Busted My RCBS Decapping Die

1911_freak · August 24, 2008, 06:18 PM

Has anyone else had problems with rcbs decapping dies breaking?

brickeyee · August 24, 2008, 06:59 PM

What part broke?

totalloser · August 24, 2008, 09:23 PM

I try to use Lee style whenever possible. They never break. And if they do, they are $2 from almost ANY reloading supplier. You can mod many dies to take the Lee system by precision drilling and tapping to 1/8" npt on a lathe. All my RCBS lube dies have the Lee decap system on them.

If you can nick it with a file, it can readily be modified. Most Sizing dies cannot as they are case hardened then ground.

langenc · August 24, 2008, 10:34 PM

Call em-you will get a new one-no questions.

LHB1 · August 24, 2008, 11:13 PM

I have had one decapping pin break in 45 years of reloading. Probably was on an RCBS die as I have rarely used any other brand. I just took the pin out of an old, unused die set and replaced the broken one. Good to go again. Such pins are very cheap.

Alleykat · August 25, 2008, 08:42 AM

I got a free supply of pins from RCBS, when I called about the broken one. I only have one RCBS sizing die, so breaking pins isn't a big problem for me. Almost all my dies are Lee, and, as has been mentioned, they rarely break decapping pins.

farnorthdan · August 25, 2008, 10:43 AM

Call RCBS customer services, they will send a new one or ten out so fast you will hardly know it was missing.

DS

Oberg · August 26, 2008, 08:36 AM

I had one pin break and one shaft bend... make sure you don't try to decap berden and boxer primed 5.56 rounds. will ruin your die. but I ordered new pins from midwayusa for like 5 bucks for 5 pins and I got a new shaft at the local scheels for 8 bucks. I was up and running in 15 mins. and now I know to make sure all brass has one flash hole

AlaskaMike · August 26, 2008, 09:44 AM

You will never find any customer service better than that of RCBS, anywhere. When I busted the decapping pin on a .44 mag die, one quick call and they cheerfully sent me not only a 5-pack of replacement pins, but also a spare shaft (the threaded rod that threads into the die and holds the decapping pin).

Give them a call.

Mike

DEDON45 · August 26, 2008, 10:15 AM

I gotta say that normally something has to go wrong to bend a decapping pin... but somehow my friend totally broke the decapping pin, and bent the shaft that the expander screws onto, in his 6.5-06 RCBS dies... in retrospect, I think he may have had the thing misadjusted so the expander was hitting the case head from the inside, and when he forced it, it bent the shaft (still hard to believe, but this was all brass that had been sized and used before in the same rifle and same dies, so I'm sure it wasn't a stubborn primer)... anyhow, I emailed RCBS for him (my friend does not have a computer, believe it or not), sent them some pictures of the decapping assembly, and they sent out a new assembly along with 6 new decapping pins (spares)... for no charge, no argument. Can't beat that! I've had and heard of similar experiences with most of the other reloading equipment mfg.

Don't sweat the breaking of a decapping pin; it has, or will happen, to all of us at some point... that's why I've got spares.

tkcomer · August 26, 2008, 12:59 PM

Just last week, I pulled the expander plug off one of their 223 X-Dies. I called to order another one and they're shipping one out free of charge! I tried to explain the shell had some media in it and I thought I broke it. They didn't want to hear it. Years ago the same thing happened with one of their standard 223 dies. Same thing, a new one. I still use that decap pin to this day to clean media out of flash holes. This bunch is great.

W. C. Quantrill · August 26, 2008, 05:37 PM

A-Mike,

I had the same experience. I broke a pin and called them and they sent me a whole bag full plus the rod. All you have to do is ask them.

brickeyee · August 26, 2008, 08:42 PM

RCBS decapping pins are just small sections of drill rod.

I purchased a 36 inch piece of the correct diameter years ago, and probably have at least 33 inches left.
You do need to cut it off with an abrasive wheel (it will ruin regular wire cutters).
This is one time a dremel comes in handy.

FrankenMauser · August 26, 2008, 11:17 PM

The only RCBS decapping pins I have ever broken, were..... my fault. I was doing things with the dies, they were never designed to do.

RCBS sent not one, but 2 free replacement pins no-questions-asked; each time I broke or bent one.

HisSoldier · August 27, 2008, 07:37 AM

"RCBS decapping pins are just small sections of drill rod."

Are they heat treated?

WSM MAGNUM · August 27, 2008, 08:36 AM

Nope. Never in my 30 years of reloading with my RCBS dies have I broke one. If you keep breaking them, then you are doing something wrong.

Loader9 · August 27, 2008, 09:24 AM

If you load much in the way of 5.56 using military brass, you're gonna break pins. I've seen flash holes so far off of center they're almost on the side of the primer pocket. I keep at least ten extra pins in small and large around as I do load lots of military brass. Some of the 3006 military brass isn't much better. I don't generally have issues with match brass though.

brickeyee · August 27, 2008, 10:11 AM

"RCBS decapping pins are just small sections of drill rod."

Are they heat treated?

No.
Just plain old drill rod.
It is already plenty hard in the smaller sizes from manufacture.

the_right_reverend · August 27, 2008, 04:35 PM

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=459626

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=948706

save yourself the aggravation especially if you are into surplus mil

Nnobby45 · August 27, 2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

What part broke?

After 19 replies with most just assuming the issue was a broken decapping pin, we still need to know WHAT PART BROKE?

No handloader should be without xtra decapping pins. You may go years without needing one. You may need a new one next time you load.

If the pin isn't the issue, then what is?

FrankenMauser · August 27, 2008, 10:37 PM

My bent/broken parts were the expander/decapper assemblies, not just the replaceable pin. Still, RCBS had double replacements to me within 5 days; on each occassion.

Nnobby45 · August 28, 2008, 08:08 AM

I see. By now you probably know that you adjust the assembly down just enough to punch out the primer.

No doubt you adjusted it down too far and bottomed out on the assembly itself.

FrankenMauser · August 28, 2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

I see. By now you probably know that you adjust the assembly down just enough to punch out the primer.

No doubt you adjusted it down too far and bottomed out on the assembly itself.

That's a negative. As I said, I was doing things the dies were never designed for. (And shall not be revealed.)

The OP still hasn't responded, though.

johndefresno · September 26, 2015, 02:05 PM

I found this review and believe that a comment in order, for possible new users of this lube die.

I just ordered all four dies and note that the decapping pin is factory installed w-a-a-y deeper than it should be.

The instructions that come with the dies state that the decapping pin should be only 3/16" below the die. That should end your problems.

mkl · September 26, 2015, 02:34 PM

Call or email RCBS and they will correct the problem. They sent me a free 5-pack of pins many years ago when I broke one.

More recently, the handle on my RCBS Jr. single stage press got bent. I sent them an email inquiring as to replacement cost of a new handle. They replied that they did not make that handle any longer, but if I would send them the linkage that the handle screws into, they would re-drill and tap the linkage to fit one of their current handles which they would send back with the linkage at no charge. Can't get much better than that for customer service.

August 24, 2008, 06:18 PM	#1
1911_freak Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 25	Busted My RCBS Decapping Die Has anyone else had problems with rcbs decapping dies breaking? __________________ My loads are 45. acp, 9mm, 38., 357., 7.62x39, 223., 308., 16 and 12 gauge

August 24, 2008, 09:23 PM	#3
totalloser Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2007 Location: Fort Bragg, CA Posts: 679	Yes. I hate them. I try to use Lee style whenever possible. They never break. And if they do, they are $2 from almost ANY reloading supplier. You can mod many dies to take the Lee system by precision drilling and tapping to 1/8" npt on a lathe. All my RCBS lube dies have the Lee decap system on them. If you can nick it with a file, it can readily be modified. Most Sizing dies cannot as they are case hardened then ground. Last edited by totalloser; August 24, 2008 at 10:55 PM.

August 24, 2008, 11:13 PM	#5
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	I have had one decapping pin break in 45 years of reloading. Probably was on an RCBS die as I have rarely used any other brand. I just took the pin out of an old, unused die set and replaced the broken one. Good to go again. Such pins are very cheap. __________________ Good shooting and be safe. LB

August 25, 2008, 10:43 AM	#7
farnorthdan Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2007 Posts: 371	Call RCBS customer services, they will send a new one or ten out so fast you will hardly know it was missing. DS __________________ Believe NONE of what you hear; HALF of what you see and ALL you believe Accuracy is king,penatration is queen but why not jack'em in the process if you can.

August 26, 2008, 05:37 PM	#12
W. C. Quantrill Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2008 Location: No Man's Land Posts: 354	A-Mike, I had the same experience. I broke a pin and called them and they sent me a whole bag full plus the rod. All you have to do is ask them. __________________ NRA Life Whittington Center Life

August 24, 2008, 06:59 PM	#2
brickeyee Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 3,351	What part broke?

August 24, 2008, 10:34 PM	#4
langenc Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2007 Location: Montmorency Co, MI Posts: 1,551	Call em-you will get a new one-no questions.

August 25, 2008, 08:42 AM	#6
Alleykat Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2007 Posts: 3,668	I got a free supply of pins from RCBS, when I called about the broken one. I only have one RCBS sizing die, so breaking pins isn't a big problem for me. Almost all my dies are Lee, and, as has been mentioned, they rarely break decapping pins.

August 26, 2008, 08:36 AM	#8
Oberg Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2008 Location: Minn Posts: 212	I had one pin break and one shaft bend... make sure you don't try to decap berden and boxer primed 5.56 rounds. will ruin your die. but I ordered new pins from midwayusa for like 5 bucks for 5 pins and I got a new shaft at the local scheels for 8 bucks. I was up and running in 15 mins. and now I know to make sure all brass has one flash hole

August 26, 2008, 09:44 AM	#9
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 943	You will never find any customer service better than that of RCBS, anywhere. When I busted the decapping pin on a .44 mag die, one quick call and they cheerfully sent me not only a 5-pack of replacement pins, but also a spare shaft (the threaded rod that threads into the die and holds the decapping pin). Give them a call. Mike

August 26, 2008, 10:15 AM	#10
DEDON45 Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2008 Posts: 278	I gotta say that normally something has to go wrong to bend a decapping pin... but somehow my friend totally broke the decapping pin, and bent the shaft that the expander screws onto, in his 6.5-06 RCBS dies... in retrospect, I think he may have had the thing misadjusted so the expander was hitting the case head from the inside, and when he forced it, it bent the shaft (still hard to believe, but this was all brass that had been sized and used before in the same rifle and same dies, so I'm sure it wasn't a stubborn primer)... anyhow, I emailed RCBS for him (my friend does not have a computer, believe it or not), sent them some pictures of the decapping assembly, and they sent out a new assembly along with 6 new decapping pins (spares)... for no charge, no argument. Can't beat that! I've had and heard of similar experiences with most of the other reloading equipment mfg. Don't sweat the breaking of a decapping pin; it has, or will happen, to all of us at some point... that's why I've got spares.

August 26, 2008, 12:59 PM	#11
tkcomer Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2006 Location: Maysville, KY Posts: 200	Just last week, I pulled the expander plug off one of their 223 X-Dies. I called to order another one and they're shipping one out free of charge! I tried to explain the shell had some media in it and I thought I broke it. They didn't want to hear it. Years ago the same thing happened with one of their standard 223 dies. Same thing, a new one. I still use that decap pin to this day to clean media out of flash holes. This bunch is great.

August 26, 2008, 08:42 PM	#13
brickeyee Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 3,351	RCBS decapping pins are just small sections of drill rod. I purchased a 36 inch piece of the correct diameter years ago, and probably have at least 33 inches left. You do need to cut it off with an abrasive wheel (it will ruin regular wire cutters). This is one time a dremel comes in handy.

August 26, 2008, 11:17 PM	#14
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,427	The only RCBS decapping pins I have ever broken, were..... my fault. I was doing things with the dies, they were never designed to do. RCBS sent not one, but 2 free replacement pins no-questions-asked; each time I broke or bent one. Last edited by FrankenMauser; August 26, 2008 at 11:47 PM. Reason: typos....

August 27, 2008, 07:37 AM	#15
HisSoldier Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2007 Location: Oregoncoast Posts: 1,793	"RCBS decapping pins are just small sections of drill rod." Are they heat treated? __________________ CNC produced 416 stainless triggers to replace the plastic triggers on Colt Mustangs, Mustang Plus II's, MK IV Government .380's and Sig P238's and P938's. Plus Colt Mustang hardened 416 guide rods, and Llama .32 and .380 recoil spring buttons, checkered nicely and blued.

August 27, 2008, 08:36 AM	#16
WSM MAGNUM Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 750	Nope. Never in my 30 years of reloading with my RCBS dies have I broke one. If you keep breaking them, then you are doing something wrong. __________________ Henry - Life NRA Member, USCCA Shield Member If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

August 27, 2008, 09:24 AM	#17
Loader9 Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2008 Posts: 949	If you load much in the way of 5.56 using military brass, you're gonna break pins. I've seen flash holes so far off of center they're almost on the side of the primer pocket. I keep at least ten extra pins in small and large around as I do load lots of military brass. Some of the 3006 military brass isn't much better. I don't generally have issues with match brass though.

August 27, 2008, 10:11 AM	#18
brickeyee Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 3,351	"RCBS decapping pins are just small sections of drill rod." Are they heat treated? No. Just plain old drill rod. It is already plenty hard in the smaller sizes from manufacture.

August 27, 2008, 04:35 PM	#19
the_right_reverend Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2008 Location: Sneads Ferry, Nc Posts: 232	order extras http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=459626 http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=948706 save yourself the aggravation especially if you are into surplus mil

August 27, 2008, 10:37 PM	#21
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,427	My bent/broken parts were the expander/decapper assemblies, not just the replaceable pin. Still, RCBS had double replacements to me within 5 days; on each occassion.

August 28, 2008, 08:08 AM	#22
Nnobby45 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2004 Posts: 3,150	I see. By now you probably know that you adjust the assembly down just enough to punch out the primer. No doubt you adjusted it down too far and bottomed out on the assembly itself.

September 26, 2015, 02:05 PM	#24
johndefresno Junior Member Join Date: March 20, 2009 Location: Central California Posts: 1	I found this review and believe that a comment in order, for possible new users of this lube die. I just ordered all four dies and note that the decapping pin is factory installed w-a-a-y deeper than it should be. The instructions that come with the dies state that the decapping pin should be only 3/16" below the die. That should end your problems.

September 26, 2015, 02:34 PM	#25
mkl Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2008 Location: DFW area, Texas Posts: 494	Call or email RCBS and they will correct the problem. They sent me a free 5-pack of pins many years ago when I broke one. More recently, the handle on my RCBS Jr. single stage press got bent. I sent them an email inquiring as to replacement cost of a new handle. They replied that they did not make that handle any longer, but if I would send them the linkage that the handle screws into, they would re-drill and tap the linkage to fit one of their current handles which they would send back with the linkage at no charge. Can't get much better than that for customer service.