RCBS Green Machine
EDG
And I had one of those God forsaken mechanical abortions.
Makes a fine boat anchor.
Don Verna
They are a great machine. I have one, and use it for all my 45 acp IPSC ammo. There are 3 major flaws, which I addressed. 1- converted that stupid disc primer feed to a stick feed. I use a spare primer tube from my Dillon SDB. 2-dumped the little dandy powder measure, and replaced it with a Lee disc measure with riser. You have 24 included disc sizes to choose from. Lots cheaper than $12 per little dandy rotor. Plus you have no more spilled powder, as the measure is case activated. 3- add a double nutted bolt on the right side of the lower plate. This is adjusted for a stop for the top plate, which negates any spring in the columns of the press, giving a consistent bullet seating depth. Using Hornady One Shot lube on the cases, smooths things out a lot also.
If interested, say so, I will take photos of my GM, and post them.
Found a few videos of them running , interesting to watch .
I'm a member of the small minority that likes the Green Machine. Mine is in .45ACP
I purchased mine new in about 1986. I quickly learned about it's inabilities to consistantly prime and then seat the bullet. Once you learn the Green Machine's limitations it's actually a good tool. One necessity I found is the Bailey Boat adjustable rotor for the Lil Dandy powder measure. If you plan on using it, go slow and be observant. My only concern would be of the availability replacement parts. In all the years that I've used the press the only parts that I've bent/broken are the pins that operate the powder measure rotor and that was operator error. The second pick is looking down through the Lil Dandy at the Bailey Boat adjustable rotor.
Tred1956....that ole girl is gonna need some 'TLC' but chances are you can get her back in order.
I get around the priming concerns by bringing pre-primed brass to the press. I keep her lubed with 'One Shot' like one of the other's has said & I don't try to run her like a bat out of hell, she's an old girl but she is strong and will make some good ammo...it's fun to use so long as your patient & smarter than the tool before you.
I made a little fun video of my green machine and show her making .38S wadcutters...
DANCING with GRANNY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tji-7WRA3DA
I busted an inertia bullet puller and made a handle for her from what was left of it...a 'T handle' is more comfy than a ball on the crank...
Last edited by OS OK; 07-18-2019 at 09:40 AM.
a m e r i c a n p r a v d a
Be a Patriot . . . expose their lies!
“In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” G. Orwell
Not really sure why, but I want one of these to do 357 magnum for my coonan and revolvers. It just looks like it would be easier to keep an eye on things, than a conventional progressive press.
Actually I believe nearly every RCBS progressive press is marginal, except for the Green Machine. It was so bad it was discontinued shortly after it was introduced.
Back when I bought mine there was no such thing as a case activated powder drop that you could cobble up and add to it; and as stated by others the priming system was not just poor but Mickey Mouse. If I have to prime off the press, it is not a progressive.
BTW, if anyone modifies the GM priming system to use standard tubes, you should consider a blast shield around the primer tube like Dillon uses. That tube is right in front of your face and having a tube full of primers explode would be serious.
Don Verna
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |