RCBS Pro Chucker 7 a good first press?

[Domonlord]

Long time creeper. O_O
Really wanting to order a progressive press this week for my 9mm and .223 needs. Would also like to load some .45ACP and .308 on it.

Also needing a single stage press for .50BMG and .338 Lapua.

Sooooo I'm leaning towards getting a RCBS Pro Chucker 7 and the RCBS AmmoMaster2 .50BMG press. Would you recommend these two presses? Or should I be looking at Hornady or Dillon?

Thanks!

 

[cfullgraf]

The ProChucker 7 is quite new and there has been very little information posted here from folks that actually have used the press.

It looks good, has some good features, but I believe it is having a few teething problems. I fondled the ProChucker 5 back in the spring at the NRA Nashville convention. Essentially, the same press with two fewer stations as the ProChucker 7.

Any of the progressives will serve you well. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. They all can make lots of good, quality ammunition.

A bit more information on your shooting and ammunition needs would better help folks make recommendations and suggestions.

Sorry, I'm no help on the 50 BMG.

If this is your first venture into reloading, I'd recommend starting with a single stage press while you are learning the "ropes". Not so much happens at one time on a single stage and you have ample opportunity to avoid mistakes and errors.

Even after you move to a progressive, a single stage press is handy to have around. There are certain special tasks it is more suited to than a progressive.

I'm not sure if a press capable of loading 50 BMG is adaptable to loading smaller cartridges. Glancing through the catalogs, 50 BMG presses seem to be specialized but as I said, I have no experience loading 50 BMG--or shooting it for that matter either, maybe someday.

Hope this helps.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[jmorris]

If you buy one of the pro chuckers, you will be the first person here to own one. Only negative I have read about them is a plastic part of the priming system breaks.

I had height issues loading 308 on an LNL (because of the second half of the index is on the up stroke) so I don't think you would ever have a chance loading 338 LM on one.

I know you can load 338 LM on a 550, not sure about other progressives.

 

[GW Staar]

The Pro Chuckers are too new for me. I like to let the manufacturer ring out the first production/design problems first.

I absolutely trust RCBS to make you happy as a customer, but as an early adopter, you will have to be patient while they sort out p/d problems on a brand new product. They have plenty of experience with progressives, but this press is new ground with "improvements".

The Dillon 550 mentioned, satisfy lots of people, and is a good press even for beginners being that they are manual advance, but it's an old four station press. You may outgrow it if you want to graduate to a need for more stations. The RCBS Pro 2000 also comes manual advance, but with five stations and upgrade-ability to auto-advance....but you pay more.

If you're not in that big a hurry I'd buy a single station first, and you may be really pleased with what the new Pro Chuckers become......and yet safe if RCBS misses the mark allowing you to re-examine the other presses.

I will say this.....550's are old technology, venerable but old. 650's are newer, but lose the 550's simplicity. The RCBS Pro 2000 provide 650-ish capability, less the built-n case feeder with the simplicity of the 550. The new RCBS presses are one step up between the 650 and the commercial 1050's according to RCBS......but they are too new to judge, IMO. So I will wait. Especially since every reason I bought the RCBS Pro 2000 is gone. The super safe (and fast) APS primer system, and the heavy duty cast iron castings. The new presses are aluminum, like the rest of the market now, except the Dillon 1050.

 

[rg1]

The RCBS AmmoMaster 50 BMG press is not cast iron but cast aluminum. While it is adequate for the heavy task of sizing 50 BMG brass it's not ideal and could have been made heavier duty. It's a converted press with longer linkage rods for the long BMG brass. Hornady and RCBS 50 BMG presses are the same press with Hornady having the Lock and Load feature. I've had the RCBS 50 BMG kit for several years and have sized lots of military once fired cases. My RCBS dies and the accessories for the press have done a good job. As far as the progressive RCBS press I'd prefer Dillion for a progressive press but RCBS stands behind their products well. Dillion has been the Cadillac of progressive presses for a good while. Just up to you if you want to have all green equipment on your bench? I prefer all single stage equipment myself and no experience with progressive presses. All my presses are RCBS with a highly recommended Forster Co-AX press adding the red color on my bench.

 

[jmorris]

The Dillon 550 mentioned, satisfy lots of people, and is a good press even for beginners being that they are manual advance, but it's an old four station press.

I guess it is all relative but all of the Dillon's are "old" designs really. All of the "improvements" are based off of older designs. I am sure this is helpful for them to provide the lifetime warranty to all of them as well as why old machines retain their value.

My 30 year old SD cost $130 back then and would sell for twice what it cost new. "Clean sheet" designs have come and gone during that time with other businesses and parts support is questionable. While he 550 is not a huge step from Dillon's first "hobby" reloader, the RL 450 and if you have one of those old machines they will convert it to a 550 if you want them to.

Still a question what RCBS will do to support the pro 2000 in the future or if your a "look down the road" kind of guy, how they will support the new pro chuckers if they decide tube fed priming was a bad decision and go back to what they know.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Here's a good thread on the Pro Chucker 5, which is a little brother of the 7.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/446378_Pro_chucker_5_mini_review.html

 

[GW Staar]

rg1 is right!....and I didn't know the base was Aluminum (the top is cast iron). I'm not a fan of Alum. cast......... and here's why.



same press same weakness....I take back my positive comments on the Ammomaster.

No question in my mind anymore that Hornady and RCBS have close ties.

A little research this evening turned this informational quote up:

Heaviest built frame in the industry, made of high strength ductile iron and high strength carbon steel.

from Dillon's specs on their 50 BMG press.......guess they have two good presses.....the 1050 and the 50 BMG Press. If I had a BMG I'd get the Dillon press, pictured below. (Of course if I had the money to have one and buy the components, I'd have the money to by this $1000 press!)



Now if God really loves us, He'll inspire Dillon to update their 650 to a cast iron/steel casting and add an APS-type primer system......then I would be a Dillon fan.

 

[mikemyers]

I'm still using the first press I got, the RCBS Big Max. Does everything I need, and is built like a tank. Weighs as much too!! Having said that, I'm very interested in eventually buying a progressive press.

For my own personal choice, I won't buy or use anything with a "primer tube". To me, it looks too much like a pipe bomb. Maybe it will never explode, but I've read enough to see no reason to take the risk.

The new RCBS progressive presses seem like a good, solid, well-built design. If it wasn't for the priming, I'd probably have already bought one. I've read about the Pro 2000, and watched so many videos, I can almost see it in my reloading area. Just the same, I'm telling myself to keep using my single-stage press for the next year, and then decide what to do.

Another choice, when/if I get to buy something, is to decide if I want the auto-indexing or should I do that manually. Years ago, on the Pro 2000, I read where people had problems with the indexing, causing it to spill powder - but on pistol cartridges, I just don't see that happening.


Something I'd like to add to this discussion. Assuming someone is the type of person who wants to keep the reloading area spotless, how difficult is that? Clean-up with my single station press just takes a small brush. Can anyone say how much time/effort it takes to clean up an RCBS progressive press after the day's reloading is completed?

 

[jmorris]

Something I'd like to add to this discussion. Assuming someone is the type of person who wants to keep the reloading area spotless, how difficult is that?

It is much less work than cleaning up after cooking a meal, no matter how messy you are.

 

[Potatohead]

Now if God really loves us, He'll inspire Dillon to update their 650 to a cast iron/steel casting and add an APS-type primer system......then I would be a Dillon fan.

I think he loves us. Well, most of us...

 

[dave333]

If anyone wants to jump into a Pro Chucker 7, this weekend is a good time, Cabelas has 10% off and free shipping and their price of $769 before discount is about as good as Ive seen anywhere else. Its in stock if anybody wants to grab it and do a review next week.

 

[Rule3]

See post #2,

If you are new to reloading there are a lot of factors to consider.

First is how much ammo do you really need say on a weekly or monthly basis?

Do you shoot hundreds of rounds a week or just go to the range every so often

How much of a budget do you have?

There are so many other items to buy other than the press, it all adds up not even counting brass, bullets, powder and primers,

I love RCBS but would not buy their new press (or anyone's) until it is proven and bugs worked out. Just like a gun or a car,

 

[GW Staar]

Another choice, when/if I get to buy something, is to decide if I want the auto-indexing or should I do that manually. Years ago, on the Pro 2000, I read where people had problems with the indexing, causing it to spill powder - but on pistol cartridges, I just don't see that happening.

Something I'd like to add to this discussion. Assuming someone is the type of person who wants to keep the reloading area spotless, how difficult is that? Clean-up with my single station press just takes a small brush. Can anyone say how much time/effort it takes to clean up an RCBS progressive press after the day's reloading is completed?

Mike, all progressives that I know about (never seen a 1050 at work) eject a few kernels from a mostly-filled shallow case. Some more than others. It's caused by a sprung ball bearing snapping into a detent (recess) under the shell plate at the end of a station advance. The faster you stroke, the faster the shell plate rotates and the more abrupt the end snaps home, belching kernels.

The 650 & Pro 2000 both belch (from full shallow cases) when run fast....both presses have "fixes" that reduce the snap. RCBS and Dillon both rotate a whole station advance during the lowering half of a stroke. The Hornady rotates halfway on the ram's upstroke and rotates the rest of the way on the down-stroke.....so having less motion there is less speed when it snaps home. But still plenty of Hornady users complain of losing kernels, as well.

On the Pro 2000, you don't stroke to try beat YouTube speed records. IMO that's a dangerous way to reload anyway. But you can lose 2 or 3 kernals in a .45acp or 9mm even at a careful pace with the factory spring ..... RCBS makes a lighter spring they will send you free if you ask, and that ends the shallow case problem unless you are stoking for speed. Same with the 650.

About Cleaning: Other than dust (l live in New Mexico after all) the only time I have ANYTHING to clean up is after a screw up....I'm not perfect. But normal event-free loading produces no mess, unless you are a bull in a china closet. If you find you are losing a kernel or two in shallow cases, keep your brush handy and slow down a tad.....I use a make-up brush like my wife uses. BTW, on a Pro 2000 there is zero mess with spent-primer residue because it goes down a tube...same with the new presses. One of my friends using a 650, sometimes spills primers all over the floor.....I'm happy to report that can't happen with a Pro 2000.

But is my bench clean? Only when I house clean after a big project.......it's me not the reloading....I don't put stuff up often enough. A flaw my wife says.....minor....I say.

The new RCBS Pro Chuckers are supposed to rotate smooth as glass, but they still use a ball and spring.....however, the end is kept from "snapping" hard by a location lever that protrudes through the shellplate. I have not personally seen it work (other than in video), but others report it is very smooth.

 

[mikemyers]

.......The Hornady rotates halfway on the ram's upstroke and rotates the rest of the way on the down-stroke.....so having less motion there is less speed when it snaps home....... RCBS makes a lighter spring they will send you free if you ask, and that ends the shallow case problem unless you are stoking for speed........on a Pro 2000 there is zero mess with spent-primer residue because it goes down a tube......

I will check out the Hornady - if it is a progressive loader, and doesn't use a "primer tube", I'll be very interested. Now to see if I can find it.....

RCBS - lighter spring - great!!! That would minimize one of my concerns. I didn't know that. One more reason to get the 2000, when I go progressive.

For that matter, I didn't know about the primer disposal setup either. another plus, as I see it.

Thanks!!!

 

[higgite]

Seems to me that for a press to have less powder splashing out of a case, it would have to come to a less abrupt halt, regardless of whether it spins to the next station in one move (RCBS/Dillon/etc) or two moves (Hornady). Sort of like the old saying, it wasn't the fall that hurt so much, it was the abrupt stop when I hit the ground.

I think, like GWS said, the key to less powder splash with any progressive press is speed control.

 

[cfullgraf]

I think, like GWS said, the key to less powder splash with any progressive press is speed control.

For the most part, i agree. Too fast an operation will tend to splash power more but it does not solve everything.

I've been working on loading 300 BLK on my Pro2000. I load light weight bullets at supersonic speeds. It splashes powder kind of Peanut's Pig Pen's dust cloud.

The spring change on the detent ball helped but not much. The only improvement that I have made the reduces spillage was installing the manual index star on the shell plate and using my hand to retard the advancement of the shell plate.

On the other hand, I also load 204 Ruger on the Pro2000 as it was delivered from the factory and it does not spill a kernel of powder.

Note, 300 BLK and 204 Ruger are the only two cartridges that I've loaded on my Pro2000 to date so I have no knowledge of what may happen with other cartridges.

 

[Woolecox]

The Dillon 550 mentioned, satisfy lots of people, and is a good press even for beginners being that they are manual advance, but it's an old four station press. You may outgrow it if you want to graduate to a need for more stations.

I guess you don’t own one. My Dillon RL550B is easily one of the the most amazing feats of engineering that I have ever witnessed of any kind of machinery.

Even if you shot hundreds of rounds every single day, you could stay well ahead of your ammo needs with a 550 as long as you have the cash to feed it. It is not all about speed though. It makes excellent match quality ammo if you use quality components.

I don’t shoot hundreds of rounds every day but I do shoot a lot. I have had my 550 for almost four years now and have managed to amass over 10,000 rounds of loaded ammo in various pistol calibers, 5.56, and 300 BLK rifle. And that does not even account for large cal ammo I do on my single stage. I can’t stay ahead of it.

You can use practically any die set on the 550 but Dillon makes 12 excellent carbide pistol die sets and 5 carbide rifle die sets, and quick change set ups for each.

If you do feel you need to “graduate or you outgrow it", you probably went into the bullet manufacturing business.

Manual indexing does not make it a beginner’s tool. You will do better, as others have said, if you start off with a single stage, and you will be safer. I started my progressive loading experience (after many years of single stage) with a Lee Classic Turret press. It auto indexed but I hated that thing for many reasons. The 550 is light years ahead of something like that. The Pro Chucker 7 has yet to prove itself but I am sure it will.

Best of luck,
Woolly

 

[Dudedog]

Don't load .50 but Lee's 50 press appears to be cast iron if I read it correctly.
http://leeprecision.com/50-bmg/

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/845765/lee-classic-cast-50-bmg-single-stage-press-kit
$234 with dies.


I am happy with my Lee equipment, but no idea about this beast. .

 

[GW Staar]

I guess you don’t own one. My Dillon RL550B is easily one of the the most amazing feats of engineering that I have ever witnessed of any kind of machinery.

Even if you shot hundreds of rounds every single day, you could stay well ahead of your ammo needs with a 550 as long as you have the cash to feed it. It is not all about speed though. It makes excellent match quality ammo if you use quality components.

I don’t shoot hundreds of rounds every day but I do shoot a lot. I have had my 550 for almost four years now and have managed to amass over 10,000 rounds of loaded ammo in various pistol calibers, 5.56, and 300 BLK rifle. And that does not even account for large cal ammo I do on my single stage. I can’t stay ahead of it.

You can use practically any die set on the 550 but Dillon makes 12 excellent carbide pistol die sets and 5 carbide rifle die sets, and quick change set ups for each.

If you do feel you need to “graduate or you outgrow it", you probably went into the bullet manufacturing business.

Manual indexing does not make it a beginner’s tool. You will do better, as others have said, if you start off with a single stage, and you will be safer. I started my progressive loading experience (after many years of single stage) with a Lee Classic Turret press. It auto indexed but I hated that thing for many reasons. The 550 is light years ahead of something like that. The Pro Chucker 7 has yet to prove itself but I am sure it will.

Best of luck,
Woolly

Never said the 550 wasn't a good press....it is, but for my personal needs, 5 stations fit what I wanted to do better than four. Six would be perfect unless you have to have a separate swager station like the 1050....but using case & bullet feeders, a Trim Mate, and a bench swager, I get by with 5 stations.

The pluses on the Pro 2000 for me was the fast'n-easy caliber changes and the fast'n-safe primer system...and of course the five stations, so I could add case and bullet feeders.....not to speed it up, mind you, but to let me focus where I feel it's most important...on powder without the other distractions vying for bpu time. (brain processing unit) mine is an older slower less reliable unit.

My intentions are to load everything I shoot on the Pro 2000, except for single station ladder testing of new loads........or bench rest..........yeah, right....never done B.R. and never will. Probably has something to do with attention span.

So far that's .45acp .40s&w, .38/.357mag, .223, .308. and when I get more time (I shoulda been retired by now) .22-243, .243, .30/.30, .45 colt., and .50 BMG.....just kidding on that last one........all on ONE progressive.......or more if the Pro 2000 are ever seen at clearance prices and I can't help myself. And I can't rule out buying a Pro Chucker 7....just not yet.

 

[jmorris]

With all of the threads I have seen, the pro chucker 7 would be a great press if you want to be a beta tester, wouldn't be my first pick for a first press.

 

[horsemen61]

If you get the pro chucker 7 let me know I'm trying to decide if I need one