RCBS Green Machine up and running

1.1K Views
Last Post 01 May 2025

Match Director

linoww posted this 27 March 2025

Friend Bill gave me one in 45 acp.I messed with the primer mechanism and by adding a brass rod to help push primers into the carrier cup have success. I also marked the rod so I don't let it get below 4 primers in the tube (or it has issues).I leave the tube in the press and load it via other tubes from the top.

This machine requires attention and I go very deliberate and somewhat slow.Its been enjoyable.

I'm waiting in my case drop tubes to finish it up.

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

Attached Files

Liked by

25 Comments

Order By: Standard | Newest | Votes

CBA Member

Bud Hyett posted this 27 March 2025

I have owned one, cannot remember what happened to it. Set it up for .38 Special target load and worked it very, very slowly. That is the only way it would work.

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

Attached Files

Standard Member

Mal in au posted this 27 March 2025

I thought I might buy one in the 70s, for .38 spec. Was talked out of it by a good friend who just happened to have a Star Progressive ,what a nice piece of engineering they were!I shared the star instead. Cheers Mal.

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

Capt45 posted this 27 March 2025

What a beautiful looking machine.

Attached Files

Match Director

linoww posted this 27 March 2025

It's like a high maintenance blonde woman. Really cool to show your friends and when it works It's amazing but most of that time its pure agony....

I like women more like an RCBS A2...built like a tank and ready for anything..

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Regional Director

MarkinEllensburg posted this 27 March 2025

George, running one of those is kinda like driving a Mack truck, it's okay as long as none of you friends know about it.

Seriously though I'm understanding that you are saying it is fiddly or quirky, and has to be used in slow motion. To me that seems to defeat the purpose of a progressive. However It seems every progressive has its issues. I have and use a Hornady (not sure of model), RCBS Piggyback II, and a star, manual index. Of all the Star seems the easiest, index, set bullet, pull handle, repeat. It has tube case feed, a good primer lockout, and auto round eject through the bottom. The Hornady primer feed is not perfect but overall is a substantial machine. The Piggyback, once set up it just goes. Have to check some attachments regularly though. RCBS has been great in keeping me supplied in replacement parts in the 30+ years that I have owned it.

Attached Files

Match Director

linoww posted this 27 March 2025

I've never run a star.I would love to try it went out.

What I meant by slow was just a steady up-and-down on the handle , not smacking the handle at the end of each stroke,if you do the cases can pop out of the track from the feed slot. Without the case feed tubes.I think it was a bit under ten minutes to load 50. And this was my first run for loading a box ,before I just loaded ten or fifteen and the time getting the settings.

I'm just going to use this thing for the one load that I shoot in my 25-2 45acp Revolver. I just like tinkering with oddball stuff.I know there's quite a bit better things out there.

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

Attached Files

Liked by

Match Director

linoww posted this 28 March 2025

I just ran 50 rounds with one tube I found that held 15 cases.With having to re- load the tube and one primer mishap (I short stroked it and it locked the track!) it was just a few seconds over 6 minutes .(edit I previously stated 5 minutes)

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

GBertolet posted this 28 March 2025

I have one in .45. I bought it new in 1983. I did a lot of upgrades for it. Lee Disk powder measure. No more spilled powder, more choices for powder charges. I eliminated the disc primer feed, and went to a tube also. I made a blast shield for the primer tube from a piece of 3/8" pipe from a floor lamp. I made a primer level rod from delrin, to monitor the level. And I put a stop bolt on the lower plate to make the top plate stop at the same place. This makes a more consistent bullet seating depth, reducing the effect of flex in the columns, from sizing the cases.

Mine really runs great. There is an article from the designer of the Green Machine, stating, he found that the setup and maintenance too complicated for the average reloader. The customer service dept was overwhelmed with calls for assistance. RCBS had to put extra people on the phones just to handle the complaints. Needless to say the Green Machine was dropped from production. There were parts available for some time afterwards, but no longer. I will see if I can find the article.

Attached Files

Liked by

Match Director

linoww posted this 28 March 2025

I would appreciate a link to the article.I would love to read it.

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

GBertolet posted this 28 March 2025

I have the file, but I can't figure out how to download it.

Attached Files

Liked by

Match Director

linoww posted this 28 March 2025

The messaging here doesn't work.You could email it If you can do that it would be much appreciated

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

GBertolet posted this 28 March 2025

Email sent.

Attached Files

Liked by

Match Director

linoww posted this 28 March 2025

I received the email and thank you so much!

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

longhunter posted this 29 March 2025

The Blond woman comment is the best thing I have heard in a long time!

Jon

Jon Welda CW5 USA Ret.

Attached Files

Match Director

linoww posted this 29 March 2025

I am getting comfortable with the machine and with a bit of adjustments of some settings it's a fine running machine.

Thanks again GBertolet for the article.

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

Attached Files

Match Director

linoww posted this 02 April 2025

I have case feed tubes set up to hold 50 cases.I am now getting 50 rounds loaded in 5 minutes.The press must be kept clean as a few flakes of powder do jump out of cases and tend to clog the track.

I see this press as a load a box at a time rather than chug out 400 rounds an hour.

Dillon Square Deal B is a much better press for" a one cartridge one load" press but getting an orphaned design up and running in satisfying.

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

Capt45 posted this 03 April 2025

Looks outstanding, AND I admire your patience.

Attached Files

Match Director

linoww posted this 17 April 2025

I sure had a brain fart and did something typical like I do. I hadn't noticed the de capping pin had come out of my sizing die.So I loaded fifty rounds with fired primers.... Well the first two had primers. I should have noticed that the priming stroke seemed a little different.

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

Capt45 posted this 17 April 2025

Hence your sig line.

Attached Files

Liked by

Match Director

linoww posted this 24 April 2025

I picked up a couple more orphaned Green Machines.Both 38 Special. Between the two I assembled a complete one.I tried will all my might to get the factory primer tray to work and its just a no go.So I went with tube feed priming but rather than shorting the little Dandy rotors for it to clear I bent the tube. It actually works but you can't get less than 5 primers in the tube or they misfeed .The straight tube I use on the 45 Machine I use a brass rod to keep pressure so the last primers feed properly.