Rcbs die

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ilike223s

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I bent my decaping and expander for my 223,I must of had junk down inside the case ,as it broke the pin first,or maybe it broke becasue the assembly,was aleeady bent,and pin wasnt in the middle.
so anyhow. i had to use one of the other i had for my 221,both use dif. type of pins,
would RCBS sell the decaper and expander,only.? or would I need to buy a whole die set?
 
Rcbs is very good company to deal with. Just a guess on my part but I would think they would sell just the parts needed. I wouldnt be too surprised if they do it at no charge. Contact them.
 
i did notice that my newer 223 decaping pin set up is dif, from my old 221,
221 is just a streight pin, the newer set up is a pin with a bottom to it,like my lyman pin,
I see that widway has hornady decaping expanders for the rcbs,

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=547731&t=11082005

Hornady Expander Assembly for RCBS Dies 219 Zipper, 222, 223, 22-250 Remington, 220 Swift Carbide

have any one trried these yet?
 
Quote:

I did 7,000 rounds of mixed .223 brass.

That would use up a dozen RCBS decapping dies.

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Each to their own! I have loaded thousands of rounds, .223 and otherwise, and never bent or broken an RCBS decapping pin. On the other hand, almost every Lee product I have ever used, with the exception of a primer pocket cleaner, has been cheaply made, poorly designed, or broke after moderate use. I know that will offend some on this forum, but it is the truth as it pertains to my experience with Lee in 30+ years of pursuing my shooting/reloading obsession.
 
i would not buy the $33 carbide expander because you will break that unit soon or later. It happens with 223 crimped in primers. I would buy 2 RCBS units and extra pins and still be under $33 bucks.
 
I use the Lee universal decapping die for all crimped primers. Have worked thru two 5 gal buckets of 223, three 5 gallon buckets of 7.62X51, 1 bucket of LC 30-06 and it is still in good order, but dirty. I gave up trying to size and decap in one operation, bent and broke toooooo many assemblies, just as you are experiencing.
 
I did 7,000 rounds of mixed .223 brass.
That would use up a dozen RCBS decapping dies.
Click to expand...
Then you are doing something very wrong.

I have loaded GI brass using the same RCBS .223 dies since I bought them new in 1970.
I have never broken a decapping pin.

Heres a tip.
Deprime one case, then leave it in the die.
Loosen the lock-nut on the expander screw and jiggle it around in the die body, or turn it in or out a few times.
Now lock the lock-nut.

This centers all the thread slack in the die body, and locks the rod exactly centered in the flash hole.

If you tighten the lock-nut with no case in the die, the pin may end up off-center and have to flex every time it goes in a flash-hole.

And you would then be applying force on a pin that is already springing over sideways to knock out a crimped primer.
 
Shoot RCBS an email and they will replace the part free of charge no matter how long you have had the dies. Its amazing how fast they get a new part to you at no cost what so ever......


DS
 
You can order a new expander for just a couple of bucks via Midway, Grafs, etc. etc. etc. RCBS would probably replace it for free, but if you busted it, call it a lesson learned and buy another. The only time I've bent the rod and pin were when I didn't have the nut on top tight.
 
I have seen boxer primer flash holes off center on brand new brass. QUESTION Does 223/5.56mm brass(not steel) have Berdan Primers? i cant remember ever seeing any.
 
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RCBS has an online store - cart type buying and do sell all types of their decapping pins in baggies of five. I don't remember the price exactly but it wasn't a lot of money.

You can buy everything they make through their store but on some things are at MSRP and higher than can be found elsewhere.
 
10 years ago I called up RCBS because I broke the de capping pins.

The lady with the nice voice sent me a large quantity of replacement pins for free.

I said I would pay, but she was just too nice.

I since broke all those pins and found a retailer that will take my money.

I quickly break the decapping pins off RCBS, Redding, and Forster dies.
I do not use an expander ball.
I decap in a separate step.
RCBS and Lee both sell de capping dies.


Some .223 brass brands have really tiny flash holes, and the decapping pin will get stuck.

Sometimes I throw that brass away, sometimes I modify a decapping pin by putting it in the lathe and taking off a few thousandths with fine abrasive paper.

If I am working with good 223 brass that I have already fired, I can use the decapping pin in wimpy die, like a Forster.

But if Berdan primed and small flash hole 223 brass is mixed in with thousands of pieces, the sturdy built Lee decapping die is the way for me.
 
"...would RCBS sell the decaper and expander,only.?..." Yep, but when you call 'em, they'll just ask for your mailing address and send it to you. They stand behind their kit absolutely and completely. Even if you caused the damage or bought used.
 
I emailed them Friday<i got a reply today,
they;re sending me replacement parts no charge to me,, Yehaooo.
would Lyman do the same,,?
 
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