Lock Rings

[MoreIsLess]

I have a Dillon 550b. I need some new lock rings. I am thinking about getting some that have the set screw that you can tighten with a hex wrench. I had read good things about the Hornaday and also Forster ones. Anybody have experience with those (on a Dillon press)

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I like the Hornady rings, use them on almost all my dies.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I recently asked the same question.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...efered-die-lock-rings-on-a-dillon-550.832255/

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I also like the Hornady rings best but they do cost money. RCBS rings get complaints but I don't have problems with them. I use the Lee rings that come with the dies on my handgun dies mounted on turrets.

 

[mdi]

I would suggest a ring that acts like a clamp, where the set screw squeezes the ring on the die body. Most of the time a setscrew that pushes against the die body threads will mar/distort the threads...

I use Forster and Sinclair rings...

 

[Tilos]

I have a Dillon 550b. I need some new lock rings. I am thinking about getting some that have the set screw that you can tighten with a hex wrench. I had read good things about the Hornaday and also Forster ones. Anybody have experience with those (on a Dillon press)

Pinch screw rings are better than the set-screw type that mar the die threads.
I use Dillon's, 2 on each die, locked together.

 

[Whiterook808]

I find, due to space limitations, that Dillon rings work best on my 550 tool heads. If you have a tool head for each die set, then the lack of a lock screw is not a factor. I use Hornady rings on my rifle dies which are used in my Rockchucker.

 

[Reloadron]

I buy and use the Hornady lock rings in six packs from Amazon using Amazon Prime.I also use other lock rings but do like Hornady.

Ron

 

[MoreIsLess]

I find, due to space limitations, that Dillon rings work best on my 550 tool heads.

I had always wondered about that

 

[Nature Boy]

I had read good things about the Hornaday

I like those too. Use them on my 650

 

[tranders]

As long as you have enough room on the tool head, the Hornadys are the best that I have used.

 

[sbwaters]

I hand tighten Hornady lock rings in my LnL and tighten the set screw that does not press on the threads. I never use a wrench. Always tight enough.

I have found that, hand-tightened, I can put the allen wrench in the lock ring to get leverage to loosen it. That hasn’t damaged either the allen wrench or bolt.

If you do use a wrench, Hornady has an open end wrench to use.

 

[dredd]

I find, due to space limitations, that Dillon rings work best on my 550 tool heads. If you have a tool head for each die set, then the lack of a lock screw is not a factor. I use Hornady rings on my rifle dies which are used in my Rockchucker.

I discovered the exact same thing when I got my 550.

 

[hdwhit]

MoreisLess asked:
Anybody have experience with those (on a Dillon press)

Any lock ring that can be tightened down enough to not move when the die is moved will work regardless of whether it is on a Dillon, RCBS, Lyman or Lee press. Dillon is not a magical instrument functioning in a separate universe where the normal laws of physics do not apply.

I use the Hornady locking rings on all my dies (except the RCBS ones old enough to have RCBS split rings). In fact, when I order a new set of dies, I order Hornady rings to go with it. They work. They hold tight. They won't mar the threads on the die. And they don't rely on a brass screw that can be turned hard enough to strip the threads.

 

[MoreIsLess]

Dillon is not a magical instrument functioning in a separate universe where the normal laws of physics do not apply.

That may be true but the issue with Dillons (I have 2) seems to be, from what I am reading, having enough space on the tool head

 

[Legionnaire]

I don't like RCBS or any ring with a set screw that impinges the threads. I like Lee rings because of their simplicity, but Hornadys are good, too.

 

[Nature Boy]

 

[GW Staar]

The Dillon rings are for use on a tool head where you get them set and leave them alone. They are the smallest diameter rings available.....perfect for crowded tool heads. If you set them once to a head and leave them alone there's no need for a lock nut. I like to make a magic marker line on the die, over the nut, and onto a tool head so that if there's some reason I need to disassemble, I can put it back quickly.

For use on my Rock Chucker I like the Hornady rings, or Forster rings, but I also have some dies set up with RCBS rings using small lead fishing weights between set screw and threads to prevent thread damage. Newer RCBS dies sets come with rings with brass screws that don't hurt the threads, but you are limited a bit as you can't screw and unscrew a lot without ruining the set screws......however the free replacements do come easy....

Tool heads and RCBS rings are no problem either if you set once and mark.....don't even need to tighten the rings. Dillon rings win the size war.....they are the smallest. My old Forster rings are rings not nuts and they are LARGE. Not so good for a progressive....surely their new stuff is smaller.

 

[Offfhand]

My favorite type for general purpose is the split "pincher" style shown in attached photo. Tightening the top screw in ring pinches the die threads and hold fast but also release instantly. My all time sentimental favorite are the oversize and beautifully knurled steel rings that came on Hollywood dies. Also shown here.

 

[farm23]

I only have RCBS rings and put a #7.5 lead shot with each ring. I have not tried any others and am sure they will all work but i know the RCBS with lead shot work well.

 

[rfwobbly]

I find, due to space limitations, that Dillon rings work best on my 550 tool heads. If you have a tool head for each die set, then the lack of a lock screw is not a factor.

► To clarify.... you'll want the Dillon 1 inch lock rings on most of your dies. There are some 1-1/8 inch Dillon lock rings which are simply too big. But even then, the Dillon wrench is too large to use in that tight space. Go to a pawn shop and dig through the old wrenches for a 1" box (closed) end wrench. You can slip a box end wrench over the die and the tight space of the tool head becomes a non-issue.

►You most definitely want to use a new Tool Head for each die set. In that way you do not need individual adjustments between each caliber change. You simply slide the tool head with pre-adjusted die set into the machine and go ! (Try the multi-colored tool heads on Ebay from JoferUSA. )

► Nature Boy has it right...

If you are using Dillon's latest dies, then the body of the Seating Die has to be quickly adjustable to change OAL. The best way to do this is to snug the Seating Die lock ring against a common o-ring (or use a Lee lock ring with integral o-ring). The tension created by the crushed o-ring allows easy die adjustment without loosing the setting.

Hope this helps.

 

[otisrush]

I can definitely see where the squeeze-type rings are best, but I didn't want to spend the dough upgrading my die sets.

Someone commented somewhere (Google will find it) the thread specs for RCBS ring set screws. I got some screws to fit them. That, with the brass discs RCBS will send you, work great . My biggest issue with the RCBS set screws is that the brass Allen screws easily strip.

Having big screws in the lock rings aren't pretty....but they work great.

 

[MoreIsLess]

► To clarify.... you'll want the Dillon 1 inch lock rings on most of your dies. There are some 1-1/8 inch Dillon lock rings which are simply too big. But even then, the Dillon wrench is too large to use in that tight space. Go to a pawn shop and dig through the old wrenches for a 1" box (closed) end wrench. You can slip a box end wrench over the die and the tight space of the tool head becomes a non-issue.

►You most definitely want to use a new Tool Head for each die set. In that way you do not need individual adjustments between each caliber change. You simply slide the tool head with pre-adjusted die set into the machine and go ! (Try the multi-colored tool heads on Ebay from JoferUSA. )

► Nature Boy has it right...

If you are using Dillon's latest dies, then the body of the Seating Die has to be quickly adjustable to change OAL. The best way to do this is to snug the Seating Die lock ring against a common o-ring (or use a Lee lock ring with integral o-ring). The tension created by the crushed o-ring allows easy die adjustment without loosing the setting.

Hope this helps.

Are those Dillon lock rings in the picture? Are they for the 550b or 650? I didn't see them on their website. Do you have a part#/sku?

 

[Whiterook808]

That's a Hornady lock ring on a 650 tool head.

 

[MoreIsLess]

That's a Hornady lock ring on a 650 tool head.

Awesome, I may have to order those. Will they be OK on the 550b. I have a 550b and a 650