RCBS dies and set screws

[akaduck]

This may be very old news for most of you, but I thought it was worth sharing.


As most of you may know, the brass set screws used in RCBS dies are marginal at best. I stripped the one on the seating die three weeks after I bought it. I emailed RCBS and they are sending me some new screws and a few balls of led shot to put under the screw - free of charge. Great customer service in my book.

However, being impatient, I went to lowe's and found a package of #10-34 x 1" brass machine screws with a strait blade head. Works amazingly well. If, for some reason, the threads strip, the stripped portion can easily be cut off.



Just wanted to throw this fix out there for everybody.

 

[ocabj]

I buy the Hornady die lock rings for my non-Hornady dies (which is pretty much most of my dies). They're pretty cheap and are a better design.

 

[jmorris]

I don't like to use set screws for anything I plan to adjust. The Hornady lock rings look like a slick set up. I always use two nuts to lock them in place.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

+1 for Hornady lock rings. With clamping action and wrench flats; what's not to love?

Andy

 

[Guncrazy45]

Same thing happened to me, and RCBS sent me six new set screws and a bunch of lead shot.

My problem is I don't know how to remove the stripped screw from the lock ring. Good thing I haven't needed to adjust it, yet, but someday I'll have to. Anybody know how to fix this?

 

[Luggernut]

Another big plus one for the Hornady lock rings!

 

[missoulaz28]

for my stuck set screws that had stripped out I stuck a phillips screw driver into it and turned it out, it's worked on them all so far.

an "easy out" would be the easiest way just get one you can shove in the hole, and turn

 

[jacobhh]

jmorris' method sounds good. It may help square up the die as well,
just a thought. I had one RCBS die where flashing from the set screw
hole was jamming up in the die threads, cleaned it up and the die was
OK. I don't like jamming a set screw up against the threads either, soft
or not. Two nuts or the Hornady rings are worth the effort I believe.
A Hornady ring atop the RCBS(sans setscrew) would be the best of both.
I think I'll buy some next time I order.

 

[Fatelvis]

If all else fails, spray degreaser in the set screw's wrench hole, and very carefully epoxy an old allen wrench(of correct size) into the set screw. Prop it up, and let it sit for a day. The screw will come out, but wont come off the allen wrench. I did it on a Kimber rear sight, and worked great!

 

[308win]

My problem is I don't know how to remove the stripped screw from the lock ring.

Did you strip the threads or round off the allen screw flats? If the threads are stripped it should still back out; if the flats are rounded off just tap a flat blade screwdriver into the brass set screw and it should screw our with no problem. Make sure the shot you use is soft lead; some shot is so hard that it doesn't take a good set in the threads.

 

[Walkalong]

RCBS sent me six new set screws and a bunch of lead shot

Lead shot under the screw works very well. So does a "spitwad" or a little hunk of plastic, but I have Hornady rings on most of my dies.