Locking ring problems on RCBS dies.

Wyoredman · January 9, 2012, 11:28 AM

Hss anyone else had problems getting the locking rings on RCBS dies to stay put? On several sets of RCBS dies the locking ring won't stay in place unless I tighten the brass set screw so tight that allen hole starts to round.

I have ruined more than a few brass set screws and am getting a bit frustrated. If I just snug them, I lose my setting when I unscrew the die from the press and must reset the die the next time it is used.

Any suggestions?

Sevens · January 9, 2012, 12:27 PM

Two suggestions:

1) Most of the world seems to hate the lock rings on Lee dies that are a simple rubber o-ring with no set screw, but I love them. Rather than relying on a lock ring to keep my settings, I use a sharpie on the die with an index line and a matching index line on my press so that when I screw a die in, those two lines tell me for certain that my dies are SET. The lock ring is snugged with a wrench. It's ROCK-SOLID, and won't move no matter what force is thrust upon it. Setting is 100% perfect.

2) Most folks get RCBS dies and their set screw to cooperate a bit by using a single lead pellet for shotshell between the screw and the die-- the lead ball crushes to fit and snugs it all up. Shot size... maybe 7 1/2?

mrawesome22 · January 9, 2012, 12:30 PM

Are you installing and removing the die using a wrench on the ring itself?

Clifford L. Hughes · January 9, 2012, 12:31 PM

Woredman:

Place one or two lead shotgun BB's ahead of the screw and then tighten it.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired

farmerboy · January 9, 2012, 12:47 PM

I also have had problems in the past and tried the lead shot with not much help. I took the die in my hands and you can run that set screw all the way through the locking ring. Theres usually alot of metal shavings in behind the set screw and once you push it out with your set screw then the set screw will hold. Or that fixed mine.

Wyoredman · January 9, 2012, 02:55 PM

Thanks guys. I am glad that I am not the only one having this problem.

I remove the die by twisting the die, not the lock ring. I have thought about getting a set screw made from steel instead of brass, but I think i will try the index marks and the lead shot trick first.

I need somthing to lower my frustration level

David Bachelder · January 9, 2012, 03:02 PM

Mr Hughes is spot on. I use the same trick and the rings stay in place.

serf 'rett · January 9, 2012, 03:05 PM

No problem with my RCBS dies...

since I replaced the original lock rings with Hornaday rings (cross bolt design).

Wyoredman · January 9, 2012, 03:06 PM

Serff, where did you get those Hornady rings?

brickeyee · January 9, 2012, 03:14 PM

Hornady rings are a lot better, but a piece if shot under the set screw on the RCBS rings is all you need.

mrawesome22 · January 9, 2012, 03:35 PM

Hornady rings are the best, but if you put the wrench on the ring itself, this will be a non-issue.

Wyoredman · January 9, 2012, 04:16 PM

I have also had the die move (because the lock ring didn't hold) when adjusting the seater plug on the seat die after I had the die set for crimping. This gets pretty frustrating also.

After moving the seater plug down to touch the bullet and then locking it in, the die threads in a bit further from the force aplied to the seat plug lock nut. This results in more crimp than wanted if not reset!

All is fine in the end, but it takes lots of time and gets me irritated because I have to keep adjusting my die from one session to the next! I won't even mention the frustration that comes when the brass set screw strips!

I am going to try the shot under the set screw. Thanks.

Cheap 870 · January 9, 2012, 05:58 PM

I had the same problem with rounding out the allen heads. So I went to the local hardware and picked up some little brass screws. I can't remember the tread size, it's an uncommon size. Just take the ring with you & find the one that fits.

JohnAL · January 9, 2012, 09:55 PM

I have been using the lead shot trick and putting the wrench on the ring instead of the die for 35 years and never had a problem. When you do want to move the lock ring, loosen the set-screw just a little, then give the ring a moderate tap right beside the screw to make the lead turn loose of the die threads.

hk33ka1 · January 9, 2012, 10:20 PM

I change them to Lee rings when I have a problem.

F. Guffey · January 10, 2012, 12:15 AM

I do not have problems with locking rings secured to the die, because? I do not secure lock rings to my dies, if in my possession there is a die with the lock ring secured to the die, it is not my die. I secure the die to the press with the lock lock ring.

When securing the die to the press I raise the ram with a shim between the bottom of the die and top of the shell holder, I raise the ram to put a load on the threads, putting a load on the threads remove the slack between the threads, then secure the lock ring, my favorite lock rings are the hex sided ones, but, not a problem if they are round with knurled surfaces, I have purchases enough equipment from other reloaders that used slip joints, pipe wrenches etc.. I do not have to worry about appearance, anyhow, replace the lock ring and, like new again.

Knurled surface? Anything that has a knurled surface is to be hand tight.

Then there are those that have adjustments that they maintain, no matter what? I adjust my dies every time I use them, lock rings secured to the die slow me down, again, I adjust the die to the shell holder every time I use them, then secure the die to the press with the lock ring.

F. Guffey

January 9, 2012, 11:28 AM	#1
Wyoredman Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,352	Locking ring problems on RCBS dies. Hss anyone else had problems getting the locking rings on RCBS dies to stay put? On several sets of RCBS dies the locking ring won't stay in place unless I tighten the brass set screw so tight that allen hole starts to round. I have ruined more than a few brass set screws and am getting a bit frustrated. If I just snug them, I lose my setting when I unscrew the die from the press and must reset the die the next time it is used. Any suggestions? __________________ Go Pokes! Go Rams!

January 9, 2012, 12:27 PM	#2
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	Two suggestions: 1) Most of the world seems to hate the lock rings on Lee dies that are a simple rubber o-ring with no set screw, but I love them. Rather than relying on a lock ring to keep my settings, I use a sharpie on the die with an index line and a matching index line on my press so that when I screw a die in, those two lines tell me for certain that my dies are SET. The lock ring is snugged with a wrench. It's ROCK-SOLID, and won't move no matter what force is thrust upon it. Setting is 100% perfect. 2) Most folks get RCBS dies and their set screw to cooperate a bit by using a single lead pellet for shotshell between the screw and the die-- the lead ball crushes to fit and snugs it all up. Shot size... maybe 7 1/2? __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

January 9, 2012, 02:55 PM	#6
Wyoredman Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,352	Thanks guys. I am glad that I am not the only one having this problem. I remove the die by twisting the die, not the lock ring. I have thought about getting a set screw made from steel instead of brass, but I think i will try the index marks and the lead shot trick first. I need somthing to lower my frustration level __________________ Go Pokes! Go Rams!

January 9, 2012, 03:02 PM	#7
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	Mr Hughes is spot on. I use the same trick and the rings stay in place. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

January 9, 2012, 03:05 PM	#8
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	No problem with my RCBS dies... since I replaced the original lock rings with Hornaday rings (cross bolt design). __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.

January 9, 2012, 12:30 PM	#3
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Are you installing and removing the die using a wrench on the ring itself?

January 9, 2012, 12:31 PM	#4
Clifford L. Hughes Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2011 Location: Southern Californis Posts: 795	Woredman: Place one or two lead shotgun BB's ahead of the screw and then tighten it. Semper Fi. Gunnery sergeant Clifford L. Hughes USMC Retired

January 9, 2012, 12:47 PM	#5
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	I also have had problems in the past and tried the lead shot with not much help. I took the die in my hands and you can run that set screw all the way through the locking ring. Theres usually alot of metal shavings in behind the set screw and once you push it out with your set screw then the set screw will hold. Or that fixed mine.

January 9, 2012, 03:06 PM	#9
Wyoredman Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,352	Serff, where did you get those Hornady rings? __________________ Go Pokes! Go Rams!

January 9, 2012, 03:14 PM	#10
brickeyee Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 3,351	Hornady rings are a lot better, but a piece if shot under the set screw on the RCBS rings is all you need.

January 9, 2012, 03:35 PM	#11
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Hornady rings are the best, but if you put the wrench on the ring itself, this will be a non-issue.

January 9, 2012, 04:16 PM	#12
Wyoredman Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,352	I have also had the die move (because the lock ring didn't hold) when adjusting the seater plug on the seat die after I had the die set for crimping. This gets pretty frustrating also. After moving the seater plug down to touch the bullet and then locking it in, the die threads in a bit further from the force aplied to the seat plug lock nut. This results in more crimp than wanted if not reset! All is fine in the end, but it takes lots of time and gets me irritated because I have to keep adjusting my die from one session to the next! I won't even mention the frustration that comes when the brass set screw strips! I am going to try the shot under the set screw. Thanks. __________________ Go Pokes! Go Rams! Last edited by Wyoredman; January 9, 2012 at 06:20 PM.

January 9, 2012, 05:58 PM	#13
Cheap 870 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 159	I had the same problem with rounding out the allen heads. So I went to the local hardware and picked up some little brass screws. I can't remember the tread size, it's an uncommon size. Just take the ring with you & find the one that fits.

January 9, 2012, 09:55 PM	#14
JohnAL Member Join Date: August 19, 2011 Location: Lower Alabama Posts: 28	I have been using the lead shot trick and putting the wrench on the ring instead of the die for 35 years and never had a problem. When you do want to move the lock ring, loosen the set-screw just a little, then give the ring a moderate tap right beside the screw to make the lead turn loose of the die threads.

January 9, 2012, 10:20 PM	#15
hk33ka1 Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2010 Posts: 275	I change them to Lee rings when I have a problem.

January 10, 2012, 12:15 AM	#16
F. Guffey Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Posts: 7,249	I do not have problems with locking rings secured to the die, because? I do not secure lock rings to my dies, if in my possession there is a die with the lock ring secured to the die, it is not my die. I secure the die to the press with the lock lock ring. When securing the die to the press I raise the ram with a shim between the bottom of the die and top of the shell holder, I raise the ram to put a load on the threads, putting a load on the threads remove the slack between the threads, then secure the lock ring, my favorite lock rings are the hex sided ones, but, not a problem if they are round with knurled surfaces, I have purchases enough equipment from other reloaders that used slip joints, pipe wrenches etc.. I do not have to worry about appearance, anyhow, replace the lock ring and, like new again. Knurled surface? Anything that has a knurled surface is to be hand tight. Then there are those that have adjustments that they maintain, no matter what? I adjust my dies every time I use them, lock rings secured to the die slow me down, again, I adjust the die to the shell holder every time I use them, then secure the die to the press with the lock ring. F. Guffey