Do Not Cam Over!

Plated · January 20, 2006, 11:30 PM

So I am reading the instructions that came with my new RCBS cowboy action dies for .38/.357....and I come across the section about setting up your sizer die and it says in BOLD letters....DO NOT CAM OVER.

Now I am assuming that this means that when the ram is fully extended up, that you should screw the die down to touch it. You then tighten down so that there is not that "over the hump finish" to the stroke when you push the case up into the die?

Guessing here, hope that description was useful in understangin my question.

I don't remember reading that warning in other instructions included with my other dies.

What am I missing?

impact · January 21, 2006, 12:04 AM

Yah that would be my guess to.

scottys1 · January 21, 2006, 12:52 AM

Camming over is when the press ram reaches its highest point and the handle continues to move a small amount. It amounts to going over center.

At the center point you are applying a tremendous amount of force between the shellholder and the die due to the extreme leverage of your press.

The reason for the advice is to prevent damaging the dies by applying an excessive amount of force.

918v · January 21, 2006, 01:23 AM

You should not cam-over carbide dies because you'll crack the carbide insert. It is brittle.

Plated · January 21, 2006, 02:15 PM

Thanks for the info guys!

January 20, 2006, 11:30 PM	#1
Plated Member Join Date: January 18, 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 26	Do Not Cam Over! So I am reading the instructions that came with my new RCBS cowboy action dies for .38/.357....and I come across the section about setting up your sizer die and it says in BOLD letters....DO NOT CAM OVER. Now I am assuming that this means that when the ram is fully extended up, that you should screw the die down to touch it. You then tighten down so that there is not that "over the hump finish" to the stroke when you push the case up into the die? Guessing here, hope that description was useful in understangin my question. I don't remember reading that warning in other instructions included with my other dies. What am I missing?

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January 21, 2006, 12:04 AM	#2
impact Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: the great state of Texas Posts: 854	Yah that would be my guess to.

January 21, 2006, 12:52 AM	#3
scottys1 Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2004 Posts: 316	Camming over is when the press ram reaches its highest point and the handle continues to move a small amount. It amounts to going over center. At the center point you are applying a tremendous amount of force between the shellholder and the die due to the extreme leverage of your press. The reason for the advice is to prevent damaging the dies by applying an excessive amount of force.

January 21, 2006, 01:23 AM	#4
918v Junior member Join Date: September 25, 2005 Posts: 1,372	You should not cam-over carbide dies because you'll crack the carbide insert. It is brittle.

January 21, 2006, 02:15 PM	#5
Plated Member Join Date: January 18, 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 26	Thanks for the info guys!