New progresive press
- Thread starter jacksd725
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oneounceload
member
I had one - very nice machine. That said, I got rid of it for only one reason - it needs a permanent mount on a sturdy bench. Unfortunately for me, that meant my work bench in my garage - and in FL, summers are brutal in a garage.
I like the fact that it does half the operations on the downstroke and the other half on the upstroke.
You will need to go to your local Home Depot/Lowes/Ace store for some clear flexible tubing for the drain spouts. IIRC, either 5/8 or 3/4 was the size needed. If you are also changing the tool heads between 12 and 20, you'll need a wrench for that and one for the drains on the powder and shot tubes. I used my work bench which was right at 3' high -made from Gorilla racking set side by side - with a doubled plywood top. leave enough room on either side for components.
One thing it does do is eject the finished round nicely off the machine, so unless you have a small-lipped box or figure out a way for a hole in your bench top to drop empties to a bucket below, the shells will be rolling all over the top. I took some 1/2 round moulding and put it along the edge of the bench (my machine was located closer to one end of the bench). After the area got full, I just whisked them into a 5 gallon plastic bucket for boxing at a later time.
The powder and shot hopper are sturdy and hold a LOT.
One thing I found to help with the primer feed (which is the weak link in EVERY maker of any progressive machine for any reloading it seems) is to by hand drop about 10 into the primer drop tube. Another hint that works well is to place a small mirror under the center station where the powder drop occurs. That way you can glimpse to see that you indeed have a primer in the hull. While the Grand will not drop powder or shot without a hull in their respective stations, it will drop if the hull is present without a primer - learned that the hard way a few times.
Make sure to follow the manual for grease/lube instructions. Realize that the black plastic parts are designed for wear and to fail in the event the machine hangs up on something so you do not damage the press itself.
ALL replacement parts are free, so ask for a few extras as some will wear out. - the black triangle piece for the primer feed I replaced 1-2 times, and the black pieces that hold the hull in at least once. Part of that might have been my use of Gun Clubs with steel bases, I do not know.
Overall, if I could have managed to mount it inside under heat and air, I would still have it, as it cranked out ammo.
As with ANY progressive, keep an eye on the primer feed and your powder/shot hoppers.
I like the fact that it does half the operations on the downstroke and the other half on the upstroke.
You will need to go to your local Home Depot/Lowes/Ace store for some clear flexible tubing for the drain spouts. IIRC, either 5/8 or 3/4 was the size needed. If you are also changing the tool heads between 12 and 20, you'll need a wrench for that and one for the drains on the powder and shot tubes. I used my work bench which was right at 3' high -made from Gorilla racking set side by side - with a doubled plywood top. leave enough room on either side for components.
One thing it does do is eject the finished round nicely off the machine, so unless you have a small-lipped box or figure out a way for a hole in your bench top to drop empties to a bucket below, the shells will be rolling all over the top. I took some 1/2 round moulding and put it along the edge of the bench (my machine was located closer to one end of the bench). After the area got full, I just whisked them into a 5 gallon plastic bucket for boxing at a later time.
The powder and shot hopper are sturdy and hold a LOT.
One thing I found to help with the primer feed (which is the weak link in EVERY maker of any progressive machine for any reloading it seems) is to by hand drop about 10 into the primer drop tube. Another hint that works well is to place a small mirror under the center station where the powder drop occurs. That way you can glimpse to see that you indeed have a primer in the hull. While the Grand will not drop powder or shot without a hull in their respective stations, it will drop if the hull is present without a primer - learned that the hard way a few times.
Make sure to follow the manual for grease/lube instructions. Realize that the black plastic parts are designed for wear and to fail in the event the machine hangs up on something so you do not damage the press itself.
ALL replacement parts are free, so ask for a few extras as some will wear out. - the black triangle piece for the primer feed I replaced 1-2 times, and the black pieces that hold the hull in at least once. Part of that might have been my use of Gun Clubs with steel bases, I do not know.
Overall, if I could have managed to mount it inside under heat and air, I would still have it, as it cranked out ammo.
As with ANY progressive, keep an eye on the primer feed and your powder/shot hoppers.
ApacheCoTodd
member
Youtube?
I don't have your machine and have not looked for the info but am continually astounded at the breadth of info available on youtube.
In this case it might not be a fella noting point by point the set up and use of the machine but just clips of operation from which you might pick up tips just by watching.
I go there for everything; motorcycle, guns boat, car/truck... Hell, I even found a great little heater for one of my sheds when looking for uses for votive candles after grabbing several dozen from an estate sale for free. Free candles and clay pots just laying around here - I dig youtube
Todd.
I don't have your machine and have not looked for the info but am continually astounded at the breadth of info available on youtube.
In this case it might not be a fella noting point by point the set up and use of the machine but just clips of operation from which you might pick up tips just by watching.
I go there for everything; motorcycle, guns boat, car/truck... Hell, I even found a great little heater for one of my sheds when looking for uses for votive candles after grabbing several dozen from an estate sale for free. Free candles and clay pots just laying around here - I dig youtube
Todd.
I'll save you the journey over to the land of youtube to do the simple search yourself:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rcbs+grand+shotshell+reloading+press
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rcbs+grand+shotshell+reloading+press
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