RCBS Pro 2000 Shellplate modification

[Slappy White]

I have a Pro 2000 and I was wondering if there was an adapter or if anyone knows how to do this.
I'd like to be able to use standard shellholders. I have several prime tools and pocket swagers that work in a standard press but I don't own a standard press anymore. Is there anything I can do besides buy a cheap single stage press? Thanks.

 

[cfullgraf]

Is there anything I can do besides buy a cheap single stage press? Thanks.

In my opinion, your best option is to get another single stage press. If you are planning on swaging primer pockets, I'd get a big, heavy press such as a Rockchucker or Big Boss II. Find a used one if you want to save cash.

A single stage press is always handy to have around. There are several tasks that they do very well.

I do not know of any adapters on the commercial market that allow for the use of single stage shell holders on a Pro2000. That does not mean, an adapter could not be made to fit the shell holders atop the ram and a custom die plate made that allow for attaching tools or dies centered over the ram.

I would not try to swage primer pockets at any of the existing die stations even if you could fit a single stage shell holder to a modified shell plate. The Pro2000 is not designed to handle the offset load swaging would put on the system.

 

[jmorris]

I rigged together a case feed for the one I had.



If you are wanting to turn it into a single stage, I would just remove all the dies and put whatever you want into #1 and not let the case go all the way around.

Personally I would just buy a single stage and leave it setup for what I want to load on a progressive.

That said, there are folks that have made shell holders that sit on top of the center bolt of a couple Dillon presses and special tool heads that only have a place for a center die. So it could be done, just a waste of time, energy and money IMO. Kind of like the above though, so if it’s something you really want to do, you could be the one to show us how it’s done.

 

[GW Staar]

cfullgraf is right. My single stage press was not replaced by my progressives. Your progressive is a great next step when you want to get more productive, but IMO it's counter productive to swage on any progressive not set up for it. The only one that is, is Dillon's 1050. And personally, I'd rather do that as a case prep procedure anyway. I do that after I trim brass using a military reamer in a Trim Mate, while I uniform primer pockets. I also sometimes use a bench swager.....sometimes both on harder brass, .

I just don't see any advantage having to take the time to set up a shell plate and die plate forcing two runs through the progressive for the same cases. My Rock Chucker is sitting on the bench next to my 2000 and is used for stuff like depriming before tumbling, Grxing .40 s&w, and loading small batches needed for load development, not yet ready for volume loading....all operations most conveniently done with a single stage press.

One more note: I mentioned uniforming primer pockets. On a Pro 2000 there's a screw under the plate where you can adjust primer seating depth. That makes primer seating great on the press, if you first uniform pocket depth on a Trim Mate or other prep machine. Uniforming pocket depth means no "feeling" necessary to bottom and slightly compress each primer, once adjusted. Like swaging it's a one time operation for each piece of brass, yet it doesn't hurt to do it every time to clean pockets.....it's a great pocket cleaner....uniforming a second loading of the same brass doesn't take more brass away.

jmorris got his post in while I was typing.....ditto his post too. His idea for a case feeder is simple and slick, but he didn't finish developing it for rifle ......(didn't keep the press) ... still if you plan to just feed pistol, it doesn't get any simpler! One caveat.....I noticed that the parts he used are no longer listed for sale at Lee????? Maybe they hide them now? Not at Titan either.

I also did a case feeder. More, OK, much more complicated, but it can feed anything..... One guy on another forum tried to copy it, and failed. Don't think he had the patience needed...you have to pay attention to the small details if you actually want to try that. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/rcbs-pro-2000-case-feeder-its-done.659144/

I've been using the Pro 2000 since Dec. 2008 and have posted lots of experiences with it here on THR. If you are a new user of the press, or just curious, do a search based on threads by me, and you may find a few things that might interest you. I also use a Pro Chucker 7 now, so the most recent threads are probably concerning that press. My mentor when I bought the Pro 2000 was Pete Eick, but he hasn't been on the forum for couple of years. Peter M. Eick

Slappy White! Welcome to THR!