Recently someone--I think it was BigJake--brought up the Phillips head screws on the otherwise excellent Forster die locking rings.

Yep, they're a pain.

We pulled one in the shop, and if anyone's interested the Forster die locking ring screws are 6-32 5/8".

Just got a lifetime's supply of allen head 6-32 5/8", and they're a big improvement.

flaco

Ah, that's useful. The factory screws are a pain in the posterior.

- mike

Good info!! Thanks for checking it out and posting the findings.

Don

Many thanks flaco,

I'll try for Torx as well.

LD

I've got 70 or 80 of the originals if anyone needs extra's. I already replaced all mine thanks to LB404 being kind enough to give me a large box of allen headed ones.

On the replacement screws, does it matter much what screw head configuration to get?? Or will the cheapest version available at the local hardware store do??

- mike

I can never understand why Forster didn't put flats on the side of the locking ring the same as the Hornady rings...I much prefer the Hornady version over any of the other locking rings I've seen...

Just an aside, I tighten my lock ring screws while there is a case/cartridge in the die and pressure is on it. The pressure keeps the ring pinned and it doesn`t move as easily as I put the screw driver to it.

I do like the idea of hex head or allen screws though........thanks for the screw size

quote:

Originally posted by Pete E:
I can never understand why Forster didn't put flats on the side of the locking ring the same as the Hornady rings...I much prefer the Hornady version over any of the other locking rings I've seen...

Probably because they manufacture the Co-Ax press that the dies snap into, rather than thread into....The Co-Ax is one great press.

On the other hand, when I used Forster Dies (or any other, for that matter) I never found it necessary to screw the die into the press, except by hand. In other words no need for a wrench on the dies or pair of plyers, just finger tight.

Screwing them INTO the press is not the issue. But getting them OUT of the die after having fixed the Forster ring is only possible with a wrench.

quote:

Originally posted by Pete E:
I can never understand why Forster didn't put flats on the side of the locking ring the same as the Hornady rings...I much prefer the Hornady version over any of the other locking rings I've seen...

The Honady is the best ring I have run into - better than the Forster if you use a press with "screw-in" dies (as opposed to the CoAx).

If your Forster dies get stuck in the press, Pete, you can buy Hornady lock rings:

http://www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HRN044000

You can normally also pick up packets of 12, 20 or 24 (I forget), but I could not just locate a link for that.

- mike

Mike,

Already a head of you mate! All my dies now have Hornady rings on them..But to be honest in future, I think I am just going to stick with buying Hornady dies in the first place..I have some Forster dies, but in my Rock Chucker, I don't notice any real gains..

Regards,

Pete

quote:

Originally posted by flaco:
Recently someone--I think it was BigJake--brought up the Phillips head screws on the otherwise excellent Forster die locking rings.

flaco

Yep, that was me. Thanks for the screw size info!

I generally like the Hornady lock rings better, but this will allow me to not have/want to replace lock rings on Forster dies, and use the rings that came with the press.

Andy

So.

Got 100 of the correct allen head sized screws from McMaster-Carr--we're getting something from them almost every day--and then realized, well, I don't have the correct allen head wrench for 'em.

Doh?

Anyway, the boss says it's best to have a T handle wrench, so, I looked 'em up in McMaster.

But...

Was scrounging in one of our drawers for some masking tape, and found the boss's stash of T handle allen head wrenches.

I grabbed two.

The correct T handle allen head wrench for the locking ring screws is 7/64.

I also grabbed a 5/32 wrench, as this fits the allen head guard screws we use.

It's been an insidious process.

Call it "evolution."

I started out loving custom Mausers. The kind you can see Michael Petrov and ForrestB and Duane and the rest of the boys post on the Gunsmithing forum.

But I'm not--yet--a hunter, and still love to shoot.

I found that what pleased me was small holes in paper, very close together.

Yes, I have too many custom style projects going, typically Type B Mauser style stocks, nice wood, traditional Mauser chamberings.

But I'm also building a couple of Mauser target rifles--no matter their shortcomings--and will use allen head guard screws.

Because, well... the T handle wrenches are less likely to jump out of the screws and mar the finish, and, to some slight degree, one can judge guard screw torque by the deflection of the T handle wrenches.

flaco