[BUGUDY]

I use a single stage press and change dies often. The RCBS nut does not stay locked in place well with the brass set screw. The Lyman dies look alot beefier. I read where a lead shot under the set screw helps. I have got any shot, I guess I could cut a shell in half, I haven't done that since I was a kid! Any other suggestions?

[rcmodel]

I would replace the brass screws with steel ones from the hardware store.

Then put a lead shot, (or a clipping of 1/8" solid core solder, or pull a .22 bullet and pound it smaller around and clip a piece of it off), under the screws.

Once tightened, they will never move again unless you want them too.

Thats the way they were made up until just the last few years when they were "improved"!

rc

[33rowdy]

This might not be what you are looking for but; Take a marker and mark your die with a mark on your press. So if it does move you will know about it.

[rcmodel]

He wants the lock-nut on the die to stay in place once adjusted.

Not the die to stay in place in the press.

rc

[33rowdy]

That's what I thought. But the marker marks do help me reinstal it easier from the last die set-up. One of my dies I took a screw from another die that I hardly ever use.

[Walkalong]

Quick and easy. Get a small piece of paper. Chew it or wet it and make a small compact ball. Put it under the screw. It works. Trust me. ;)

That was when I did not have any shot laying around. Cheap and easy.

[rcmodel]

Sounds unsanitary! :D

Still, I would get rid of all the brass screws before I put the spit-ball under the new steel ones!

They are known to strip out the Allen-socket quite easly.

rc

[Walkalong]

Only if you chew on it again after it's been used. ;)

[djs764]

I replaced all my RCBS locks with the Hornady sure-loc lock rings. Midway has them but they're back ordered right now.


https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=ee7ca9527b9f80d8f4c9eababe9e9dfa&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=20feb75df18d706d4a15dd242a845705

[BigJakeJ1s]

+1 for Hornady, or any other cross-bolt style lock ring. Forster and Lyman offer them too. Lyman does not include cross-bolt lock rings on their dies, but Forster does.

Before RCBS started using hex nuts with steel set screws, they had cross-bolt lock rings also.

Hornady is the only cross-bolt lock ring with with wrench flats though.

Andy

[Horsemany]

If you don't have any lead shot you can take the old brass set screw and tear off a chunk with a wire cutter. Mash it into a shape small enough to get in the hole and it works just like lead, maybe better.

[BUGUDY]

A spitball! I never would have thought of that. I am going to try it just out of curiosity.

[fguffey]

if you find a set of dies with the lock rings secured to the dies, they are not my dies, I do not secure the lock ring, I adjust the dies every time I use them, I do not always use the same press and or load for the same chamber, if I found it necessary to secure the nut I would use the split nut or use two (jam) nuts and secure with two wrenches, one hand.

To prevent the die from getting loose while sizing, secure the lock nut while putting pressure on the bottom of the die with the ram.

F. Guffey

[Bruce H.]

I removed the RCBS locking rings from my RCBS dies and replaced them with these Forster lock rings: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=282628
They have a steel allen screw that does not bottom out on the die threads. They work great.

[cougar1717]

If you don't have lead shot or solder handy and you don't want to use a spitball, a small lead fishing sinker works (or a piece cut from one).

[BUGUDY]

RCBS seems like a very good company with good products. But..telling a customer to add anything to their product , to make it perform, is to my thinking, a poor business decision. I have no problem doing it, I'm just saying to RCBS," You add whatever to make it function".

[~z]

If you don't have lead shot, solder, you don't want to use a spitball (mouth too dry or just have a pleasant taste you don’t want to waste) or a small lead fishing sinker, you can bite the cork off a bottle of Blanton’s Whiskey and push that into the hole before securing it with a new SS set screw. Remember you MUST use sweet frosting from a white cake as a thread locker. If you do not have the sweet frost, you may be able to use creme brulee, in which case you will have to use an additional locking ring with a rubber gasket (or a piece of ham) between them.
Trust me, this is the ONLY way
~z

[AMBASSADOR]

Try using a plastic toothpick,works great on mine before I bought the 7/8-14 split rings.I have also used plastic under the screw on the hammer extension on my 9422.

[Dean Williams]

I've just installed spitballs in all my RCBS dies, and they work great!
I'm so pleased that I've started my own company and will soon be marketing these spitballs in
handy packs of three pre-moistened balls. Keep an eye out at your local reloading supplier.






Walkalong; Just pulling yer leg.

[BigJakeJ1s]

I removed the RCBS locking rings from my RCBS dies and replaced them with these Forster lock rings: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=282628
They have a steel allen screw that does not bottom out on the die threads. They work great.

Forster cross-bolt rings have a phillips/slotted head screw, not an allen head screw. Really old RCBS cross bolt lock rings look almost identical, and they have an allen head screw.

The Lyman cross-bolt lock ring also looks almost identical to the Forster, and it has an allen head screw, here:

Lyman Split-Lock Die Locking Ring 7/8"-14 Thread (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=402579)

I find the allen head versions work better in the co-ax press because there are no press threads for the lock ring to jam against, giving you nothing to push against as you tighten the cross-bolt. Strangely, only Forster makes them with a phillips/slotted head that is harder to use in their own press. A trip to the hardware store will remedy it though.

Andy

[1858]

+1 on the Hornady lock rings although the Redding ones aren't bad .... they have a small theaded plug that engages the threads on the die when the set screw is tightened. The Hornady's are still better though and worth the cost.

:)

[jeepmor]

I like the spitball idea, I just want them dried out first, I don't like rust on my dies.

I do the splitshot sinker, BB size is perfect by the way. Steel setscrews of course. When I do need to adjust them (i.e. 10mm to .40) The lead has a tendency to require pliers to get it moving again once the set screw is backed off. I think that speaks for it's locking ability.

When I buy new rings, I buy hornadys.