Duffield, SASS #23454 Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 Not wanting to hi-jack Hardpan's thread about reloading dies, I have a question about the locking rings. Which ones do you prefer? I like the old ones, that compressed a piece of lead shot against the threads better than either toe split rings that clamp the die or the rings that compress an O-ring to lock the die in place. I like the way that the old ones can be locked in the proper position without jamming the ring against the top of the press. Duffield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 I'm partial to the Dillon items ... along with their matching spanner ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 I prefer the set screw type OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 I'm liking the Hornady rings. Steel, flats for a spanner, and a stout clamping screw. About nineteen bucks for a half-dozen from Amazon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Harley, #14153 Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 13 hours ago, Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 said: I'm partial to the Dillon items ... along with their matching spanner ... I’m with Jack. I like the smaller size of the Dillon rings plus the smaller wrench. Makes it easier to change dies on a small toolhead. I’ve never had one come loose, and never felt a need to crank down too tight against the toolhead or frame. I bought a bunch of extras and now use them on my RCBS and Lyman presses too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perro Del Diablo Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 I'm partial to dillon. Simple and easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 4 hours ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said: I'm liking the Hornady rings. Steel, flats for a spanner, and a stout clamping screw. About nineteen bucks for a half-dozen from Amazon. I like them as there is no chance of damaging threads. While they work great on a single stage press they are a PITA on a turret press. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 I have a Lee Breechlock "Challenger" single stage press. I really like the Breechlock system and I buy the Locking Breechlock Bushings. Lee also makes an adaptor for the bushings for other brand name presses. The bushings allow quick changes for dies and your dies are always adjusted perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Blarney Kid Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 I have 2 Lee turret presses. I have a turret for each caliber I load. All my dies are set up so I don't have to adjust them. I just use the lock rings that came with the dies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 The first thing I do is remove them and replace them with Dillon lock nuts as my presses are Dillon and the 1" nuts work better on the shell plates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 I have to confess, I do not own any Dillon dies or lock rings. I'm sure they're excellent; I just never bought 'em. What makes them special? In the pictures I don't see any sort of set screw or "locking" device... what keeps them secured? They appear to be low-profile, so does one use two, with the second as a jam-nut? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 You don't need a screw locking device. The Dillon nuts are thin wall to leave enough room for the handy dandy Dillon wrench to fit between the dies. Adjust the die then snug down the nut. Extra die sets go into extra removable tool heads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 1 hour ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said: I have to confess, I do not own any Dillon dies or lock rings. I'm sure they're excellent; I just never bought 'em. What makes them special? In the pictures I don't see any sort of set screw or "locking" device... what keeps them secured? They appear to be low-profile, so does one use two, with the second as a jam-nut? Dillon assumes that you'll use their dies on their tool heads; and once installed they'll remain in place. Most other manufacturers assume you have a single stage press and provide a way to fix the lock ring in place so that the die can be removed and reinstalled while maintaining proper adjustment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 Regardless of whether it is a Dillon die or another brand I use the Dillon nuts on everything since my two main presses are Dillon. In the top photo the die to the left is an RCBS powder checker. Left to right, Hornady, RCBS and Dillon. The factory Hornady and RCBS lock rings are hard to use on a Dillon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendo Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 12 minutes ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said: You don't need a screw locking device. The Dillon nuts are thin wall to leave enough room for the handy dandy Dillon wrench to fit between the dies. Adjust the die then snug down the nut. Extra die sets go into extra removable tool heads. Having the extra tool heads for different calibers makes life so much easier. Hey Larson, is that a Snowshooze quick release on the powder measure? I have those on my powder measures, they're awesome. 6 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said: Dillon assumes that you'll use their dies on their tool heads; and once installed they'll remain in place. Most other manufacturers assume you have a single stage press and provide a way to fix the lock ring in place so that the die can be removed and reinstalled while maintaining proper adjustment. I wish I had known about those smaller Dillon lock rings when I set up my Lee Turret tool heads, the extra room makes things so much easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 8 minutes ago, Hendo said: Hey Larson, is that a Snowshooze quick release on the powder measure? I have those on my powder measures, they're awesome. Yes it is. I have them on four of my measures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 I have a number of die sets mounted in the removable heads for my Dillon, each with a dedicated powder measure. I set 'em all up years ago and rarely have to adjust. All pistol calibers, though; I use single-stage presses for rifle ammo. But no Dillon dies. Actually, I had most of my die sets before I bought my Dillon over twenty years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go West Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 I use Dillon locking rings with Lee dies on my Dillon press. They seem to work better with the smaller profile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.