Ponsness/Warren?

[.22-10-45]

Hello, Does anyone out there use a Ponsness/Warren Metal-Matic P200 progressive loader? Thanks.

[Ozark Howler]

I have a Ponsnes-Warren Metal-Matic P200....a great press for pistol reloading...currently loading 45LC and 45ACP.. a flawless reloading tool that gets little attention from the reloading fraternity.

[Roundnoser]

I use one. Set up for 38 Spec. / 44 Mag / 41 mag. (I have an extra die platen). My powder dispensers are RCBS Little Dandy's. Works really well. Only for straight wall pistol cases. High quality machine.

I'd like to get the auto priming system. Ozark Howler, do you have the priming system? If so, do you like it / does it work well?

[buck1]

I have never touched one . But I have heard nothing but good about them.

[Kevin Rohrer]

I was looking online at these. How hard is it to change calibers and how does it com[pare to the Dillon and Hornady systems?

[Roundnoser]

I was looking online at these. How hard is it to change calibers and how does it com[pare to the Dillon and Hornady systems?

Thats the beauty of this machine. You don't have to "change" calibers. The Die platen (Looks like a turret) has a total of 10 holes. The turret does not move. The shell holder rotates on a swing arm around the center axis of the machine, and moves from one die to the next. Five of the ten die "holes" (on one-half of the turret) are for each of the two calibers you set up.

When you want to switch calibers, you unbolt the die platen (turret) from the top of the machine, rotate it 180 degrees, bolt it back down, and switch out the shell holder on the swing arm. If the two calibers in the platen are already set up, the caliber conversion takes maybe 2 minutes.

Also, if you want to reload more than 2 calibers, you can buy a spare die platen (50 bucks retail), and set it up in the calibers you want. Again, it takes just a couple minutes to change out. -- PW describes the P-200 as a "semi-progressive" machine.

[bobthenailer]

i have a p&w p200 with a extra tool head and a optional semi /auto primer feed assy its a die body with a primer tube thats under spring tension , just push down on the tube and it depenses a primer in the primer ram cup.
i ve had it for years bought it before the dillions came out , now i have both , i now only use it for less used cartrages that would cost to much to buy the dillion conversion kits for.
i orgionaly had a rcbs lil dandy powder measure , with modfied expander dies . i sold it and now use the dillon powder die & powder measure.
its a good machine works pretty good but its not as fast or versitle as the dillon 550b ! but its fast enough for most people! but with the semi auto primer feed , dillon powder measure and putting the dies in a different configuration than stated in the instructions ,you can easily load 300 rounds a hour. ive even loaded 223 and 308 useing all ready sized cases in a c press and just seating the primer / dropping the powder charge and seating the bullet before i had the dillon

[Kevin Rohrer]

ive even loaded 223 and 308 useing all ready sized cases in a c press and just seating the primer / dropping the powder charge and seating the bullet before i had the dillon

I thought you had to buy their larger press (whatever it is called ) to do rifle.

[Roundnoser]

I thought you had to buy their larger press (whatever it is called ) to do rifle.

The P-200 is not really designed for necked cartridges...especially rifle. But, as it was said already, you can load some rifle if you resize on another machine first.

The bigger PW machine that loads full size rifle is the Metal-Matic II. It is an "H" style press. really nice, but is expensive.

Check out -- http://reloaders.com/index.php

[sergeant69]

in the 70-80's i had a PW for 12 ga. and every so often it would jam as the handle refused to go down. i would start to tear it apart and get half way thru and the light bulb would go off in my head and sure enough there would be a loaded rd. that rolled off the pile of loaded rds. and come to rest under the handle thus jamming it. finally i cut a hole in my bench so the loaded rds would fall thru the hole into a box w/an old pair of jeans to cushion the fall. i don't remember the model # but it was their top of the line and i have regretted many times having to sell it. it went thru red dot so fast i had a keg of it hanging from the ceiling w/a garden hose running into the powder hopper. to this day i can hear the "ding" it made everytime a loaded rd was ejected and hit the exit chute. sorry to ramble but lying here recovering from back surgery w/too much time to think about stuff.

[legend]

I too own a p-200 i bought new,and it is perfect for pistol brass.

i also have loaded many thousands of 308,30-06,270 and quite a few 300 win magnums.not all just neck sized .it is my go to machine for my 7.5x55 loading.
the manufacturer recomends it only for pistol,and im sure i will wear it out;but i think not this decade or next.i would love to break something on this press,it just has not happened yet.

the folks in rathdrum idaho know what they are doing.

i also owned a ponsness-warren 800 shotgun loader,it was and probably still is top of the line.i sold it after 176000 reloads(trap) and did not count the hunting loads,and yes it does eat powder....you get what you pay for and both machines are first rate.

[Olevern]

I, too own a P-200 and love it. However, I do not think much of P/W's customer surpport. When I purchased mine used, I inquired of P/W after a manual. They informed me that the cost would be $10.00 plus shipping. How much would it cost P/W to put the manuals on their website for downloading and how much would they gain in customer good will. It's a simple enough machine that I can figure it out, so they (P/W) will do without my money.
I also will not deal with Lyman for much the same reason, their customer support sucks. I purchased a new 3200 tumbler a number of years ago, used it little over the period of about a year, then the motor went. Called about a new motor, Lyman stated they did not sell replacement motors but offered to sell me a complete new bottom unit for almost as much as I paid for the whole machine. No thanks, Lyman, you too will not get any of my hard earned.

[Roundnoser]

I, too own a P-200 and love it. However, I do not think much of P/W's customer surpport. When I purchased mine used, I inquired of P/W after a manual. They informed me that the cost would be $10.00 plus shipping. How much would it cost P/W to put the manuals on their website for downloading and how much would they gain in customer good will. It's a simple enough machine that I can figure it out, so they (P/W) will do without my money.
I also will not deal with Lyman for much the same reason, their customer support sucks. I purchased a new 3200 tumbler a number of years ago, used it little over the period of about a year, then the motor went. Called about a new motor, Lyman stated they did not sell replacement motors but offered to sell me a complete new bottom unit for almost as much as I paid for the whole machine. No thanks, Lyman, you too will not get any of my hard earned.

Hey Olivern, Want a copy of my P-200 manual? Won't cost you anything. I'd be happy to do it for a fellow reloader! In case you do want a copy, I'll send you a PM.

[9.3X62AL]

Another VERY happy P-200 owner here. I've loaded A LOT of bottle-necked small rifle and handgun cases on the machine--25/20, 32/20, 44/40, 30 Luger, 30 Mauser. It seems fine for any pistol-length caliber with case lengths up to about 22 Hornet.

I've never been able to reach a rate of 300 rounds per hour with it. If I have boolits sized and lubed nearby, 200-225/hour is no strain at all. Changing calibers takes 10 minutes, max, including re-mounting the shell holder and re-setting the powder measure over the Lyman Multi-Charge die.

[Olevern]

Roundnoser,
Thanks for the offer, PM sent
vern

[starmac]

I'm not sure which number it is, but there is one on ebay. It is interesting for sure.

[Flintlockrecord]

Do these use standard shellholders?

[bobthenailer]

YES ! the same as most of the single stage presses . RCBS work fine some other brands my need a little taken of the outside deminson to fit the shell holder recess in the platform/ swing arm/ shell carrier

[Flintlockrecord]

Thanks Bobthenailer.

[Flintlockrecord]

How much do these go for second hand?

[Kevin Rohrer]

I should have paid more attention when they are on EBay, but am guessing they go for between $150-200.

I'll modify this message the next time I see one sold there.

[Alan in Vermont]

Bringing this back to the top. I have a P-200 and like it for straight wall cases, never have tried it with small rifle stuff.

P-W has finally pulled their heads out of their butz and have manuals available as pdf. downloads. I just printed one out last night so I could find out how much I have been doing wrong for 25 years or so.

I have recently come into an RCBS Pro-2000 on more or less permanent loan from my son. I'm starting to think about selling the P-200 so I can buy tooling for the Pro-2000 and my Star sizer. It's not that there is anything wrong with the Ponsness design, it's just that the RCBS IS faster and it will handle full length sizing on rifle calibers.

[r1kk1]

P-W has finally pulled their heads out of their butz and have manuals available as pdf. downloads. I just printed one out last night so I could find out how much I have been doing wrong for 25 years or so.


About time! I had to pay for one for the 375c which the P200 is. Just much modified.

take care,

r1kk1