RCBS Pro 2000

[threefeathers]

I visited my dying siter in the hosp today and my wife and I then stopped by Jensons in Tucson. I had been talking about getting a progressive press and I noticed when I was in the ammo wall that she and the reloading guy were carrying a new RCBS pro 2000 to my truck. My fathers day gift she said. I will make this thing work. Anyone here use it?

 

[lycanthrope]

I've loaded probably 10 thousand on mine. Just let me know what questions you have.

Oh......use that 5th station to seat and crimp at differing stations. Particularly if you are going to use RCBS dies.

 

[threefeathers]

I'm used to doing primers and powder as a seperate step., I guess that will be the hardest for me to get used to.

 

[lycanthrope]

You still will....kinda. The Pro 2000 primes by forcing the press lever forward and then you pull it rearward to size, flare, powder drop, seat and crimp. If you can buy your primers already in strips (CCI) it will save you loads of time. The primer system is almost perfect once you get used to it.

Here's another tip. Mine didn't come with a locking nut for the powder drop. You can scavenge one off an old die set and you won't waste time setting it up again after everytime you take it off to dump the excess powder. You'll also want to get a couple of the die plates (I order most of mine through Sinclairs) so you can change calibers super fast.

 

[threefeathers]

I'm going to order 45 ACP, 40 Smith, 9mm, and 38 sp tonight. I think I'll load 357, both regular and Sig on my T-Mag.

 

[lycanthrope]

If you've never used a powder drop before, make sure you start with a good metering powder like Titegroup.

 

[griz]

I like mine. I picked it over the Dillon because of cheaper caliber changes. I'm not trying to pick on Dillon, just saying why I didn't get one.

Anyway, the only problem I had was the measure slipped in its collar once and didn't charge some cases. The collar looks threaded but is only a friction fit. By the way, unlike lycanthrope's, mine came with a lock nut for the measure.

My only plan for a change is to get Sinclairs bottle adapter for the measure.

 

[Deavis]

The Pro 2000 is a great press overall. I liked everything about mine except for the priming system. If you can't find APS strips then you are forced to load the strips, which is el bunko.

I switched to their ram prime system and it gave so much trouble (wouldn't feed a primer, primers upside down, stuck primers) I sold it. RCBS's service was pretty good and they tried to help me solve the problem. In the end, I just decided I wanted something that auto-indexed and fed primers more reliably.

Have fun!

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Well, I just checked my logs and as of right now, I have loaded 140,076 rounds on my Pro2000. I say as of right now, because as soon as I get done cruising the net, I have another 300 rnds of 357mag to load. I am trying to load 300 to 500 rnds a night to get caught up. I have about 30,000 pieces of brass that are tumbled and ready to go.

So, what can I say about the press. It wears in very nicely. Once you get used to it, it works very very well. I use mostly (over 95%) pre-loaded cci primer strips which I buy in bulk from PowderValley out of OK. I usually order between 20,000 and 40,000 primers at a whack so it is reasonable on the shipping with HAZMAT charges.

I have an early 2000 press that has had the main "table" or base plate holder replaced. It was slightly machined off, so small pistol primers were slightly off center. The new plate is still wearing in, (only has about 30,000 rnds out of it) so it is just really smoothing up. I find that it works very well with a small micrometer for the uniflow and a powder baffle. I have no problems dispensing powder as longs as I am consistent.

I use a two hadned approach. Right hand turns the baseplate while the left goes for a case and bullet. I examine the case as it goes into the plate and then check the powder charge. I use a lamp from target to shine right down into the case and clamps on the back of the press. I then seat the bullet and cycle the handle.

When I am loafing along, 300 rnds takes about 45 minutes from start to into MTM boxes with labels on them. I try not to rush it, but I find a rhythm develops quickly and I have a good time at it.

I am happy to say (nock on wood) no popped primers yet, no double charges (thank god) and no "no" powder charges.

I crimp seperate to bullet seat on my revolvers and use a LEE FCD die for all auto rounds. I do not use a powder lock out die or powder checker die, but I have to admit I am concerned about that. I am thinking about getting a lockout die for 357mag and 38 special when I load them and use then use the uniflow and primering station as the expansion and priming station. This opens up slot 3 for the powder checker die. I would only due this for tightgroup powder and 357mag/38 special because it is very hard to see the powder or a double charge. 9mm, 10mm, 357sig etc, whats the point, a double charge will spill.


All in all it is a good press. Some day I should take a picture of all of the primer stips I have. I am starting to fill my second 5 gallon drum full of them!

 

[kernal_panic]

damn and i thought i was a bit excessive.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

So whats excessive????

 

[threefeathers]

ok guys I got it set up and actually got four bullets, (45 Long Colt) loaded. It only took me 5 hours to put it together and turn out some loaded rounds. (Am I good or what?) Boy oh Boy the 45 Colt leaves very little room for the powder measure, should I take out the spacer in the powder tube?

 

[threefeathers]

This is easy. Now I'm going to see how fast I can safetly load a box of 40s/

 

[lycanthrope]

A box?..........


Like 10 minutes if you drag your feet.


As for the .45 Colt, I don't load any longer cartridges, but make sure the powder measure is backed out far enough where you aren't binding. If that doesn't fix it, then remove the spacer.

 

[threefeathers]

Wow, you are correct, it too me 16 minutes (I had a timer) but the last 20 were faster than the first. I think 45 Colt was a good caliber to start with, now the 40 is a snap. Today I do 9mm.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Loafing along yesterday loading 38 special with titegroup and a powder check die (first time trying it out), I was able to load 500 rnds in 55 minutes. I did not time it directly, but I started at the end of the news and finished before the weather came on at the top of the hour.

It is surprising how fast you can go and not really be trying to go fast. I was just concentrating on the load and making sure I was very smooth.

 

[lycanthrope]

Enjoy it while you can boys......

It won't be long until you get used to having all that surplus ammo. Then it will be like:

"Good Grief! Tomorrow I'm going to the range and I only have 600 rounds! Man, I gotta load at least 90 minutes tonight so I have enough just to warm up my draws and double taps.....there has to be a better way...."