When I bought my Redding boss press package, I thought I had checked out all the specs. Come to find out, after delivery that I hadn't, and missed the fact that the Boss doesn't have the 1 1/4" bushing as with the Rock Chucker, and the Lock and Load. My original plan was to use the Lock and load setup in the Boss. Can't be done! So my question now is, is there any problem in repeatidlly screwing your dies in and out of the cast iron body of the press. Cast iron is pretty abrasive, and the threads not as exact when comparied to steel. Wouldn't want to mess up expensive compatetion dies because of this. What do you all think?
Phil
Posts: 1478 | Location: Southern California | Registered: 04 February 2001
Matt, already ordered a bunch of lock nuts from Hornady, and Forster because of the cross bolt patern, instead of locking directly into the threads. Might even try some of Lee's locking with just an o-ring. The Forster Co-Ax is a very real posibility. Thinking now of just using the Boss for de-capping, and bullet pulling. Wish I had known about them not using the bushing before I ordered. Oh-Well, live and learn.
Phil
Posts: 1478 | Location: Southern California | Registered: 04 February 2001
You wont have any problem with dies repeating using just the threads. Just make sure the lock ring on the die is set and locked down. I've been doing without that Lock and Load thingy for almost 30 years now. In my mind its just one more thingy to fool with and the less of those you have the less chance of things going wrong.
Posts: 85 | Location: Tex | Registered: 29 January 2002
Ray, I could do with out the Lock and Load system. Just Don't much care for the idea of threading expensive competition dies into cast iron threads. Like RCBS, and Hornady, among others the dies are threaded into a much more precision 1 1/4" steel bushing. Guess its kind of like, not liking the idea of using lock nuts that use a set screw directly into the threads.
Phil
Posts: 1478 | Location: Southern California | Registered: 04 February 2001
On the Coax the dies slide into a horizontal boss in the press and float in this slot. Very quick change of dies. Once the lock ring is adjusted and "clamped" on the threads it's permanently set. No more adjustment is necessary and doesn't have to be set up and adjusted every time as with the screw-in dies.
Posts: 1261 | Location: Placerville, CA, US of A | Registered: 07 January 2001
The little Boss is a very good press. I use it for just about everything including my benchrest dies (Harrells, etc). I experience no wear or problems of any kind screwing my expensive dies into this cast iron press, and you won't either. To me it's nice to have all my dies set up to fit this one press. It is heavy enough to do bigger stuff, and light enough to carry to the range for my BR matches etc. When you want to load at the range for a rifle to develope loads, you don't have to reset your dies you normally use on your bench press. (or unbolt and lug that heavy press to the range) Very convenient ...ol blue
Posts: 373 | Location: USA | Registered: 05 December 2000
Ol blue, you state about the same thing that Redding did replying, to my e-mail. Redding says eliminating the bushing gets rid of one more, of the things causing mis-alignment between the die threads and the ram. They also state, and I quote
quote: As cast iron is a "natural" bearing material, it is better to screw a die into threads formed from it, than into a steel bushing. That's why a steel ram operating in a cast iron press lasts so long, as long as it's kept clean.
Seems like that goes against everything I've been tought, but then I'm no engineer either.
I guess I'm worrying about nothing.
Phil
Posts: 1478 | Location: Southern California | Registered: 04 February 2001
Well, Greyghost is right IMHO. Now why would you want to use the Lock and Load. That still has metal to metal contact. That will wear. I like steel to cast. Kept clean they last Genrations. Mark
As far as reloading dies lasting a long time. I've got shirts older than my teen age kids but I've got reloading equip thats older than all of them added together. Herters presses and dies dating back to the 50's. They'r still in service and screw in with the same feel as my new Redding set. Actually my favorite press is a herters turret.
Posts: 85 | Location: Tex | Registered: 29 January 2002
I bought a Hornady Lock N Load progressive when they were running a special at Midway. This was the first Loch N Load system I had seen up close. After the dies are installed in the Lock N Load sleeve which is the male end of the finished setup, I noticed one big thing that stood out like a sore thumb. This finished setup when installed in the press has a rubber o-ring to retain the Lock N Load setup in place and keep it locked in. I did not like this as well as poor casting quality and too much end play in the ram. I sent it back to Midway and ordered a Dillon 650 ,this ended up a much better choice.This is all I know about Lock N Load, aside from this experience, everything else from Hornady has been top notch. I still use the R.C.B.S.-A2 press that I purchased from Gander Mountain in 1964 and it is as good today as it was the day I bought it and the original dies purchased at the same time show no signs of ware.
Man did Dyno tickle a memory! I ordered my RCBS press from Gander Mountian back in the early 60s. I don't know hoe many times I've screwed the dies in and out, but it's been plenty and there show no wear whatsoever.
Posts: 631 | Location: North Dakota | Registered: 14 March 2002
quote:Originally posted by Ray Gunter: As far as reloading dies lasting a long time. I've got shirts older than my teen age kids but I've got reloading equip thats older than all of them added together. Herters presses and dies dating back to the 50's. They'r still in service and screw in with the same feel as my new Redding set. Actually my favorite press is a herters turret.
I just got an old Herters press from the GreyBeard auction. It's in mint condition and looks as though hardly any rounds were even reloaded through it. HEAVY DUTY!! Is there any way to tell just how old this single stage press is? Do you know who made the presses for them? Thanx
Posts: 565 | Location: Walker, IA, USA | Registered: 03 December 2001
I just put a small bb or piece of lead shot in the hole then screw in the set screw. Holds tight and no damage to the threads,never had on slip yet. Z
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Greyghost: [B]Matt, already ordered a bunch of lock nuts from Hornady, and Forster because of the cross bolt patern, instead of locking directly into the threads
Posts: 95 | Location: Oregon | Registered: 31 December 2001
Screwing dies in and out will not harm the press over its lifetime. Just keep the threads clean and periodically put a dab of grease or something like Break Free on them.
Threads are cut with some play to prevent galling, and they only snug up at the end when you tighten the locking ring. Don't worry about them wearing.
