RCBS Pro Chucker 5 and 7 Indexing

[cfullgraf]

Yesterday I went to Nashville to the NRA extravaganza. Interesting show. We had a long enjoyable day.

For the RCBS booth, I wanted to see in detail the indexing of the Pro Chucker series presses to see if they eliminated the jump of the shell plate into the detent at the end of the index.

Well, the jump is still there but no where near as violent as the Pro2000. Probably along the level of the Hornady L-N-L.

It appears that the shell plate indexes into position before it goes over the locating pin. The locating pin pin is a nice feature as once the shell plate is back to it's lowers position, the shell plate will not move.

With my Pro2000, I have had the shell plate get out of position a few times for various operator induced reasons and damage a case on the next operation.

I hope this answers some of the questions from GW Staar's thread a few weeks ago.

At least with the 5 station press, the operation position is similar to the layout of the Hornady L-N-L. Station 1 is in the left rear, priming in the right rear, etc. So, it would be an easy transition to the Pro Chucker for a Hornady user.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Thank you for the information. What was your general feel of the mechanical build and quality?

 

[cfullgraf]

The over all quality of the workmanship on the Pro Chuckers looks as good or better than the Pro2000.

I find the indexing of my Pro2000 to be a bit rough at times, but it really does not have much time on it. It could get better over time. The Pro Chucker 5 that I fooled with had very smooth indexing except for the small jump into the detent ball.

I did not attempt to remove the die plate so I cannot comment on how easy or difficult it is to remove and replace it.

 

[GW Staar]

For the RCBS booth, I wanted to see in detail the indexing of the Pro Chucker series presses to see if they eliminated the jump of the shell plate into the detent at the end of the index.

Well, the jump is still there but no where near as violent as the Pro2000. Probably along the level of the Hornady L-N-L.

It appears that the shell plate indexes into position before it goes over the locating pin. The locating pin pin is a nice feature as once the shell plate is back to it's lowers position, the shell plate will not move.

Thanks for the report. From what I could see in the shot show video, it didn't appear to pop a spring-loaded bearing into a detent like all previous progressives.....just centered into the locating pin. So you are saying there is still a ball and spring??

Even if there isn't any "pop" into detent...there is still the law of inertia where a moving body, suddenly stopped, wants to keep moving in the direct it was last moving.

Therefore, that means the YouTube racers will still lose powder, even in a totally smooth system. All I'm hoping for is, that a smooth and relatively slower rotation won't suddenly speed up due to a sprung detent, and pop powder out.......and need a weaker spring again! With the weaker spring RCBS sent me for my Pro 2000, I haven't lost any more powder......but then I never race to the next station either. With the old spring it didn't matter....POP!

Even on the slower, full stroke rotation on Hornady's Ap, there are plenty of users who post in the three forums I frequent, and complain about losing grains of powder...even in that system. So they must have a ball and spring too? Slowing down is probably the best advice to all progressive users.

 

[cfullgraf]

So you are saying there is still a ball and spring??

I cannot say definitively that there is a ball and spring but it acts like that. I did not ask nor did I see the press with the shell plate removed.

As you slow the cycle speed down, the jump as if into a ball detent becomes more noticeable. When it makes the jump, the pin is not engaged or maybe just starting.

On consideration, the top of the pin has a taper so the taper may be driving the shell plate to the end position on the index as the pin enters the hole in the shell plate.

As I said, the jump at the end of the index of the shell plate is very less violent than the Pro2000.

The Hornady L-N-L shell plate has the ball detents built into the shell plate and they engage holes in the base plate. There are two in each shell plate. The balls are very small as opposed to the 1/4" diameter or so ball on the Pro2000.

While the ball detents in the shell plate will cause anyone problems as their operating speed increases, the acceleration and deceleration of the shell plate will also cause powder to get jostled and jump out of the case. So, slowing down the operation of the press will minimize these effect.

I may be making this sound lots worse than it really is. The indexing of the Pro Chucker's shell plate is very smooth and nothing like the jerky indexing on the Pro2000.

 

[jmorris]

Do they have a case feeder yet?

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Better question. Do they have a case feeder and a lead bullet feeder yet?

 

[cfullgraf]

Case and bullet feeders are not on my radar so I did not ask if they units in the works. The Pro Chucker 5 that I played with did not have a case feeder and I a do not remember one on the Pro Chucker 7 but there was a crowd around the Pro Chucker 7 the whole time I was at the RCBS booth.

The base plate for the shell plate has an appendage on it similar to what the Hornady L-N-L so the pro Chucker is designed with a case feeder in mind.

The 2015 RCBS catalog does not show Pro Chucker specific case and bullet feeders but does show some units that have been on the market for a while.

 

[Kaldor]

Not that I want to run out and sell my LnL but Id give this press a serious look if I could.

 

[GW Staar]

That would be nice. Unfortunately RCBS typically shows its new stuff in January at the Shot Show then finally gets the shelves filled in July/August even September. I'm hoping for a look at the new case feeder at least before Christmas. As we know, it didn't make the shot show.

I won't feel bad to be wrong and see them deliver earlier, but I've watched this show play out for many years.