RCBS Pro 2000 Press

01/13/13: Update, add ref to my Mobile Loading Bench
01/05/12: Page Origin.

I purchased an RCBS Pro-2000 and am currently learning to use it, primer management is a little problematic for me.   I got the Pro2K Auto Index, but quickly disabled the auto indexing since it indexes so abruptly, it slings powder out of nearly full pistol cases.   I added starwheels to the shellplates to compensate for the lack of auto index.   Since the Pro-2K's design and construction almost dictates hand movements, some of the things I have done in the past are not needed for it's operation.   I use this on my Mobile Loading Bench.  

The most critical element of operating the Pro2K seems to be seating the primer correctly.   I have reached the conclusion that to improve your chances of seating the primer correctly, you should cycle the press handle down and back up (forces alignment of the shellplate with the dies above) then, at the top of the stroke, push it forward to seat the primer (First Scenario below).   This gives you the best chance of aligning the shell plate with the primer plug below.   There are several modes of operation, of the manual indexed Pro2K:

First scenario: move the press handle down, then up then forward (to seat the primer) and back, then move the star wheel.

Second scenario: move handle down then up, index the star wheel, then forward to seat the primer and back.   This second scenario allows slight misalignment of the shellplate and the primer plug (if you don't stop the shellplate in exactly the right spot).

In all cases the shell plate must be stopped exactly at the detent.   In the first scenario, above, the shellplate will be forced to allign by inserting into the dies, then straight down and seat the primer without touching the shellplate by hand.  
I have had numerous problems with no primer in a case, primers turned sideways, or primers upside down.   The missing primers were a mystery since no extra primer was in the APS strip coming out of the press.   The only way I can think of to allow this combination of clues is the strip didn't index one time.  
I have replaced the case retention bracket that holds the spring fingers that position the shells against the shellplate, and the small primer plug (it was bent???), hooray for RCBS, they took care of both.   I think the small primer plug was bent because the bad case retention bracket spring finger didn't keep a case in proper alignment.   Anyway, the new case retention bracket works much much better with almost no primer problems now as long as I am careful about getting the shell plate aligned.

I mounted the Pro2K on the left end of my Mobile Loading Bench, and keep the turret press on the right end for resizing/depriming.   I have also used the RockChucker on the right end for bullet pulling when I screw up a primer with the Pro2K.

Links to good poop on Pro2K:
GWStaar Pro2K Mods.
GWStaar Manual Primer Advance Info.

For information or comments about any thing on these pages please email (sorry, our mailserver doesn't accept connections from outside the US).


Here is my Pro2k mounted on the end of my loading bench and set up for 357SIG.   You can see my turret press at the far end of the bench, I still use it for depriming cases, the turret shown has a sizer/deprimer for all calibers I load.


A little closer look, note the loaded primer strips on the left and the empty ones on the right.  

The scale is always on the back side of the press base so I can check the charge frequently.  

Closer look from the left of the press.  

You can see the turret press on the other end, I use it for depriming/resizing during the case prep operation.   I can also use it for pulling and depriming if I have a primer problem on the Pro2K.

From the right end of the bench, note the powder handy to refill the Uniflow and caliper to check OAL.  

A view from the front of the bench.  

My loading bench with all three presses setup to use, the Pro2K for loading, the Turret press for resize/deprime, and the Rockchucker for pulling bullets.  

Tools in top drawer.   Scale is stored, the Uniflow for the Turret press, case trimmer, powder funnel, small wooden box contains Wilson case guages, and miscellaneous tools for the presses.

Bottom drawer, primer strips, primer strip loader, electronic scale, hand primers (not used much lately), tumbler clamps in the back.