted die plates you slide in all together, you have separate powder dies pre-adjusted in bushings, that you have to keep together with the other dies for that caliber, that you will "LnL" into the press each time you change calibers. Other than that, it just depends on whether you want to grab preloaded primer strips and load, or load tubes first, and then again when you run out.

There is no magic effortless way to reload....plenty of PITA's for all. But people put up with the PITA's because the overall effect is worthwhile.....and even fun if you like that sort of thing.
I will add one more thing......many caliber changes often is RCBS's forte.....nobody's press does it faster.....not even Hornady's....especially not Dillon's. If I want...I can easily load 3 calibers (including primer size change) per session, if die plates are set up for them.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Good summary GW. There is no perfect easy solution to this. I find putting the uniflow on station two and having multiple uniflows and die plates and shell plates the easiest. I have one die plate with a full RCBS setup, one with my hornady rcbs hybrid and another full rcbs setup with a large micrometer instead of small. This is used for rifles mainly.

By keeping it on station two, dumping the powder, switching dies, moving things around is quicker, faster and easier. That is why I switch. The only time the powder check comes out of 3 is if I am doing a big caliber and want to use the big foot instead of the small. I found it was just easier to buy two dies then switch them.

 

[Tom488]

Many bag that and just order Hornady parts for their Uniflows. (think that requires that they replace RCBS linkage with Hornady though)

It does not. I run Hornady lower powder dies in most of my die plates, and use the original RCBS linkage with them.... works just fine. The only thing I did was swap the two studs that the return spring attaches to - such that the fixed stud (with the hex head that captures the spring) is on the Uniflow. This way, the spring remains with the powder measure as you move it from die to die.

 

[cfullgraf]

Yes, the powder die itself probably does not matter between the RCBS or the Hornady die.

But, I believe parts of the linkages cannot be exchanged as I think they are slightly different lengths. The tube that screws into the powder measure may be matched to the linkages but I cannot say for sure. I do use a Hornady tube with a Hornady powder drop die.

I like the Horandy linkage better than the RCBS since you do not have to remove the pivot screw to remove the powder measure from the drop die. The Hornady linkage has a slot cut in it for disconnecting the linkage and removing the powder measure .But, they both function the same.

I use the Hornady linkage on my Pro2000 with the Hornady drop die. When I first got my Hornady L-N-L, I bought several drop dies and adjusted them for a specific cartridge. I have since made custom drop tubes (aka PTX tubes but mine do not expand the case mouth) where I do not have to swap drop dies. The difference has been designed/machined into the drop tubes.

Hence, I am flush with Hornady drop dies and they get used on the Pro2000.

Finally, I have a modified Redding 10-X powder measure that gets used on both the L-N-L and the Pro2000. The Hornady and RCBS Uniflow powder measures see service as well depending on what I am loading.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I use the full hornady die and linkages and just screwed a uniflow into the top of it. Yes the links are different lengths so it takes a bit of tweaking. Just play with the setup a bit and once you figure the geometry out, it is easy to slide the parts up and down and get it all to work out.

I have this Hornady set screw that limits the travel on the spring side at the top of the stoke. This keeps the flare much more consistent than before and it is the main reason it is my primary setup.

Like GW, and Chuck, my set up is a sort of mishmash of parts where I am using rcbs drop dies and hornady depending on the round and the situation.

 

[Edster12]

Going through RCBS for the "lowers" isn't all that bad...just takes a morning phone call....

But the wait is VERY PAINFUL!!!! Placed an order for 2 powder die set ups on or about 1/30/14. I AM STILL WAITING!!!! THe last correspondence with RCBS yielded this response "Unfortunately due to the heavy volume of sales at this time we do not have a definitive eta. Thank you for your patience."
That was a month ago, yet still no parts. Frustration level with RCBS is very high right now.

 

[GW Staar]

But the wait is VERY PAINFUL!!!! Placed an order for 2 powder die set ups on or about 1/30/14. I AM STILL WAITING!!!! THe last correspondence with RCBS yielded this response "Unfortunately due to the heavy volume of sales at this time we do not have a definitive eta. Thank you for your patience."
That was a month ago, yet still no parts. Frustration level with RCBS is very high right now.

That seem to be the state of the reloading world right now. The Hornady linkage lowers are out of stock at Midway and have been for a long time.....Graf's too. However I just clicked over to Grafs just now and they have the kits in stock....today anyway. However, the full linkage kit is not.