Do I need to buy new die?

[nissantech]

So, I have reloaded pistol and now I have started to reload rifle. I made a mistake and adjusted the neck sizing die, well when I did I was not thinking(happens sometimes) and bent the sizer in the die. Do I need to buy a new die? I was able to bend it start, I think. This is just for my hunting rifle but if I am going to get better I need to have the right equipment. Well if I have to I will but I will look to get everyone's option. Thanks

 

[Reloadron]

Call the die manufacturer and just get another piece. You failed to mention who made the die?

Ron

 

[Okcafe86]

Call the manufacturer up. There's a good chance they will mail you a replacement part for free.

 

[JDGray]

You failed to mention who made the die?

Not a Lee!! You cant straighten nothing in a Lee die... My guess is RCBS

 

[Reloadron]

Not a Lee!! You cant straighten nothing in a Lee die... My guess is RCBS

My guess is he just needs the expander decapping unit and yeah, if RCBS they will likely send him one free. I assume it was a neck sizing die based on the post.

Ron

 

[nissantech]

Wow you all are good. It is a rcbs die and I will try contacting the manufacture for a replacement. Thanks for the idea. It is a neck sizing only die also.

 

[sage5907]

If you don't want to wait for the assembly from RCBS just go to a gun shop that has reloading supplies. It is common in my area for almost every gunshop to have a board loaded with RCBS press and die parts. Take the adjusting nut off of the top if the die and screw the pin assembly out of the die from the bottom. If the rod is not bent just screw the bent de-capping pin retainer (case neck expender) off of the rod and replace the bent pin with a straight one.

You may have bent the rod if the expander contacted the web of the case before the die touched the shell holder. You can also bend the pin if you didn't have the base of the case pushed all the way into the shell holder when you cycled the ram. When this happens the pin will miss the primer hole. It's a good idea to hold the base of the case in the back of the shell holder with the tip of your finger when you push the ram up. Sometimes the case will pop away from the back of the shell holder when you begin the stroke.

 

[nissantech]

Thank you all for the replies and I have contacted RCBS. So we will see what happens. Do you think I am ok to reload anymore or should I just wait?

 

[Sunray]

Wait for what? You can't do much of anything with a bent expander rod. If you have other RCBS dies you can take the rod out of one of them and put on the expander button from the bent one.
RCBS will send you a new expander rod for free. Their warrantee is on the kit, not the user. And they don't care who damaged it. A phone call will be a lot faster. They'll ask you for your mailing address and you'll have the thing in a week or less.

 

[sage5907]

Sunray is right, don't use the die if the expander ball rod is bent. What happens is that when you pull the case out of the die the expander ball may bend the case neck out of alignment with the base of the case. Then you get an accuracy problem.

Some more inexperienced loaders don't know this but it's a good idea to put your finger on the base of the case to keep it in the back of the shell holder when you pull the expander ball through the case neck. What happens is that when the case comes out of the die it will pop over to the side before the expander ball goes through the neck. This is really important on large cases with a slim neck like a 243 or 25-06.