I am sure someone out there has dealt with this problem before...

I am trying to set up a new RCBS Carbide die set in an old C&H (H-Frame) press. I have the sizer and expander dies set correctly but am having a devil of a time setting up the seater die.

My problem comes in when trying to follow RCBS's instructions that come with the die set.

1. Put a prepared case in the press and run the ram to the top. (No brainer...)

2. Screw in the die body until you cannot turn any more. This is where the crimp ring contacts the lip of the cartridge case. (Again a No brainer...)

3. Back the die body out of the press one full turn. This brings the cartridge case lip below the level of the crimp ring.
(This is where confusion begins to set in... At this point, the bottom of the die is very close to the shell holder.)

4. Adjust bullet seating depth. (No problem there...)

5. Lower the seating die in 1/8th turns until the proper roll crimp is achieved.
(When I adjust the die downward and get the roll crimp I am happy with, the bottom of the die is binding on the face of the shell holder.)

What in blazes am I doing wrong???

Boomstick,
your not doing anything wrong! try changing the shell holder, shell holders are different thicknesses from make to make?

griff

good suggestion...

The C&H press came with seperate shell holders that were machined as one piece that bolts onto the ram.

I have tried the Shell Holder Adapter that RCBS makes to fit "H" presses and am using an RCBS shell holder.

Both seem to have the same "clearance" problem.

I`d pick up another shell holder and have a few hundreths milled off the top. Be sure to keep it marked and seperated for your seating die only.

the rcbs directions are screwey,do not put a case into the shell holder to adjust die,run the ram and shell holder up to the full up position,screw die in until it contacts the die holder,then back it off the 1/8 th turn and lock it down.then install a case and adjust the seat and crimp etc.
some fine tuning may be required,after creating a correct case,I log the threads showing above the locking nut and use a marker to easily identify this position in case of loosening of the locking nut.