Have people successfully modified Hornady or Dillon case collators to fit the RCBS case feed tube?

[Mike P Wagner]

Probably a decade or so ago, I used used a Lyman turret press to load 45 Colt, and enjoyed that quire a bit. I am retired and starting to shoot a lot more - 9mm now - and I am thinking of starting reload again. I understand I won't save any money reloading 9mm, but I really did enjoy reloading.

If I do, I will almost certainly go with a progressive press - partly because I think that it is going to be much harder to double charge (not charge) a case with an case activated powder measure and an RCBS lockout die or some other verification device.

I am looking hard at an RCBS Pro Chucker 7 because I would like separate setting and crimping dies, an RCBS lockout die, and the potential for a bullet feed die - in addition to case activated powder drop.

Has anyone added another company's collator to the RCBS case feed tube?

Had anyone added a multi-tube case feeder (I think Lee makes one and Double Alpha makes one for a Dillion 550) to an RCBS case feeder?

 

[GW Staar]

Not many of us PC7 owners, but I love mine once I made some simple mods to the case feeder. And I made my own collators both case and bullet using a 3D printer. All my projects are documented on the THR forum. If you get interested just use the search using my name and Pro Chucker 7.

As for your question concerning other manufacturers case collators, either surely can be converted, but I never had one to try or test it. Here's a quick video of what I have done.



I you decide to buy a PC7 I will show you how to make a troublesome case feeder trouble-free with 4-3D printed parts......here's three of them:



I already sent the ones in the video to another....he said they worked perfectly......just like they did for me.

 

[jmorris]

Has anyone added another company's collator to the RCBS case feed tube?

Had anyone added a multi-tube case feeder (I think Lee makes one and Double Alpha makes one for a Dillion 550) to an RCBS case feeder?

I modified some Lee parts and added a few of my own, to add case feed to an RCBS.

RCBS Pro 2000 case feed

www.youtube.com

Connecting a dillon collator to a tube is much easier. Just mount it on a 1" round or square tube above the hole. A square one you just drop on the tube.



On a round one you need to snug the screw to keep it from rotating.



Unless the feed tube goes up and down with the machine, then it gets a little more complicated. I have have to telescope two tubes at that point and use another switch to control the collator motor. Like this.

100 rounds on a Lee Loadmaster under 4 min

www.youtube.com

Multiple tubes just make the time you stop to fill them longer. You are headed in the right direction with a collator, if less work/faster is your goal.

 

[Mike P Wagner]

Not many of us PC7 owners, but I love mine once I made some simple mods to the case feeder. And I made my own collators both case and bullet using a 3D printer. All my projects are documented on the THR forum. If you get interested just use the search using my name and Pro Chucker 7.

As for your question concerning other manufacturers case collators, either surely can be converted, but I never had one to try or test it. Here's a quick video of what I have done.



I you decide to buy a PC7 I will show you how to make a troublesome case feeder trouble-free with 4-3D printed parts......here's three of them:



I already sent the ones in the video to another....he said they worked perfectly......just like they did for me.

Thanks

 

[GW Staar]

Thanks

The problem with the stock case feeder is adjusting for different case lengths, and keeping those adjustments from loosening and spilling cases everywhere. The first attempt to fix that was the holes you see in the video in the case feed cylinder slots, where as stock they expected you to just use set screws in the slots tight enough to hold.....they wouldn't hold position even over tightened deforming the ring.

The perfected fix was the green 3d printed inserts endowed with a line of recesses that allowed adjustment for all lengths of cases, and only required going in the recesses with no tightening necessary to stay put. Night and day difference.....and a super easy fix.

Now that they are free from Vista maybe they will redesign the feeder cylinders with circle recesses instead of slots......then the 2D print wouldn't be necessary. I found no other problems with the press except lack of factory feeders.....which was a blessing, really. $60 3D printed ones vs. $200 factory ones? And they work every bit as well. Yeah it required a 3D printer, but with that tool I still make awesome goodies for my reloading hobby......it keeps on giving.....best investment I ever made. Like for example:

Last Christmas I added a Lee 6000 press, with 6 stations at less than half the cost of the Pro Chucker 7, and my 3D printer made $60 collators and feeders for it too. Below.....first test with feeders and 9mm pistol. Worked pretty darn well. This first test was careful and slow, but it's primed and charged....a complete round.....the first of many without the meticulous slow.



Typical 3D printed case and bullet collators at my house...... Left to right, all clutched, a case collator and bullet collator for the P.C. 7, and a small case feeder for my Lee APP (with a large caliber plate).

$3.00 for each clutched caliber plate, so I tried drilling holes for each case length.....that got old fast.

 

[Mike P Wagner]

The problem with the stock case feeder is adjusting for different case lengths, and keeping those adjustments from loosening and spilling cases everywhere. The first attempt to fix that was the holes you see in the video in the case feed cylinder slots, where as stock they expected you to just use set screws in the slots tight enough to hold.....they wouldn't hold position even over tightened deforming the ring.

Will i have issues if I am loading only 9mm? I don’t really have easy access to ranges where I can shoot a rifle - I almto always end up shooting at 25 yard indoor range. I ended up giving both of my rifles to a nephew who IIves out in the country.

So I have been shooting nothing but pistols for a very long time, and I don’t see myself shooting much more than a 9mm and maybe a 22 or plinker.

 

[GW Staar]

If I was shooting only 9mm, I'd go with the way cheaper Lee 6000. After doing it with both presses, the seven station green press hard to beat, but I think the 6000 comes dang close for half the money. What you saw in the video was pre-deprimed (on APP with feeder) and wet tumbled brass/dried dropped into the case feeder:
Station 1: Fed case/sized case (my sizer had the depriming pin removed, but you can deprime there too, if you prefer)
Station 2: Primed case/expanded and filled case (I love Lee's powder thru 2 step expander with it's "M" step which makes fed bullets stay perfectly straight as it whirls to the crimper.)
Station 3: Powder Check (I prefer RCBS's Lock-out die)
Station 4: Bullet Fed from collator
Station 5: Bullet Seated
Station 6: Bullet Taper Crimped.

Nothing does it any better than that.
Anyway with the money saved, buy a 3D printer.......or an expensive bullet feeder and check out this site: https://github.com/BF556/Feeder/
And CastBoolits forum on Feeder/Collators is where to get support.....here's page 156 of 181 pages of support.
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?354324-Making-that-Bullet-Collator/page156
You're welcome to come join the party.

 

[Mike P Wagner]

If I was shooting only 9mm, I'd go with the way cheaper Lee 6000. After doing it with both presses, the seven station green press hard to beat, but I think the 6000 comes dang close for half the money. What you saw in the video was pre-deprimed (on APP with feeder) and wet tumbled brass/dried dropped into the case feeder:
Station 1: Fed case/sized case (my sizer had the depriming pin removed, but you can deprime there too, if you prefer)
Station 2: Primed case/expanded and filled case (I love Lee's powder thru 2 step expander with it's "M" step which makes fed bullets stay perfectly straight as it whirls to the crimper.)
Station 3: Powder Check (I prefer RCBS's Lock-out die)
Station 4: Bullet Fed from collator
Station 5: Bullet Seated
Station 6: Bullet Taper Crimped.

Nothing does it any better than that.

Anyway with the money saved, buy a 3D printer.......or an expensive bullet feeder

Thanks. I can see making it work with 6 stations.

I do wonder how Lee is able to sell a press that much cheaper. It seems like what I think of as the big 3 - Hornady, RCBS, and Dillion - have pretty similar prices on 5 station presses. I wonder how Lee can come at way less than that?

Also, just to educate myself, it looks like many presses can prime in powder charge station - prime at the bottom of the stroke and charge with powdered at the top of the stroke?

I have thought about getting a single stage press for sizing and de-priming and a separate hand primer. It seems like I could size/deprime a lot of cases pretty fast all at once and have a bunch of them sitting around.

If I was wiling to do that, then I could make a 5 station press work:

Station 1: Expand/Power charge
Station 2: Powder check
Station 3: Bullet feed
Station 4: Seat bullet
Station 5: Crimp bullet

But there is probably no cost savings between buying a 6/7 station press and buying a 5 station press plus a single stage press.

I hesitate to buy a 3D printer, because I don‘t know what else I would use it for. My two other major hobbies are playing bassoon and lifting weights - hard to see a use for either in that.

 

[GW Staar]

Thanks. I can see making it work with 6 stations.

I do wonder how Lee is able to sell a press that much cheaper. It seems like what I think of as the big 3 - Hornady, RCBS, and Dillion - have pretty similar prices on 5 station presses. I wonder how Lee can come at way less than that?

Also, just to educate myself, it looks like many presses can prime in powder charge station - prime at the bottom of the stroke and charge with powdered at the top of the stroke?
Yes.....just remember to pull the handle UP first to prime before you stroke down to expand and charge.
I have thought about getting a single stage press for sizing and de-priming and a separate hand primer. It seems like I could size/deprime a lot of cases pretty fast all at once and have a bunch of them sitting around.
Yes many use a Lee APP for that, but I prefer to use a universal Lee deprimer, then a wet tumbler.....and THEN let them sit around unsized and unprimed.
If I was wiling to do that, then I could make a 5 station press work:
Yes as long you are willing to hand prime in a separate step first.....then
Station 1: Expand/Power charge
Station 2: Powder check
Station 3: Bullet feed
Station 4: Seat bullet
Station 5: Crimp bullet Works

But there is probably no cost savings between buying a 6/7 station press and buying a 5 station press plus a single stage press.
No probably not, but for the money, I'd rather have both a Pro 6000 and an APP for the cost of a RCBS PC7.....at least this year.....next year if the NEW RCBS fixes that press might change my mind.
I hesitate to buy a 3D printer, because I don‘t know what else I would use it for. My two other major hobbies are playing bassoon and lifting weights - hard to see a use for either in that.

I mostly answered your post in your post so expand it.
and what else to use a 3D printer for? I've probably made my wife a dozen things she loves, even fancy Kleenex boxs......plus Christmas gifts for my Grand Kids........well......like these.....who doesn't need another hobby!

 

[Mk-211]