What brand makes the "thinnest" die lock rings??

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Rule3

Rule3

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What brand makes the "thinnest" die lock rings??

I want to be able to use my LFCD on the Hornady LnL AP press. They can barely be held on by a thread. so thinking another brand of lock ring may work better. I have RCBS and they are no better.

No, mounting the lock ring on the bottom of the die does not work.
There is not enough thread doing that, if the die is threaded down far enough to touch the shell plate, it is not set correct and the press ram will not raise completely and cam over.

Or any other solutions? Contacted Lee they have no solution. My dies are newer production so a tad longer than the older ones.

Been using the LFCD for years, I like them, others may not. So please.
 
New-style RCBS lockrings are the thinnest I know of. Also, split rings can be used with <100% engagement.
 
Dillon are the thinnest, most direct threading I have tried, but your question would have to consider with or without a locking mechanism other than tightness against the press. If you are just after that post-sizing feature, precision in the setting isn't so important, crimping with the seating die in the preceding station..
 
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I agree with RealGun - Dillon has the thinnest lock rings.
A 1" wrench gets 'em loose or tight & they're small height-wise too.
 
I have 4 Lee FCD's in different calibers which I just use the lee lock ring on and I have never had your issue. How much different is a new production die over the older dies?
 
Might work on yours...I found some of my Lee dies on 650 tool head, just put the lock ring on underside instead of on top & that works well.

FCD not an issue though for me - has lee lock ring and still several threads above. Getting a wrench on the lee lock ring in station 5 a different story however :)

I did get some extra Dillon lock rings and need more. Not only real thin, they're smaller diameter so you can get at them on a full tool head.

I never saw split rings - that sounds interesting as well
 
380, 9mm, and 40 on my LnL . All use Lee locking dies without issues. You can always turn them upside down if you are running out of thread.
 
For anyone that actually has a lock ring on the underside of the die (on a LnL AP, not any other) I sure would like to see a picture of that.
 
Jeff H said:
380, 9mm, and 40 on my LnL . All use Lee locking dies without issues. You can always turn them upside down if you are running out of thread.
Click to expand...

Do you have the FCD screwed down all the way so that it hits he shell older when the ram is all the way up and camed over?
I can do that but the lock ring just barely holds by maybe 1 thread.
 
Rule3 said:
any other solutions?
Click to expand...
This lock ring is up off of the threads. It butts against the non-threaded top part where it stops. The bushing pushes it up and locks things down. The spacer gets the die body where it needs to be.
Lee 9MM Sizer with Spacer.jpg

Same basic thing for these.
Lock Rings on Dies In LNL Bushings Pic 3.JPG
 
Dillon’s are .25”. Lee’s are .30 with .085 step for the O-ring so only .215 or so worth of threads.

I agree with the chunk the O-ring and flip the nut over comment, I do that anyway. You could turn the counter bore off but it won’t stop it from threading that deep and will still have more bearing surface to get ahold of with a wrench.
 
Rule3 said:
Do you have the FCD screwed down all the way so that it hits he shell older when the ram is all the way up and camed over?
I can do that but the lock ring just barely holds by maybe 1 thread.
Click to expand...

This is how mine is set up. O-ring down, only holding on by a few threads, but it is rock solid. Not sure if this FCD is the older shorter style or the newer slightly longer one, but it is several years old. Works fine, doesn't loosen up or do anything weird.
B5rjfFs.jpg
 
Dillon is the answer to this question, but they have no ability to retain any kind of setting when the die is not in the press. They are just a very thin nut, and nothing more.

Only way I could get some Lee dies to work in a Dillon 650, though.
 
ATLDave said:
Dillon is the answer to this question, but they have no ability to retain any kind of setting when the die is not in the press. They are just a very thin nut, and nothing more.

Only way I could get some Lee dies to work in a Dillon 650, though.
Click to expand...
Very true, but on the LnL AP the trick when removing a die is to turn the bushing, not the die. I keep my channel locks handy for that.
 
Do you set it and leave it? I'm guessing you do since you have LNL bushings. Low strength Purple Locktite would work if you don't need to adjust.
 
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Rule3 said:
What lock rings are those?
Click to expand...
Old Redding I think. About as thick/thin as others, just what I had laying around. One is a lee without the o-ring. Thinner rings don't really help as they all have to hold a bit of thread.
 
Walkalong said:
Old Redding I think. About as thick/thin as others, just what I had laying around. One is a lee without the o-ring. Thinner rings don't really help as they all have to hold a bit of thread.
Click to expand...
On a Lee ring the area for the O-ring is not threaded, so that's why it is better in some cases to turn the ring over to where the threads engage immediately.
 
Walkalong said:
Old Redding I think. About as thick/thin as others, just what I had laying around. One is a lee without the o-ring. Thinner rings don't really help as they all have to hold a bit of thread.
Click to expand...
Guess I was "thinking" that a thinner lock ring would somehow grab the few threads better, but guess that is not the case.

On the lock rings with a set screw you are saying they will hold onto the die even without being in the threads?? or am I confused on that.

I can get my Lee lock rings to hold, I just don't like that is just hanging on "for dear life" Either way with the o ring down in the correct way or O ring up. Really makes no difference.
Was hoping for something better or more positive.
I think the issue is the Hornady bushing and the top flange on them is so thick. But they need to be so they can be turned.
 
Rule3 said:
Guess I was "thinking" that a thinner lock ring would somehow grab the few threads better, but guess that is not the case.

On the lock rings with a set screw you are saying they will hold onto the die even without being in the threads?? or am I confused on that.

I can get my Lee lock rings to hold, I just don't like that is just hanging on "for dear life" Either way with the o ring down in the correct way or O ring up. Really makes no difference.
Was hoping for something better or more positive.
I think the issue is the Hornady bushing and the top flange on them is so thick. But they need to be so they can be turned.
Click to expand...
I have a Lee FCD in a Hornady bushing and set for meeting the shell plate. It is stamped 38/357 and with the code "D3". There is plenty of thread engagement and with the O-ring in the standard position, taking up a fraction of the length. It appears that all of the threads of the lock ring are engaged but just barely.
 
Rule3 said:
On the lock rings with a set screw you are saying they will hold onto the die even without being in the threads?? or am I confused on that.
Click to expand...
Those pictured have one, but they are held in place by being sandwiched in between the solid top of the die that stops them and the LNL bushing pushing up against them. Right amount of spacers in between to get the die body where it needs to be.
 
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