[GWS]

I am curious why not as much feedback on the RCBS equipment is there a reason?

I've also wondered why RCBS progressives are never talked about

Perhaps its because they work so well that there isn't much to gripe about, and Pro 2000 users are too busy loading to spend much time on the forums. I'm a died-in-the-wool Pro 2000 lover as of 3.5 years ago, when I did my own research on progressives, and chose the RCBS over the Dillon 650 (Hornady came in third for me). So why am I here? Work is slow, out of bullets this week, and well....I like the forums FL, THR, and Ar15.com, ...always something to learn. (my wife says addicted)

Anyway RCBS Progressives are talked about.....but the blue koolaid drinkers out shout everybody else. Consider that the Dillon progressives have been out for many years....lots of presses out there being used. The Hornady marketing is great...free bullets and a pretty cheap price to boot. Free bullets have sold a lot of presses. But free bullets aren't worth it if the press doesn't fit your reloading style. Comparatively, you are on your own if you want to know about the virtues of the Pro 2000. If you'll do a forum search on "RCBS Pro 2000" on FL and on THR You'll see plenty from me, from Peter Eick and many others (on THR I go by "GW Staar"). The Pro 2000 really does have some advantages over the others, especially if you load many calibers and want the quickest most convenient caliber changes. For example, one changes primer size changes by just unscrewing the primer rod and screwing in the other size....10 seconds. The APS primer system is a shining star IMO! It's the fastest and safest primer system out there when you buy the super convenient preloaded CCI APS primers.

I looked at a RCBS Pro 2000 and I think it is fairly well designed, as is most stuff RCBS turns out.

The powder measure is not part of the toolhead, so you can't really have the same "quick change" that you can with a Dillon. It isn't that this is all that important, but some might perceive it as a shortcoming rather than wise economy of design.

That's a misconception. Quick change for a Dillon requires money and a powder measure for each caliber. With the RCBS you can do much more with one measure and do it faster. For rifle reloading, do the following: Unscrew the thumb screw, pop the spring loose, lift out the P.M. upper and pour out powder "X". Replace the P.M. upper, push the spring back on, and replace the thumbscrew. 10 seconds off 10 seconds on. Then pour in powder "Y". Powder drop load is set by micrometer (which setting you determine previously and record). Return the mic to the setting for the particular load is just a turn of the mic body. 3 seconds.

For pistol you can do it the same way, or you can buy extra powder drop dies/expanders for each pistol caliber and mount them permanently to your tool head in station 2. That leaves room for things like lockout dies and bullet feeders. Again, adding a powder measure to such is simply a drop in, attach spring, and tighten the thumb screw away.

The primer strip mechanism may be fine, too. It may just suffer from being different than a vertical primer magazine.

Yup, suffers from the "different" thing. Once you start buying and loading pre-loaded strips of primers....you will never go back. Talk about fast. For your stash of non APS primers, they send you a strip loader. Once past the 1 hour learning curve, you can load a box of 100 primers into 4 strips as fast or faster than pecking a hundred in a tube. The difference? You can store the strips you load like that, safely for years. You can load on the press with no worry about a full tray or tube blowing up. In this case different is better....but we reloaders are traditional types and change is not so traditional...however improved it is.

Other than minor differences like this, I don't know why the Pro 2000 does not appear to be as popular.

One reason is RCBS's less than brilliant marketing. If you missed RCBS's annual video from the shot show....you missed the marketing. Another reason is that RCBS felt that the APS strip primer loading system (using the space where a case feeder could go) was more important than a case feeder. (I happen to agree) They do bullet feeders, but not case feeders. Have I and other pro 2000 users suffered? I don't think so. Complicated case feeders are part of the problem with changing calibers quickly.

IMO, Dillon 650's are great for IDPS, IPSC pistol competitors who load 1000's of their pistol caliber, and don't change calibers on their presses very often....except I still don't like primer tubes. A hundred explosives touching just doesn't give me confidence.

Now on Hornady AP's: they are fine machines, but their case feeders aren't problem free, nor is their primer feeder. Case in point is the many threads on those subjects.

Is the RCBS Pro 2000 perfect? Not close....neither is any other progressive including Dillon's 1050. But I like it's simplicity. Fewest moving parts on a progressive. Less to go wrong....NEVER get's out of sync, once setup the first time. One more thing: The Pro 2000 is cast iron...strong as hell. The only other progressive boasting that is the Dillon 1050. You think the other Aluminum Presses don't ever break? Think again.

I added a Hornady Bullet feeder to my Pro 2000, because it too is simple and simple means fast caliber changes. If you choose a Hornady, you'll find their bullet feeder is way more trouble-free than their case feeder and won't slow down your caliber changes. I (GW Staar) did a review on this bullet feeder on THR. (including videos on caliber changing on it.) Nice tool.