Should I tighten my dies with a wrench?

[NC-Mike]

Lee Classic Turret Press

Can I snug up the dies good with a wrench? I just made a nice wrench from an old Chop-Saw wrench that came with the saw to change the blade. Its a stamped wrench and I cut off the top off it and narrowed the sides a bit. I fits well.

I don't know if tightening the dies to the turret is a good idea or not. Do they need a little slop in them? I hate the fact they move around or can move around. Especially when you're putting the powder dispenser on. I wanna lock em down!

 

[eldon519]

I've used a wrench of every die I have that has a hex-style lock nut.

 

[tunnug]

I snug mine up with the same style wrench, just don't over do it.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Once the die is adjusted to your satisfaction it's O K to snug up the lock nut, but don't tighten too much. There's no need and it just adds unnecessary wear and tear on the aluminum threads in the turret adaptor...

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, just barely snug is all that is needed.

 

[NC-Mike]

Thank you guys, I snugged em up good so they won't move.

I just mounted the Lee Safety Prime. I would say there is a small learning curve associated with that particular piece of equipment...

 

[The Bushmaster]

That's why I don't have the Safety Prime...I hate learning curves...

 

[SSN Vet]

there is a small learning curve associated with that particular piece of equipment.

if I use my left hand to steady and guide the safety prime, while pushing the button with my left thumb, it's 100%.

If I just push it with my right thumb, every once in a while it doesn't hit the mark just right and ejects the primer onto the floor.

I put 50 Win primers into the safety prime at a time and am satisfied with it's performance.

a Dillion it is not, but then again, if I had to buy a Dillion, I could have never afforded to get set up.

 

[NC-Mike]

if I use my left hand to steady and guide the safety prime, while pushing the button with my left thumb, it's 100%.

Mine seems to like to be used a little rough. If I try to finesse it. I drop the primer on the floor.

 

[tribbles]

I take those silly O-rings out of my Lee dies' locking nuts, flip the nuts upside-down, and snug the nuts down securely after I get the dies adjusted. Since each set of my dies has its own dedicated turret, I don't have to worry about having to constantly run the dies in and out.

 

[ranger335v]

Don't use wrenches or, heaven forbid, pliers to tighten your dies, it's just not necessary and slows switching them.

Some makers have knurled lock rings because they only need be hand tight. Others use hex lock rings, not because they should be wrenched down but because hex bar stock is easily available and needs no turning. That makes hex rings less expensive to produce.

 

[bglz42]

Hand tight, no wrench...

 

[RustyFN]

My dies are hand tight, no wrench. I have been loading on the CT for two years and the dies have stayed fine, no problems. I love the safety prime. I hold the lever with my left hand and click the primer in with my right. I only miss one primer every 500 or so.
Rusty