Loose dies in press

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cbh560

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I just picked up an RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme kit and a set of RCBS 30-06 dies to finally get into the reloading game. Needless to say, I'm new to reloading.

My question is, when the die is screwed into the press is it normal for it to fit loosely? By loose I mean when its screwed in far enough to come into contact with the ram, I can wiggle the die so that it rattles in the press. I'd say that the top of the die will move back and forth by 1-2 mm. This seems like an excessive amount of wiggle room to me for a process that requires consistancy. And my FL, NS and Seating die all do the same.

Is this normal? Should I be in contact with RCBS? (or the Cabela's I just bought it from?)
 
Screw your die down until it touches the shell-holder with the ram raised.

Drop the ram and turn the die in another 1/4 or 1/3 of a turn.

Once again raise the ram until it touches hard and then "cams-over"

Tighten the lock ring on the die with the ram in the raised position.

Your die will now be tight in the threads and square to the shell-holder.
 
Loose dies

cbh560 said:
My question is, when the die is screwed into the press is it normal for it to fit loosely? By loose I mean when its screwed in far enough to come into contact with the ram, I can wiggle the die so that it rattles in the press. I'd say that the top of the die will move back and forth by 1-2 mm. This seems like an excessive amount of wiggle room to me for a process that requires consistancy. And my FL, NS and Seating die all do the same.
Click to expand...

I have an old Rockchucker (early 70's) and I just gave 3 dies your "wiggle" test. All the dies were made by different manufacturers and are of different vintages. All of them had about the same amount of wiggle as you describe, until the die was locked into place (as described by others). I assume the loose threads are just normal manufacturing tolerances.
 
Thanks for the replies. The lock rings on the RCBS dies are s**t. That little brass set screw doesn't hold whatsoever. I think I will pick up a package of the Hornady SureLoc rings. I've heard good things about them and their design makes more sense.

It just seems strange to me that since the dies are a very precision machined piece, and the female portion of the press is actually a machined nsert, why would they be made to such high tolerances? You can pick up nuts and bolts out of the bulk bins at the hardware store that have much closer fitting threads. Is there a reason for this?

Thanks for helping a newb understand.
 
ykkid said:
Per Boo's instructions. Don't adjust a carbide die to touch the shellholder. The impact will shatter a carbide die.
Click to expand...

Have you experienced this? The carbide ring is inside the die body so doesn't make contact with the shell holder. After using carbide dies of various makes, for several decades and always adjusting for firm contact with the shell holder, I have never experienced any problems related to the carbide ring, but I have experienced chambering issues when straight wall cases were not properly full length resized.
 
cbh560 said:
Thanks for the replies. The lock rings on the RCBS dies are s**t. That little brass set screw doesn't hold whatsoever. I think I will pick up a package of the Hornady SureLoc rings. I've heard good things about them and their design makes more sense. . . .
Click to expand...

I don't use the memory screws on my lock rings, its just as easy to properly adjust the die each time its used. If the lock ring is tightened with a wrench, it will never come loose while in use. Another option is to place a body fitting "O" ring under the lock ring.
 
cbh560 said:
It just seems strange to me that since the dies are a very precision machined piece, and the female portion of the press is actually a machined nsert, why would they be made to such high tolerances? You can pick up nuts and bolts out of the bulk bins at the hardware store that have much closer fitting threads. Is there a reason for this?

Thanks for helping a newb understand.
Click to expand...

Welcome to "Imported by" reloading world....I have several presses and multitude of dies made before year 2005 or so when majority of reloading equipment production was outsourced to be made in China. I have no problem with the bad tolerances you are talking about. Whenever I need some extra equipment I prefer to buy used stuff instead "Imported by" new products....
 
cbh560 said:
Thanks for the replies. The lock rings on the RCBS dies are s**t. That little brass set screw doesn't hold whatsoever. I think I will pick up a package of the Hornady SureLoc rings. I've heard good things about them and their design makes more sense.
Click to expand...

One trick with those lock rings is to put a piece of lead shot in the hole before tightening the brass screw.
Better trick is to get the Hornady lockrings.......
 
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