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.