Shot Show: RCBS 7 station Pro Chucker Progressive

No I agree....ain't happening here either. Keep in mind this is just for the 7 station version. And I agree with FMJBT. I think they think if Dillon can get away with their "quick caliber change kits".......but Dillon doesn't sell them exclusively...they aren't aiming sales only to the "more money less time" market.

FMJBT said:

Speaking with Kent Sakamoto regarding being forced to buy a new uniflow every time, he did allude that they will eventually offer them seperately. However, for the first year of availability (I'll assume) we are stuck with that.

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FMJBT was at the show and heard from the horse's mouth, but he's assuming on the first year part.

If a person buys the 5 station press and upgrades in a year or two.....that's a moot point.

I can see the need for 2 Uniflows....one with the big cavity and one with the small cavity. But that's all that's necessary if RCBS will get off their butts and supply a case-activated lower kit (the powder die and lower bracket) and quit making us order that in the parts dept.

Only the most flush Dillon users buy their quick change kits (that includes a P.M) for each caliber they do, so we all need to hollor loudly with emails and get RCBS to add separate 7 station die heads to their products going out to dealers......otherwise its back to the parts dept.

BTW RCBS now has the 2015 catalog you can download at RCBS.com....it includes the new presses......and of course the list prices nobody is going to pay.

FMJBT, we appreciate having the direct information first hand from the show. It helps.

Pete, I'm certain the micrometers are on the way out too. Yup really! Obviously the Quick Change P.M. has been in the plan for some time.

The Quick Change version of the Uniflow uses quick change metering assemblies. So you buy lots of them, preset each for a particular powder load and have them organized to drop them in and load. No need to reset the mic. More sales for RCBS. Sneaky aren't they? More of a pain IMO, but what do I know? I hated setting the old stems.

Quote from Midway

The RCBS Quick Change Powder Measure offers reloaders the ability to quickly go from light handgun to magnum rifle charges. The metering assemblies are easily changed with the pull of a pin and additional metering assemblies can be purchased and set to favorite powder charges for quick changes without resetting. The large powder hopper holds up to a pound of smokeless powder. The measure comes with both large and small metering assemblies, as well as a drain attachment and 2 drop tubes.

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I was going back and forth trying to decide which to buy a few months ago on my third one (first one is 43 years old, and the second one came with my Pro 2000) I chose wrong, when I realized the quick change was incapatible with a mic. Should have waited 6 months.

This is a small metering screw for the quick set ($15 a piece at Midway) The large metering screws pictured in the link below the picture are only $10 a piece:

Click the link below for a picture of both large & small ones plus the powder drain, and the one size fits all cylinder!
https://www.huntingtons.com/store/images/D/rcbs_qc-powder-measure-access_1000.jpg

Pete, If I can swing it, I'll probaby buy the seven when they become available. It comes, I assume, with one of the new Uniflows (I like the big hopper) and the first shell plate to start with. Then I can wait till they appear separately. After all I'm not planning on retiring the Pro 2000! or APS! However, I'd sure like to play with that press!!! I'm pieved at myself that I didn't buy the newer P.M. last summer.

While I'd love to have one to wring out, and I'm not even close to an expert, I have to come up with the bucks first, and Christmas and birthday are a year away! I too am gathering info....here's some more....

Now this is interesting.......the new advance mechanism.



And a close-up of a mounted shell plate....back and forth....aw....now I understand why it advances smoother....no bearing over a spring to snap (jolt) in. Instead, as the plate falls and pushes the short side down, the long side pokes though a hole in the plate and "leans" into it to advance....the rounded shaft behind is a locator pin that makes sure the plate is ALWAYS synced! Might be just what the doctor ordered, what's not to like (except the pipe bombs)



Thoughts?

Now would be a good time to redisplay your picture of the Pro Chucker 5 showing the locator pin (blue) and the long arm of the advance rocker (orange).

Yes, just like the Pro 2000, only in back coinciding with station 1's location, and minus the little cup.

I'm curious about the primer seating plug......that has to be a different design than the Pro 2000.....is it a 10 second change to the other size, or is it another step backwards for us. We can't see that side.

Walkalong: Yes it is interesting! One of the best features of the Pro 2000 press was it's simplicity. It just worked and never got out of sync, because there was very little to adjust.

So far, I'm seeing the same thing with this press. The only thing that worries me is whether RCBS was able to do the same thing with the primer and case feeders. We have seen nothing on them, and the sub plate does look a lot like Hornady's. The several gun forums are replete with posts on problems with this and that with those two systems on Hornady's........on the other hand, not so many kabooms with their primer system as on every one of the Dillon designs. We will see.

The Hornady bullet feeder by contrast is so simple there's not that much that goes wrong with it either. The feeder die can cause feeding problems, but they are fixable with a finger stretch or compression. And now Hornady makes more sizes to work better on Lead fodder.

RCBS's bullet feed dies with the plastic inserts work really well....probably better, but they are more complicated having to share the die with 4 inserts....a pain. But again if you buy one for each caliber and not try to share inserts they are as reliable or more so than Hornady's all metal design. I have and happily use both. However RCBS hasn't seen the need for lead bullet sizes yet. As one who doesn't cast that doesn't affect me yet.

Yes, true story. One thing though, there is no reason not to buy a Hornady bullet die for the caliber of your choice.....even if you are using an RCBS collator.

BTW I emailed my RCBS engineer friend and told him what I was hearing on three forums. The Negative reactions to the combined P.M. and die plates on the 7's. He couldn't react really, but said he'd pass it on.........so I did my part the best I can.

Isn't there a slight bullet diameter difference? I don't load lead (yet), but I heard that somewhere. I do know that Hornady's new bullet dies for lead bullets has a larger diameter throat. Is there another reason for that?

I finally found a YouTube video from the show on the new RCBS Pro Chucker 7!
It shows exactly how the new index method works! See! No ball and spring!

So much for that. Video was removed from YouTube.