RCBS Pro 2000 Progressive Reloading Press - Manual (Page 7)

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3-DIE SET FOR STRAIGHTWALL
RIFLE AND PISTOL CASES
Reloading straight-wall type cases
requires a 3-Die Set instead of a 2-
Die Set because it is not possible to
size and expand the mouth of a
straight walled case at the same time.
In a 3-die set, the first die sizes and
deprimes the case. The second die
expands and flares (bells) the case
mouth to receive the bullet and the
third die seats and, if necessary,
crimps the bullet.
SIZING WITH CARBIDE SIZER DIES
Lower the handle and raise the ram to
the top at the stroke. Thread the
Carbide Sizer Die into the press until
the die touches the top of the Shell
Plate. Tighten the Die Lock Ring. DO
NOT CAM OVER.
SIZING WITH STEEL SIZER DIES
This setup operation is the same as
FULL LENGTH OR NECK SIZING.
Please refer to that section for proper
instruction.
EXPANDING
Lower the handle and raise the ram to
the top at the stroke. Thread the
Expander Die Body down until it
contacts the Shell Plate and tighten
the Die Lock Ring. Raise the handle
and place a sized case in the shell
plate at Station 2. Cycle the handle to
run the case into the Expander Die.
The case mouth should be expanded
and flared (belled) just enough to
accept the bullet when placed on top
of the case. The Expander is tapered
and may be adjusted for more or less
flaring (belling) by loosening the
Expander Plug Lock Nut on top of the
die and turning the Expander Plug up
or down. This is a “trial and error”
operation.
BULLET SEATING WITHOUT
CRIMPING
CAUTION: Do not adjust the
Seater Die down against the shell
plate as it will distort or crush the
case.
These instructions are for seating the
bullet to the proper OAL and prior to
applying crimp. To adjust the Seater
Die, place a sized and expanded
case(no primer or powder, this case
becomes a “dummy” or “setup”
round), into the Shell Plate at Station
5 and run it to the top of the press
stroke. Thread the Seater Die down
into the press until you feel it touch
the mouth of the case. Back the die
up one full turn and tighten the Die
Lock Ring. This will leave a gap
between the bottom of the die and the
Shell Plate.
Raise the handle and re-insert the
case into Station 5. Place the bullet
onto the case mouth and slowly cycle
the handle to seat the bullet.
Measure the overall length of the
cartridge to check for proper bullet
seating depth. If the bullet is not
seated to the correct depth, adjust the
Bullet Seat Plug, up or down, until the
proper cartridge overall length is
obtained. This is a “trial and error”
operation. Once the proper bullet
seating depth is attained, tighten the
Seat Plug Lock Nut.
BULLET SEATING AND CRIMPING
- Roll Crimp
CAUTION: Do not adjust the
Seater Die down against the shell
plate as it will distort or crush the
case.
First, follow the instructions for
BULLET SEATING, before continuing
with this section.
We will now adjust the Roll Crimp
Seater Die to crimp the case mouth
into the bullet. Roll Crimped cartridges
are typically used in revolvers.
Insert the uncrimped “setup” cartridge
back into Station 5 and lower the
handle. With the uncrimped cartridge
up in the Seater Die, loosen the Bullet
Seat Plug Lock Nut and
unscrew(raise) the Bullet Seat Plug
several turns. Loosen the Die Lock
Ring and thread the Seater Die body
down until you feel it touch the mouth
of the case.
Raise the handle slightly to lower the
cartridge and adjust the Seater Die
body down another 1/8 of a turn.
Lower and then raise the handle to
run the cartridge back into the Seater
Die. Check the crimp. If more crimp is
desired, repeat the preceding step by
adjusting the die downward another
1/8 of a turn. This is a “trial and error”
operation. Typically, you will not lower
the Roll Crimp Seater Die body down
more than one-half a turn for proper
crimp. After you are satisfied with the
amount of roll crimp, tighten the Die
Lock Ring.
Insert the “setup” cartridge back into
Station 5 and lower the handle. To re-
set for cartridge overall length, thread
the Bullet Seat Plug down until it
firmly touches the bullet. Tighten the
Bullet Seat Plug Lock Nut.
The Roll Crimp Seater Die is now
properly adjusted to seat the bullet
and roll crimp in one operation.
BULLET SEATING AND CRIMPING
- Taper Crimp
CAUTION: Do not adjust the
Seater Die down against the shell
plate as it will distort or crush the
case.
First, follow the instructions for
BULLET SEATING, before
continuing with this section.
We will now adjust the Taper Crimp
Seater Die to crimp the case mouth
into the bullet. Taper Crimped
cartridges are typically used in semi-
automatic firearms that headspace
off of the case mouth.
Insert the uncrimped “setup”
cartridge back into Station 5 and
lower the handle. With the uncrimped
cartridge up in the Seater Die, loosen
the Bullet Seat Plug Lock Nut and
unscrew(raise) the Bullet Seat Plug
several turns. Loosen the Die Lock
Ring and thread the Seater Die body
down. You will start to feel firm
resistance, stop here. Raise the
handle.
Check the amount of taper crimp.
Measure the case at the base of the
bullet and then measure the case at
the case mouth. The measurement
at the case mouth should be .001” to
.002” smaller than the measurement
of the case at the base of the bullet.
If more crimp is needed, repeat the
preceding step by adjusting the die
downward another 1/8 of a turn. This
is a “trial and error” operation. After
you are satisfied with the taper crimp,
tighten the Die Lock Ring.
Insert the “setup” cartridge back into
Station 5 and lower the handle. To
re-set for cartridge overall length,
thread the Bullet Seat Plug down
until it firmly touches the bullet.
Tighten the Bullet Seat Plug Lock
Nut.
The Taper Crimp Seater Die is now
properly adjusted to seat the bullet
and apply taper crimp in one
operation.