Bad RCBS die ?

[Varmit]

My buddy bought a new Win M70 in 270 and since he didn't have a die he used mine for the first couple of trips to the range and the rifle shot great. He got a new RCBS die and last weekend he tried some of the cartridges he loaded with the new die. Some of them (not all) jammed up before he could get them all the way in the chamber, and then he had to pull really hard on the bolt to get them back out. He has been reloading for 25 years so he knows how to set a die up. My handloads worked ok in his rifle. He wanted me to try them in my rifle but I didn't want to get one jammed or score the chamber so we didn't try it.

I thought maybe he screwed up the COAL but you could see the cartridge wasn't even all the way in the chamber and I checked them them when we got home. It seems to me that the die's threaded base is out of line with the inside of the die as the marks on the case after being extracted were only on one side of the case.

He took my die with him to load some cartridges with each die to verify that the die is bad and he hasn't reported back yet.

Anyone ever experience something like this?

 

[stubblejumper]

Was he using new cases, or were the cases previously fired in another rifle?

 

[Varmit]

Was he using new cases, or were the cases previously fired in another rifle?

No, I asked him that, the cases were previously fired in his rifle.

 

[oneadam12]

It seems to me that the die's threaded base is out of line with the inside of the die as the marks on the case after being extracted were only on one side of the case.

He took my die with him to load some cartridges with each die to verify that the die is bad and he hasn't reported back yet.

Anyone ever experience something like this?

Seen those dies bored off center before, yes. That, or his threaded lock ring is kinking it over. The lash in the 7/8-14 thread has a lot of give, and if you tighten them down without a care to the die alignment you get problems sometimes IE laying into it with a pair of wrenches.

 

[Varmit]

Just to follow up on this, I gave him my 270 die and he made 100 rounds without a hitch. Then he tried his again and same thing happened, so I guess it was off center.

 

[Trinimon]

Can't say I've seen a die that was out of wack. I always figured they ream the dies on a lathe to keep it centered and concentric. Is there a How It's Made episode on dies? I'd like to see how they make 'em out of personal curiosity.

Is his die setup so it's kissing the shell plate?

 

[Varmit]

Follow up on this issue.

I was talking to him again last week. He told me it happened again and he figured out what what was happening. He was adjusting the seating die as if it was a resizing die??? Yes a severe crimp that bulged the case neck. Reloading is not for everyone.

 

[Mauser98]

Even after 25 years of reloading, sometimes shyt happens.

 

[stubblejumper]

Follow up on this issue.

I was talking to him again last week. He told me it happened again and he figured out what what was happening. He was adjusting the seating die as if it was a resizing die??? Yes a severe crimp that bulged the case neck. Reloading is not for everyone.

The simple truth is that human error is the cause of the great majority of issues when reloading, but the equipment and components generally receive most of the blame.

 

[burnaby]

Perhaps your friend need to review the entire reloading process; esp. if friend is getting older or family has history of Alzheimer. Unfortunately reloading is very unforgiving. Lately reading too many simple errors like mixing up TG with Varget. Simple but devastating result.

Reload Safely

Follow up on this issue.

I was talking to him again last week. He told me it happened again and he figured out what what was happening. He was adjusting the seating die as if it was a resizing die??? Yes a severe crimp that bulged the case neck. Reloading is not for everyone.

...He has been reloading for 25 years so he knows how to set a die up. ...

 

[burnaby]

Imagine had this been a LEE die shooting out of a NORC/ChiCom rifle. All the hateOn would be out in droves.

The simple truth is that human error is the cause of the great majority of issues when reloading, but the equipment and components generally receive most of the blame.

 

[Hitzy]

When in doubt, read the instructions.....

 

[downwindtracker2]

If you are use to loading with a Lee seater, then switch to RCBS, you can get a bulging surprise. Lee doesn't use a seater to crimp where as RCBS does. It's dumb idea.

 

[Dogleg]

If you are use to loading with a Lee seater, then switch to RCBS, you can get a bulging surprise. Lee doesn't use a seater to crimp where as RCBS does. It's dumb idea.

Some Lees crimp, some don't. They're not the only brand that is made both ways. If I had my way almost none of my dies would have a crimp function.