Rcbs lockout die "go" range

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Suedenflames68

Suedenflames68

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I picked one of these lockout dies up after some recommendations and subsequent reading. Sounds like some get a fairly big range and some get a really small range of variance that it will accept. Obviously it will be affected by the powder used, but mine seems to be the biggest I've seen noted online . Wondered if anyone is doing anything special for setup on it ?

Watched ultimate reloader video and read instructions and have proper plastic tip installed. Thought the white ring marker would give me a visual like the hornady powder cop would but seems like that only is a reference when its in lockout setup. Tried unscrewing die body enough to be able to use it as a visual referecne for every charge, but then it won't lockout empty cases.... too far out of its range.

Throwing a 5.3 gr charge off power pistol into 9mm cases and set to lockout below 5.0 grains it will accept at 8.5gr charge before locking out for overcharge. Messed with it at different settings and die depths but always pretty consistent at that 3.5ish gr spread of acceptable "go" range. Have a "go" range of about .200" measured on the shaft working it manually. Had a case that somehow still had some target backing material in it and it passed the die no problem. Was immediately and easily caught when I looked in the case and saw it 3/4 of the way full instead of about half.

Got my light set up and still will continue to look in case as setting bullet in of course. Guess its stopping light charges and double charges, but was hoping to see a much smaller accepted range with it. Read several references to under 1 grain.
So, anyone doing anything special to set these up or modified to achieve that?

James
 
INteresting, I saw feedback, especially on amazon that people cautioned it was a go/no go type deal. That if you were using it to find low or high powder charges this wasn't the right tool. For MEEEE... I'm gonna use mine for 9mm with a pretty high fill, so it will ONLY be used to stop a squib. I can't imagine a 8.5gr fill that didn't spill out all over the place on a 9mm.
 
I get very similar results to yours. I usually set up 3 cases with the middle one having the correct charge and the other 2 with 2 grains over and under. I find the sweet spot between all 3 and I'm good to go. I use an auto index progressive press and really not worried about a double charge and or a squib. I do like using the lockout die since it does give me an extra layer of safety. I also manually inspect the powder load since I manually place the bullet on the case.

I also have seen the posts were some get it under 1 grain but I have never come close to that. Also I pay very little attention to the white line.
 
I was actually able to double charge without spilling much if anything. Soon as press indexed it was all over the place though lol
 
I was going to get a RCBS lockout die but now not so sure. The Hornady powder cop has worked fine for several years just have to keep an eye on it.
 
It’s obviously dependent on powder density. I would guess the folks who are seeing a 1gr high to low range are using a pretty fluffy powder. Mine has a +/- 1.5gr range with W231. That is, it’s about 3 grains from overcharge lockout to undercharge lockout. I just use the white line to tell me which direction to adjust it. Otherwise, I pay no attention to it.
 
I set my Hornady lock out die to just let the amount of powder go that is my target amount. I will then lock up on a double charge and a no charge. I don't worry about a light charge because the bullet will still clear the barrel. Mine seems to be a .3gr range so with my 9mm loads 4.1gr with titegroup it will lock up on a no charge or a double.
With a progressive press like a LNL-AP those two scenarios are the only two you will get.
Double stroking or half stroking are the only two things that will cause either one of these problems.
Neither Hornady or RCBS will check any closer than that.
I think that's all we can ask of them. Once my powder measure is set up it will stay within .1gr throughout the run as long as I keep it between 1/3 and 2/3 full. That seems to be the sweet spot with mine.
 
I've used drum style powder measures long enough, 40 years or so, that I have confidence that the measure will throw charges within an acceptable range when operated correctly.

I use the Hornady powder cop die to tell me if I have a gross over charge or gross undercharge which it does well. As tightgroup tiger said, those usually happen when the progressive process is upset causing a double stroke or half/no stroke.

But, the key is, the powder cop die does need to be part of your scan while operating the press.

When I do get an upset in the progressive's process, I clear out cases around the powder measure to insure I do not leave case in a position where I might get an over charge or a missed charge.
 
For my match load in 9mm with WSF it will lock about .2-.3 gr over or under.
Basically varies with height of powder column in the case.

Money well spent for the Lockout die IMO.
 
I don’t know about the RCBS but the Dillon one can detect a stepped 9mm case though, I have never measured how much less internal volume they have.

 
jmorris said:
I don’t know about the RCBS but the Dillon one can detect a stepped 9mm case though, I have never measured how much less internal volume they have.

Click to expand...

My RCBS L/O die will definitely detect a stepped 9mm case and will let you know with an abrupt "thunk" and sudden stop. I thought I had somehow overcharged the case from the looks of the powder level, but when I dumped and measured the charge, it was spot on. Looked in the case and you know the rest of the story.
 
Suedenflames68 said:
Watched ultimate reloader video and read instructions and have proper plastic tip installed. Thought the white ring marker would give me a visual like the hornady powder cop would but seems like that only is a reference when its in lockout setup. Tried unscrewing die body enough to be able to use it as a visual referecne for every charge, but then it won't lockout empty cases.... too far out of its range.
Click to expand...
RCBS’s Powder Cop die has the rod that will allow for a visual reference but won’t lock up the press. My druthers are to have the Lock Out die on the press, and not watch it but rather watch for powder in the case before bullet seating. I have not measured the range of go no-go for Sport Pistol other than a quick no powder 2x powder check. I’ll try to do that when I get back to the bench.
My first RCBS lock out die was working fine for a while, then, I noticed the rod was stuck in the “up” position. I disassembled, cleaned, lubed, tried to find any burr that would do that but would work for about 20 rounds then stick up. I sent it back and they sent me a replacement that has worked (KOW) since. Good luck!
 
RCBS’s Powder Cop die has the rod that will allow for a visual reference but won’t lock up the press.
Click to expand...

Sounds like the Hornady one, I don’t get those, how about a light and mirror, that is if you are wanting to use the good old eyeball?
 
Maybe I'll try some wsf or some titegroup to play around with something. Sounds like mines operating normally. Was just hoping for a tighter range. Hornady powder measure is dropping really consistent after runny some powder graphite through it. Went with the lockout vs the powder cop to save myself the doubt of "did I look in that last case?" after setting a bullet in. I used to turn around alot to check if closed my garage door too lol. Now I have an app I can check it on my phone.

James
 
Yes , sorry to confuse the discussion by writing that. App is for my garage door status. Just mentioned that to say I wanted something that would offer me a double check for loading as the app does for my garage door when I can't recall if I really looked or not
 
Suedenflames68 said:
Yes , sorry to confuse the discussion by writing that. App is for my garage door status. Just mentioned that to say I wanted something that would offer me a double check for loading as the app does for my garage door when I can't recall if I really looked or not
Click to expand...
It's called x-ray. ;)
 
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