RCBS Pro 2000

[Peter M. Eick]

I generally don't go for speed as this is my hobby. When I am not bothered by family, and just cranking out standard rounds like 38's. I have clocked myself doing a consistent 650 rounds an hour with the progressive setup.

I am sure someone more dedicated could make it go faster but I am content with just puttering along.

 

[J2FLAN]

On my PRO 2000 I counted rounds for 20 min. going as fast as I could, while making sure every round was loaded right in each station adding a primer strip every 25 rounds--150 rounds-- so that would put it at 450 per hour. I am sure I could not keep that pace for an hour and still have each round perfect. That is not real fast but the finished rounds are better than I can buy

 

[joed]

450 rounds per hour isn't bad at all and I could live with that, I think my 650 may do 600 in an hour if I pushed it but I normally don't. The 1050 can crank them out all day long at about 1000 an hour with me working just a little harder then a leisurely pace. On the 1050 my arm usually gives out after an hour.

Maybe the next progressive will be the Pro 2000, I'll give it a look.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

What I have been trying to get RCBS to do is make a press that is a cross between the 1050 and the pro2000. You really need about 3 more stations so we could have 8 or 9 stations. It would be nice if a bullet and casing feeder were available. It has to keep the aps strips and uniflow measure. It would be nice if they made the uniflow work like I hdid with the hornady approach of flare and dispense.

We just need more stations!

 

[joed]

I see the RCBS has 5 stations, isn't that enough? I got rid of the Dillon 550 because it only had 4. The 650 has 5 leaving room for a powder check die. I won't run a progressive without that feature as I got burned by the 550 giving me squibs.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

No you need a bunch more open stations in my opinion.

I would like to do the following in terms of stations/die spots but not all need to be filled:
1) case feeder
2) universal deprimer
3) lube die
4) body or complete size die
5) neck sizer die or trim die
6) primer
7) expander
8) powder drop
9) powder check
10) bullet feed and seat
11) crimp
12) profile or FCD crimp

That is what I would like do do. what I could get by with:

1) case feeder/ universal deprime
2) lube die
3) body or complete size die
4) primer/ expander
5) powder drop
6) powder check
7) bullet feed and seat
8) crimp/profile or FCD crimp

Thus I have pushed RCBS to make either a 12 station or 9 station press. I think a 9 station with some flexibility would work out just fine.

 

[GW Staar]

No you need a bunch more open stations in my opinion.

Maybe you're right, but I'd be really jealous of a new proud owner of an RCBS Pro 2012 (fictional so far of course), that had the following improvements:

1. 5 station tool head built around a stationary station 2. (so 6 stations total)
2. Powder through expander at station two for pistol.
3. Improved APS system that loads a coiled strip of primers as well as being back compatible with the strips used now.
4. Double tier feeder...one stand two collators for cases and bullets.
5. Bullet feeder feeds directly into a seater die. Both pistol and rifle.
6. Miniature video camera at station 3 that projects a clear picture of the case powder level to a screen at eye level. (They have these now that Model Railroad Hobbyists can mount to a tiny locomotive engine.)
7. And a "power" assisted press handle that makes cranking rounds super easy, yet stop cold (lockout die style) when too much pressure is required. (when something is wrong) and powers off during the primer insertion movement. Wouldn't Joed like that feature on his 1050!

Well shucks, if we're going to dream, dream!

450 rounds per hour isn't bad at all and I could live with that, I think my 650 may do 600 in an hour if I pushed it but I normally don't. The 1050 can crank them out all day long at about 1000 an hour with me working just a little harder then a leisurely pace. On the 1050 my arm usually gives out after an hour.

Maybe the next progressive will be the Pro 2000, I'll give it a look.

You commented about Hornady people giving you excuses. Well any press is slow when you start out and are trying to learn it...even your 1050. Many of these Hornady users are beginners. I consider myself still a beginner at the two year mark...mainly because I don't have the time nor the stamina to load the amount Peter does.

Also, some people will never push their progressives to top speed. Not sure I will. For me that's a factor of my limitations not the press's. If you haven't yet, look at my video using the Pro 2000 with some help from Hornady's brand new bullet feeder. Click the picture below to see it.



Observe: Three things limited speed in the video. First, it was my first 10 rounds using the bullet feeder, second, 61 year-old me with more than a touch of arthritis in the hands, and third, the Bullet feeder, because I hadn't figured out yet how to keep the bullet on board during a really fast auto-index. Only the second one will remain a factor...and I do much better in the summer time. One thing that didn't limit was the time placing cases in the shell plate....that is done during the priming stroke. (ok, except for the fumble-fingered one where I thought I had a bad case) You should be able to see that any young reloader will, with just a little experience, be able to knock out a very respectable speed...similar to your 650 using a case feeder. Shoot, if you count caliber changes and primer loading, maybe even faster. Faster yet if you build the $30 primer-out beeper I made for mine.

Question? Do you ever pinch or mash your fingers while you manually insert bullets in your 650?...especially when you are trying to set a speed record? That can never happen, if bullets are auto-fed instead of cases.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Time and stamina? No just a frustrating job. There is nothing more relaxing then loading ammo or mowing the lawn. It is just so satisfying at the end of the day at work. My job can be very frustrating some days with no progress and no sense of motion. Loading ammo or mowing the lawn is a release because you can focus on a task, see it through and have something to show for it at the end of the task.

I figure I can't mow the lawn every day, I don't get enough exercise to justify alcohol as an out, so I make ammo.

Works for me.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

A few thoughts on the ideal progressive press...

Tool heads and die retention

I'm not sure a stationary position for the PM is a good idea. Too many setups need it in stations other than #2. Particularly if you use powder through expanders that need to be swapped anyway. I like Hornady's LNL bushings on every station best (just want more of them!)

Indexing

I like the AP's smooth, half-step indexing. Being able to easily disable it would be a nice touch. I like the enclosed auto-indexing on the AP.

Shell plates and case retention/ejection

I like Dillon's and RCBS shell plate and sub-plate designs that are more forgiving of spilled powder, etc. by raising the case head off the subplate.

I like the AP ez-ject system (under the shell plate), but that means the case heads need to extend below at least part of the sub-plate. Spiral grooves could be milled into the sub-plate, each leading to "drain holes" that would route spilled powder safely out of the way. I think the EZ-ject may inadvertently improve operation in the presence of spilled powder, etc.

I like the Pro-2000 case retention system.

I like easily disabled case feeding (to allow manual case insertion) so that you don't have to set it up if you're only running a limited amount of that cartridge.

Spent primer handling

I like the AP spent primer system better than Dillon's. Not sure how Pro-2000 does it.

Priming

I like the Hornady priming shuttle, with one exception: the slot needs a drain hole at the end for stray bits of powder, etc.

I'm not sure whether I'd like APS or not, unless they had coiled strips or something like it. And a really fast semi-automated way to fill them with other brands of primers.

Other

I don't like combining bullet feed and seating die; it would limit the choice of seating dies too much.

I like the Dillon 1050 for its number of stations. Not for its complexity of caliber change-over.

I like the cast-iron frame on the Pro-2000 and on the 1050.



So, if I had a cast-iron, 8 station LNL AP with a sub-plate designed to handle spilled powder better, and RCBS case retention and coil-fed APS priming system, I'd probably be pretty happy with that.

Andy

 

[General Tso]

Well after thoroughly researching Hornady, Dillon, and RCBS, I ordered a RCBS Pro 2000. I hope I made the right choice. The cast iron frame and die plates and RCBS name sold me.

 

[altitude_19]

You're telling me...I don't anticipate EVER wearing mine out. Can't beat having the dies set and ready to go either!

 

[Otto]

Well after thoroughly researching Hornady, Dillon, and RCBS, I ordered a RCBS Pro 2000. I hope I made the right choice. The cast iron frame and die plates and RCBS name sold me.

Good choice, I already have a LNL but have been giving the Pro 2000 some consideration. Don't forget the $50 rebate that RCBS has going right now.