LOCK NUTS on factory dies

I like the Lee locking rings. No fiddly screws to mess with. They are rubberized and you just turn them down by hand. I don't have any trouble with them moving around on me.
 
I've never had a problem. Just tighten the set screw after unscrewing the die and ring a tad bit. Then hand tighten and check it. You may have to adjust it a little one way or the other to get it just right. You shouldn't have to kill the screws. Hand tighten the die only, and recheck it every once in a while.
 
The biggest problem that I see with die lock rings losing adjustment is when people install and remove the dies by turning the die bodies. If, after you've made your adjustments and tightened down the lock ring, you remove and install the die by turning the lock ring your die adjustment shouldn't change. If you do it this way it doesn't take a lot of torqueing down on the set screw. I think that it has something to do with the relative arm length of the force applied to the die body versus the friction of the lock ring to the press, or some such stuff.
grin.gif
 
I was afraid of this problem when I was investigating what system I wanted to use. That is why today I picked up a Hornady Lock-n-Load press. You make your final die adjustments then snug the lock ring down on the bushing and set the lock screw and your done. Your die adjustments will stay the same indefinitely.

Hornady also sells a Lock-n-Load conversion set so you can upgrade almost any press to the removable bushing system.
 
This is what I do also and have no problems whatsoever.Im glad somebody else made the point again.You have to turn the die and lock ring out a bit,then tighten the setscrew.There is just enough slop in the threads that it will not stay where you set it unless you back it off and then set the screw.Every die I have set up has been done the same way.If you dont back it off it will not stay.
 
Originally Posted By: blopez50^ Try that lead shot under the screw trick... It sounds like it might work!
It really doesn't work worth a darn as you can not tighten the set screw down hard enough to keep the lock nut from slipping when you screw the die into the press and when you unscrew the die out of the press at least that has been my luck.



That is why I use the Hornady type lock nuts and use 2 per die.
NO SLIPPING what so ever.

DAB
 
Originally Posted By: SShooterZAnother trick I learned from RCBS is to drop a single #4~6 shot under the allen screw and it will create a better mating surface with the threads vs. just the lock nut alone. It smashes down as you tighten the screw so you'll know when it's pretty well locked in.

The Hornady are pretty [beeep] solid too.

+1

I've been using this method for the last couple of years. Saves money than just replacing the entire lock nut w/ another brand of lock nut!!
 


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