RCBS Dies & Sticking Cases = Garbage!!!

Just out of curiousity, what sizing lube were you using? I have at least a dozen different rcbs die sets and sometimes use them for turning one cartridge into another. Haven't stuck a case since I tried using a new lube years ago, wont do that again.
 
I don't know about the ragging on LEE dies. I made the mistake of buying a set of RCBS .223 dies. They would not properly nor reliably size the necks of the brass. One would be snug enough to hold the bullet before going into the LEE crimping die. The RCBS seating die would not put any crimp on the neck of the brass. If you adjusted the die to where it would crimp it would crumple the neck as well. Before anyone says to cut the brass down it was all trimmed and miked to SAAMI specs. Ordered a LEE set and began to run through brass. What a surprise, no problem. I even went through finding the most up to date RCBS die manual in to ensure there was no weird setup requirement.

I was not impressed at all since I could have gotten the LEE dies first and saved money, some brass and a bunch of time and frustration.

Anyone need a set of .223 RCBS dies? They supposedly worked fine for the fellow I got them from. For me, no such luck.
 
I tried a set of rcBS dies and on the 4 casing the case got stuck.I callled them the begginning of December and the replacement stem assy didn't show up till Feb.
Needless to say that set of junk dies are in my "to be sold/swapped" drawer to some other sucker.
I went back to my tried,tested and true LEE dies the end of December and haven't looked back.
 
Let's see, one that perhaps didn't clean the die before using, with a plugged vent hole? Could be two of those, but, the other one sounds like not enough lube, and one, who by the sound of it, didn't know how to adjust for crimping. I am not sure I buy the issue being the dies. It can happen, but, the odds are abysmally low that they shipped a bad die.That can happen with any manufacturer,
but it isn't too likely at all.
 
I guess that I just must have been lucky to have owned over 20 sets of RCBS dies without a single problem. Either that, or I adjusted them properly, and chose a good sizing lube.
 
Any company can put out a bad die. Even Redding or Forester.

I have an old (circa mid 70's) RCBS .45acp die that can only be used with jacketed bullets. It is too tight to use with plated or lead bullets. My buddies Lee die works fine with all three. Does that mean the RCBS die is crap? Not really, although it's not particularly useful if you want to shoot lead.
 
joe-nwt said:
X4. Not all Lee dies have given me trouble, but the dies that have given me trouble have all been Lee. And I've used pretty much every brand out there.
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X5. Great dies.
I have not had issues with any to be honest.
I pulled the same thing off a long time ago. And it sucks and frustrating to yank the head stamp off a case when stuck in a die.

They make a stuck casing puller FYI !
After you get 2-3 of these stuck you will figure it out.
 
The worst die that I own for sticking (actually the only die I own that has sticking problems) is a Dillon die. Very unforgiving when it comes to lubing.
 
ya , only time ive even had an RCBS die stick is when i didnt lube the case enough ... ive never really had a problem with mine. I have gone to all forester now, but RCBS is still great stuff. Tried , tested and trued is an under statment
 
I haven't had a problem with any RCBS product. Their dies are great, but I know how to set them up;). Cheap shot, yes, but I'd bet it all that your problems would be solved if you read that big piece of paper that came with the dies.:wave:

I'll also tell you I've never had a problem with Lee. I prefer using my Lee neck sizing dies to RCBS, and I have a Lee press that does a great job as a powder measure stand.
 
What caliber and what lube? I swore I was done with RCBS stuff as well when the same problems occured with a a RCBS sizer and the .300wsm. I got my money back for them and tried hornady which worked better but eventually threatend the same fate but I backed off before it was to late. I was using spray lube from RCBS and Lyman, then tried old Lee lube the waxy kind and they sized beautifully. I still use the spray for some calibers but the .300wsm is Lee lube only. I am convinced the lube would have made the difference and saved the die. I have many RCBS sets that work as well as any but I must admit I am partial to the Lee cheap stuff. I think certain calibers seem finicky as well such as the WSMs.
 
sharp shooter said:
Not sure how old your set is but a few years ago they started making them overseas. I had a new set and lets just say now i have a nice set of regular redding dies and i love them. I thing for the money in regards to regular dies that redding is hard to beat.
Click to expand...

You should give them a call since they don't know that.

From: rcbs tech [mailto:rcbs.tech@ATK.COM]
Subject: RE: Where are your presses, dies, and other products made

All products with the exception of electronic items are made in our factory in (Oroville, California).

Thank you,

S. Ennes
Technical Service Manager
ATK/RCBS Operation




Yes they must be junk . That is why they keep selling millions of them since the 40's and give a life time warranty on them. Real trash.
 
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