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Post by erjdriver on Sept 8, 2014 16:38:25 GMT -5
OK...I posted this here because I thought it might be common among all presses instead of being limited to only the RCBS Pro2000 Auto-Indexing Progressive Press.
I've shifted gears from .38 Special and started setting up the press for .40 S&W. I researched my 4 manual sources for the powder I want to use and have decided to go with Accurate #5 at 6.5gr for a starting load. I got on the press and began calibrating my powder drop. Unfortunately, when the shellplate indexes to my Lock-Out Die station after the powder drop, the "click" of the indexing function jars the case enough to "splash" a little bit of powder out of the top of the case. I didn't have this problem with .38 Special because the case is taller.
Is there a way to "soften" the indexing function so the click isn't so pronounced and splash powder out of the case?
Thanks for any help!!
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gws
Member
Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Sept 8, 2014 17:13:45 GMT -5
Even the full stroke (up & down) turn (and thus smoother) Hornady does it some.....Dillon's 650's certainly splash powder. It's a function of how abrupt the detent ball thumps into the next detent hole in the shell plate at the next station and that's only partly a function of how fast you whip it around. The other part is how strong the spring thumps the ball into the hole and how much play there is to allow the plate (and case) to move upward! If you ask RCBS, they will send you a lighter spring free.....that's what I did and it helps a lot. (it ought to be standard) Being the impatient sort, while I waited on them, I went to Ace Hardware with my spring and found one similar in size but with way lighter gage coils, and cut it to size. That worked at least as well. The gotcha is that you can smooth it too much and make the detent so smooth, the detent ball doesn't center the shell plate recess well enough over it.....kinda hangs there........trial and error, sir. I bought two springs in case I over cut....ended up just using the light replacement RCBS sent. No, I can't tell you why the companies can't come up with a better way. Maybe we can if we put our minds to it.  Hornady tried with their 1/2 turn upstroke and 1/2 turn down stroke, but they still end with the spring snapping the detent ball into the shellholder....and the vertical play shoots powder out. Reducing the vertical play slightly in the case holder may be something to try......get back to you on that. One enterprising Hornady user in another forum used machine shims under his shell plates to reduce play......hmmm. (you can't induce friction or you're worse off) |
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Post by erjdriver on Sept 8, 2014 18:26:35 GMT -5
OK...that all makes perfect sense, gws. I called a buddy of mine that has the Hornady L-N-L press and he was having the same problem loading 9mm. He said someone mentioned on a forum that they put felt underneath the shellplate to mitigate what you're describing as play in the shellplate. I did send an e-mail to ATK and I'm sure they'll recommend the lighter spring. If not, I'll ask for it. Thanks again for your GREAT insight on this press. I'm kinda proud of myself...2 months ago I wouldn't have even understood your response. LEARNING has taken place!!!! And I thank you for that....  |
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gws
Member
Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Sept 8, 2014 19:52:44 GMT -5
You are always welcome. Felt huh......that may be worth a try if it still allows the ball to center every time in the shell plate's recess. Too much friction and that's the result.....but I'm curious to try that too. Thanks for the idea.  With Dillons they can adjust the friction to lessen the hit. But it's still the same problem, a knat's eyebrow off and you either have no detent or too much. The weaker spring is at least a known quanitity that doesn't change with the barametric pressure.....(an only slight exaggeration) IOW's you set (dial in) a Pro 2000 once and it doesn't get out of sync like the red and blue presses do, requiring constant adjustment. For that sort of reason I would lean towards a trial & error thickness of machine shims over felt, if only because the felt would wear. |
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dangun
Member
I love the smell of burnt gun powder.
Posts: 517
Location: SW Florida
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Post by dangun on Sept 9, 2014 10:06:44 GMT -5
Lee Presses don't do that.. Just sayin! |
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gws
Member
Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Sept 9, 2014 10:36:53 GMT -5
Interesting if its true......maybe the companies should share technology with each other. Then Dillon, Hornady, and RCBS progressives could quit spitting powder in tiny cases........................and Lee's would work longer than 2 hours before they require another "annual". (I'm kidding you) So which Lee do you have? The Pro 1000 or the Loadmaster? And how does it deal with station stops? I've only had to deal with a friend's Pro 1000. Spent a good deal of time with him getting it to load his only caliber (.45 ACP) consistently.....so no experience with the tiny cases, and none with the Loadmaster either. What soon became obvious was that their primer system was designed using CCI's. They sure work better than other brands we tried. I don't remember how the carriage rotates and finds alignment with the rest of the system....enlighten, please. |
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dangun
Member
I love the smell of burnt gun powder.
Posts: 517
Location: SW Florida
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Post by dangun on Sept 9, 2014 11:14:48 GMT -5
Greg, I have both but primarily use the Loadmaster. It will sling powder if you go full bore with the lever strokes but I slow down as the manual advises at the end of every stroke. On the top of the shell holder disks there are holes. A metal cam like finger drops into these holes to hold the shell holder in place when it reaches the correct position. There is also a bar the catches ratchet type gear on the bottom of the shell holder that disengages after a certain amount of movement. I know that description is as clear as mud. You are correct about an annual after 2 hours. That's ok in my book as 2 hours of reloading nets me about 1800 rounds at a normal pace. Stopping to clean and lube everything up, check adjustments and things of that nature are all part of the process at almost half the price. |
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Post by erjdriver on Sept 10, 2014 15:10:41 GMT -5
Update:
RCBS responded to my e-mail this morning and is shipping the "lighter" spring today. I'll make another report after I've installed it. Thanks again for all the help and comments!
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Post by erjdriver on Sept 27, 2014 12:52:45 GMT -5
FOLLOW-UP REPORT:
I received the "softer" spring from RCBS this week and installed it in my Pro2000 Auto-Indexing Progressive Press. After the first 25 rounds (one strip of primers), I'm happy to report there is but a trace of powder on top of the shellplate. In fact, there are so few granules, I can count them individually...probably 30 or less.
For those that want to request the part number from RCBS, here is the info:
rcbs.tech@atk.com
7188037 PIGGYBACK INDEX BALL SPG BB-97
This seemed to be the fix for the problem and as always, GREAT service from RCBS, though it did take exactly 2 weeks for the spring to arrive in US Mail.
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gws
Member
Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Sept 29, 2014 23:58:09 GMT -5
Great! Slow down just a tad and the grain count will drop some more. Best thing about a progressive is that it makes it so you don't have to be in a hurry!  RCBS is hard to beat at taking care of customers. They've kept me pretty green for more than 40 years! |
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Hornady tried with their 1/2 turn upstroke and 1/2 turn down stroke, but they still end with the spring snapping the detent ball into the shellholder....and the vertical play shoots powder out.
My daughter came from Missouri, my son and grand son, my wife and I had a nice dinner of grilled "porter house" pork chops, corn on the cobb, my son, G'son and I share 10/5. G'son is 4 minutes early though @ 10/4.
Pooh I hope you find to right house . 
