There are standards for shell holders and I have successfully mixed brands for years.+1 There is no standard for shellholders, and each manufacturer is free to make them as they please; usually a manufacturer will be consistent over time, but even that is not guaranteed.. In order to get cases sized properly, you usually need to use the same brand of shellholder and die. You can mix and match, but as you have found, you may not get the desired result. There is a clue in the fact that manufacturers don't use the same numbering system for shellholders.
I am able to get good results with my Stoney Point/Hornady headspace gauge, but it does have its limitations. The best results can be obtained by using a barrel stub cut with the same reamer as the chamber; however, most of us don't find it necessary to do so. You need to find a method that works for you.
All my RCBC shell holders are the "industry standard" of .125".All of mine are .125
Lee makes two different kinds of shell holders. The ones that you tried are for their priming tool, not for use on a loading press. They also make regular, standard loading shell holders to the same dimensions as other brands that will work in your RCBS press. I have both kinds.All my RCBC shell holders are the "industry standard" of .125".
I do not use Lee shell holders for sizing as they do not fit into my RCBS press. I'm required to use them with the Sinclair Priming Tool because those are the ones that are specified and fit.
My Lee shell holders differ from my RCBS in depth of cut by 0.0103", the "X" dimension illustrated in the Redding diagram on their web site describing their competition shell holders. Maybe I just got some off spec shell holders, i.e. small rifle and large rifle. Also my Lee's are at least 20 years old.
Why is it that die set up is such a polarizing subject ?
Never understood camming over. Doesn't make sense to me. You can only shove the case so far into the die?I disagree with so much of this that it would be hard to know where to start. Instead I will relate a relevant experience. A friend was experiencing inconsistent shoulder bump using good dies and a Forster press. We were able to adjust a two torch rotary annealer to produce brass that bumped to a total variance of .001 (plus or minus half that) while retaining enough neck hardness for magazine feeding rounds loaded with heavy bullets. The calibers were .338 Lapua and 7mm WSM. For my PPC I am able to get very consistent shoulder bump without camming over, as well as for my .222 Rem. bench and varmint rifles.
On of the problems that I have see is fellows trying to bump cases that have not grown (shoulder to head) long enough to need it. I have been able to come up with a way to make an accurate die bump adjustment based on once fired brass.
Cam over takes all the slop out of the press and variations in shoulder location. This can vary by the type and age of the press.Never understood camming over. Doesn't make sense to me. You can only shove the case so far into the die?
Why wouldn't just pushing on the handle creating the force to start the case ito the die remove all of the clearance in the lnkage? Beyond that it seems you are bending something. The clearances are air gaps! No force required.Cam over takes all the slop out of the press and variations in shoulder location. This can vary by the type and age of the press.
The Redding Competition shell holders are a good example. You set the die up with cam over and changing the shell holders varies the amount of shoulder bump.
If you still don't understand I will sell you my 1973 Rockchucker press with its worn pins and linkages.
Bottom line, hard contact with the shell holder and cam over eliminates any slop in the press. And the amount of shoulder bump is controlled by just the shell holder and die.
This matches my experience. I attribute it to brass variability.. . . and right off the bat I suspected a problem. I am measuring up to .002 variability in fired cases to the datum line.
Perfect! Your dies aren't excessively small, and your chamber isn't excessively large. Cam over and done!Even with my FL die all the way down on the shell holder, I can maybe [and I emphasize MAYBE] measure .001 difference from a fired case.
I don’t understand it either, but I do have to screw the die past touch quite often on my RCII to obtain the bump that is needed.Why wouldn't just pushing on the handle creating the force to start the case ito the die remove all of the clearance in the lnkage? Beyond that it seems you are bending something. The clearances are air gaps! No force required.
Some reloaders have no problem with an air gap between the base of the die and the shell holder. So again it depends on the type press and its quality.Why wouldn't just pushing on the handle creating the force to start the case ito the die remove all of the clearance in the lnkage? Beyond that it seems you are bending something. The clearances are air gaps! No force required.
Thanks for the clarification - that makes sense. Learn something new every day.Lee makes two different kinds of shell holders. The ones that you tried are for their priming tool, not for use on a loading press. They also make regular, standard loading shell holders to the same dimensions as other brands that will work in your RCBS press. I have both kinds.
Dusty is right about good dies not touching the shellholder, my custom Whidden doesn't come close, but it bumps to the # I want.Most good dies do not touch the shellholder once proper bump is set. The press still cams over. Its a mechanical advantage that is consistent. The only press i have that doesnt cam over is a goofy summit press. You cant bump most shoulders with it and if it does bump its pure muscle and not consistent. It makes a good decapping press mainly because of its spent primer handling design
Cool you disagree.I disagree with so much of this that it would be hard to know where to start. Instead I will relate a relevant experience. A friend was experiencing inconsistent shoulder bump using good dies and a Forster press. We were able to adjust a two torch rotary annealer to produce brass that bumped to a total variance of .001 (plus or minus half that) while retaining enough neck hardness for magazine feeding rounds loaded with heavy bullets. The calibers were .338 Lapua and 7mm WSM. For my PPC I am able to get very consistent shoulder bump without camming over, as well as for my .222 Rem. bench and varmint rifles.
On of the problems that I have see is fellows trying to bump cases that have not grown (shoulder to head) long enough to need it. I have been able to come up with a way to make an accurate die bump adjustment based on once fired brass.