The threaded rod in my 450/400 3.25" RCBS F/L sizing die is a a little bent. It's

enough that the depriming pin won't align with the flash hole. It measures 4.104"

long with my calipers. Will the threaded rod from an RCBS 375 H&H Mag F/L

sizing die be the same rod as mine? I called RCBS but they only take calls Mon-

Thurs. If the 375 rod is not the same as mine is there another semi-common die

that does use the same rod? Thanks guys.

I think you will find that the 375 rod is too short. The rod from another 3 1/4 case like a 470 should work. I would spend some time trying to straighten it without damaging the threads.

Take it apart the gently hammer it straight on a flat hard surface. Quick and easy. Roll it on a table top to look for high spots.

I think 470Evans is correct because of the 450/400 3 1/4". If it were the 3" 450/400 then the 375 H&H rod would work like a charm! The rod in the 470NE die is considerably longer that the one in the 375 H&H, and is proper for the 3 1/4" case.

I have all three dies in front of me as we speak. I had the same trouble with a set of 9.3X74R dies, and I used the rod from the 375H&H die to load the 9.3s, by simply changeing the .375 expander plug for the 9.3

Good luck As Mike says you can straighten the rod by threading nuts on both ends of the rod to protect the threads, and use a hammer to carefully work the rod straight.

............Good luck!

If you are going to hammer, make sure that you use either a lead or plastic faced hammer to avoid buggering the threads.

I'll attempt to straighten it with hammer strikes while shielding it with wood,

thanks for the ideas. I intend to remove used primers with a punch in a separate

step as a rule, but the rod should be straight, I'm sure we all agree.

You might try putting the rod between two blocks of relatively soft wood so the whole length of the rod is supported on both top and bottom sides as the blocks come together, then pressing the blocks together in a vice. That's what I did and it worked fine.

If you want to do it seperately.. Try this tool from Steve Mecham. It's a Harry Pope re and decapper.

http://www.meachamrifles.com/page.php?id=16

I can't get the link to work!

I've always rolled them on a flat surface, marking the high spot. Then i set the ends on strips of wood, and used another small piece on the high spot, hitting it with a hammer, untill i had the rod straight again.

Over the years, for one reason or another, i've straightened a lot of them...

DM

Mac,it works for me. Google Mecham Rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Brooks:
Mac,it works for me. Google Mecham Rifles.

Thanks Mike! It works for me now as well!