Powder Check die or Lock Out die?

[Rule3]

On a RCBS (or any progressive) which do you prefer or is better??

A check die or a Lock out die?

 

[Blue68f100]

I prefer the powder cop die for I can use it on pistol and rifle. Once you get in the habit of looking at it every cycle it's second nature.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Lockout.

I found that the powder check sometimes I would not look at it and so it defeats the purpose. The lockout ties you up and you have to fix it. No ifs/ands/or buts.

 

[GJSchulze]

I tried a lockout die and had it fail on me; could have been my setup or perhaps it doesn't work with small charges. Now all I do is glance into each case. I don't see the point of just a powder cop die. You still have to look at it, so why not just look into the case and save some money as well as one die station that can be better used for something else?

 

[rockhopper46038]

I use the lockout die. You're using up a station either way, so you might as well employ the active features of the lock out version.

 

[BYJO4]

I prefer the Lockout Die. The powder cop die is great but you have to watch it every time which doesn't always happen.

 

[jmorris]

I use the powder check die. It is audio like the test before starting in this video.



Or hard wired into the system in this video.



Either way you don't have to keep eyes on it.

 

[cfullgraf]

I prefer the powder cop die for I can use it on pistol and rifle. Once you get in the habit of looking at it every cycle it's second nature.

I use a powder cop die for the same reasons. Just make the die part of the scan during reloading.

I have used a drum style powder measure for so long that I have lots of confidence in my operation of the measure. I use a powder cop die mostly so that I do not have a case get by without any powder.

On the progressive, the times I have had a miss charge was when something else happened. Now, I clear the jam and remove the cases around the powder measure just to make sure I do not miss charge a case.

The audio alarm as jmorris has would be an improvement to the powder cop die.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

Lockout Die for sure unless a Dillon powder check die can be made to work on your press.

 

[Walkalong]

A big improvement IMO.

I still rely on seeing each charge. That is one thing I like about the LNL. Some presses don't allow that, so a powder cop die with a buzzer is a very good idea.

So, my vote is for a lock out die or a powder cop with a buzzer for a press where it's physically difficult to see in the case at the point you need to.

 

[FMJBT]

Lockout die.

It only detects double charges, or no charges. Light charges will still pass.

Do not solely rely on the lockout die.

 

[PhilMc]

I have a powder cop die but I don't use it much. Developed the habit of looking at each load before I seat a bullet in it. This method has served me well for a long time now.

 

[Rule3]

I was reading that the RCBS lockout only works for straight walled cases so what about bottleneck rifle?

 

[cfullgraf]

I was reading that the RCBS lockout only works for straight walled cases so what about bottleneck rifle?

No lock out die for bottle neck cases that I know of.

 

[jmorris]

I was reading that the RCBS lockout only works for straight walled cases so what about bottleneck rifle?

The dillon die works the same on rifle rounds but not any chance of a double with most all of the loads I use.

 

[mgmorden]

I personally LOVE the RCBS Lockout die. Nothing gets your attention like the press not being able to cycle. I use it on a Hornady LnL.

 

[Tom488]

I'm also a fan of the Dillon powder check system. I like that it works on both pistol and rifle cases, I found it more sensitive than the lock-out die, and the audible chirp is just as attention-grabbing as the press locking up.

No Dillon fan-boy-ness here... I love my RCBS presses, but having tried all three powder check methods, I installed the Dillon powder check on both of my Pro 2000's:

 

[fguffey]

On a RCBS (or any progressive) which do you prefer or is better??

A check die or a Lock out die?

I use the powder checker for bottle neck cases and the lockout die for straight wall pistol cases. Some of my progressive presses have 4 positions, that means I seat and crimp on one position, other presses have 5, I will not load pistol cases on a progressive without the lock-out die.

F. Guffey

 

[moonman16]

I like the Lock-out die, but I only load for handguns and so is the check die only for handguns.

the Ultimatereolded videos have a quick and easy way to initally SET-UP THE RCBS LOCK-OUT DIE.

A real time saver, Thanks to Gavin Gear at Ultimatereoader.com

 

[GW Staar]

I used mirrors until I made video checker. I do have a lock-out that I haven't even tried yet....no point now.

I do like what Tom 488 did but but cringed with the thought of drilling a hole in the casting for the Dillon buzzer powder cop....that may indeed be the best most idiot-proof....if you can drill a straight hole. If you have a Dillon that's a no-brainer, pun intended. You don't have to have the presence of mind to look.

This is my mirror setup before the video camera was installed:


The video camera's monitor is more "in your face"....less likely to not look. Shown is a .308 case. (pardon the sawdust from drilling a mounting hole for it.)

 

[Potatohead]

Well that's pretty damn cool I gota say. Now if you can rig up an automatic press handle puller you'll be in business.

 

[dickttx]

After loading the first fifty rounds on my LnL AP I stopped until I got an RCBS Lockout die. I still look into every case (I hope) to check the powder level, after it has went through the Lock-out die and before I set a bullet.
To me, something that I would look at, before looking into the case would be redundant. The Lock-out die has saved me several times when I had a hangup somewhere and either didn't get a powder drop, or got two.
I only load 45 ACP and 38 Super and it is somewhat of a hassle to changed the foot and adjust it when changing calibers. However, I am too much of a tightwad to spend another $50 for another one.

 

[AlliedArmory]

I use the RCBS Lockout die on all my pistol toolheads.