Keeping dies tight..

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tcoz

tcoz

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I've recently replaced the lock rings on all of my old Lee dies with Hornady rings because I went to a T-7 press and right now I can't swing five $70 turrets.
My question is how do you keep the dies tight on the press? The ring obviously allows you to quickly insert the dies keep them adjusted but I noticed that at the beginning they sometimes have a tendency to loosen and back out a bit especially when resizing large cases that require quite a bit of force.
After they loosen and I retighten them a couple of times they seem to hold tight thereafter but at first I've had to run some cases through again after noticing the resizing die a little loose in the press.
I'm thinking that there might be a trick to attaching the ring to the die that might alleviate the issue but I haven't figured it out yet.
 
If you haven't already done so, try tightening the die as much as possible by hand and then tighten the set screw. If that doesn't work, you'll just need to remember to tightening the die periodically when it loosens.
 
Make a rule for yourself and that is to check tightness of anything that has threads on it before you start pulling the lever.
 
When I use the Hornady rings, I find a crescent wrench will allow me to snug them down just a little bit, enough to keep them in place.
 
stubbicatt said:
When I use the Hornady rings, I find a crescent wrench will allow me to snug them down just a little bit, enough to keep them in place.
Click to expand...
I keep the wench beside the press. I get the die setup (RCBS Lock Rings) and tighten the set screw, then a "snug" with the wrench. Works for me.

Ron
 
I generally just snug the dies up with a wrench. Not hawg down on them, but snug them up.

Sinclair international sells a nice aluminum wrench cut to fit the Hornady lock ring. It fits between adjacent dies quite well. I think it is in the $12-$15 range.

But, if that is too rich for your pallet, any wrench you have in your tool box that fits the flats will work.
 
I've only been tightening them down "finger tight" so I'll begin carefully wrenching them.
Thanks for the tip about the wrench for Hornady rings. That'll definitely come in handy.
 
Hornady also sells a wrench for their lock rings, plus it has slots for the other common sizes used on their dies. Their newer one is made from hard aluminum, and their older one is from hardened plate steel. Both work great for snugging down the dies.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
don't wrench too tight, though. Good n snug is all that should be required NS NOT lot of torque is required. If too tight you may find it difficult to make minor adjustments later.
 
On all my dies (Mainly LEE) I have 2 wrenches I keep by the reloading equipment, I forget he sizes without looking but I think it is something like it's 1/2 inch to adjust the decapping stem and a lot larger for the lockring..



Michael Grace
 
If your locking rings have a set screw, remove the set screw and drop in a lead shot in between the die body and screw. The lead will be forced into the die threads not only protecting them but giving resistance to the die loosening. Next Use a wrench on the lock ring to gently snug it down , don't turn the die just the ring...it helps if the lock ring has flats , a wrench can be used. If the ring has no flat use something like Channel Lock pliers , with tape on the jaws to not score the lock rings. I got a set , taped up just for ring tightening .
Gary
 
I secure the die to the press with the lock ring; I do not secure the lock ring to the die.

F. Guffey
 
Reloadron said:
I keep the wench beside the press. I get the die setup (RCBS Lock Rings) and tighten the set screw, then a "snug" with the wrench. Works for me.

Ron
Click to expand...
I also keep a wench near the reloading bench....she comes in handy when I get tired of reloading.
 
If there's room for the hornady ring ABOVE the LEE ring, I do it that way. That locks the Lee ring in place, and the Lee o ring locks the die to the press without tools.

Me, I can get a Lee ring set just right by feel. And it doesn't move until you want it to.
 
I hand tighten the die, the lock ring stops the process when it is seated to the proper depth.

I have, though, found the RCBS lock rings to be a lesser product to several of the others out there.
 
Baryngyl said:
On all my dies (Mainly LEE) I have 2 wrenches I keep by the reloading equipment, I forget he sizes without looking but I think it is something like it's 1/2 inch to adjust the decapping stem and a lot larger for the lockring..



Michael Grace
Click to expand...
1/2" for the decapper, 3/4" for the die head, and 1 1/8" for the locking ring on lee dies. I keep these wrenches hanging on the wall next to my press so i always have them on hand.

Sent from my LGLS740 using Tapatalk
 
I use the lead shot under the set screw. I have a couple of die sets that have been set for 40 years and the lock rings have never moved.
 
I use the lead shot under the set screw. I have a couple of die sets that have been set for 40 years and the lock rings have never moved.
Click to expand...

If in my possession there is a die that has the lock ring secured to the die it is not my die. I adjust my dies ever time I use them. Again, I secure the die to the press with the lock ring; I do not secure the lock ring to the die.

F. Guffey
 
Shaq said:
I also keep a wench near the reloading bench....she comes in handy when I get tired of reloading.
Click to expand...
OMG, I don't believe I typed that. :) Wrench, wench whatever. :) For the lead shot users they make set screws with special tips which are pretty cheap. McMaster Carr Supply among others sell them.

Ron
 
I use split lock rings (Hornady rings). I've found if you leave them slightly open when adjusting the die, open enough to turn the die in the ring, then tighten them when the die is adjusted they lock in very well. The threads act like a wedge, A little bit of torque on the lock ring clamping screw and the die is wedged pretty solidly against the bushing or press.
 
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