Switching press colors...

[flomofo]

I've been saving brass for a year now and will start reloading handgun for the first time probably around the holidays for family trips to the range.

I have an RCBS turret press and a bunch of RCBS equipment including the power trim pro, electronic powder dispenser and weigh station etc etc.

After reading through some threads here, I might keep the RCBS turret press and the plan is to load 3 rifle calibers on it and not move it around otherwise since for rifles I am anal and I inspect each case and weigh each powder drop multiple times etc. (even through the turret press seems to flex when used).

I already have a bunch of shell holders and RCBS die sets however, for handguns and for .223 when I want to mass load it and read that most presses utilize the same standard for threading their dies.

After looking through threads here I was deciding on whether to stick to an RCBS pro2000 or move to the Horanday LNL. Both seem to make it easy to switch calibers, with ease of use being my main concern as either progressive will make me enough rounds in an hour.

Ease of use is my main concern because I want to be able to leave reloading for a few months and be able to jump back into it without having to fiddle or tweak with things that are not very intuitive/consistent because of build quality.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Hornaday but information on the pro2000 definately does not seem to be as prevalent. Just looking to read through some peoples accounts of what they went through when making a simlar brand transition.

[XDRoX]

You'll have a hard time finding a lot of info on the RCBS. Just not as popular as the LNL. Usually the argument is between blue and red, not green and red.

I know a couple guys that owned the RCBS and didn't care for them much, but I have never loaded on one myself. I have loaded on an LNL and liked it quite a bit. I still prefer blue, but everyone's got a favorite, right?

[f4tweet]

RCBS Pro 2000

[Rotting]

I've been saving brass for a year now and will start reloading handgun for the first time probably around the holidays for family trips to the range.

I have an RCBS turret press and a bunch of RCBS equipment including the power trim pro, electronic powder dispenser and weigh station etc etc.

After reading through some threads here, I might keep the RCBS turret press and the plan is to load 3 rifle calibers on it and not move it around otherwise since for rifles I am anal and I inspect each case and weigh each powder drop multiple times etc. (even through the turret press seems to flex when used).

I already have a bunch of shell holders and RCBS die sets however, for handguns and for .223 when I want to mass load it and read that most presses utilize the same standard for threading their dies.

After looking through threads here I was deciding on whether to stick to an RCBS pro2000 or move to the Horanday LNL. Both seem to make it easy to switch calibers, with ease of use being my main concern as either progressive will make me enough rounds in an hour.

Ease of use is my main concern because I want to be able to leave reloading for a few months and be able to jump back into it without having to fiddle or tweak with things that are not very intuitive/consistent because of build quality.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Hornaday but information on the pro2000 definately does not seem to be as prevalent. Just looking to read through some peoples accounts of what they went through when making a simlar brand transition.

Only considering ease of use, the Pro2000 is the best progressive out there. It has the best (read: trouble-free) primer system out of the bunch ("the big 4" for progressives--Hornady, Dillon, RBCS, Lee) and once you have the press setup it is a BREEZE to operate.

I own a Dillon 650 and a Hornady LNL-AP and I love both of them. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either one. However, I have helped a friend setup his Pro2000. It is the easiest to configure out of the box and has the best priming system of the three. The ONLY drawback that I can think of is the lack of an automatic casefeeding system available for the RCBS.

However, there isn't much a concern in terms of interoperability between brands. All of the dies that you have will work in either the Hornady or the RCBS. (You don't use the shellholders for turrets and single stage presses on the progressives).

Kinda strange for a guy that owns the Hornady and Dillon, but if ease of use is your top concern, I vote for the Pro2000!

[Dark Mod]

I was in a similar boat, although i was deciding between a Dillon and the LNL. In the end i went with the LNL. Some things you may want to consider about the RCBS vs LNL

1. Looks like the RCBS uses primer strips instead of a tube fed system, while you can buy primers that already come in strips, it would be a pain in the *** to do it yourself if they become hard to come by or expensive.

2. Lack of an upgradeable case feeder (Someone correct me if im wrong).

3. The price is ridiculous. All the RCBS pro2000 ive seen are $600+, for that much you could get a Dillon. You could do the piggyback thing on your turret press but thats still $500 or so and you could almost get a dillon for that.

4. Both the RCBS and the LNL have similar features: 5 stations / Auto index but throughout my research ive had to constantly hand the win to Hornady: better priming system, upgradeable case feeder, and half the price.

Ive never really understood the RCBS niche to tell you the truth. Maybe im just Niggardly with my funds, but a $300 single stage press? A $60 Lee press will do almost everything a rock chucker can at almost 1/5th the price. Sure its not built as well, but your not getting a whole hell of a lot for the extra money.

[XDRoX]

A Rock Chucker is only $129 Mark. Still more expensive than a Lee, but not my too much.

I have a Rock Chucker still in the box in my rafters. It's coming down next week. I'm remodeling my garage and building a new reloading bench over Thanksgiving break. I can't wait. I've purposely been saving it for the remodel for years now.

[grant22]

I was in a similar boat, although i was deciding between a Dillon and the LNL. In the end i went with the LNL. Some things you may want to consider about the RCBS vs LNL

1. Looks like the RCBS uses primer strips instead of a tube fed system, while you can buy primers that already come in strips, it would be a pain in the *** to do it yourself if they become hard to come by or expensive. This is supposedly a safer way to go with bulk primer loading compared to the Dillon. Just something else to consider.

...

[Rotting]

Mark, you can buy APS strip preloaded primers for the Pro 2000, but if you have to buy "regular" primers, the Pro 2000 comes with a strip loader, and it's not that bad at all.

Again, I must reiterate that the strip-fed primer system is the best that I have used on a progressive. It feeds more reliably than the shuttle system, the feedback is more "affirmative". I really, really like the Pro 2000 priming system.

As for price, my friend got his for right at $500 from Grafs (the manual index version is only $400). So, you are correct--it is more expensive than the LNL AP.

[grant22]

A Rock Chucker is only $129 Mark. Still more expensive than a Lee, but not my too much.

I have a Rock Chucker still in the box in my rafters. It's coming down next week. I'm remodeling my garage and building a new reloading bench over Thanksgiving break. I can't wait. I've purposely been saving it for the remodel for years now.

You'll have to post pics of that remodel!

[XDRoX]

You'll have to post pics of that remodel!

Oh I will Grant. I can hardly wait. I've been wanting a super nice reloading area for a long time. I'm hoping I can get it done in a few days. I have the whole week off this year. But I have to run power, dry wall, and then install the cabinets and lighting. It's a big job.

[flomofo]

...

You guys are making this harder...

Price not being an issue up front as I plan on keeping this thing a while the biggest drawback seems to be the options I can add like the case feeder.

Also any compairsons on the powder measures or other features?

And would a universal type accessory like the KISS bullet feeder add PTX powder through work okay with the RCBS?

The other thing is my bench I work on has limited space. I'll try and take a couple pictures so you guys can see what I have to work with.

Thank you too, you guys are helping make this decision seem more organized. Since the RCBS does not get a lot of attention I get worried about missing something I should have considered before making a big purchase.

[Dark Mod]

A Rock Chucker is only $129 Mark. Still more expensive than a Lee, but not my too much.

I have a Rock Chucker still in the box in my rafters. It's coming down next week. I'm remodeling my garage and building a new reloading bench over Thanksgiving break. I can't wait. I've purposely been saving it for the remodel for years now.

I stand corrected, dont know where i got $300 from but i suspect it was from seeing the kit at fowlers all the time. as for the primer system, i can totally see the advantages of the strip fed system, but ive never even touched one so it seems mysterious and alien to me. Im sure with the strip loader its not much more complicated than a pick up tube

OP: if money is not an issue why even bother with either press? Get a Dillon and call it a day

I went through all of this when i was researching which press to get and i came out of it hell bent on the LNL. Ill admit the biggest thing i didnt like about the Pro2000 was the priming system and the cost. Its lack of popularity didnt help either. I even toyed with the notion of the Lee progressive for a bit

In the end it came down to Hornady and Dillon, and while i would love to see Blue in my garage, i couldnt justify the price.

[Clownpuncher]

Where are you located at? El Cajon Gun Exchange has a RCBS progressive and a Dillon Progressive set up side by side you could check out, La Mesa Collectables has an LNL set up. You can easily check them out if you are in the San Diego area, the 2 stores are only about a mile apart.

[bruceflinch]

A Rock Chucker is only $129 Mark. Still more expensive than a Lee, but not my too much.

I have a Rock Chucker still in the box in my rafters. It's coming down next week. I'm remodeling my garage and building a new reloading bench over Thanksgiving break. I can't wait. I've purposely been saving it for the remodel for years now.

You'll have to post pics of that remodel!

Ya beat me Grant!

[C.G.]

I have a Rockchucker that I bought to learn reloading, thinking I would sell it once I'd move up to a proggressive. I have the Hornady LNL AP now and still have to Rockchucker to develop rounds, in spite of the fact I hate the way it disposes of spent primers.

So, in a nut shell. No press is perfect, some are less perfect than others (Lee in my case). Find the one you like and live with its shortcomings.