[Nicodemus38]

when you use a single stage press, and have to switch dies out for every step in reloading, sizing, depriming, priming, flaring, and bullet seating.

How do you ensure that the dies are always reinstalled the next time you use that die?

[twice barrel]

I presume you mean reinstalled to the same setting....the lockring on the die. Unscrew the die by the lockring when removing and in by the lock ring when installing.

Just be sure you use the same shellholder as you did previously too.

TB

[MMCSRET]

I don't worry about it, I set up each and every time. I also strip and clean my dies regularly. Its no problem to set up a die, mine get moved between 3 single station presses, no problem!!!!!!

[FROGO207]

Moving them around is no problem as stated. and if you do clean them the process will come easier as you practice. Checking them each time will save you from having to pull some rounds when the things get out of adjustment when not paying attention. It has happened, not often, but has to me.:banghead:

[JimKirk]

Get a Forster Coax press ....just pop them in and pop them out. The Lock rings are never moved(unless you need to). I have have around 25 sets or maybe a few more that have NEVER been moved once I got them adjusted. ON at least 10 of those sets the lock rings have been set for more than thirty yrs. Changing dies takes about 3 seconds, if you take your time.

Jimmy K

[Sidewinder72]

I use the forster cross lock rings. You will never go back to the regular lock rings.

[qajaq59]

For my rifle cases I also reset the dies each time. It only takes a second and then I know it is right. If you lock them, then your going to have to trim every case every time because they grow when being sized. Consequently, even though your die hasn't moved, the case has, so it isn't going to seat the bullet in the exact same spot anyway.

[JimKirk]

Unless you're crimping your rounds, you should never have to move your dies. If you're crimping, then trimming is a must or you will get varying crimps which will cause all kinds of accuracy problems. Once a die is set for a rifle(unless you have more than one of the same caliber, of course then the best idea is to get a set of dies for each rifle $28) you never need to move the die! The seating stem is all that evers get moved, none of the guns I own require crimping(rifles), my pistols I crimp. But even for them I have a set of dies set up for each type bullet and they stay set.

Jimmy K

[wilkersk]

I think the Hornady Lock N load bushing will work in any press that uses standard size dies. Once you set them up, you can swap your dies out with out have to readjust for the same load.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=858110

http://media.midwayusa.com/ProductImages/Medium/858110.jpg

But, I suspect what you may be asking is how do you tell if you're looking at a flaring die or a seating die on the RCBS carbide 3 die set. Its simple, the seating die plug is cupped the flaring die's plug is not. If it helps, borrow mom's red nail polish and put a dab on the plug for the flaring die.

[EddieNFL]

Consequently, even though your die hasn't moved, the case has, so it isn't going to seat the bullet in the exact same spot anyway.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but wouldn't you want the bullet seated to the same depth each time? Unless you're chasing the lands.

[Walkalong]

If your lock rings don't move, and you tighten them the same every time, you will be fine.

As far as chasing the lands, you will only be moving the seater stem.

If you are crimping and seating in separate steps with the same die, you can use a "no crimp" spacer under your sizer so you won't have to adjust your crimp every time, but you will still have to re-adjust the seater stem every time.

[RandyP]

Lee 50th Anniversary kit uses a breech lock bushing to hold the dies. works great. you just buy an inexpensive bushing for each die you use. set it and forget it - presuming of course that you are keeping with the same bullet/OAL each time you use the die set.

[rfwobbly]

Nic -
Hopefully you have some lock rings like RCBS with a set screw, or Hornady with the pinch mechanism to keep the lock ring from moving in relationship to the body of the die. If you are using a fancy lock ring like either of those, then you simply run them in until the ring touches and torque them very lightly, to say 5 ft-lbs.

When you remove them from the press, as per the other comments above, do so by loosening the lock ring. Your dies will remain in complete adjusted position doing it this way.

If you are using a lock ring like Lee O-ring style, that does not hold its position, then you can retro-fit new rings onto your old dies. Both RCBS and Hornady sell their lock rings as loose accessories. Otherwise you have to re-adjust on EVERY installation.


I think the Hornady Lock N load bushing will work in any press that uses standard size dies.

I don't think that's a true statement. If the thread inside the LNL bush is 7/8-14 UNC, then how can the outside of the bush adapter be the same? No, it's much larger, probably 1-3/8 or so. There is one RCBS press that can be retro-fitted with the LNL system, but certainly not all presses, or even all RCBS presses.

Hope this helps!

[rcmodel]

If you are using a lock ring like Lee O-ring style,I drill & tap the stupid Lee Slip-O-Rings for a 6x32 set screw & lead shot on every set I buy.

That makes them real Lock-Rings, and you never have to adjust the die again after the first time.

Failing that, replace them with real lock-rings.

rc

[243winxb]

Lee has a die for everything lol. Speed Die explanation

The Speed die does everything a 3-die set does by combining some steps, and by providing a removable carbide-sizing ring. When used in a single stage press, the Speed die is faster because one doesn't need to keep changing die bodies to perform different tasks. Simply swapping internal components accomplishes the same thing.
May be discontinued??

[JimKirk]

even though your die hasn't moved, the case has, so it isn't going to seat the bullet in the exact same spot anyway.

First off the case has not moved, the length of the case may have changed, unless you've moved the seater stem, the bullet has not move either.
The edge of the mouth of the case may have moved in relationship to the bullet crimp cannelure(if the bullet has one), but neither the case nor the bullet has moved.

Jimmy K

[qajaq59]

but neither the case nor the bullet has moved. Whatever.

[MMCSRET]

as of olde: "much ado about nothing"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JimKirk]

delete

[JimKirk]

Whatever.

So you have a better explantion? Because I, along with others, I'm sure, would love to hear it.

Jimmy K

[Nicodemus38]

im curious on the lee hand press, so lets assume its the same way for every other lee press.

you have to insert the shell holder onto the ram. then you close the press. then install the die into the die holder and try to create a very small gap between the die and the shell holder.
My question is, how do you ensure the gap stays constant:

between each individual die in the set you use to reload a given round

between each reloading session so that on 1/1/10 the gap is the same .02 inches it was on thanksgiving morning to ensure each seperate batch of ammo turns out the same?

[bullseye308]

Feeler gauges would work. I just eyeball it them mic the rounds and adjust as needed.

[fguffey]

I do not secure the lock ring to the die, if there is a die in my possession that has the lock ring secured to the die, it is not my die, I adjust the die every time with a feeler gage if necessary then secure the die to the press with the lock ring.

I do not have just one press and I do not load for just one rifle.

F. Guffey

[Walkalong]

even though your die hasn't moved, the case has, so it isn't going to seat the bullet in the exact same spot anyway.
but neither the case nor the bullet has moved.
JimKirk is right, the case isn't moving. Different case lengths can affect where the cannelure on a bullet ends up in relationship to the case mouth of course.

If your lock rings don't move, and you screw the die in the same amount, it will be the same each time within a couple of thou. Not enough to worry with.

[MMCSRET]

I find it interesting that so much can be said about such a simple operation. Its like washing dishes before using them again, a mindless operation that requires no forethought once the operation is learned. Like tying ones own shoes, we do it and don't even think about it as we do it and we think back later in the day and don't remember for sure that we did it so we have to look down and check. Oh!!!! I forgot; this is a VELCRO society now!!!!!!
I load for over 70 calibers currently, down from 141 a few years ago. I set my dies up each and every time for each and every operation for each and every caliber; HO HUM!!!

[Walkalong]

Workaholic. :neener: :D

[JimKirk]

You must like washing dishes!

Jimmy K

[ranger335v]

"...switch dies out for every step in reloading, sizing, depriming, priming, flaring, and bullet seating. How do you ensure that the dies are always reinstalled the next time you use that die?"

You do know that bottle neck cases only require two dies, and straight walled three, don't you?

We don't load a single case from start to finish by swapping dies back and forth, we process them through all the first die, then the second, etc, , meaning we only install each die ONCE for each loading session. And that ain't a lot of work, nor is it hard to keep the lock ring on each die tight enough to insure repeatability.

[MMCSRET]

I did not say anything about liking some of the things I(we) have to do, but we(I) do them anyway. I don't care whether you wash your dishes or tie your shoes. I do care about any loading operation because doing it mindlessly will get someone killed and unfortunately it probably won't be that more than deserving individual that caused the mishap!!!

[Walkalong]

Not re-adjusting dies every time is not mindless. They don't often, if ever, change there settings in the box. Screw em in, load up a round or two, check em to be sure, then load up some ammo.

That said, I have no problem with how you do it, it's your house, your rules. I just think it is overkill, and possibly less consistent than leaving the dies alone.

[MMCSRET]

You are right, locking the dies is not mindless and I never said it was. I simply made a comparison between things that we do and don't think about and things that require us to pay attention. Done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Walkalong]

Sorry. I misread your post.

[fguffey]

"I find it interesting that so much can be said about such a simple operation. Its like washing dishes before using them again, a mindless operation that requires no forethought once the operation is learned"

Simple to mindless, and accomplished with repetitive motions UNLESS! adjusting the die in .000 (thousands) is more than guess as in "I adjust my die to bump the shoulder back .001 thousands" with out one word as to how this is possible without a tool.

Firing a case to determine the effect the chamber had on a case is mindless, determining the effect the chamber will have on a case before firing is neither simple or mindless and does require forethought, I have no problem with the concept of transfer and standard, I take one measurement from the chamber, move it to the press, shell holder and die and back to the chamber. there are a lot of nice tools that I could put on the bench between firing and sizing (my opinion, the extra tools are nice, not necessary but nice), the first tool is the companion to the press tool, the feeler gage and then there is verify, I like to verify, I do not fire once and neck size 5 times, I use the versatile tool 'the full length sizer die', to bump. full length size, neck size, partial neck sizing and neck sizing with case body support, I either prevent the shoulder from moving forward or control the amount I set it back, it is neither mindless or simple, when reloading, I never wish I was doing something else because reloading does not bore me.


F. Guffey