RCBS Pro 2000 problem

[griz]

Here is something you don’t want to happen to you.
I was loading 38 special on my RCBS Pro 2000 and noticed the powder measure was not stroking as far as it used to. Pulled a case to check the charge and it had no powder in it at all! Troubleshooting showed the measure had slipped about a 1/4 or 1/2 inch in the collar that attaches to it. The measure came assembled and I had assumed that since the base of the measure was threaded that the collar was threaded as well, thereby meaning it could only rotate instead of slipping. Not so, it can go from full charge to nothing in one stroke.

I think a lock out die would have stopped me at the right time so I believe I’ll get one of those. And yes, I did pull apart the entire 145 rounds to be on the safe side.

 

[MoNsTeR]

I had this problem as well. As it was assembled from the factory, it seems inevitable that the linkage would "pop out".

 

[Odessa]

Thanks for the heads up. I use a Pro2000 for loading .357 Mags and, like you, assumed the collar was threaded. I do use a lock-out die, but I am going to check the tightness of the collar now. Thanks, Odessa

 

[Frohickey]

I haven't seen the massive speed increase in using the RCBS Pro 2000 yet.
I keep checking the case for presence of powder just before I put a bullet to seat.

Also, I'm constantly looking at the orientation of the powder measure in relation to the die and press.

If I have to use a lock-out die, I would lose a station with which to crimp the round. I use a stand-alone Lee factory crimp die for this.

Haven't needed to pull any rounds apart yet.

 

[mellow]

Frohickey. I have a pro2000 also and have contemplated using a lock out die. (also wanting to have a seperate crimp station)

so far, I've just been eye-balling my powder charges, but if you really want to have a lock out and seperate crimp station, you can load as usual with 4th station being the lockout, the 5th being the seater.

take out the powder measure and put in a new die plate with just the crimp die. you can then finish off each round with the Lee FCD. Takes longer, but it's do-able.

Will I switch to a dillon 650, maybe, maybe not.

 

[Yo]

Get the lock-out die.

Very, very important with this machine.

I found once or twice I raise the ram far enough to drop some powder, but one of the other dies stuck for some reason (e.g. a lead bullet tilted in the seating die). So, you lower the ram and get everything set, then go up again. Bingo, double charge.

I've loaded about 2500 rounds so far, 2000 with the lock-out die. It has caught two mistakes. The first mentioned above, the second a similar double load caused when a case spilt going into the seating die. Again, the ram got far enough up that some powder dropped. I replaced the case, put the ram up again, and this double-charged the case in #3.


Lock-out die is $33 at Midway. Get it.

As someone else noted, you can always crimp everything on a Rockchucker later if you don't want to seat/crimp at the same station.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I would not want to give up my seperate crimper to a lock out die.

My approach was/is to get a very bright reading light that clips on from target and mount it so it shines directly into the case at station 4. This way I can check the powder prior to seating the bullet. Also I am slowly using up all of my "fast" powder and starting to use only case filling loads. This way I spill the powder prior to a double charge.

Just a different approach.

 

[Gary H]

I'm with Peter. I use my lockout eyeballs and keep the crimp only station. If I decide that I need the lockout die, I'll go to the top of the line Dillon.

 

[Jonah]

Lock out die

There is a solution to all of your problems. You can have a lock out die and a separate crimp and seat station.
Station 1-size/decap
Station 2-expand/drop powder
Station 3-Lock out die
Station 4-seat
Station 5-crimp

I know, that's not the way RCBS says to do it. RCBS and Hornady apparently cannot provide an expander bushing for the powder measure due to Lee patients. Lee and Dillon both have the expand/powder drop capability. If you have a lathe or know someone who does, make a bushing for the powder measure using the pistol bushing from RCBS as a guide, but on the case mouth end, instead of being a bevel, have it turned to the proper diameter to expand and flare the case mouth. The Uniflow powder measure will then function like Lee's and Dillon's measures do. This works very well. I have loaded several thousand .45 Colt rounds with this set up with no problems.

 

[griz]

Welcome to THR Jonah, and I congratulate you for your apparent persistence in hunting down old threads. Anyway, can you tell me how the lock out die works? I have heard several people describe it's function but what puzzles me is how it locks the travel of the ram. I just can't imagine how that trick is accomplished. Thanks, Griz

 

[Jonah]

lock out die

On a manual index progressive like the Pro 2000, the lock out die actually just stops the ram from going all the way up, so that you know something is wrong. Too little or too much powder won't let the cartridge enter the die. On an automatic index machine, it works the same way and it prevents the shell plate from indexing. My experience with the die indicates that there is no way for you to miss the fact that the cartridge doesn't have at least close to the correct charge. In my opinion, I think that the lock out die is more important to have on the press than having a separate seat and crimp set up. Of course, the best set up is as I posted above, and have the best of both worlds.

 

[DBR]

Just use a Dillion powder measure in the "expander" station and put the lockout die in the normal powder measure position. The dillion expansion/flare/activation system is much better than the Rube Goldberg Hornady araingement. Works great and for most powders the Dillion measure is more consistant. I've been doing this since I got my 2000 a couple of years ago.