I just stripped out the lock nut on my RCBS large lock ring. They are now closed for the weekend. Are they normaly so eacy to strip? Anybody know what their gurantee is?

Why bother replacing shit with shit? Get Hornadys instead and never suffer a poor design again.

SBT- I have stripped out a couple of them on my dies. I contacted RCBS the last time and asked them if I was doing something wrong. At that time they suggested that I put a piece of lead shot on the backside of the set screw and this should solve the problem. I have 25 or so sets of RCBS die and I put one piece of #7 lead shot behind all of my set screws and have not had a problem since. The set screws I believe are made of brass and any torque at all will strip them. RCBS did sent me 3 new rings and 10 set screws. It is hard to beat their customer service.
Hope this helps.
Scott

HP

YUP!

quote:

Get Hornadys instead and never suffer a poor design again.

DITTO!

Geronimo

quote:

Why bother replacing shit with shit? Get Hornadys instead and never suffer a poor design again.

That's what I like to see. Helpful advice. Nothing worse than posting your problems or asking for advice and have some asshole inform you that you fucked up and your only fix is to replace. I personaly like RCBS as do many others. SBT, If you stick around and wait, most of the guys on this forum will come through and help. Assholes are few and far between , but, they do exist.

quote:

Originally posted by steve4102:

quote:

Why bother replacing shit with shit? Get Hornadys instead and never suffer a poor design again.

That's what I like to see. Helpful advice. Nothing worse than posting your problems or asking for advice and have some asshole inform you that you fucked up and your only fix is to replace. I personaly like RCBS as do many others. SBT, If you stick around and wait, most of the guys on this forum will come through and help. Assholes are few and far between , but, they do exist.

Yep, assholes are few and far between but sometimes they show themselves like you ahve done here.

I own plenty of RCBS products, including many of their dies. Regardless, their lock ring design is about as poor as it gets and Hornady's is about as good as it gets.

If you cannot see why then you are too blind with brand loyalty or too stupid to see the obviuos.

Notice that I am not alone with my opinion of RCBS' lock rings.

Even Lee's are better, and that is not saying much.

quote:

Originally posted by rutten:
It is hard to beat their customer service.

Which they wouldn't need so much of if they designed a proper lockring in the first place.

SBT,

Yes, as you found out the RCBS setscrew is brass and strips if you look at it crosseyed.

The reason it is brass is so that it does not mar the thread of the die. As has been mentioned, put a piece of lead shot under the set screw. Or, if you are like me and do not reload shotguns just snip a tiny piece of solder to put under the screw.

Now that you have a piece of lead under the screw, go to the hardware store and get some steel setscrews! Then you do not have the problem anymore! If you just put a new brass one in there, guess what's gonna happen again eventually.....

Having said that, I do have to agree with HP Shooter, I too think Hornady lock rings are the best. I may be too cheap to go out and buy replacement rings for all my other brands of dies, but I do poach any unused rings from die sets I don't load for anymore.

Sad as it is, the RCBS (or Redding) die lock rings are so-so. The Hornadys are indeed about as good as they come. But if you are stuck with a bunch of RCBS lock rings, use the advice above with a lead shot behind the screw, and go easy on tightening.
- mike

I started replacing my RCBS locking nuts with Forster and have Hornady's on the list to try for the next batch. Don't know at this time which are best, but either has to be better than the lead shot and set screw on RCBS or Redding.

I replaced all my locking rings with Forester's...they work well.

Ditto with the Foresters, I`ve replaced all my RCBS rings but then I`m useing a Co-Ax press. BTW Hornady rings also work in the Co-Ax

FWIW the RCBS service and warranty is top notch...they will replace it free.....I do however agree that the Hornady lock ring is the cat's meow in lock rings.

Hornady rings are a cut above Forsters for two reasons.

1) The have wrench flats, which allow snugging up and losening without resorting to pliers which scratch the knurlings.

2) The tightening screw is a hex head cap screw, instead of a slotted head (which is much easier to strip).

Basic engineering, people. Basic engineering.

I use a lot of the Forster rings with my CoAx press. The screw on those rings is a tad soft, you have to be careful when you tighten it. The Forster works well in the CoAx, but I'd prefer to use a Hornady in a press with screw-in dies - you can use a wrench on the Hornady, and it is steel as opposed to aluminium.
- mike

While at Sportman's Wearhouse I stumbled across some Hornaday Rings. They were under $3 each so I bought one. I put it one and used it today. These are the way to go. For $3, I'll forget about bothering to mail the old RCBS back for warranty.

I only own one set of Hornady dies but there locking rings are pretty good.........................knock on wood I have not stripped an rcbs set screw yet.

How about that! I've been reloading for thirty-five years and have used a great many RCBS dies without the aforementioned problem. All this time I've had a problem and never even knew it! Go figure.

L junked all my RCBS, Lee aand Lyman locking rings and bought a good supply of HORNADY locking rings.

quote:

I just stripped out the lock nut on my RCBS large lock ring. They are now closed for the weekend. Are they normaly so eacy to strip? Anybody know what their gurantee is

I just emailed RCBS for the same problem. they sent mr a bag of replacements free of charge.

My RCBS locking rings don't bother me, because I only use them once, when I install the die in a Hornady Lock-N-Load bushing. After that, the ring never moves, and 1/16 of a twist puts a die in or takes a die out. No wrench needed.

H. C.

HP Shooter said: "Hornady rings are a cut above Forsters for two reasons.

1) The have wrench flats, which allow snugging up and losening without resorting to pliers which scratch the knurlings.

2) The tightening screw is a hex head cap screw, instead of a slotted head (which is much easier to strip)."


WELL, On page 63 of the MIDWAY catalog, are regular lock nuts for replacing your lock rings! They are Part Number 163-904! Price 5/$8.49.

AND, on the same page, is an RCBS Die lock ring wrench! Part Number 221-930! Price $5.29!

Also NOTE: RCBS dies now come with the new type lock nut!

The original ones were made of aluminum, so that if one was to overtighten them, they would strip out and not damage the threads on the die itself!

quote:

Originally posted by HP Shooter:
Hornady rings are a cut above Forsters for two reasons.

1) The(y) have wrench flats, which allow snugging up and losening without resorting to pliers which scratch the knurlings.

Well, who the hell needs wrench flats if you're smart enough to have a Co-Ax press, to begin with???

And why is the Co-Ax press superior? I quote:

quote:

Basic engineering, people. Basic engineering.

As for the Forster screws, if one does not have the dexterity and patience required to tighten these without stripping them, perhaps handloading isn't such a great choice of hobby for them, after all.

RSY