February 11, 2013, 04:17 PM | #1 |
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Best Die Lock Rings
Who do you think make the best die lock rings?
Terry Mitchell danville, IL> |
February 11, 2013, 04:37 PM | #2 |
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I really like the Forster rings, with the upgraded Allen-wrench screws! Work great with my Co-Ax!
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February 11, 2013, 04:44 PM | #3 |
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Hornady. Cross bolt + wrench flats.
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February 11, 2013, 05:53 PM | #4 |
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Not Lee. Sorry Richard but an o-ring is not meant to be a positive, repeatable stop. I like the Hornaday rings I have.
Let me know if you find a magical way to tighten them onto the die while they are tightened onto the top of the press. I find it fiddly to get them tight on the die with the die set right where I need it to be. |
February 11, 2013, 06:00 PM | #5 |
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Hornady's won't mess up the threads.
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February 11, 2013, 07:54 PM | #6 |
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I'm running the Hornady rings on my RCBS dies, used in Hornady quick lock bushing system in the RCBS Rock Chucker.
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February 11, 2013, 08:09 PM | #7 |
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I do not like the new RCBS because the setscrew damages the thread. The old style split ring RCBS used to make was the best. Hornady still makes these types.
Lees Orings su?k The O-ring can not be set in a memory position (Set & Forget) seating & belling dies and must be readjusted after each use it. Not criticizing Lee dies as I own a few. I have replaced all Lee Oring lock nuts on all dies except the sizing dies. |
February 11, 2013, 09:24 PM | #8 |
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All of them except Lee. I despise that O-ring "locking" worthless contraption.
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February 11, 2013, 11:00 PM | #9 |
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Agree on the Forsters. I called them to get the screw size because I wanted to switch to Allens and found out they had changed to them. Good move on their part. With Lee, you continue to get what you pay for. They have their place but not on my bench.
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February 11, 2013, 11:05 PM | #10 | |
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February 11, 2013, 11:22 PM | #11 | |
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February 12, 2013, 12:18 AM | #12 |
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Hornady.
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February 12, 2013, 02:06 AM | #13 |
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Hornady Sure-Loc. Great rings; a little tight on a Dillon tool-head though.
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February 12, 2013, 06:01 AM | #14 |
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I love the O-ring Lee die rings and I've had phenomenal use out of them for over two decades. The bonus? Laughing at folks who use a lock ring for indexing dies -- which is ludicrous. Lock rings are supposed to tighten a die in to the press. At that, the Lee rings are fantastic and they out perform the Hornady, RCBS and Lyman rings I also have a few of.
For indexing the die and having it precisely where I want it, I use an index line on the die and a matching line on the press. Why that's been so difficult for what seems to be 95% of the folks that have ever screwed a die in to a press to discover shall be one of the great mysteries of time & space, I suppose.
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February 12, 2013, 06:13 AM | #15 |
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I replace all lock rings with Lee's, they don't move once set and they automatically square up in my tool heads(XL 650 and LCT).
I guess if you are loading on a single stage press you might want hard rings to speed up die switching, speeding up and SS reloading are a contradiction, though. |
February 12, 2013, 09:08 AM | #16 |
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To keep from messing up my RCBS die threads from the set screw locker, I pull out the set screw and put in a couple (size depending) lead shot in front of the set screw. Haven't had any problem with adjustment changing.
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February 12, 2013, 01:40 PM | #17 |
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Midway did have Hornady lock rings on sale,don't know if they still do.
But I bought 6 to put on my rcbs seating dies. Figured I didn't need them for sizing or expander dies. But yes rcbs rings stink. |
February 12, 2013, 04:56 PM | #18 |
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It depends on the type of press you are using. For a single stage you probably want a lock ring that has a set screw so as you screw it in and out it won't move on the threads and lose adjustment. I load on a Lee classic turret and Dillon 550. All my dies are Lee and with the Lee lock rings I have never had a die go out of adjustment. So how are any of the others better than that?
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February 12, 2013, 05:24 PM | #19 |
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I have used the same trick as FullCaseload. I put 2 71/2 shot pellets between the set screw and the threads on the die. The screw can be tightened snugly and the soft lead protects the threads on the die.
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February 12, 2013, 06:11 PM | #20 |
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The RCBS ring marking the die does not bother me. When I lock a die, chances are it will never be unlocked again.
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February 12, 2013, 06:42 PM | #21 |
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I've always liked using the Lee's better than the RCBS rings.
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February 12, 2013, 06:50 PM | #22 | |
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I sure would like to hear how Lee o-rings are more repeatable or in some other way, superior to locking rings. |
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February 12, 2013, 10:09 PM | #23 | |
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February 12, 2013, 10:11 PM | #24 |
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I dont mount m dies in tool heads and leave them in.
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February 12, 2013, 10:24 PM | #25 | |
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