Cracked die

[K22]

Wow, hard to imagine an RCBS die cracking. Been using the same RCBS dies since the early 70's. However never used small base dies.

The "cam over" post raised an interesting point. My press is so old that it has a lot of play in the linkages, and I have to cam over to even obtain zero bump. Yet the dies have never cracked. I'll be following this one to see the outcome. I have F/L sized thousands of 243 and 308 and never had a problem or stuck case using Imperial Sizing Wax.

Regarding RCBS customer service, it has always been outstanding in my 50+ years of dealing with them. But nothing lasts forever and that would one change I would hate to see happen, not so much for me since I am in the winter of my shooting vocation, but new shooters entering the sport.

Let us know the results.

 

[M-61]

I'll be following this one to see the outcome.

Me too. Actually I’d really like to see the die but Don’t have high hopes. Even a picture would help but I think that’s doubtful, but I’ve been wrong before.

 

[Jim G]

To answer some questions, My Redding Big Boss press is 2 years old. Cam over is what is built into the press. Not much cam over. One of the first pieces of brass that I went to resize, required a little more effort than usual. Brass is Lapua 308 win Palma brass fired 4 times. I suspect it was fired in a fellow competitors rifle when he ran short of ammo at a match. Subsequent pieces of brass seemed to not size like i expected. I was not sure why, thinking maybe the brass was at the end of its life. After completing the 100 piece box, I removed the die and cleaned as I normally do. That is when I found it cracked. This was my favorite 308 win die. It would bump the shoulder back and size the base of the brass so that i would not have any clickers. Last year i bought another RCBS small base die, and it would bump the shoulder back properly, but it left a raised ring at the base of my brass. I went through RCBS's warranty service online, and it was not the best experience.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Reloading for over 50 year, never cracked one. Ive used rcbs, redding, lee, wilson, forster, and hornady. I did have a few chatter when sizing with imperial. Changed lube and life was good. I had a 338 rcm rcbs sizer collapse some shoulders. Called rcbs and gave them some measurements. Had a new die in 24 hrs. Cant beat their CS. Redding would have made me ship it back first, been down that road too

 

[M-61]

Subsequent pieces of brass seemed to not size like i expected

Meaning excessive force was required?
I think that’s a small base die!
Cam over amount is a relative term. Excessive to the point the shell holder hitting the bottom of the die?
I should have started by thanking you for the pictures.
This crack started at the bottom of the die.
I see you were possibly sizing brass not fired in your chamber. You state it didn’t feel right.
So could this have been a defect in production?
Where the crack started is where the die is unsupported by the press. Shouldn’t be a requirement at all.
However if it’s a small base die sizing brass from a larger chamber requiring more force and the cam over banged the shell holder more than usual I think it could happen. And it obviously did. I’ll guess and say in your normal resizing you don’t inspect the die for cracks. Because of your experience with this sizing being not normal you very correctly started examining the die. An imperfection in the die could have always been there. With the excessive force it grew. Tight up to the point the press supported it.
That’s a lot of ‘ could be’s’ I know plus you can pick a combination also.
None the less thanks for the pictures.

 

[Dave Way]

Force exerted by RockChucker press.

Has anyone researched/measured /calculated/guessed at the force exerted by a RCBS press at over centre ,or for the few degrees of handle travel at top over centre?............The reason I ask is I want to build a hydraulic or air assist press ,and the force needed is where I will...

www.practicalmachinist.com

Interesting read.

Dave.

 

[M-61]

The Lee Cast Iron is built to have zero cam over. Press is a monster and a call to Lee confirmed it was built purposely this way.